Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My husband was going through an intersection on a green light with our 2000 Ford Windstar and a vw jetta ran the red light and my husband hit him on the drivers side. The hole front of the van was pushed in and considered totaled. Both of the air bags never deployed. The bumper on the van was basically hanging on the ground and the hood bent up with everything else in the front.
While driving at 60 MPH consumer's vehicle collided with a large cargo box that fell off a delivery truck. Consumer was wearing seat belts, but the air bags did not deploy. Consumer sustained a sprained neck and back . There was extensive front end damage.
Takata recall - air bag light is on. Problems with turning of steering wheel. Could not perform complete turns. Steering will stop halfway during turns. After review it appears that the airbag is coming through steering column. Van currently not drivable.
While driving 40 MPH the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled. Ford charged the consumer for the repair which was unsatisfactory.
I was involved in a head-on accident on a freeway. The driver of the other vehicle had fallen asleep, and, therefore, had not slowed down her vehicle. The impact took the front driver's side wheel off my vehicle and we rolled part way over until the ditch stopped my vehicle. My vehicle was claimed a total loss. The airbags did not deploy. I have a photo of the vehicle after the accident and the vehicle is currently located in brandywine, md at the insurance auto auction waiting for a sale date. I contacted Ford to see if they could assist in finding out why the airbags failed to deploy. They told me that I would have to pay to have the airbags checked at a Ford dealer, that there was nothing they could do. This answer was not acceptable to me, since it would seem they should be concerned as to why the safety equipment failed. …
Ford Windstar 2000 car safety problem was reported on September 9 2010, had a problem with the vehicle suddenly accelerating. My wife had backed our 2000 Windstar sel out of the garage so we could sweep out the garage. The car had sat for about five hours in the driveway when she was going to drive it back into the garage. While releasing the brakes the vehicle accelerated suddenly and unexpectedly. Resulting in a collision with the garage cabinets at the rear of the garage, forcing the sides of the cabinet through the rear of the garage. The impact destroyed two full seven foot cabinets and a tree drawer cabinet. The front bumper cover was torn and pushed back about inch on the passenger side. The A/C coil was pierced and leaking, the radiator bracket was pushed back into the battery. And the air bags never deployed!! …
The side air bag on the driver side of my 2000 Ford Windstar sel inadvertently deployed. The air bag deployed approximately 5 to 10 seconds after starting the vehicle. It deployed while idling and sitting stationary. In the process of this deploying, it ruined the driver's seat. I have not replaced the seat as of yet. I am trying to get Ford motor company to pay for the repair. I took the vehicle to a Ford dealer and they would not repair it free of charge. They analyzed the system but found no reason for the inadvertent deployment of the air bag.
While my wife and young son were driving 400 miles from home on a congested expressway the side airbag deployed without warning or cause. After the dealer had the vehicle for two weeks they decided it was caused by a faulty sensor and since the vehicle was out of warranty (3 yr/36,000 miles) they gave us a bill for over $1100.00 with our repaired vehicle two weeks after later. The manufacturer assumes no liability. We are afraid to drive it.
While slowing down to park vehicle, it will surge foward. Consumer has hit a steel pole due to that problem. This defect has presented itself three times. There were no accidents in two of the incidents. The dealer checked all of the components that contribute to this. There was no significant factor located that could have contributed to these incidents. Also, the air bags did not deploy when consumer hit the pole.
Travelling at approximately 35-40 MPH I was broad sided by a car travelling approximately 20-25 MPH. I was hit flush on the driver side front door, the driver side slider door, and a small portion of the driver side rear panel. Why wouldn't my side air bag deploy in that situation? Any information would be appreciated. Police were notified but no report was taken by them.
Airbag complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Ford Windstar, 2% of the model year's 1,675 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Windstar airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2000 Ford Windstar, though it has 15 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Windstar airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 0 fires and 31 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.