Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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).
Back in 2008 I was involved in a fender bender (about $6,000 in damages) when my ABS failed causing me to slide into another car. At first I thought it was minor issue, but have since been told it's a major issue with many owners. I've found that the recall (09s09) does not address all the underlying issues and the Ford dealer will not fix all of the issues. Additionally I was told by my local Ford dealer that there were no open items on my van for ABS. When I inquired what that meant, they said that there was nothing on recall for ABS on my vehicle. I had never had anything done to the ABS, so it was not because it was already fixed. A week ago, I was almost involved in an accident because of the failure of the ABS system; I was only going 40 MPH. I constantly have my brakes checked because I have to press them hard to work. …
In June of 2012 the ABS light began to intermittently come on. Repair shop replaced the relays and the light stayed off until October 2012. Repair shop replaced the ABS control unit. Again this fixed the intermittent light, however, within a few months the light was coming on this time shortly after the car was started and staying on. It currently comes on when I start the car and stays on. I don't know if the ABS breaking system is actually working. The breaks do work, but there are so many other issues with this vehicle that as long as I can stop the car I ignore the ABS light. I now want to know if there is a recall for this. The car only has 97500 miles on it and has been garaged kept for the last 77500 miles. I got this as a company car at 19000 miles and purchased it from my company at 75000 miles.
Going down the road traction control will go off and on . It will make the steering very hard. Then when you turn the engine off. It is very hard to start up . Some times you have to wait for about two or three hours then it will start right up. The electric system is very bad. Sometimes when the traction control starts to have a problem the van is very hard to even keep it in control I'm disabled and can't afford to get a better van. I've tried to take it back to Ford but they don't know what to do with it. All they tale me is to get anew one .but I can't. The power on the door locks are bad the locks will go locked and unlock as you drive it down the road. Been doing this for about. 3 years. Or more. Had it in to Ford many times.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. While driving 55 MPH there was a burning smell in the brake area. The contact observed that the smoke was coming from the front driver and passenger tires; however, after removing the tires he noticed that the rotors were black and smoking. One week later while driving, the contact noticed that the speedometer and mileage gage failed to operate normally. A local mechanic determined that the ABS was leaking brake fluid which caused the wire connected to the ABS had a shortage. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. No repairs have been made. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage 110,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. While driving various speeds, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration and the ABS sensor indicator remained illuminated. As a result, the vehicle failed to accelerate properly. While the vehicle was undergoing routine service, the independent mechanic also discovered that the front driver side control arm was damaged and needed to be replaced. The cause of the failures was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
So I fixed my defective instrument panel cluster and got a ABS error code c1185 which is a bad ABS relay. This relay is defective by being on the back side of a heat-sink plate that makes the board expand and contract allowing for some, if not all, of the solder joints break. As it stands now I have no idea if my van is safe to drive in its current state with the failure of that relay nor would I like to risk it. So my van sits drivable however, not used because of Ford's lackluster performance on recalls. I will not pay for their mistakes anymore!!! It"s criminal!!!!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the rear suspension failed while driving 70 MPH causing the rear of the vehicle to hit the pavement. The brake lines were fractured. The contact was able to keep the steering wheel under control. The vehicle came to a stop when it crashed into the guardrail. A police report was filed. The contact suffered bruises to the hip that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was not available.
Having ABS and electrical problems. Over drive lights was blinking so I had a full scan done. ABS system shows about 12 error codes and the ABS light wasn't on. Check the light and the light works. The mechanic seems to not to understand the problem. This problem is very alarming to me because this can be really bad for my family safety. Also another code pulled for the alternator overcharging the battery which never turned the check engine on. Check engine was proven to work and that was repaired and work to fix it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. While driving 40 MPH he heard a clanging noise coming from the vehicle. The next day while driving the rear end of the vehicle started to shimmy. He pulled over to the side of the road after he saw smoke. He towed the vehicle home. Upon vehicle inspection he noticed that brake system was corroded and that the axle had fractured. He was in the process of contacting the service manager. No repairs were made .the failure and current mileages were 117000.
I have a 2000 Ford Windstar which had an electrical fire due to a faulty brake pressure deactivation switch. I turned the key on and a huge ball of white smoke came out all over the vehicle. Myself ,my wife and my children were in the car inhaling these toxic fumes. I hope inhaling these fumes don't cause any future health risks. Thank god my van did not explode and we were able to exit out safely. Ford should really take a look at this problem. I will never purchase another Ford vehicle.
Brake complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 384 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 Ford Windstar, 23% of the model year's 1,675 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (32 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Windstar brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes 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 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 7 fires and 3 injuries to brakes 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.