Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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).
I had been having problems starting my 200 Ford Windstar se. On Monday, jan. 8, 2007, I drove my van to get coffee, came home and parked it in the driveway. A few minutes later, I noticed smoke and flames. The car burned out, despite the efforts of our local fire dept.
My 2000 Ford Windstar will stall, while driving, without warning causing a loss of power to the engine, braking system and steering system in a 3800 pound vehicle. This is an intermittent problem, but repeats itself every 2 or 3 weeks or so. The last time it caused my wife to transverse into a stop sign controlled intersection in a populated residential area of los angeles county without brakes or steering. It has happened 15 times to myself and my wife and twice to south bay Ford since approximately nov of 2004. I believe that Ford dispatched engineers to south bay Ford in hawthorne california who stated that this is an issue of fuel tank design and is not correctable. South bay Ford and Ford motor company together appear to be ready to return the vehicle to me with the instructions "don't let the fuel tank drop below 1/4 of a tank". …
We have owned this 2000 Ford Windstar since February of 2002. I have lost count of how many times we have taken it back to the dealer because of the poor gas mileage. It was getting 13 mpg and the dealer said that was normal. But over the past 3 months we have taken it back to the dealer 8 times because of the check engine light. The dealership has replaced the upper/lower intake gaskets, fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel line, mass oxygen flow sensor, both o2 sensors, valve cover gaskets, and a couple of other things too. The gas mileage actually got worse after several of the repairs. We are averaging between 9 - 10 mpg. In addition to the engine problems, our door locks don't work right and the interior lights don't work at all automatically...we have to turn them on and off. The door locks on the sliding doors have to worked by hand. I am so sick and tired of this car. …
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact noticed a fuel smell inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated there was a leak in the fuel line. The contact stated repairs were made but she was unsure of what was repaired. The contact continued to smell fuel in the vehicle. The mechanic informed the contact there was a recall NHTSA campaign id number: 00V164000 (component: fuel system, gasoline: delivery. The manufacturer was contacted and they told the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 157,000.
I bough t a 2000 Windstar 1 month ago and I had a strong smell of fuel and found a leak above the left rear tire which I saw myself. The fuel system proved to be faulty as per the dealer's report. I lost my trust to the vehicle, and I am uncomfortably using it for my family, and uncomfortably selling it to any body due to safety reasons. I am scared due to the following: no recall for the problem. The story I heard about the family who was previously burned in a GM car due to faulty fuel system. Herewas a fuel system problem identified in Windstar 2000 at the NHTSA website.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while sitting at a stop light, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact had to apply pressure to the brakes using both and turned off the ignition. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where a vacuum line was disconnected however, did not solve the problem. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis where the fuel system was serviced and the throttle body was decarbonized. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileages were 128,000.
2000 Ford Windstar lx 3.0. Stalling while driving, when parking, while turning . Sometimes will restart but as time has progressed this will not happen. Began while under warranty but would always restart with patience but now has been rowed to dealership last six times. Numerous very costly parts have been replaced since no codes are produced in these events but no solution has been accomplished to alleviating the stall. This is very dangerous in traffic.
Check engine light came on and had dealer check car. Problem turned out to be intake gaskets/bolts/connectors. The vehicle had 61,128 miles. There is a technical service bulletin on this problem but Ford refused to repair the car since it is not under warranty. They are aware of this problem and according to one Ford dealer they complete about 5 of these jobs per week.
For some reason, the first time, on 10 May 2003, the engine races at about 3500 - 4000 RPM, at a stop sign and still maintaining. When brake pedal is released van speeds very, very quickly, which could cause an accident in the rear end of a vehicle in front. Also, in idle, the engine rmps are between 3500 - 4000 RPM.
CEL on, ECM throwing p0174 codes, many many complaints on internet of this problem with 3.8l v6 engine. Apparently no help from Ford or dealer to assist customers with a fix for this. Ford what a joke this 2000 Windstar is. No more fords for me, total lack of support for product failure.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
Vehicle description: Mini vans. These vehicles May have incorrectly fuel line end forms which could result in a lower than specified pull apart force for the installed fuel line connection.
Remedy: Dealers will install a redundant fuel line clip on the fuel supply and return line connections at the rear of the chassis fuel line bundle.
Fuel System complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2000 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2000 Ford Windstar, 2% of the model year's 1,675 complaints. The component named most often is delivery › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Windstar fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-164 (delivery, Jun 19, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Windstar fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion system 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.