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 2001 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was driving at around 30 MPH, 2 cars in front slammed on brakes, I was approximately 1 1/2 car links back and hit the brakes. ABS failed, airbags failed, and slid into car in front of me. I was on a city street going straight.
During inspection inspecter 38573 reported a diagnostic fault as airbag control module. After failed inspection. I looked for part with the avail. Current part on vehicle is 1f2a-14b321-ee. I cannot find a part number matching. I took it to a second mechanic to verify if he infact was right. And I looked at the diagnostic and the airbag did not show up however what did show up after airbag light came on after a full memory clear was code b234 which points to driver safety belt buckle switch short circuit to ground. Or in lames terms safety belt buckle switch. This should never in a cars life ever happen. If this happened before a accident this could cause death to the consumer. Im the second owner of this vehicle I believe so im not sure if there's a recall for this particular issue as I do know there's one similar. My reinspection is due within 6 days. …
Dt*: the contact rear ended another vehicle at 25 MPH. Upon impact the passenger's air bag deployed but the driver's air bag did not. There was no occupant in the passenger seat. The driver sustained minor injuries as a result of the air bag not deploying. The contact was wearing a seat belt. Extensive damage was sustained to the right side of the vehicle. The police were contacted and a report was taken. The vehicle was seen by an independent repair shop for the body damage. The mechanic suggested replacing the left front seat belt retractor because the seat belt would not retract properly after the accident. They did not inspect the air bags. Updated 3/17/2006 - the consumer didn't have the funds to repair the airbag so the technician at the body shop removed the driver's side air bag fuse.
Dt: the contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact's vehicle was involved in front end collision on August 2, 2005 while traveling 45-50 MPH. Upon impact, the front air bags did not deploy. The wheel dropped off on the pavement, causing the vehicle to go over an embankment and hit a tree. Had the vehicle inspected by the insurance adjuster and a local mechanic, and they stated there were no airbag sensors or wiring in the vehicle. The vehicle had not been in any previous accidents, nor have the airbags been deactivated. The consumer contacted the manufacturer; they referred her to a local dealership. The local dealership refused to come to look at the vehicle. No warning lights illuminated, indicating there was a problem with the air bags. The vehicle was imported from Canada.
I was comikng home from work traveling 45 MPH, had a green light, as I entered the intersection a police car ran the red light and I stuck him in the passenger side of his car. My veiw was blocked in the next lane so I never saw him until it was too late. I slammed my brakes and tried to turn to the right to avoid him but at 45 MPH it was not enough, I braced my self waiting for the air bags to deploy but neither the drivers or passenger worked. I sustained major injuries to my cervical spine and I am unable to work. When I reported it to Ford they sent me a list of items they needed and put a 45 day time limit on the complaint and requested info...so I guess we will see what they do for me, thank god I was wearing my seat belt or I would be dead!
On 11/20/05 at approximately 10:00 p.m. A deer ran in front of my van. The impact was on the drivers front left at the headlight section of the vehicle. Minor damage was done to the vehicle but the incident caused injury to my wife. The drivers airbag didn't deploy but the passengers did. This caused the airbag to break my wife's wrist in 2 places. At the same time the drivers seat belt locked but the passengers didn't causing my wife to go forward. Both of us were wearing our seat belts. This seems to me that there was some kind of defect in the system since everything happened backwards. At this time nothing has been done to the van but Ford customer affairs is suppose to be contacting me.
I was traveling straight ahead on a dry road the afternoon of March 21, 2006, at about 40 MPH. A car turned in front of me and struck the front of my car on the driver's side. The driver's side air bag did not inflate, despite the fact that the driver's side of the front sustained damage severe enough to total the car. The passenger side air bag did inflate, though the damage on that side was less. I was injured in the accident. Despite wearing my seat belt, my sternum was fractured.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a guard rail and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to a impound lot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure and current mileage was 146,000. The VIN was not available.
Dt: the contact stated while driving the contact's vehicle he hit a large tree. It was a front end collision. But upon impact, the front air bags did not deploy. The air bag lights did not illuminate, indicating a problem with the air bags. The vehicle has not been involved in any prior accidents. The vehicle has not been inspected b y the dealer to determine why the air bags did not deploy.
I was driving home from work and it was snowing. I started to slide on ice. I repeatedly tried to brake but the vehicle would not stop. I slid off the road onto the shoulder and impacted with a drain pipe into a ditch. Neither of my dual airbags deployed and as a result my mouth hit the steering wheel. I received 18 stitches. I was wearing my seat belt. The vehicle was claimed a total loss.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Vehicle description: minivans and passenger vehicles. A restraint control module (rcm) or a side or front crash sensor May have been assembled with one or more of the screws that mount the circuit board in the housing missing. If some or all of the screws are missing, the performance of the occupant restrains could be affected.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rcm and crash sensors and, if necessary, replace them.
Air bags
Certain passenger vehicles, limousines, and Mini vans were built with a newly designed restraint control module (rcm). In some cases, the rcm does not recognize certain system faults that could result in an air bag or seat belt pre-tensioner unexpectedly activating during the self-test sequence at vehicle start-up.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rcm in these vehicles. Owner notification began September 14, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…
Airbag complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Ford Windstar, 3% of the model year's 1,686 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Windstar airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-412 (sensor/control module-inactive, Dec 6, 2000); NHTSA recall 00V-270 (air bags, Sep 13, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Windstar airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 24 crashes, 1 fire and 30 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.