Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
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).
My 2001 Windstar had been making a scrunching noise each time I went off a curb. I took it to a tire place as that's when I found the crack in the axle in August 2010. The tire dealer didn't make that kind of repair so I call Ford dealership who told me to bring the car in and that a recall had just been issued. My car sat for six months. On 1/26/2011 the dealer called and said my axle had been repaired and that I could pick the car up. I couldn't pick it up that day. On 1/27/11 I heard the news state a new recall and I looked it up. Turns out my car is involved in that recall too. I went to the dealer and I communicated to them that I do not want that vehicle back under any circumstances. The ABS light has been malfunctioning for three years or more. …
I have had problems with my 2001 Windstar passenger rear automatic door since the day I bought the car brand new. The door would constantly close and reopen. I have had it checked at least 3 times for this problem. Most recently the door would not close all the way and has been rattling. The problem now is the door has closed and locked and will not open. My Ford dealer needs to pry it open with some device just to check the problem. Minimum cost for this is $250.00. I cannot drive this vehicle with a jammed door because I have two small children. If I ever needed to get them out in an emergency I would not be able to. I have contacted Ford motor company to see if there has been any recalls of this nature. Ford did not acknowledge this problem and dismissed it and me. I think Ford should investigate this further and I think they should be responsible to fix the problem for free. …
Repeated failure and replacement of various parts of the electrical system including wiper motor, rear wiper motor, fuel pump, fuel pump fuses, alternator, repeated replacement of battery, repeated replacement of brake lights and light sockets and brake light switch, repeated failure and replacement of electric door locks, repeated replacement of coil wire, replacement of EGR valve. Constant stalling of vehicle in rain or humid weather. Vehicle stall when air conditioner is in use. Rough idle and stalling when vehicle is stopped and engine is running. All of these complaints have been constant and ongoing despite repeated replacement of electrical components since delivery of the vehicle in December of 2000.
We have a 01 Ford Windstar limited with automatic doors, with safety sensors. The driver s side door was working intermittently, not always opening and closing with the buttons. My 3yr old daughter reached in the van to get a toy and the door closed on her arm,(without anyone touching a button to close the door) the door eventually opened. The injury consisted of broken skin and a severe bruise on the outer and the inner side of the arm. The van was still covered by extended warranty and four parts were replaced: 1. Contr asy bdy s 2. Sensor asy - ac 3. R/contr & lat a 4. Actu asy - bdy sd the door is still having problems opening all of the time. The Ford dealership cannot find a problem with it.
Dt: contact states the automatic door on her vehicle will not stay closed. The door is located on the rear driver's side of the vehicle. While driving, the door will come open. She tried locking the door to keep it closed, but this does not work. The dealer installed a new part, but it did not correct the problem. The manufacturer is aware of the problem and is trying to find a remedy to the defect. Updated 10/31/2006 - after several attempts to fix the door the dealer told the consumer they were unable to fix the problem. The dealer said they would contact a Ford engineer to see if the problem could be resolved. The vehicle's check engine light illuminated. The dealer replaced the dpfe sensor
Over thirty separate warranty repairs over two years. Faulty electrical door locks (kids couldn't exit), transmission leakage, transmission failure, front-end defects with loud thumping noises and several body problems. Most notable body problems are wind noise and water leakage through doors and windows. Most recently, the fuel pump failed (@ 37,000 miles). Ford has all along refused to acknowledge the problems. Now that the vehicle is out of warranty, they have again said they will not doing anything. The vehicle is unreliable and unsafe to operate.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the passenger side sliding door opened as far as the lock would allow. The dealership determined the alignment was off, after realigning the door, the problem persisted. The door had to opened manually to get inside the vehicle. Also, while parked on an incline the same door slammed shut, the dealership was not alerted.
Consumer stated the power doors locked on their own. Consumer was concerned that in an emergency they will be trapped inside . The transmission was difficult to move from park. Once it was pulled out of park it made a loud bang.
Since about two months after receiving the vehicle, the passenger side power sliding door has repeatedly malfunctioned. There are three separate problems. The first and most common is that the door will close, only to instantly open again. Any of the three buttons used to close the door automatically cause the same problem. On these occasions, if we attempt to close the door manually, it will not latch at all. Usually after 20+ attempts the door will latch properly. Slightly less common is the second problem, when the door will refuse to unlock. The lock button can't be pulled up, and the buttons on the key fob or door will not unlock the door. Again, this problem only pertains to the passenger sliding door. The third and most recent problem is that, on half a dozen or so occasions, the door has spontaneously opened while the vehicle is moving. …
The psd on our 2001 Ford Windstar opened while driving the vehicle with our two small children in the back seat. With the car off, parked and children in their seats, my wife closed the psd with door button in post. Door would not activate. After several pushes on the outside handle, the door closed with power and engaged. After driving several minutes the driver side psd tried to open while she was driving the vehicle. The door opened half way. My wife push the door button on the ceiling and it began to close again. Then it closed and reversed 3 to 4 inches and closed again. Then it repeated the 3 to 4 inches closed and could not be operated. It stayed closed until she reached her destination (10 mins). When she stopped the passenger psd opened on its own. The drivers psd would not open at all power or manual. The children left the van through the passenger psd. …
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2001 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2001 Ford Windstar, 1% of the model year's 1,686 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Windstar door lock & latch problems?
No. NHTSA lists no locks & latches recall for the 2001 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 2001 Ford Windstar door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to locks & latches 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.