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 2002 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into a fire hydrant and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained neck and shoulder injuries but did not require medical attention. The passenger sustained wrist injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. Updated 02/12/16 updated 05/14/18
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle spun out of control on an icy road and crashed into a river. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the ribs and bruises on entire body that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
I was involved in accident where I ran into a motorhome that pulled out in front of me. I was traveling approximately 40mph and hit at a slight angle but direct hit to the rear dual wheels that actually dislodged the axle of the motorhome. My vehicle was totalled. It had severe damage to the front end including the driver's side half of the bumper. The impact buckled the roof of my Windstar Mini-van. The air bag did not deploy and the seatbelt apparently failed as my chest hit the steering wheel and also my face. The state trooper said he saw my teeth marks in the steering wheel and the steering wheel was cracked. If I did not have a bruise on my left shoulder area that showed the seatbelt actually caught for an instant and then released me into the steering wheel the trooper said he would have cited me for not wearing a belt. …
A car accident occurred on January 9, 2004. Car was hit behind, and the bags did not deploy, but airbag light came on. Van was taken to repair shop twice to fix light. They came to the decision that a code needed to be put in and could only be done at Ford. The van was taken to Ford 4 times, and the light still comes on. First they put in code. 2 weeks passed then light came on again. Van taken back to Ford. It was released to us. After about 5 weeks light came on. They put in the code again. Light came back on as soon as we got to the driveway. We went to Ford again, and they said there was a problem with module. They replaced the module and a whole new air bag system in July. The replacement was done twice due to the first air bag system was defective, the light came on and stayed on the next morning. A complete new system place in the next day. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact was driving approximately 30 MPH when he crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the face and leg and was transported to the hospital via ambulance. A police report was available. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair facility. The manufacturer was contacted in regards to the air bag failure. The manufacturer responded six months later stating that there was not enough impact for the air bags to have deployed and would not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
While driving on the interstate at 70 MPH vehicle drifted off to the median. As a result, consumer over corrected , which resulted in vehicle rolling over 6 times and impacting a guard rail. Upon impact, none of the air bags deployed. The driver and the passenger sustained minor injuries. While driving at 70 MPH vehicle veered into median on the interstate. Driver overcorrected causing vehicle to roll over six times where it crashed into the guard rail. The driver's side air bag deployed but the other three air bags did not. Two persons injuried in rollover accident.
While driving vehicle air bag warning light flashed on and off. The dealership serviced vehicle but found no problem. Vehicle was in a severe frontal collision while driving at 30/35 MPH. The air bags didn't deploy upon impact. Dealership and Ford customer service were notified. No one from Ford would send someone out to collect information from the collision box. They stated for the consumer to bring in the vehicle after it was repaired so they could check the air bags again. Vehicle sustained over $10,000. Worth of front end damage.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. While driving at an unknown speed, the air bags deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
While driving 35 MPH vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. Upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy. No injuries were reported. As a result, the vehicle was totaled. Voq returned no such street. Phone disconnected.
Ford Windstar van, which was already subject to rear axle recall, and the rear axle did break on it in May, and was replaced and I received reimbursement for the replacement from Ford. However, another incident happened in December. My 21 year old son was in an accident driving this van on Thursday, dec. 16. The van lost traction and pulled to the right, pulling him into a ditch and down a steep embankment. The front of the van was ripped off, tires slashed, van almost flipped over, and the airbags never deployed. He hit a dirt embankment head on going about 30-35 MPH. The roads were icy that day, and he was on a curve... The van would not respond to steering to correct the direction the van was going. I experienced something similar last winter; the van seemed to pull to the right, going off the road without allowing the driver to control the vehicle. …
Airbag complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Ford Windstar, 3% of the model year's 1,353 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Windstar airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2002 Ford Windstar, though it has 8 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 2002 Ford Windstar airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 0 fires and 22 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.