Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
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 contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact entered her vehicle and noticed thick white smoke inside the entire passenger compartment. The fire department arrived and disconnected the battery. They stated that an electrical fire had occurred. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was inspected by an insurance adjuster, who determined that the rear window wiper motor failed and caused the fire. The vehicle was labeled as destroyed due to the cost to clean the chemicals out of the vehicle, which was more than the vehicle's worth. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop. The technician stated that the window wiper motor caused the failure. The contact called the manufacturer and her VIN was requested. She was later informed that she needed to call her insurance company for further assistance. The failure mileage was 82,241.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact noticed that there was water entering into the vehicle from the front windshield. In addition, the trim by the front windshield and front frame on the passenger side were rusting. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. The VIN was not provided.
Brake light (red) and ABS brake lights (yellow) stay on. I went to replace fuse #10 and it keeps blowing out. Speedometer and odometer do not function. Cruise control does not work. A/C does not work. The o/d light flashes after about 30 seconds after the vehicle starts and continues to blink until the vehicle is shut off. I took it into a Ford dealership today to have them perform the 09s09h recall and it did not change anything. All issues seem to be associated with this 'leaker' scds that was replaced, but that caused further damage to the ABS ECM unit causing it to fail.
We bought our van in March 2012. By April 2012 we began noticing problems with shifting. It shifts hard. The windows stopped working in May 2012. The lights on the dash for the ABS and brakes are always on. The brakes are not very good and the pedal must be pushed hard to get the van to stop. Our biggest issue is with the transmission. The mechanic at aamco would not even change the fluid because if he changed the fluid then the transmission wouldn't be able to shift. I don't know the details but I do know that my van is not safe to drive.
The windshield wipers extended beyond the vehicle's windshield. The consumer feels that this is a safety hazard. The blades are not stationary and need to be tightened regularly. The manufacturer and the dealer are aware of the problem. During a winter storm, the wipers worked fine then all of a sudden the wiper arm and blades started moving to the left of the windshield completely off the windshield on the driver's side of the vehicle. This distorted the consumer's wife's vision.
Dt: the contact stated that there was a leak inn the windshield while driving in the rain. Water came through the left driver side area along the top corner. She took the vehicle to a dealership for inspection where she was referred to a glass repair shop. The repair shop said the entire front windshield would have to be replaced. The windshield wiggles to the touch. There are no visible cracks or blemishes. No explanation why this happened. No repairs or corrections at this time.
My wife entered the car through the driver door. After starting the car, she heard a loud "pop". Then felt a cool breeze and noticed the rear window was mostly gone. A semicircle in the center of the window had blown out. The rear windshield wiper was hanging inside the van. The window had not been cracked or scratched and there was no ice on it. The temperature was around 45 degrees.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the rear window shattered. The vehicle was taken to a glass repair specialist that was recommended by the insurance company. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and was advised to contact the NHTSA. The failure and current mileages were 120,000.
When braking at any speed steering wheel vibrated heavily. Dealership repaired the front rotors/pads, but this did not resolve the problem. Had to change wiper blades one week later, they were rotten. Transmission problems, had to drive in 2nd gear all the to the dealer, also has a strong clunking while putting vehicle into any gear.
Vehicle was parked and someone noticed that smoke was coming from under the hood. An electrical fire had started from windshield wiper motor assembly and burnt through motor terminal guide. Both parts had to be replaced. If this problem was not caught early extensive fire damage would have occurred.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2002 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2002 Ford Windstar, 2% of the model year's 1,353 complaints. The component named most often is power window devices and controls (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Windstar window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof 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 window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof 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.