Most common 2004 Ford Windstar problems
Share of the 24 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Windstar complaints by model year
Best Windstar years: 2004, 1997. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1998. Compare all years →
What 2004 Ford Windstar owners say
Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the front axle fractured. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 12V194000 (suspension). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 169,784. The VIN was not available. The consumer stated there was a loud noise coming from the front side by the tire. The vehicle was inspected and it was determined the sway bar in the front was broken and the subframe was rusted. Ford stated they met the recall requirements in 2011 and there was nothing they could do for the consumer. Updated 12/23/15.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Windstar. The contact was driving approximately 55 MPH when the rear of the vehicle began to wobble excessively. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop for an alignment where the technicians advised that the rear axle was twisted and causing the failure. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where the technician confirmed the failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with the failure (NHTSA campaign id number: 10V385000 -suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly) because there were no signs of corrosion or fractures on the axle. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the repair did not fall under the recall for the rear axle. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Windstar while driving at 20mph she smelled something burning and saw white smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle and she also heard an explosion. She was able to get out of the vehicle and she saw that the left rear tire blew. The vehicle was towed to her home. The person who towed the vehicle found that rear axle broke in half which punctured the left rear tire causing it to blow. She contacted the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated there was not a recall for the failure and the vehicle is over one hundred thousand miles; therefore they will not assist with the repair. The vehicle will be repaired. The current and the failure mileage was 123,005.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 35 MPH she heard a peculiar noise outside of the vehicle. She applied pressure to the brake pedal, and then the vehicle began to shimmy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for inspection. The technician stated the failure was contributed to the rear axle. The vehicle was currently being repaired for the malfunction. The failure and current mileages were 123,500 updated 01/1410 the rear axle was rusted from inside out and cracked 3/4 of the way through which caused the tires to tilt inward at the top and outward at the bottom. Updated 01/10/10.
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the engine caught on fire. The contact stated that the failure occurred after the vehicle received routine maintenance where the battery, the water pump, and the engine belt were replaced. The fire department was present. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 118,000.
Purchased the car used on 5/26/12, drove away from the dealership and the ABS warning light and the break warning lights both came on, indicating issues with ABS. Took it to the repair shop and was told that the ABS module (??) was causing the issues. Car dealership and warranty company refused to cover it because it's an optional system. There appears to have been a recall for this but for some reason my car wasn't included - it was originally purchased in Canada, so I'm not sure if that effects recall information. On 6/12/12 driving in to work the car suddenly lost speed while trying to accelerate on the highway. I was attempting to make it across 4 lanes and the car suddenly wouldn't go over 30mph - thankful there wasn't a lot of traffic but this could have caused an accident. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Ford Windstar a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Windstar rates better than average: 98% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Windstar at the same age. It is one of the best Windstar years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Ford Windstar?
The suspension — 9 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rear. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (7) and engine & cooling (4).
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Windstar have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Ford Windstar. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Windstar?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996 and 1998. See the full Ford Windstar years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford Windstar problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 124,000 miles; 4% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.