AC & Heater complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (air conditioning, heater, defroster, HVAC controls).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
2003 Ford Windstar brake warning light and ABS warning light on constantly. Numerous electrical problems, I.e, doors not unlocking, locking for no reason. Blend door sticking, not allowing for heat or defrosting.
We're writing this letter to inform you of what we see and feel is a flaw in the design of the 2003 Ford Windstar and a safety hazard. We took our 2003 Windstar to the dealership from which we bought it, " prairie Ford" located at 601 west roosevelt road, west chicago, illinois 60185 because we were having a problem with the dual sliding passenger doors windows fogging up with or without passengers. This was causing a vision problem for the driver because you could not see out those windows for the purpose of; backing out of a parking spot or when changing lanes due to these windows would not clear during cold outside temperatures. There are four ceiling vents (2) in the middle and (2) to the rear of the vehicle. We noticed that the (2) middle ceiling vents did not work whether you used the front controls or you used the passenger comfort controls asking for heat. …
2 times over the past 3 years we have turned on the air conditioner in our 2002 Windstar and the car has lost power and stalled on the highway. The compressor failed and seemed to seize causing significant loss of power and the car to stall while on the highway. This is the second time and each time the air conditioning system needed to be replaced. The first time it happened the repair was covered under warranty but this time the repair cost more than $1100. The failure caused a loss of power in the car and caused the engine to stall, the steering was stiff and brakes became difficult due to lose of engine power.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that heat would not come out through the vents in the front of the vehicle even though the heat was functioning properly in the rear. In addition, heat would not come through the defrost vents, allowing the front windshield to become foggy and reduce visibility. The contact also stated that when the failures began, a clicking noise would emit from behind the dashboard. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 113,000 and the current mileage is 115,000. Updated 9/13/11 updated 09/28/11
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While the vehicle was in motion, an internal fire erupted near the rear auxiliary air conditioning. The controls associated with the wires and the covering were melted. The contact smelled strong plastic fumes in the rear of the vehicle. The contact pulled the vehicle over and discovered that the cover and wires melted without warning. The contact was not notified of NHTSA campaign number: 15V608000 (suspension), but the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 106,390.
Noticed smoke coming from the hood of vehicle. Shortly after, the vehicle was in flames. Investigative report revealed that the cause of the fire was from the failure of the air conditioner lines which had been replaced prior to the fire.
Dt: the consumer stated 2000 Ford Windstar was having multiple problems. The fuses blew out, the lights were blinking on and off, and the odometer/speedometer werenot working. The mechanic that looked at the car suggested that it May be an electrical problem. While driving the lights wereblinking on and off. Consistently, kept the dashboard not illuminated. They have even tried to leave the air off to see if this would help the fuses not to blow out. There were lights on the dashboard that when lit up wthe fuse blew out. . The ABS light came on when the fuse blew out. The rear defroster didn't work nor did the rear air vents. This was not a safety condition for the owner to be traveling with child who has major health issues. The owner has not taken the van to the dealership because she could not afford the cost of labor and service charges. …
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. Upon starting the vehicle, the contact heard a clicking noise from the center of the instrument panel. After a few minutes, the clicking noise stopped. Prior to the failure, the contact stated that the same clicking noise was present when she operated the temperature gauge on the air conditioning unit. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the contact was informed that the motor for the air conditioning unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact also stated that while driving at any speed, the vehicle would bounce and she could feel vibrations. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The vehicle also stalled intermittently. The idle air control was repaired by a local mechanic. The current and failure mileages were 115,432.
Related recalls (1)
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
Vehicle description: Mini vans equipped with auxiliary rear air-conditioning. If the auxiliary air-conditioning blower motor stops turning while in the medium-low blower speed setting, there is the potential that the resistor May become hot and smoke.
Remedy: Dealers will install a jumper wire that will ensure that the medium-low blower speed setting is protected by the thermal limiter. Owner notification began augsut 27, 2001.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Windstar years have ac & heater problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (48), 1999 (27), 1998 (19), 2001 (14) and 1996 (13) model years. AC & Heater complaints make up 1% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Ford Windstar ac & heater problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 01V-262 (air conditioner, Aug 15, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Windstar ac & heater problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 93,000 miles; 12% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the appliance › air conditioner (78 mentions), followed by the defroster/defogger/hvac system (31).
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.