1998 Ford Windstar problems
The 1998 Ford Windstar has 1,949 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (15%) concerns transmission. Next are suspension (12%) and brakes (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,949 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 84 and 90
- Injuries and deaths
- 88 and 4
- Typical mileage
- 90,000 miles 517 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 16 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 39 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 76 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 57 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 123 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 62 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 54 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 38 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 19 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 14 |
| 200k+ miles | 19 |
What the data shows
Of the 517 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 90,000 miles. For transmission specifically, the median reported mileage is about 81,000 miles (50 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 84 complaints mention a crash; 90 complaints mention a fire; 88 injuries reported; 4 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Ford Windstar with enough data (1,222 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 11 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The sensor ring for the ABS system failed. The entire axle had to be replaced at a cost of over $300.00. I have the part that failed and found that the part had a manufacturing defect. But have been unable to get any compensation from ford motor company.
My 98 ford windstar was involved in an accident where a chevy tahoe ran a red light and t-boned the right rear passenger side of my van. Upon impact the side door of my van flew off and ended up 15 feet from the vehicle. All occupants were wearing seat belts (my wife and our 5 children) so no one was ejected from the vehicle. Our son who was sitting in the back seat on the passengers side was hospitalized with multiple life threatening injuries. The failure was not corrected as the vehicle was totaled.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. While parking he smelled a burning odor, and then saw flames inside of the engine compartment. He was able to extinguish the fire himself. The manufacturer was notified, and he was advised to call NHTSA because they would not provide assistance. No repairs were made. The failure and current mileages were under 184,347.
Consumer called complaining about having problems with the left front spring breaking. The vehicle was towed to the shop and the springs were replaced but the shields for the spring were not replaced. The consumer does not feel safe driving the vehicle because the same problem may occur. *nlm