1999 Ford Windstar problems
The 1999 Ford Windstar has 2,040 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (14%) concerns body & structure. Next are brakes (11%) and transmission (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,040 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Body & structure 14% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 64 and 86
- Injuries and deaths
- 49 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 102,000 miles 1,175 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 | 20 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 53 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 118 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 195 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 167 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 184 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 169 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 126 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 61 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 33 |
| 200k+ miles | 49 |
What the data shows
Of the 1,175 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 102,000 miles. For body & structure specifically, the median reported mileage is about 121,000 miles (199 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 64 complaints mention a crash; 86 complaints mention a fire; 49 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Ford Windstar with enough data (824 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.
My ford windstar 1999 has the front spring coil fractured causing the spring to barely touch the tire and eventually would deflate the tire. This front spring coil problem is currently the recall for windstar 1997-98, but not 1999. The recall for 1997-98 is NHTSA recall no. 01v199/ford recall no. 01s19. This recall should apply to 1999 too since it has the same problem.
Consumer was involved in a head-on collision, impact speed over 40 MPH in which neither driver's side nor passenger side air bags deployed, causing injuries to three occupants of vehicle.
The windstar was parked in our driveway outside. Engine cold and turned off. Our son saw smoke outside coming from the engine compartment. We raised the hood carefully and put fire out with fire ext. And garden hose. Fire was under the brake master cylinder on the drivers side engine compartment. Wiring harness burned and other components by speed control deactivation switch catching fire.
1999 ford windstar. Last week of july/2009, had ford dealer replaced front rotors & pads + rear shoes & machined rear drums. Within 1st week after brakes job ABS light began cycling on & off. After the 4th week, the ABS light stayed solid. Cruise control is also not functioning. Ford dealer says might have to replace ABS control module.
Engine sub-frame/cradle failure at right side rear body mount resulting in loss of vehicle control. Replace sub-frame. Yes old sub-frame is available for inspection.