Vehicle Data Hub

2003 Ford Windstar engine problems

Owners reported engine problems in 67 complaints for the 2003 Ford Windstar, 3% of the complaints on file.

At a glance

Complaints
67 3% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
90,000 miles 57 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 8
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2003 Ford Windstar Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 90,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 2 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 4 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 13 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 8 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 5 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 7 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 7 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 4 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 3 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 3 complaints 200k+ miles: 1 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 90,000 miles
Based on 57 complaints that include mileage. 33% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles2
20k to 40k miles4
40k to 60k miles13
60k to 80k miles8
80k to 100k miles5
100k to 120k miles7
120k to 140k miles7
140k to 160k miles4
160k to 180k miles3
180k to 200k miles3
200k+ miles1

What the data shows

Of the 57 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 90,000 miles, and 33% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 8 fires.

What owners wrote

We owned a 2003 ford windstar, which we had not had any incidents prior besides interior lights flickering. We were driving on the interstate at approximately 65MPH when I suddenly saw a very dense light gray smoke in the driver's side mirror. We pulled over immediately. I told everyone to exit the vehicle upon seeing flames under the vehicle in front of the drivers front tire, under the engine. We never lost power while driving and the engine showed no signs of failure.

Reported at 112,000 miles, June 2009 Fire

The ABS light, advanced trac control indicator light, and dash lights are flashing on and off intermittently for several seconds. Alarms beep and the engine loses power. This has occurred multiple times over the past several weeks. Then coming onto the freeway this morning it occurred again and the engine shut off. It would not restart. After almost getting hit by another vehicle as a result of the engine shutting off, I was able to pull over and turned off the key.

Reported at 141,457 miles, March 2014

Other problems reported for the 2003 Ford Windstar

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Ford models