2004 Ford Windstar problems
The 2004 Ford Windstar has 33 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (27%) concerns suspension. Next are cruise control (12%) and drivetrain & axles (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 33 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 27% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 129,000 miles 32 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 | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 12 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 8 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 32 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 129,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Ford Windstar with enough data (9 complaints in that window).
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.
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.
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.
Tl* - the contact stated that while driving heard a noise from the brakes the contact took the vehicle to the dealer, who repaired the brakes by sanding down the rotors. The dealer told the contact that ford has changed the materials that were used to make the rotors. Also, the dealer told the contact that this failure occurred because he didn't drive the vehicle often. Updated 1/30/2007 -
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford windstar. The contact stated that her vehicle was included and repaired under an unknown manufacturer's recall for the axle. After the repair, the axle fractured. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, a crunching sound was heard from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.