1996 Ford Windstar Recalls, Complaints & Specs
8 safety recalls list the 1996 Ford Windstar, and owners have filed 1,386 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
8 safety recalls for the 1996 Ford Windstar
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Vehicle speed control
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
On certain minivans originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. During…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake line for corrosion and clearance conditions. A brake line that is not corroded will be repositioned. A brake line that is corroded or leaking will be replaced with a nylon coated brake…
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Exterior lighting
Vehicle description: MINI vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of FMVSS 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to ford, the vehicles were imported into…
Remedy: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
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Master cylinder (service brakes)
Vehicle description: minivans. The brake fluid master cylinder is recessed and oriented in the engine compartment so that the brake fluid warning statement embossed on both the top of the filler cap and the side of the reservoir body are not entirely visible by direct view. These vehicles may not fully comply with requirements of FMVSS…
Remedy: Owners will be provided with new labels and installation instructions.
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Hood (structure)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles and MINI vans. Tearing of the bond between the inner and outer hood panels during minor front end collisions can result in a gap at the leading edge of the hood. Air forced between the inner and outer panels can produce enough pressure to force the outer panel upward.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the hood area for any damage along the leading edge of the hood. If there is any evidence of bond separation, the hood will be replaced. If there is no evidence of bond separation, additional…
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Gear position indication (prndl) (power train)
The park pawl abutment bracket has a sharp edge which can cause the parking pawl to hang up and not engage the park gear. This would allow the vehicle to move even though the gear shift indicator shows that the vehicle is in park.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park pawl abutment bracket.
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Seats
The four fasteners securing the driver's seat to the floorpan were not torqued to proper specifications.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver's seat fasteners and retorque to proper specifications.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
The park pawl shaft was improperly positioned when the roll pin that retains it was installed during transmission assembly. If the shaft was not properly positioned, the roll pin may not have lined up with the groove in the shaft and have been crushed at assembly. Also, a burr could have been raised on the shaft.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the park pawl shaft roll pin. If the roll pin is damaged, both the roll pin and the park pawl shaft will be replaced. In addition, owners will be reminded to fully apply the parking brake, in…
1,386 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Ford Windstar have filed 1,386 complaints with NHTSA; 60 describe a crash and 45 describe a fire. Reports cite 52 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 94,292 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 263 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The k frame rusted out where the control arms mount to the frame and the front driver's side coil spring broke while driving at 65 miles per hour on the interstate”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 14, 2015 · Structure
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. The contact stated that there was a very strong fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 28, 2015 · Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Ford Windstar (Windstar FWD Van, Windstar FWD Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15 / 22–23 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicles |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3/3.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Ford Windstar model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Windstar model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 Ford Windstar | 0 | 5 |
| 1990 Ford Windstar | 0 | 6 |
| 1991 Ford Windstar | 0 | 3 |
| 1992 Ford Windstar | 0 | 2 |
| 1993 Ford Windstar | 0 | 11 |
| 1994 Ford Windstar | 0 | 23 |
| 1995 Ford Windstar | 6 | 3,326 |
| 1996 Ford Windstar | 8 | 1,386 |
| 1997 Ford Windstar | 5 | 192 |
| 1998 Ford Windstar | 11 | 1,433 |
| 1999 Ford Windstar | 11 | 1,522 |
| 2000 Ford Windstar | 15 | 1,675 |
| 2001 Ford Windstar | 15 | 1,686 |
| 2002 Ford Windstar | 8 | 1,353 |
| 2003 Ford Windstar | 8 | 1,510 |
| 2004 Ford Windstar | 0 | 24 |
| 2005 Ford Windstar | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1996 Ford Windstar
How do I know if my 1996 Ford Windstar has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 8 campaigns currently list the 1996 Ford Windstar; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V168000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.