1999 Ford Windstar Recalls, Complaints & Specs
11 safety recalls list the 1999 Ford Windstar, and owners have filed 1,522 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
11 safety recalls for the 1999 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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Non-powered axle assembly (suspension)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles manufactured September 2, 1997, to July 3, 2003. The affected vehicles were previously remedied to safeguard against the rear axle cracking from corrosion, however, the remedy brackets may have been misinstalled. The incorrect bracket installations may…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brackets to verify their proper installation. If a bracket is found to have been misinstalled, the rear axle will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free…
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Axle assembly (power train)
Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from september 1, 1997, through july 3, 2003, and currently registered or originally sold in virginia. Over time, corrosion can weaken the rear axle making it susceptible to torsional stress. Corrosion and stress can lead to cracks which, if undetected, can…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install rear axle reinforcement brackets, or replace the axles, as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on june 19, 2012.…
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Suspension: control arm
Ford is recalling certain model year 1999-2003 windstar vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the state of virginia. Corrosion-related fractures of the front lower control arm rear attaching brackets and body mount attachments may occur.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect both front lower control arm rear attaching brackets and both body mount attachments at the rear of the front subframe and make the necessary repairs free of charge. The recall began on june 18,…
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Non-powered axle assembly (suspension)
Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from september 1, 1997, through july 3, 2003, registered in puerto rico. Due to increased stresses caused by high cycles of torsional loading, specific to this market, the rear axle can crack.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install a reinforcement bracket on the rear axle or replace the axles, as necessary. This service will be provided free of charge. The recall began on june 1, 2012.…
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Underbody shields (structure)
Ford is recalling certain model year 1999-2003 windstar vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect both front lower control arm rear attaching brackets, and both body mount attachments at the rear of the front subframe, and make the necessary repairs free of charge. If repairs cannot be made to…
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Non-powered axle assembly (suspension)
Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from september 1, 1997 through february 28, 2003 and currently registered or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new…
Remedy: As parts become available, dealers will inspect and if necessary install the rear axle reinforcement brackets free of charge. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 20, 2010.…
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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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Motor (visibility)
Vehicle description: MINI vans. Contaminants such as water, salt, and windshield washer solution can enter the wiper motor cover assembly through pinholes on the exterior of the cover that are used in the molding process. In addition, on certain of the vehicles built between february and august 2000, a switch located in the plastic…
Remedy: Dealers will install a new wiper cover with improved sealing and water resistance. Owner notification begain august 27, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do…
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Air conditioner (equipment)
Vehicle description: MINI vans equipped with auxiliary rear air-conditioning. If the auxiliary air-conditioning blower motor stops turning while in the medium-low blower speed setting, there is the potential that the resistor may become hot and smoke.
Remedy: Dealers will install a jumper wire that will ensure that the medium-low blower speed setting is protected by the thermal limiter. Owner notification began augsut 27, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an…
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Interior/under dash (electrical system)
Vehicle description: minivans built with instrument clusters without the message center, fail to comply with the requirements of standard no. 118, "power-operated window, partition, and roof panel systems." the power windows may be operable after the ignition has been turned to the "off" position and the front doors are opened.
Remedy: Dealers will reconfigure the vehicle front end electronic module.
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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.
1,522 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 Ford Windstar have filed 1,522 complaints with NHTSA; 50 describe a crash and 61 describe a fire. Reports cite 46 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 107,622 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 219 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH out of the driveway, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding and popping sound. The contact shifted to park(P). The contact”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 2, 2025 · Suspension
“The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the contact became aware that the rear passenger's side wheel was pushed upward and was nearly rubbing the inn”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 15, 2024 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1999 Ford Windstar (Windstar FWD Van, Windstar FWD Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–16 / 21 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Minivan - 2WD |
| 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 1999 Ford Windstar
How do I know if my 1999 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. 11 campaigns currently list the 1999 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 00V351000).
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.