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2000 Ford Windstar Recalls, Complaints & Specs

15 safety recalls list the 2000 Ford Windstar, and owners have filed 1,675 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

15
safety recalls
1,675
owner complaints to NHTSA
62 / 55
complaints citing a crash / fire
17–18
MPG combined (EPA)

15 safety recalls for the 2000 Ford Windstar

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Non-powered axle assembly (suspension)

    NHTSA 15V608000 Reported 283,413 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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…

  2. Axle assembly (power train)

    NHTSA 12V193000 Reported 27,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.…

  3. Suspension: control arm

    NHTSA 12V194000 Reported 23,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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,…

  4. Non-powered axle assembly (suspension)

    NHTSA 12V195000 Reported 9,192 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.…

  5. Underbody shields (structure)

    NHTSA 11V030000 Reported 425,288 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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…

  6. Non-powered axle assembly (suspension)

    NHTSA 10V385000 Reported 492,650 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.…

  7. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 09V399000 Reported 4,500,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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…

  8. Trailer hitches

    NHTSA 02V072000 Reported 417,037 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    In some minivans, water and other contaminants (dirt, salt, etc.) can enter into the right rear passenger compartment due to a missing body sealer.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the electrical connector and surrounding area for absence of body sealing and corrosion. If corrosion is present, dealers will service the body gaps, repair corroded connectors, and apply a…

  9. Motor (visibility)

    NHTSA 01V261000 Reported 598,256 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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…

  10. Air conditioner (equipment)

    NHTSA 01V262000 Reported 413,245 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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…

  11. Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 01V207000 Reported 45,800 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: minivans equipped with an adjustable pedal option. The driver floor mat could interfere with the accelerator pedal.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace both front driver and passenger side floor mats in the vehicle. Owner notification began july 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do…

  12. Interior/under dash (electrical system)

    NHTSA 00V351000 Reported 180,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

  13. Seat belts

    NHTSA 00V228001 Reported 144,435 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and MINI vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began october 26, 2000. Owners who take…

  14. Delivery (fuel system)

    NHTSA 00V164000 Reported 3,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: MINI vans. These vehicles may have incorrectly fuel line end forms which could result in a lower than specified pull apart force for the installed fuel line connection.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a redundant fuel line clip on the fuel supply and return line connections at the rear of the chassis fuel line bundle.

  15. Glass, side/rear (visibility)

    NHTSA 00V020000 Reported 1,475 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: MINI vans. These vehicles may have been built with incorrect urethane, resulting in an adhesive bond rather than the intended molecular bond for the front windshield and rear liftgate glass.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the windshield and liftgate glass.

1,675 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2000 Ford Windstar have filed 1,675 complaints with NHTSA; 62 describe a crash and 55 describe a fire. Reports cite 61 injuries and 3 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 104,589 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 329 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start, and the rear glass was out of the frame by about three-quarters of an inch. Additionally, the front driver's and”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 11, 2025 · Electrical system

“The rear axle broke for the second time on a Ford Windstar, after already breaking prior to a recall in 2010. It appears to have broken where a clamp was attached. This caused the rear wheels to fall”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 28, 2024 · Suspension

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2000 Ford Windstar (Windstar FWD Cargo Van, Windstar FWD Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–18 mpg
City / Highway15–16 / 21
FuelRegular
EPA classMinivan - 2WD
Engine6 cyl, 3/3.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Ford Windstar model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Windstar model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1985 Ford Windstar05
1990 Ford Windstar06
1991 Ford Windstar03
1992 Ford Windstar02
1993 Ford Windstar011
1994 Ford Windstar023
1995 Ford Windstar63,326
1996 Ford Windstar81,386
1997 Ford Windstar5192
1998 Ford Windstar111,433
1999 Ford Windstar111,522
2000 Ford Windstar151,675
2001 Ford Windstar151,686
2002 Ford Windstar81,353
2003 Ford Windstar81,510
2004 Ford Windstar024
2005 Ford Windstar01

Checking a specific 2000 Ford Windstar

How do I know if my 2000 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. 15 campaigns currently list the 2000 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 00V020000).

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

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.