2003 Ford Windstar Recalls, Complaints & Specs
8 safety recalls list the 2003 Ford Windstar, and owners have filed 1,510 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
8 safety recalls for the 2003 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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Mid/rear assembly (seats)
Certain minivans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." during testing, a third row bench floor-to-seat latch released before the strength requirement was met. Identical latches are used in the second row of seats.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat-to-floor latches on the second and third row of seats. Owner notification began on november 21, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
1,510 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Ford Windstar have filed 1,510 complaints with NHTSA; 33 describe a crash and 27 describe a fire. Reports cite 35 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 101,759 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 232 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-20 MPH, the steering wheel was shaking abnormally. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 27, 2026 · Structure
“The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving over a railroad track at 40 MPH, the rear axle snapped. The wheel hub to the axle was barely connected. The contact referen”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 3, 2026 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Ford Windstar (Windstar FWD Cargo Van, Windstar FWD Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16 / 22 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Minivan - 2WD |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 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 2003 Ford Windstar
How do I know if my 2003 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 2003 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 03V459000).
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.