Motor Almanac

Ford / Windstar / 1996

1996 Ford Windstar

Family: Windstar · filed with NHTSA as WINDSTAR

Summary

  • In its first three years the 1996 Windstar drew 225 complaints — 1.0× the median of its generation (1996–1998). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
  • These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
  • Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Engine, holds 35% of the 1,367 that name a component.
  • 9 recalls filed for this model year.
  • 13 federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints
1,386
Recalls
9
Investigations
13
NCAP overall
Not rated
Combined MPG
18
Annual fuel cost
$3,450
Median mileage at complaint
86,000 mi (n = 216)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths
60 / 45 / 52 / 1

What owners report

Engine

472 complaints · 35% of complaints that name a component · median 78,000 mi (n = 97)

Owner report CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON AFTER TUNEUP ... DOES NOT LOSE SPEED ... RUNS ROUGH AFTER ACCELERATING AND DOESN'T NOT OVERHEAT ....WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner report TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR GL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED AND THE ENGINE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED BUT NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAIL…

Powertrain

322 complaints · 24% of complaints that name a component · median 72,000 mi (n = 31)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH. THE SERVICE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE…
Owner report THERE WAS NO CRASH. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. I WAS DRIVING A CLIENT HOME FROM A PICNIC AND PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO PARK AND SMOKE STARTED ROLLING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I GOT MY PASSENGER WHO WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR TO SAFETY AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND FLAMES COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE TRANSAXLES. I…

Brakes

229 complaints · 17% of complaints that name a component · median 89,215 mi (n = 31)

Owner report ABS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, AFTER 5 MINUTES OF OPERATION LIGHT WILL COME ON, THEN STAY ON, BUT AFTER SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND START AGAIN LIGHT IS FFF AND COMES BACK ON AFTER FEW MINUTES OF TRAVEL. *TR
Owner report THE BRAKE & ABS LIGHTS WERE COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY THEN THE BRAKES STARTED SQUEAKING AND EVENTUALLY STARTED AT LEAST SCRUBBING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. ALSO, WHEN YOU PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, IT FELT SOFT. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR AND THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKES ARE SCRUBBING. A…

1% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (1996–1998)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 225.

Model yearAll complaintsFirst three yearsNote
19961,386225
199719250fewest complaints
19981,433482most complaints

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

09V399000 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Filed 2009-10-13 · 4,500,000 vehicles

Defect: 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 SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Risk: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

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 AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

02V101000 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Filed 2002-04-04 · 250,283 vehicles

Defect: 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 ASSEMBLY, SOME BRAKE LINES WERE INSTALLED IN A TWISTED POSITION, CAUSING CONTACT WITH THE DASH PANEL INSULATOR ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CONTACT COULD ABRADE THE BRAKE LINE CORROSION PROTECTION, CONSEQUENTLY, SALT OR WATER ABSORBED IN THE DASH PANEL INSULATOR WOULD PROMOTE CORROSION. THIS CORROSION COULD ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE.

Risk: LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID WILL RESULT IN BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVATION. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE COULD ALSO RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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 LINE AND SECURED USING THREE RETAINING CLIPS TO ASSURE CLEARANCE FROM THE INSULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 10, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

01I007000 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

Filed 2001-07-12 · 948,492 vehicles

Defect: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1995-1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD POTENTIALLY FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION. NOTE: THE 1997-1998 WINDSTAR MINI VANS ARE ALSO COVERED BY NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 01V-199/FORD RECALL 01S19. THE MINI VANS COVERED BY THE SAFETY RECALL WERE 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, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Risk: SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

Remedy: FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR FRONT COIL SPRING REPLACEMENT TO A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS OF SERVICE FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE. THIS COVERAGE IS AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO SUBSEQUENT OWNERS AT NO CHARGE. IF EITHER FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURES DURING THE COVERAGE PERIOD NOTED ABOVE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER.

00V168000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2000-06-19 · 20,637 vehicles

Defect: 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 THE U.S. ERRONEOUSLY.

Risk: THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.

99V147000 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Filed 1999-06-14 · 789,723 vehicles

Defect: 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 NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS."

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH NEW LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.

97V180000 · STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

Filed 1997-10-20 · 769,000 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE OUTER HOOD PANEL.

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 ADHESIVE WILL BE APPLIED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS.

96V166000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Filed 1996-09-05 · 40,000 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Risk: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.

96V114000 · SEATS

Filed 1996-07-01 · 200 vehicles

Defect: THE FOUR FASTENERS SECURING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE FLOORPAN WERE NOT TORQUED TO PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.

Risk: THE DRIVER'S SEAT MAY NOT PROPERLY HOLD IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVER'S SEAT FASTENERS AND RETORQUE TO PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.

96V086000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Filed 1996-05-14 · 100,000 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.

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 ADDITION TO PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK.

Federal investigations

ActionComponentOpenedClosedRecall
EA08021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2008-09-172009-10-1409V399000
PE08035ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2008-05-132008-09-17
RQ04003SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID2004-05-272004-10-07
RQ02011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2002-08-292003-03-1499V309000
EA00027SUSPENSION2000-12-082001-07-3101I007000
PE00024SUSPENSION2000-06-232000-12-08
EA99020FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1999-07-261999-12-1699V309000
PE98056SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1998-10-281999-02-24
EA97018STRUCTURE1997-09-301997-10-2297V180000
PE97011STRUCTURE1997-03-131997-09-30
EA96026SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1996-10-312000-02-18
PE96042SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1996-06-131996-10-31
PE96015POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1996-02-231996-05-2296V086000

EA08021: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

PE08035: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

RQ04003: HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE

RQ02011: FUEL TANK FATIGUE CRACKING

EA00027: SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE

PE00024: SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE

EA99020: FUEL TANK CRACKS

PE98056: REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM

EA97018: OUTER HOOD PANEL DETACHMENT

PE97011: OUTER HOOD PANEL DETACHMENT

EA96026: BRAKE PEDAL FADE/EXTENDED STOP DISTANCE

PE96042: BRAKE PEDAL FADE/EXTENDED STOPPING

PE96015: FAILURE OF AUTO TRANS PARK LOCK SYSTEM

Engines and fuel economy

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyCombinedFuel cost / yr
Windstar FWD Van3.0L 6cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive152318$3450
Windstar FWD Van3.8L 6cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive152218$3450
Windstar FWD Wagon3.0L 6cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive152318$3450
Windstar FWD Wagon3.8L 6cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive152218$3450

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

VariantOverallFrontalSideRollover
1996 Ford WindstarNot RatedNot RatedNot RatedNot Rated

Service bulletins

Ford issued 177 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about power train.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

DateComponentSummary
2020-04-20STRUCTUREFor 1999-2003 Windstar vehicles Safety Recall 11S16 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where a front subframe lower control arm (LCA) rear attaching flange or rear body mount could…
2004-08-01POWER TRAINGROAN/BUZZ/VIBRATION WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED ON AN INCLINE. *TT THIS BULLETIN UPDATES PREVIOUS BULLETIN 17358, DATED 11/01/2003 TO INCLUDE 2005 MODELS. *TT
2003-09-15ELECTRICAL SYSTEMREMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
2003-07-21POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINESNEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT
2003-07-01SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICSLIGHT AMOUNT OF FLUID RESIDUE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER DUST BOOT ON VEHICLES WITH REAR DRUM BRAKES. *TT
2003-06-23POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTERTORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING WHEN COMMANDED AND/OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0741 OR P1744 STORED IN MEMORY. MODELS FROM 1996 TO 2003. *TT
2002-11-11ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINEENGINE-GEAR DRIVEN SYNCHRONIZERS-INCORRECT INSTALLATION-CAMSHAFT POSITION SYNCHRONIZER (CMP) INSTALLATION TOOL CORRECT APPLICATION. *MJ
2002-10-22ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINEINCORRECTLY INSTALLED GEAR DRIVEN CAMSHAFT POSITION (CMP) SENSOR SYNCHRONIZER ASSEMBLIES CAUSING SURGE, LOST OF POWER, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1336, P1309 AND P0340. *TT
2002-10-14EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONERCLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH
2002-09-02EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHLAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Windstar, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Ford Windstar model page.

Sources

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.