Complaints about the 2000 Ford Windstar peaked in 2010, with 329 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Minivan, gasoline, 4x2, built in Canada. Owner complaints on file from Nov 17, 1999 to Jun 11, 2025.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15V-608 | Sep 29, 2015 | Affected vehicles were previously remedied to safeguard against the rear axle cracking from corrosion, however, the remedy brackets may have been… | Suspension | 283,413 | Part replacement |
| 12V-195 | May 3, 2012 | Due to increased stresses caused by high cycles of torsional loading, specific to this market, the rear axle can crack | Suspension | 9,192 | Part replacement |
| 12V-194 | May 3, 2012 | Corrosion-related fractures of the front lower control arm rear attaching brackets and body mount attachments may occur | Suspension | 23,000 | Repair or modification |
| 12V-193 | May 3, 2012 | Over time, corrosion can weaken the rear axle making it susceptible to torsional stress | Powertrain | 27,000 | Part replacement |
| 11V-030 | Jan 26, 2011 | Separation of a front lower control arm rear attaching bracket may result in a lower control arm separation | Structure | 425,288 | Repair or modification |
| 10V-385 | Aug 26, 2010 | After many years of vehicle service in these areas, corrosion can weaken the rear axle, making it susceptible to torsional stress | Suspension | 492,650 | Repair or modification |
| 09V-399 | Oct 13, 2009 | Scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn | Speed control | 4,500,000 | Repair or modification |
| 06E-056 | Jun 13, 2006 | Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n f65277, shipped from january 16 through june 2, 2006, for use on the… | Fuel system | 58,640 | Part replacement |
| 02V-072 | Mar 11, 2002 | In some minivans, water and other contaminants (dirt, salt, etc.) can enter into the right rear passenger compartment due to a missing body sealer | Trailer hitches | 417,037 | Repair or modification |
| 01V-262 | Aug 15, 2001 | Vehicle description: mini vans equipped with auxiliary rear air-conditioning | Equipment | 413,245 | Repair or modification |
| 01V-261 | Aug 15, 2001 | Vehicle description: mini vans | Visibility and wipers | 598,256 | Repair or modification |
| 01V-207 | Jun 22, 2001 | Vehicle description: minivans equipped with an adjustable pedal option | Speed control | 45,800 | Part replacement |
| 00V-351 | Oct 30, 2000 | Vehicle description: minivans built with instrument clusters without the message center, fail to comply with the requirements of standard no. 118,… | Electrical system | 180,000 | Not stated |
| 00V-228-001 | Aug 18, 2000 | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies | Seat belts | 144,435 | Part replacement |
| 00V-164 | Jun 19, 2000 | Vehicle description: mini vans | Fuel system | 3,000 | Repair or modification |
| 00V-020 | Jan 31, 2000 | Vehicle description: mini vans | Visibility and wipers | 1,475 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
1,675 complaints on file, page 1 of 84.
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 passenger’s side windows failed to go up or roll down and were inoperable. The contact also stated that the instrument panel and anti-theft system were inoperable. The service engine, anti-theft, overdrive, speedometer, ABS system, and door ajar warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V351000 (Electrical System) and 00V020000 (Visibility). The contact called the dealer and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and confirmed there were no associated recalls with the VIN and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
NHTSA complaint 11666369The 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 into, and grind against the wheel well. This happened on a side street near my house. Had it happened at highway speeds, the rear wheels could have locked up or perhaps broken free causing loss of control. The axle problem has been known to Ford, but it is concerning that this is the second one to fail. I have not yet contacted ford or a a repair facility to evaluate. There were no warning lamps or other indication. The axle simply broke abruptly. I thought it was a tire blow out until I saw the wheels tilted in. The vehicle is older, but I maintain it well.
NHTSA complaint 11590976The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while reversing at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal booming sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the front spring had fractured and punctured the passenger’s side front tire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
NHTSA complaint 11537073Going down the road car starts to sputter and then we'll cut off while driving and black smoke goes every dangerous it's happened twice already got it checked says nothing
NHTSA complaint 11519086Car overheats even though it does not shown on the meter and when stopped and cut off it bubbles severely
NHTSA complaint 11519084Sliding rear door drivers side opened own it's own while i was driving. would not close, kept reopening, had to muscle closed. it has continued to happen frequently. I have seen many complaints on the year, model, for this issue. Why has there been no safety recall done? This is very dangerous.I have not taken for repairs, I have a very modest SS income and jut can not afford that. Car can be inspected at any time.
NHTSA complaint 11439573TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A SQUEALING NOISE AND THEN STARTED TO SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COVER-JONES MOTOR (403 W. 3RD ST, ALLIANCE, NE 69301, (800) 344-9288) WHO STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE AXLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,481.
NHTSA complaint 11403234GOING DOWN THE ROAD TRACTION CONTROL WILL GO OFF AND ON . IT WILL MAKE THE STEERING VERY HARD. THEN WHEN YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF. IT IS VERY HARD TO START UP . SOME TIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE HOURS THEN IT WILL START RIGHT UP. THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IS VERY BAD. SOMETIMES WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL STARTS TO HAVE A PROBLEM THE VAN IS VERY HARD TO EVEN KEEP IT IN CONTROL I'M DISABLED AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A BETTER VAN. I'VE TRIED TO TAKE IT BACK TO FORD BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. ALL THEY TALE ME IS TO GET ANEW ONE .BUT I CAN'T. THE POWER ON THE DOOR LOCKS ARE BAD THE LOCKS WILL GO LOCKED AND UNLOCK AS YOU DRIVE IT DOWN THE ROAD. BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT. 3 YEARS. OR MORE. HAD IT IN TO FORD MANY TIMES.
NHTSA complaint 11384006WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY MY REAR AXLE BROKE I SAFETY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER BUT WHILE DOING THAT MY TIRE BLEW AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGH WAY. *TR
NHTSA complaint 11324389THE STEERING STARTED TO FAIL TO RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION. I HAD THE ORIGINAL RECALL BRACKET PUT ON MY VEHICLE AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE PHOTO BUT THIS DID NOT ACTUALLY MAKE THE STEERING ARM ANY BETTER AND PROBABLY MADE IT WORSE BY ALLOWING THE BRACKET TO COLLECT ROAD SALT. FORD AS BEEN EVASIVE TOWARD PROVIDING ANY HELP. I BELIEVE THAT FORD'S EVASIVENESS IS RESULT OF THE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTED FIX WHICH WAS UNPRODUCTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENGINEERED TO HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF THE STEERING ARM. I BELIEVE RECALLS EA10007 AND PE10026 MAY PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE. I AM AWAITING ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO WITH MY VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND PROBABLY NOT COST WORTHY TO FIX.
NHTSA complaint 11286339TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND VEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD METAL SCRAPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000. *LN*JB CONSUMER STATED I HAVE ATTACHED THE IMAGES OF MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR SE'S AXLE BREAKAGE TO THIS EMAIL.*JB
NHTSA complaint 11277509TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR NEW STRUTS, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. *TR*JB
NHTSA complaint 11255082REAR AXLE CRACKED
NHTSA complaint 11254566TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OVERNIGHT AND WAS DRIVEN HOME THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint 11245845THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES CRAZY, DOESN'T WORK OR WORKS JUST FINE. THIS HAPPENS WEATHER I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE CITY..
NHTSA complaint 11242309TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS LEANING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 866-436-7332 AND ADVISED THEM THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MANUFACTURER NUMBER: 15S27 (SUSPENSION) ON THE REAR AXLE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 21985359. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint 11240275TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS BENT INWARD TOWARDS THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THEN TOWED TO SUPERIOR FORD OF PLYMOUTH (9700 56TH AVE N, PLYMOUTH, MN 55442, (877) 735-4755). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
NHTSA complaint 11233330TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V194000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
NHTSA complaint 11230089I LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A STILL ONGOING LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR 2000 REAR AXLE. AS YOU KNOW, THE WINDSTAR'S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE IN 2010. MY PARTICULAR CAR WAS REINFORCED WITH 2 BRACKETS UNDER SAFETY RECALL 10S13 AT THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF THE AXLE AND I THINK IN THE AREA WERE THE BRACKETS ARE INSTALLED THE AXLE WILL HOLD UP EVEN WITH A LOT OF CORROSION PRESENT. THE PROBLEM IS THE AXLE IS CRACKING JUST 1 INCH TO THE RIGHT BESIDE THE REINFORCED BRACKET IN MY CASE THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. THE ONLY REASON I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS, A FEW WEEKS AGO I HAD MY CAR SERVICED AND I DID AN INSPECTION ON THE AXLE AND THAT'S WHEN I FOUND THAT BIG CRACK HALF WAY AROUND THE AXLE!!! THAT SAME DAY I WENT TO MY FORD DEALER (BILL BROWN) TO BRING IT TO THEIR ATTENTION, UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER THIS WAS NOT A RECALL MATTER ANYMORE AND HE HAD NO INTEREST OF INSPECTING THE AXLE WITHOUT CHARGING ME $ 125.00. NATURALLY I REFUSED TO PAY THAT AMOUNT.
NHTSA complaint 11202691I STARTED HEARING A SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. I INSPECTED UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A SIGNIFICANT CRACK IN THE REAR AXLE. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR; HOWEVER, MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *JS
NHTSA complaint 11193145Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.