Complaints about the 2004 Ford Windstar peaked in 2010, with 4 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Van, 4x2, built in Canada. Owner complaints on file from Dec 29, 2006 to Apr 27, 2019.
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.
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.
24 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.
INTERMITTEN THE SPEEDOMETOR DOES NOT WORK AT ALL OR DOES NOT SHOW THE CORRECT SPEED, OVER DRIVE LIGHT BLINK CONSTANTLY, CRUISE DOES NOT WORK AT LL. HAPPEN IN CITY AND HIGHWAY. HITTING A BUMP SOMETIME CORRECT SPEEDOMETER OR DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THIS CONTNUES TO HAPPEN ON A DAILY BASES
NHTSA complaint 11204177TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint 10916721TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE RECEIVED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHERE THE BATTERY, THE WATER PUMP, AND THE ENGINE BELT WERE REPLACED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
NHTSA complaint 10818097TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V194000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,784. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SIDE BY THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE SWAY BAR IN THE FRONT WAS BROKEN AND THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. FORD STATED THEY MET THE RECALL REQUIREMENTS IN 2011 AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR THE CONSUMER. UPDATED 12/23/15.*JB
NHTSA complaint 10715201TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AXLE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL IN 2007 RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint 10668668TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
NHTSA complaint 10584490TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A CRUNCHING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
NHTSA complaint 10531500RETURNED VAN TO DEALERSHIP, REAR END MAKING NOISE. PREVIOUS RECALL (AUGUST 2012) FIX TO REINFORCE REAR AXLE NOW SHOWS AXLE IS CRACKED. FORD SAYS THEY WILL NOT ENACT A REPAIR, AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE REP STATED THE RECALL DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIX IS PERFORMING AND THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE REGARDING THE REAR AXLE. I ASKED THAT THEY STATE THAT IN WRITING TO ME. LOOKING AT YOUR WEBSITE AND THE FATALITY THAT CAUSED THIS RECALL, I SUSPECT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE. THE DEALERSHIP AGREES. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA complaint 10523810TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE AXLE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AXLE FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10510101PURCHASED THE CAR USED ON 5/26/12, DROVE AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND THE BREAK WARNING LIGHTS BOTH CAME ON, INDICATING ISSUES WITH ABS. TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS MODULE (??) WAS CAUSING THE ISSUES. CAR DEALERSHIP AND WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSED TO COVER IT BECAUSE IT'S AN OPTIONAL SYSTEM. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS BUT FOR SOME REASON MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED - IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN CANADA, SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT EFFECTS RECALL INFORMATION. ON 6/12/12 DRIVING IN TO WORK THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST SPEED WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE IT ACROSS 4 LANES AND THE CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T GO OVER 30MPH - THANKFUL THERE WASN'T A LOT OF TRAFFIC BUT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ISSUES CONTINUE - CAR BUCKS AND HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THERE'S OFTEN A LOUD POP (BACKFIRE?) FROM THE ENGINE WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL. MECHANIC REPLACED SEALS AND SPARK PLUGS IN ENGINE BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PCM (ECM?) WAS CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDE REDUCED GAS MILEAGE, FEELING LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL OR MOVE WHILE AT A STOP (BUCKING LIKE IT'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD EVEN THOUGH BRAKES ARE APPLIED) AND REDUCED FUNCTIONING IN THE A/C UNIT. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10462988TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, GREY SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE BROKE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 141,000.
NHTSA complaint 10461065TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH , THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE SPEED DID NOT DECREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,414.
NHTSA complaint 10434263TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; THEREFORE, IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
NHTSA complaint 10395644TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ALIGNMENT WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS TWISTED AND CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V385000 -SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY) BECAUSE THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF CORROSION OR FRACTURES ON THE AXLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
NHTSA complaint 10381530TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE SLIDING DOORS WOULD ALSO OPEN AND SHUT INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE FAILURE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
NHTSA complaint 10375452TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE 60 MPH WHEN IT BEGAN TO FEEL UNSTABLE AND THEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE ON THE FRONT CONTROL ARM WIRE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,000.
NHTSA complaint 10370721TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 3 MPH THE REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE BEAM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 153,000.
NHTSA complaint 10344020FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SLIGHT NOISE FROM VEHICLE WHICH WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. DRIVING DOWN ROAD TOTAL LOSS OF MOTION WITHIN SECONDS WITH NO SIGN OF DEFECT OR SOUND WHICH PUT MY WHOLE FAMILY IN DANGER. THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKE AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN DONE. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10342792TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE ALSO HEARD AN EXPLOSION. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE SAW THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME. THE PERSON WHO TOWED THE VEHICLE FOUND THAT REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF WHICH PUNCTURED THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAUSING IT TO BLOW. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE IS OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES; THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,005.
NHTSA complaint 10317060DRIVING ON HIGHWAY & SUDDENLY LOST POWER, ALTHOUGH ENGINE WAS STILL ON. TOWED TO DEALER & TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10295340Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.