Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
AT 112,000 MILES, MY FORD WINDSTAR HAS DEVELOPED A HEAD GASKET LEAK INTERNALLY WHICH HAS RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE THAT NOW REQUIRES COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE 2 PROFESSIONAL REPAIR SHOPS DIAGNOSIS AND BOTH AGREE THAT IT NEEDS AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR THE REASONS STATED ABOVE.*AK
CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR I HAD A COOLANT LEAK. WHEN THE MECHANIC DID THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST HE SAID THE LEAK WAS AT THE VALVE COVERS AND INTAKE. THE GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A PRICE OF OVER $900. IT APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM OF THE 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE DEFECT WARRANTY. MY WINDSTAR HAD JUST OVER 50,000 MILES ON WHEN THIS DEFECT HAPPENED. *AK
EXTENSIVE PEELING OF PAINT ATOP OF VAN EXPOSING SURFACE THUS CREATING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE REQUIRING EXPENSIVE REPAIR.*AK
WHILE DRIVING LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED INTO THE PATH OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH STRUCK THE TIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MR *NM
VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. ENGINE DEVELOPES A ROUGH IDLE AT STOP WHILE DRIVING AND HAS ON OCASSIONS STALLED COMPLETELY. NOT IN WARRANTY AT PRESENT TIME. TAKEN TO INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOP AND DIAGNOSED WITH FORD TSB 01205. REPLACE MANIFOLD GASKET AND BOLTS, ETC. FORD MOTOR NEEDS TO ISSUSE RECALL ON THE PROBLEM ASAP.
FUEL TANK COLLAPSED. AS A RESULT, THE 22 GALLON TANK CAN ONLY TAKE IN 13 GALLONS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A GROANING NOISE. TIE ROD ENDS WERE CRACKED. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT.
CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING DOWN FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM BRACKET RUSTED.*AK
SINCE APRIL 2001 I HAVE HAD MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR IN THE SHOP NINE TIMES TO REPLACE FRONT WHEEL STUDS THAT HAD SHEARED OFF. MY HOMETOWN MECHANIC AFTER REPLACING STUDS ON THE RIGHT FRONT FIVE TIMES FINALLY SUGGESTED WE REPLACE THE WHEEL BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THE HOLES APPEARED OVAL INSTEAD OF ROUND. THIS SEEMED TO HAVE ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM ON THE RIGHT BUT SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS OF STUDS SHEARING OFF ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. AT A FORD DEALERSHIP IN CINCINNATI, OH, I HAD TO REPLACE (IN THE LEFT FRONT) 3 STUDS AND AT THAT TIME HAD A NEW WHEEL PUT ON. AFTER DRIVING FROM CINCINNATI TO ATLANTA GEORGIA I AGAIN WAS AT A FORD DEALERSHIP IN CONYERS GEORGIA WITH THREE MORE BROKEN STUDS (ON THE LEFT FRONT) AND THIS TIME THEY ALSO REPLACED THE HUB ASSEMBLY. NOW AFTER OVER $1300.00 IN REPAIRS MY WINDSTAR IS AGAIN IN THE SHOP HAVING BROKEN STUDS REPLACED ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. BY THE WAY NONE OF THE FORD DEALERSHIPS WOULD ADMIT EVER HEARING OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR ON THE HIGHWAY, I SMELLED SMOKE. I PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD THINKING AT FIRST THAT I HAD A BROKEN FAN BELT OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND FLAMES COMING FROM THE AREA OF WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I USED MY CELL PHONE TO CALL FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, A MOTORIST STOPPED TO ASSIST ME IN PUTTING OUT THE FIRE WITH WATER.*AK
VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP VEHICLE, ONE OF CONSUMER'S FINGERS WAS SEVERED, AND THREE BADLY INJURED. THIS OCCURRED WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR TO ENTER THE MOVING VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER SPENT NINE DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND HAS TO GO FOR TREATMENT ONCE A WEEK. *PH
THE CONSUMER HAD TO REFILL THE VEHICLE WITH COOLANT FLUID OFTEN DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING. *AK
WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RIM ON OUR 1998 WINDSTAR'S RIGHT FRONT WHEEL THREE TIMES DUE TO RIM BREAKAGE AND SUBSEQUENT TIRE DEFLATION. TWO DIFFERENT TIRE REPAIR SHOPS REPORTED SEEING THIS PROBLEM FREQUENTLY IN FORD WINDSTARS. THE FORD DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED DENIED ANY PROBLEM OR RESPONSIBILITY. *LA
1998 WINDSTAR DEFROSTER BLEND DOOR FAILURE, WHICH CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD TO ICE UP AND WE ARE UNABLE TO SEE. IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM AND FORD WANTS $1000 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEATING UNIT.*JB
HEADLIGHT COVERS TURNED CLOUDY. CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED THIS IN 2001. EVEN WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE SWITCHED TO BRIGHT THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY ENOUGH TO SAFELY SEE AT NIGHT.*AK
IHAVE A FORD WINDSTAR MIN VAN IT IS A 1998 GL AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE ONLY HAD IT THREE AND A HALF YEARS WE BOUGHT IT AT BEST FORD IN NASHUA NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT WE WERE OVER BY 600 MILES SO THEY WOULDNT HONOR IT. COME TO FIND OUT THERE WERE TWO OTHER MINI VANS WINDSTARS THE SAME TYPE AND AGE IN THE SHOP GETTING TRANSMISSION WORK DONE. THIS SHOULD OF NEVER HAPPENED TO US AND I THINK THE COMPANY OUGHT TO REIMBURSE US FOR THIS EXPENSIVE FIX THERE IS OBVIOUSLY PROBLEMS WITH THESE MIN VANS TRANSMISSION GOING TO EARLY . I HOPE I GET SOME RESULTS ON THIS ITS REDICULOUS WE ARE NOT EVEN DONE PAYING ON IT YET KAREN ROY. *AK
FORD WINDSTAR TENSION PULLEYS ON THEIR SERPENTINE BELTS ARE DEFECTIVE. *LA
I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND FELT A VIBRATION AS THOUGH I MAY HAVE A FLAT TIRE,CHECKED AND THE TIRES WERE FINE SO I PROCEEDED FORWARD ONLY TO HAVE THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL COLLAPSE INWARD, ALL 5 LUGS WERE SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF, THE SERVICE CENTER HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS OCCURRENCE, ONE MONTH TO THE DAY THE SAME THING OCCURRED AGAIN AND I WAS AGAIN CHARGED THE REPAIR COST AND NEW BOLTS AND LUGS WERE INSTALLED ALONG WITH THE TIRE BEING ROTATED TO THE BACK,THIS LASTED FOR 6 MONTHS AND THE LUGS BROKE AGAIN, I AM JUST NOW LEARNING THAT THERE ARE OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. LUG NUTS SHOULD NOT BE SHEARED OFF AS THOUGH A HOT KNIFE CUT THROUGH BUTTER. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS 2 YEARS OLD AND THOUGH I HAVE HAD NO OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS BUT THIS IS ONE THAT COULD COST ME OR MY CHILDREN OUR LIVES. *LA
I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN WHEN WE STRUCK A DEER GOING 55 MPH. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO MY RIGHT EYE, INCLUDING A TRAUMA INDUCED CATARACT. SO FAR VISION HAS NOT RETURNED AND I'M WORRIED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *LA
RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES AT DEALER FOR A COST OF $1,500, AND IT FAILED AGAIN. STEERING RACK SHOULD NOT MALFUNCTION IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO, BOOT LEAKS CAUSED POWER STEERING PUMP TO MALFUNCTION. *AK
VEHICLE BLOWS FUEL PUMP FUSE AND STOPS RUNNING. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN 3 INSTANCES ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIME AND IS GOING AGAIN. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO?*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE FROM THE RETRACTOR. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE FELL OUT TO THE GROUND. DEALER SAID SOMEONE REMOVED THE ENGINE BOLTS. *AK THERE WERE NO EXISTING BOLTS. (ENGINE SUPPORT HELD IN PLACE BY FRICTION ON THE THREADS UNTIL FINAL FAILURE) *SCC *JB
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE ENGAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER.*AK THE REAR BRAKES WERE DESTROYED BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TS *JB
HOOD AREA WAS BENT AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO LEAN UNEVENLY. THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE WAS POORLY DESIGNED. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LA
1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. VAN WOULD NOT GO FORWARD UNTIL I DOWN SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FOUND A PROBLEM CODE AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DAILY CUT OFFS OCCUR ON PULLING UP MY STEEP DRIVEWAY AND COMING TO A STOP. *LA
CONSUMER STATED WHILE PARKING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED STEERING FITTING WAS RUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEEERING FLUID TO LEAK. THE HOOD WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE DEALER LUBED THE LATCH. *AK *TS *NLM
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 65,000 MILES. CHECKED WITH DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS FROM FORD. I LOOK AT THIS WEBSITE AND FIND NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THERE SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY REFUNDED FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *LA
1998 WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE COOLANT WAS LOW AND HAD IT TO TOPPED OFF. THE COOLANT LEVEL CONTINUED TO FALL. THE MECHANIC REFUSED TO CHANGE EITHER FLUID DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 95' MODELS BUT IT APPEARED THAT FORD DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. REFER TO ODI# 10028678 *SCC *JB
THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE REPAIR SHOP. INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET, IN WHICH THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AND THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1,500 (CANADIAN). FORD WAS NOTIFIED BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TO COMPENSATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT?S NOT COVERED IN ITS EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH ITS WARRANTY IS FOR SEVEN YEARS OR 160,000 KM. *LA
SUDDEN POWER STEERING LEAK. MAIN LEAK FROM LOW PRESSURE HOSE, BUT FOUND THAT RUSTED HIGH PRESSURE HOSE FITTING ALSO LEAKING A BIT; AND SEAL(S) OF RACK & PINION LEAKING INTO DUST BOOT(S). HAD TO REPLACE HOSES & RACK/PINION AT 81,000 MILES -- 98 WINDSTAR. *JB
THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE FRONT STRUT ROD CRACKED AND CAUSED THE RIGHT WHEEL TO WOBBLE. *AK
I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR, AND ITS FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER IT WAS SAID THAT THE FUEL TANK COLLAPSED AT THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH CAUSED THE LEAKING. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE. *AK
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. HEAD GASKET IS NOT A SERVICE ITEM AND SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD 3.8L ENGINE.
IN JULY OF 2002 TWO LUGNUT STUDS FROM MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE. IN MARCH OF 2003 THREE LUGNUT STUDS FROM MY RIGHT FROM WHEEL BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. A FORTH LUGNUT STUD BROKE ON MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE.
MASTER CYLINDER AND HC UNIT WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY OF 2003, IN THE SHOP FOR 6 WEEKS. ON 9/19 BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. RESULT HITTING A PARKED CAR. TOLD BY DEALER THAT SAME 2 PARTS WERE AGAIN BAD.*JB
WHILE STEERING, THIS VEHICLE TENDS TO ALMOST JUMP WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING AROUND ANY TYPE OF CORNER. I HAVE TO OVER COMPENSATE SO AS NOT TO VEER TOWARD THAT DIRECTION. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. CONSEQUENTLY, I HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC TO GET HIS EVALUATION?*JB
PAINT PEELING ON THE VEHICLE. STARTED AT ROOF AND NOW IS PEELING ALL OVER. ALSO THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES A BANGING NOISE WHEN TRAVELING ON BUMPY ROADS. HAVE TRIED TO HAVE FIX BUT 2 OR LESS MONTHS IT STARTS AGAIN.
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, TORQUE, POWER STEERING, AND FRONT END STABLE RODS & ARMS. *MR THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE POWER STEERING ONCE, THE FONT END STABLE RODS AND ARMS TWICE AND REMAINED BAD. THE BATTERY LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE IDLER PULLEY WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A CREAKING/CRACKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND THE OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TOE BEING RESET, THERE WAS A CLUNK WHEN GOING OVER THE BUMPS, THERE WAS A VIBRATION UNDERNEATH DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF AND SEEMED LIKE THE SHIFTS WERE ERRATIC, THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED BADLY, AND ON SOME OCCASIONS THE STARTER DID NOT ENGAGE. *SCC *JB
1998 WINDSTAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE OVER CATALYTIC CONVERTER SIMILAR TO 1996 FORD WINDSTAR RECALL 4/3/02 02V101000. LOCAL MECHANIC WITH KNOWLEDGE RECALL ON 1996 WINDSTAR CONTACTED BROCKPORT FORD (CLOSEST DEALER) FOR INFORMATION ON REPAIR AND IF ANY SPECIAL MATERIALS WERE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR. THE MECHANIC WAS TOLD THERE WANSN'T ANYTHING AVAILABLE. THROUG MY OWN RESEARCH ON YOUR WEBSITE AFTER REPAIR ON 9/3/3, 1996 RECALL DESCRIBES SPECIFIC REPAIR FOR THE 1996. ARE AND FORD SURE THE SAME RECALL ISN'T NECESSARY ON OTHER MODEL YEARS? UNDER OTHER CONDITIONS, OUR FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN DEVESTATING TO MY WIFE AND 4 CHILDREN!!!!*AK
MY WINDSTAR VAN, AT 58,000 MILES, HAD A PREMATURE CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY I-84 EAST. THIS EVENT PUT MY YOUNG CHILDREN AND MYSELF IN DANGER ON THE SIDE OF THE BUSY HIGHWAY DUE TO THE SMOKE AND STEAM COMING FROM THE VEHICLE THAT WE HAD TO RAPIDLY EVACUATE. MY VAN WAS OUT OF MY SERVICE FOR OVER ONE FULL WEEK AND HAS A REPAIR PRICE TAG OF JUST UNDER $2,800. I HAVE REQUESTED FORD TO PAY THE FULL COST OF THIS REPAIR THROUGH ONE OF THEIR "SPECIAL" PROGRAMS. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE DEFECTS OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS (I AM GLAD I DON'T OWN A 1995 WINDSTAR!) AND MUST BE MADE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR NOT USING QUALITY TRANSMISSION UNITS ON THESE VEHICLES. *AK
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT FRONT BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES SQUEAKED FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL THEY WERE REPLACED. ALSO, FRONT COIL SPRING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND A TERRIBLE NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STOPPED, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER DID AN ALIGNMENT, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT FRONT COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THEN, VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. CONSUMER HAD MADE CONTACT WITH DEALER. *AK
THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED WHICH RENDERED HORN AND AIR BAG INOPERATIVE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK *JB
1998 WINDSTAR'S FRONT RIGHT WHEELS LUG BOLTS SHEERED OFF CAUSING WHEEL TO FLY OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *NLM
THERE IS PEELING PAINT ON MOST OF THE TOPMOST SURFACES OF THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE LIFT GATE, ABOVE AND AROUND THE TOP OF THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR, AND ALONG THE LUGGAGE RACK. THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE PRIMER LAYER.*AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Ford Windstar → · Every Windstar year → · How the figures are calculated →