1998 Ford Windstar

US Recalls

NHTSA Recall US

• 15V608000 2015-09-29

  Recall 15V608000

  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 limit the effectiveness of the service repair for NHTSA recalls 10V-385, 12V-193,…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 12V193000 2012-05-03

  Recall 12V193000

  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 INCREASE AND RESULT IN A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 12V195000 2012-05-03

  Recall 12V195000

  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.

  Recorded model years: 1998

Showing 3 of 14 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 38 records exist for the Ford Windstar where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

Campaign applicability can depend on build date, equipment and market, and a remedy may already have been completed. Confirm any campaign against the official record using the VIN.

Manufacturer Bulletins

NHTSA Manufacturer Communication US

• 10183766 2020-04-20

  16-0065

  For 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 separate from the vehicle subframe. Separation of one LCA attachment or both rear body mounts may result in a loss of…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 10183771 2016-04-21

  16-0070

  For 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles Safety Recall 10S13 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the rear axle could potentially fracture. If the rear axle should completely fracture, vehicle handling may be affected which could increase the risk of a crash.

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 10205035 2016-04-21

  TSB160070

  Safety recall 10S13 - Rear axle corrosion - requests for recall service action

  Recorded model years: 1998

Showing 3 of 236 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 707 records exist for the Ford Windstar where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

A manufacturer communication is service guidance issued to dealers. It is not a safety recall, and its existence does not mean this vehicle has the described condition.

Investigations

NHTSA Investigation US

• PE10016 2010-05-13

  Rear Axle Cracking

  In a letter dated August 26, 2010, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report notifying NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 10V-385) to address a rear axle defect in model year (MY) 1998 through 2003 Ford Windstar vehicles built at the Oakville assembly plant from September 1, 1997 through February 28, 2003 and…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• EA08021 2008-09-17

  ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

  EA08-021 IS CLOSED WITH FORD'S ACTIONS IN RECALL 09V-399 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 4.5 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).WITH THIS RECALL FORD HAS NOW RECALLED ALL OF THE APPROXIMATE 16 MILLION FORD MODEL VEHICLES THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MY 1992 THROUGH 2003 WITH A TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SCDS.NHTSA WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES TO ENSURE…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• PE08035 2008-05-13

  ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

  ODI HAS RECEIVED 134 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, 285 MANUFACTURER COMPLAINTS, AND 137 MANUFACTURER WARRANTY CLAIMS ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1995 THRU 2003 FORD WINDSTAR VEHICLES.TWO OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THE FIRES CAUSED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE COMPLAINANT'S HOME.OF THE 134 ODI COMPLAINTS, 36 ALLEGE THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, 72 ALLEGE…

  Recorded model years: 1998

Showing 3 of 10 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 27 records exist for the Ford Windstar where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

An investigation records that a regulator reviewed a suspected defect. It is not itself a finding of defect and not a recall.

Canada Recalls

Transport Canada Recall CA

• 2015437 2015-09-29

  Transport Canada recall 2015437

  On certain vehicles that had rear axle reinforcement brackets installed as part of safety recall 2010-284, the brackets may not have been installed properly, which could limit the effectiveness of the recall service repair in addressing the safety defect. Safety recall 2010-284 was conducted to address the risk that the combined effects of corrosion and stress can lead to a…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 2010284 2010-08-24

  Transport Canada recall 2010284

  On certain vehicles registered and operated in areas where road salt is used on the roadways during winter months for extended time periods (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland-Labrador), the rear axle may corrode and fracture. If the rear axle fractures, vehicle handling may be adversely affected, creating the risk of a crash. Correction: Dealers…

  Recorded model years: 1998

• 2009292 2009-10-14

  Transport Canada recall 2009292

  Multiple source assertions are recorded for this identifier. Consult the official record for configuration-specific detail.

  Recorded model years: 1998

Showing 3 of 9 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 31 records exist for the Ford Windstar where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

Canadian campaigns are recorded separately from US campaigns and do not imply one another.

Consumer Complaints

NHTSA Complaint US

1,433 complaint records in the dataset for this vehicle and year.

Outcomes stated in those reports

• reports mentioning a crash 54
• reports mentioning a fire 65
• reported injuries 59
• reported fatalities 3

Outcomes as stated by the person who filed the report. They are not verified, not adjudicated, and carry no exposure denominator, so they cannot be turned into a rate.

By system

• Powertrain (transmission & drivetrain)342 (18.0%)Official recall records for this system: 8, covering model years 1996–2003.
• Suspension236 (12.4%)Official recall records for this system: 9, covering model years 1995–2003.
• Brakes224 (11.8%)Official recall records for this system: 6, covering model years 1995–1999.
• Engine184 (9.7%)
• Steering154 (8.1%)Official recall records for this system: 2, covering model years 1998.
• Tires & wheels140 (7.4%)
• Electrical system112 (5.9%)Official recall records for this system: 8, covering model years 1995–2001.
• Body & structure83 (4.4%)Official recall records for this system: 8, covering model years 1995–2003.

Other / uncategorized: 41 classifications (2.2%) were not assigned to a specific system by the source. They are counted but not treated as an issue area.

A single report can name several systems, so these figures overlap and must not be added together — their sum is larger than the report total above.

A further 14,083 complaint records exist for this vehicle where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

These are owner-submitted allegations, not confirmed defects. Counts are record counts in the dataset. No exposure denominator exists, so no failure rate or reliability score can be derived from them.