1998 Ford Windstar Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,949 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Ford Windstar, alongside 14 recall campaigns and 10 defect investigations. It scores 46/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 89,695 miles.
Below average
Where 1998 sits among all Windstar years
What owners report
“At 45,000 miles on 1998 ford windstar gl,transmission would not shift out of first gear. Had to turn vehicle off for a while then it would shift. Had to stop app. 6 times to travel 8 miles.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Windstar
“The left front spring broke causing noise from the wheel area, the consumer requested reimburesement. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Windstar
“Engine will have lower than normal rpm when first coming to a stop. Has stalled 3 seperate times.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Windstar
“The front brakes, rotors and pads were completely worn out but consumer had no warning of the failed components. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Windstar
“I needed the starter replaced, my brakes, i'm having electrical issues, my car stops when it wants to in the middle of the highway,.. It makes noises when i'm turning, i have rust coming from under my car. The signal lights flickers”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Windstar
“Power steering hose ripped open upon driving slowly off a low curb, causing all fluid to leak out.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Windstar
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 513 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 90,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 60,000 and 125,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (14)
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…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brackets to verify their proper installation. If a bracket is found to have been misinstalled, the rear axle will be replaced. These repairs…
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…
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS, OR REPLACE THE AXLES, AS NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON…
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…
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET ON THE REAR AXLE OR REPLACE THE AXLES, AS NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL…
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2003 AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY,…
Fix: AS PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY INSTALL THE REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN…
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…
Fix: 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…
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.…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SHIELDS AROUND THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 6, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE…
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,…
Fix: DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.
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…
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH NEW LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
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: MINIVANS. THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE REAR RETAINING BRACKET CAN DEVELOP CRACKS AND SEPARATE, ALLOWING THE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED RETAINING BRACKET IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE ORIGINAL RETAINING BRACKET.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. MINI VANS SOLD DURING THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER 1996, AND JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MAY 1997. FRONT BRAKE CALIPER ANCHOR PLATE TO…
Fix: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE FRONT BRAKE CALPIER ANCHOR PLATE BOLTS. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI-VANS. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEARS MAY HAVE DAMAGED INPUT SHAFT BEARINGS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR, AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THOSE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLIES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. THE DATE CODES FOR…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IF THIS OCCURS, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVAN EQUIPPED WITH SECOND ROW BENCH SEATS WITH OPTIONAL INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT (ICS). THE HEADREST LOCKOUT MECHANISM ON THE SEATS MAY NOT ENGAGE AND LOCK THE HEADRESTS IN THE "DOWN" POSITION, AS INTENDED, WHEN THE ICS IS DEPLOYED. A…
Fix: THE SECOND ROW BENCH SEATS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH SEATS BUILT WITH REVISED HEADREST LOCKOUT MECHANISMS.
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: STRUCTURE
THIS INVESTIGATION IS OPENED TO ASCERTAIN FACTS CONCERNING THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCE, SCOPE, AND RATIONAL FOR ISSUING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.HISTORICALLY, PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALLS INVOLVING SIMILAR TYPE OF FAILURE HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE AGENCY.
Model years named: 1998
Led to recall campaign 10V385000.
Led to recall campaign 09V399000.
Led to recall campaign 01I007000.
Led to recall campaign 98I003000.
Technical service bulletins
236 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and engine — are on file for the 1998 Ford Windstar. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Windstar TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Ford Windstar reliable?
The 1998 Ford Windstar drew 1,949 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 46/100, scored against the model's worst year (1995).
What are the most common 1998 Ford Windstar problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Ford Windstar are transmission & drivetrain (353 complaints), suspension (242), and engine (231).
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Windstar problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Ford Windstar problems around 90,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 60,000 and 125,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Ford Windstar have recalls?
14 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Ford Windstar. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.