2000 Ford Windstar Problems, Recalls & Reliability
2,191 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2000 Ford Windstar, alongside 16 recall campaigns and 8 defect investigations. It scores 48/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Suspension leads the reports, typically around 119,186 miles.
Below average
Where 2000 sits among all Windstar years
What owners report
“There was a recall on the rear axle, ford made it so that they didn't have to pay for it by putting it under the extended warranty program. This caused a hardship for me and i was unable to have it fixed. Now the rear axle broke while i was driving.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Windstar
“Abs light stays on all of the time. It has gradually increased from occasionally to all of the time over about a two year period.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Windstar
“Transmission ax4s failed at stoplight. Gear was sheared off drum. Vehicle had 50,623 miles when failure occurred. Transmission was overhauled at a cost of $2037.92.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Windstar
“Vehicle abs light came on, ac stopped blowing cold air & speedometer stopped all at same time. Fuse 10 amp was blown and when replaced continued to blow out”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Windstar
“Electrical sliding door kept opening on several occasions-purchased a second identical vehicle-two (2) days later the same door would not close - dealer had someone come in to see what was the problem-found that the codes were not correct in both vehicles-stated that error was made at the factory”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Windstar
“Tl-the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. The contact has taken the vehicle to a mechanic where the mechanic stated that his speed control switch is burned out. There is a recall out on this issue but not on his vin. The current mileage was 17,000 and failure mileage was 13,000. Jp”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Windstar
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,504 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 107,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 78,000 and 134,835 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (16)
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 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. CORROSION-RELATED FRACTURES OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKETS AND BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS MAY OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKETS AND BOTH BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS AT THE REAR OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL…
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN,…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKETS, AND BOTH BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS AT THE REAR OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME, AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. IF REPAIRS…
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…
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 ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE…
Fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
IN SOME MINIVANS, WATER AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS (DIRT, SALT, ETC.) CAN ENTER INTO THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO A MISSING BODY SEALER.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND SURROUNDING AREA FOR ABSENCE OF BODY SEALING AND CORROSION. IF CORROSION IS PRESENT, DEALERS WILL SERVICE THE BODY GAPS, REPAIR CORRODED CONNECTORS,…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH AUXILIARY REAR AIR-CONDITIONING. IF THE AUXILIARY AIR-CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR STOPS TURNING WHILE IN THE MEDIUM-LOW BLOWER SPEED SETTING, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT THE RESISTOR MAY BECOME HOT AND SMOKE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A JUMPER WIRE THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE MEDIUM-LOW BLOWER SPEED SETTING IS PROTECTED BY THE THERMAL LIMITER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGSUT 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. CONTAMINANTS SUCH AS WATER, SALT, AND WINDSHIELD WASHER SOLUTION CAN ENTER THE WIPER MOTOR COVER ASSEMBLY THROUGH PINHOLES ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE COVER THAT ARE USED IN THE MOLDING PROCESS. IN ADDITION, ON CERTAIN OF THE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIPER COVER WITH IMPROVED SEALING AND WATER RESISTANCE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAIN AUGUST 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE PEDAL OPTION. THE DRIVER FLOOR MAT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MATS IN THE VEHICLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 6, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS BUILT WITH INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS WITHOUT THE MESSAGE CENTER, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF STANDARD NO. 118, "POWER-OPERATED WINDOW, PARTITION, AND ROOF PANEL SYSTEMS." THE POWER WINDOWS MAY BE OPERABLE AFTER THE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL RECONFIGURE THE VEHICLE FRONT END ELECTRONIC MODULE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26,…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE INCORRECTLY FUEL LINE END FORMS WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOWER THAN SPECIFIED PULL APART FORCE FOR THE INSTALLED FUEL LINE CONNECTION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDUNDANT FUEL LINE CLIP ON THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINE CONNECTIONS AT THE REAR OF THE CHASSIS FUEL LINE BUNDLE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INCORRECT URETHANE, RESULTING IN AN ADHESIVE BOND RATHER THAN THE INTENDED MOLECULAR BOND FOR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND REAR LIFTGATE GLASS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND LIFTGATE GLASS.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 11V030000.
Led to recall campaign 11V030000.
Led to recall campaign 10V385000.
Led to recall campaign 09V399000.
Technical service bulletins
225 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2000 Ford Windstar. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2000 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 2000 Ford Windstar reliable?
The 2000 Ford Windstar drew 2,191 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 48/100, scored against the model's worst year (1995).
What are the most common 2000 Ford Windstar problems?
The top reported problems for the 2000 Ford Windstar are suspension (362 complaints), brakes & stability (343), and transmission & drivetrain (277).
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Windstar problems show up?
Owners most often report 2000 Ford Windstar problems around 107,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 78,000 and 134,835 miles.
Does the 2000 Ford Windstar have recalls?
16 recall campaigns apply to the 2000 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.