There are 44 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 1998 Ford Windstarin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
HAD THE RECALL FOR THE CRUISE,A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD, THE RECALL WAS DONE ON 11/25/2009, RECALL # 09S09, AFTER 11 DAY AND ONLY 146 MILES THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WIND STAR. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT 52 MPH THE RPMS INCREASED TO FOUR. SHE DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE, THEN THERE WAS AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CENTER WHERE AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE CITY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. HE SPECULATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE VEHICLE SPEED CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. SHE WILL RECEIVE A REPORT IN TEN DAYS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED BECAUSE IT WAS A CRUISE CONTROL FIRE THE MANUFACTURE WAS RESPONSIBLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
1998 FORD WINDSTAR CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ONTO CONNECTORS BELOW CAUSING A FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
ON JULY 6, 2009, MY FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN BURNED UP. I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP SUPPER WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I WENT ON, PICKED UP SUPPER, AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. IMMEDIATELY SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING. I PULLED AROUND THE CORNER IN THE PARKING LOT, PARKED AGAIN, AND POPPED THE HOOD. THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE IN THE ALTERNATOR AREA. I TOOK MY TODDLER OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN INTO A STORE TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE, THE CAR WAS DESTROYED AND A TOTAL LOSS. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED AND GIVEN TO MCDONALD'S TOWING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, BUT THAT IT LOOKED LIKE POSSIBLE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING PLASTIC ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL PRESSURE SWITCH WAS MELTING AND SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL PRESSURE SWITCH. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY ACCELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY AND A CRASH WERE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND NO ERROR CODES WERE PROVIDED FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000. UPDATED 03-06-09 *BF UPDATED 03/09/09*JB
I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. IT ACTED LIKE THE ENGINE REVVED UP A COUPLE OF TIMES THEN SMOKE STARTED ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH. NOW THE TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK AND THE VAN ISN'T PERFORMING WELL. *TR
MALFUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, MY CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY STEPPING ON THE GAS. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE VERY BUSY ROAD I WAS ON AND SINCE I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, I DECIDED TO HIT A TREE, HOPING THE CAR WOULD STOP. IT DID NOT. IT WENT OVER A CLIFF, AFTER KNOCKING THE TREE DOWN. I WAS VERY BADLY INJURED AND REMAIN DISABLED. THE CAR WAS A FORD WINDSTAR 1998. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY ACCIDENTS LIKE THIS WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR BUT FORD NEVER DID A RECALL. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD THAT FORD AND TOYOTA USE THE SAME MANUFACTURER FOR SOME OF THEIR PARTS. MY CAR STILL EXISTS IF IT NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND ONE PERSON WAS INJURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE CRASH, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 96,000.
EVEN THOUGH THE VAN I JUST PURCHASED DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A RECALL ON IT I HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO COMPLETE LEAKING OUT OF ALL THE BRAKE FLUID THROUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, THE DUAL MASTER CYLINDER IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THIS BUT IT DIDN'T. THE SWITCH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FACT THAT THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE SEEPING ALLOWED ALL THE FLUID TO LEAVE AFTER ONLY THREE WEEKS OF DRIVING. I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAD MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT AND THE SWITCH IS THE SAME TYPE THAT IS CAUSING THE FIRES. I HAVE TO WONDER IF THE LEAKING DRIPPING ON TO HOT MOTOR PARTS COULD CAUSE THE FIRES AS WELL AS SOME ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD DUE TO THE BRAKE FLUID EATING THROUGH PLASTIC AND RUBBER . I TRULY REGRET PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BEFORE RESEARCHING. I MAY BE ASKING THE DEALER TO TRADE ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE JUST DUE TO NOT WANTING TO DIE AT AN EARLY AGE DUE TO FORDS LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL IT IS A SHAME THAT ANY MANUFACTURER CAN BUILD ANY PIECE OF JUNK WITHOUT REGARDS TO END RESULT AND ONLY WORRYING ABOUT THE PROFIT OF SELLING AND THE FACT THAT RISK MANAGEMENT AFTER THE FACT OF WAITING FOR MANY TO BE EFFECTED BY DEATH OR LOSS OF VEHICLE TO HAVE A RECALL FORCED AND FIXING A BAD DESIGN ONCE PRESSED TO DO SO. I FEEL THE MASTER CYLINDERS WHOLE SAFETY IS IN THAT ONE CHAMBER IS MOST LIKELY FUNCTIONAL UNDER MOST SYSTEM FAILURES OF WHEEL CYLINDERS , HOSES, ETC BUT HAVING A PART DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE FRONT CHAMBER AND WITH THE COMMON LIKELIHOOD OF REAR WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE AT SOME POINT COULD LEAD TO TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE LIKE I EXPERIENCED. THE FACT THAT THIS MASTER CYLINDER IS HIDDEN FROM EASY VIEW DOES NOT ALLOW THE OWNER TO EASILY VISUALIZE A LEAK AT THIS PART. WHY IS BRAKE FLUID NEEDED TO ACTUATE A DEACTIVATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T A SWITCH (ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL) PLACED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM ACTIVATING IT A SIMPLER WAY OF MAKING THIS HAPPEN. *JB
I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR THAT I HAVE OWNED SINCE NEW, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH ON THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND WAS CAUSING THE LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE FOLLOWED THAT FORD HAS A MAJOR RECALL ON THESE SWITCHES ON MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES DO TO ENGINE FIRES. MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL, BUT FLUID IS LEAKING INTO THE SWITCH. I HAVE UNPLUGGED THE SWITCH TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL FIRE, BUT FORD SAYS THAT THESE SWITCHES DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM OF EARLIER SWITCHES, I DISAGREE AS THERE IS THE SAME INDICATION OF FAILURE AND LEAKING FLUID. THEY ARE JUST WAITING FOR MORE FIRES BEFORE THEY ACT....*JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING THE ABS AND PARKING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEALER MECHANIC REPLACED SOME FUSES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THERE WAS A RECALL #06V286000 PERTAINING TO THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
ON 4/12/02 59,173 MILES. WINDSTAR HAD ABS & BRAKE LIGHT ON. DISC BRAKES REPLACED AND ROTORS MACHINED. 2/26/04 82,240 MILES ALL ABS SENSORS,DISC BRAKES,BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR/FLOAT ASSEMBLY REPLACED,ROTORS MACHINED. 95,487 MILES BRAKE LIGHT ON. 3/05 CRUISE CONTROL ON AND OFF. ABS LIGHT FLICKER ON & OFF. DEALER SAID NOT WORTH MONEY TO FIX. 9/04/05 FIRE UNDER BATTERY TRAY. VAN OFF 2 TO 3 MINUTES. DEALER SAID CRUISE CONTROL MODULE IGNITED FIRE. BRAKE FLUID LEAKED INTO IT. THE ABS PUMP OVERHEATED WIRE CAUSED LEAK. OUR VAN IS NOW AT CHAPMAN FORD AWAITING OUR APPROVAL TO REPAIR PROBLEMS AT A COST OF $2200.00. WE ARE NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND DON'T WANT TO APPROVE REPAIRS WITHOUT TALKING TO SOMEONE FROM YOUR OFFICE. PLEASE RESPOND AND LET US KNOW WHAT OUR NEXT STEP SHOULD BE. WE ARE A ONE INCOME FAMILY SO GETTING A NEW VEHICLE IS NOT AN OPTION. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *NM
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED & TURNED ON CAUSING VEHICLE TO BEGIN TO SPEED UP. I WAS IN THE WAL-MART PARKING LOT, WHEN MY VAN SUDDENLY REVVED UP & RACED TOWARDS 2 PEDESTRIANS. I FIRST TRIED THE REGULAR BRAKE - NO LUCK, SO I THREW THE VAN IN PARK & TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. WHEN I WOULD TURN THE VAN ON AGAIN THE RPMS WOULD JUMP UP IMMEDIATELY TO 4000+. I HAD TO BE TOWED IN. I DID NOT HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AT ALL DURING THE TRIP SO I (AS WELL AS THE REPAIR SHOP) WAS SURPRISED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE WAS THE CULPRIT. *JB
CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB
ENGINE RAMPED UP BY ITSELF DURING HIGH-SPEED DRIVE. *JB
THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. NLM
ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE VAN ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. THE VAN WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD. UPON PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE REVS UP. AFTER 10-15 SECONDS, THE VAN SHIFTS INTO GEAR AND LUNGES FORWARD. THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO INDICATION WHEN THIS TYPE OF MOVEMENT WILL OCCUR. ON OCCASIONS WHEN BREAKING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE VEHICLE SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. IT GOES BACK INTO DRIVE MODE. THIS AGAIN CAUSES ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE HAS ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.*AK
ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES, WE FEAR THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY FOR A REAR-END COLLISION. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REACT WHEN DEPRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE DOES NOT RACE. THEN, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD, ALMOST AS IF THE CLUTCH WAS RELEASED QUICKLY. AFTER EACH OCCURRENCE, WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. TO DATE, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
Showing 1–20 of 44 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026