NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Ford Windstar. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
WHILE DRIVING TO NORTH CAROLINA, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED LEAVING GLASS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHCILE. NO INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. *AK
TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A LEAK. NLM
TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
LOCATION OF CUP HOLDER ON FLOOR ATTACHED TO MIDDLE SEAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO TRIP & FALL OUT OF VAN. MANAGER OF DEALERSHIP INFORMED OWNER NO PROBLEM WITH CUP HOLDER. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. *AK
FUEL TANK HAS 26 GALLONS AND TANK ONLY TAKES 21 GALLONS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE GAS IS GOING SOMEWHERE. *AK
DOORS WILL OCCASIONALLY NOT CLOSE, WILL START TO CLOSE THEN RE-OPEN OR WILL FAIL TO OPEN. WHEN THEY FAIL TO CLOSE IT WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THEM TO CLOSE. SIMILARLY, WHEN THEY FAIL TO OPEN THEY WILL NEED TO BE FORCED OPEN. THIS OCCURS WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR.*AK
DRIVERS SIDE UNDER SEAT AIRBAG IMPACT SENSOR WAS NOT MOUNTED FIRMLY TO FLOOR. IT WAS JUST DANGLING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS, EFFECTIVELY DISABLING THE AIRBAGS. DEALER LOOKED AT SEAT PEDESTAL AND DETERMINED THAT THE WRONG SEAT MOUNT WAS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. DEALER IS INSTALLING THE CORRECT SEAT MOUNT. I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WIRING HAS BEEN DONE CORRECTLY EITHER. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY VAN SURGES AT LOW SPEED WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. VAN HAS BEEN TAKEN 8 TIMES TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. NEITHER DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
RIGHT SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE. NLM
CONSUMER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN SHE HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. *AK
THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL IN WHICH HE BELIEVES IS CAUSING THE LIGHT TO COME ON, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMNT THAT WAS INCURRED BY THE DEALER TO JUST EXAMINE IT.*YH
NO SUMMARY
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - PROBLEM NOTICED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE DATE - PROBLEM WITH SLOW SHIFTS NOTICEABLE AT 20 AND 40 MPH. GRINDING NOISE PREVELANT AT THESE STAGES. DEALERSHIP SAID WAS NORMAL. AROUND 25000 TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE "QUICK" SHIFTS FROM ACCELERATION, POPPING NOISE FROM ONE GEAR TO NEXT AS TRANSMISSION TRIES TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE GEAR FOR 5-10MPH. GRINDING AT 20 AND 40MPH STEADILY BECOMING WORSE. AGAIN DEALERSHIP INDICATES NORMAL. AT 27MPH TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO JUMP INTO REVERSE. SHIFTING OF GEARS - BANG BANG BANG. MUCH WORSE. MANY TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP YEILD SAME RESPONSE. "NEW ENGINE, NO PROBLEMS, OR YES THE ENGINEERS HEAR WHAT YOU HEAR BUT NO PROBLEM" I AM AFRAID THAT WITH 2 CHILDREN AND MY WIFE THAT TRANSMISSION WILL QUIT PUTTING THEM IN AN UNSAFE PREDICAMENT. NOTICE THAT THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT OUTLINE THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. FORD UNWILLING TO RECOGNIZE.*AK
SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. INTERMITTENTLY IT WOULD PROP ITSELF BACK OPEN. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER'S SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. DOORS ARE ELECTRONICALLY OPERATED, CANNOT OPERATE DOOR WITHOUT VEHICLE STARTED. *AK *ML
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WHEN TRANSMISSION JUMPED GEARS, GOING FORWARD ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION . MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH FOLLOWING PARTS: 1. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN LOWER SPEED; 2. STEERING WOULD MAKE A POPPING NOISE ONLY IN WET CONDITIONS, AND 3. STARTER WOUD GRIND WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
WATER IS COMING IN THROUGH PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME IN THE REAR, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, NO REMEDY.*AK
WHILE AT STOP LIGHT THE RPM IDLED HIGH THEN IDLED LOW AND RETRUNED TO NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK.ET.
VAN WAS RETURNED TO DEALER TO FIX A MINOR PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP AND JERK INTO GEAR. FORD ELECTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THEN THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE STEERING PROBLEMS AND REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. THEN DISCOVERED THE LOWER STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. THEREFORE, THEY HAVE HAD MY NEW VAN IN THE SHOP FOR 3 WEEKS. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN OR STOPPED CONSUMER APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY UP TO 4 FEET, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING OR CLOSING BOTH SLIDING DOOR, SLIDING DOOR WOULD POP BACK OPEN/AND NOT CLOSING THE DOORS PROPERLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, BUT SUGGESTED TO BY A NEW 2000 WINDSTAR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS ARE STOPPING AND ASKING ME IF MY HORN WORKS. APPARENTLY MANY OWNERS OF 1999 WINDSTARS ARE EXPERIENCING HORN FAILURES. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SOUND THE HORN. THE DEMMER FORD REP. (PHIL) SAID HE CALLED THE OAKVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. HE SAID A FIX MIGHT BE IN THE WORKS IN ANOTHER 90 DAYS--UNACCEPTABLE! *AK
WHILE TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF "PARK POSITION" TO DRIVE POSITION THE VEHICLE REVVED, AND LUNGED FORWARD WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. *AK
MY SUSPENSION BROKE ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LEAVING ME WITH NO STEERING. I RAN OFF THE ROAD AND THANKFULLY WENT INTO A FIELD. VERY SCARY. THIS IS A 1400. REPAIR. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS FOR OTHERS AS WELL. I AM JUST WONDERING WHY THIS PART WAS NEVER A RECALL? APPARENTLY REAR AXLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. THE FORD COMPANY DID TELL ME THIS MAY BE A FUTURE RECALL BUT IS NOT AS OF YET. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE OR WHAT BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HAD TO BLOW THE HORN, IT DIDN'T WORK. CONTACTED DEALER ,NOTHING COULD BE DONE. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO TAKE EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND A SPOT ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO SOUND THE HORN. *AK
CONSUMER HAS A FEW PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE & IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES. THE SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T SHUT COMPLETELY & THE STEERING HAS A NOISE FROM THE INSIDE AROUND THE DASHBOARD. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NO REMEDY.*AK
WHEN NEW, THE HORN ON THIS VAN WOULD ONLY WORK IF YOU PUSHED RIGHT ON THE HORN ICON, WHICH IS IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IN A PANIC SITUATION, PUSHING ANYWHERE EXCEPT THE SQUARE INCH RIGHT OVER THIS HORN SYMBOL WOULD NOT RESULT IN THE HORN HONKING AND POSED A SAFETY/CRASH HAZARD MULTIPLE TIMES. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL TO ONLY HAVE THE HORN WORK IN THAT ONE SMALL SPOT. WHEN RETURNED FOR NEXT WARRANTY SERVICE I MENTIONED THIS AGAIN, AND THIS TIME THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE HORN/AIR BAG UNIT. AFTER REPLACEMENT, NOW THE UPPER LEFT QUADRANT OF THE SURFACE WORKS TO MAKE THE HORN BLOW, BUT THIS IS STILL A SAFETY HAZARD IN A PANIC SITUATION WHEN MOST COMMONLY MY RIGHT HAND IS USED TO HIT THE HORN AS WARNING - IN MOST CASES THE HORN STILL DOESN'T WORK. WHEN I COMPLAINED AGAIN, THEY SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN AN ACCIDENT IS IMMINENT AND YOU CANNOT HONK YOUR HORN QUICKLY (HAVING TO FIRST REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE ON THE SURFACE YOU MUST PUSH!)... THIS CANNOT BE NORMAL!!!!! ADDITIONALLY, IN A PANIC SITUATION WHEN THE REFLEX IS TO HONK A WARNING, WHEN THE HORN DOESN'T WORK MY ATTENTION IS DIVERTED FROM THE INCIDENT AT HAND IN TRYING TO FIND THE SPOT TO MAKE THE HORN WORK. UNACCEPTABLE (BUT ONE OF SEVERAL QUIRKY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING POWER STEERING MODULE GOING OUT AT 40,000 MILES, AND INSIDE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING FAN FOR REAR AREA GOING ON AND OFF MYSTERIOUSLY EVEN WITH MASTER CONTROL TURNED OFF, AND WITH ACCOMPANYING CLICKING SOUND IN RELAY UNDER DASH ON LEFT. LEMON !!!
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE A LOUD SOUND. AND VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. THEN TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE AGAIN THE SAME NOISE & THEN IT WOULD JERK. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF NOISE. *AK
I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE IDENTICAL ON ALL MODELS COMING IN, INCLUDING THE EXPEDITION. THE HORN DOES NOT WORK AND THEY "CANNOT FIX IT."
POWER SLIDING DOORS DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. SOMETIMES THE DOORS WILL JAM LEAVING YOU UNABLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT.
WHEN TRYING TO PUT GAS INTO THE TANK THE PUMP DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY. IF CONSUMER PUTS THE PUMP ALL THE WAY IN THE TANK, THERE IS AN AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF THAT KEEPS CONSUMER FROM PUMPING . TO PUMP GAS CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD THE PUMP 1/3 OF AN INCH IN THE TANK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE HORN IN THE 1999 WINDSTAR. FIRST, THE HORN REQUIRES EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURE IN ORDER TO GET IT TO SOUND. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE ONE NEEDS A QUICK SOUNDING OF THE HORN. SECOND, A LARGE AREA OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE ONE WOULD EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO SOUND THE HORN DOES NOT SOUND IT. SPECIFICALLY, THE AREA MOST LIKELY PRESSED IN AN EMERGENCY, THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL, HAS NO HORN ACTION. THE PART OF THE WHEEL TO WHICH I AM REFERRING IS TOP OF THE CENTER "HUB AREA" WHICH FACES THE DRIVER. I TOOK THE WINDSTAR TO CAMPUS FORD, OKEMOS, MICHIGAN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE "THEY ALL WORK THAT WAY." IN MY OPINION, THE HORN PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY THE AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL HUB THAT HAVE NO HORN ACTION, REPRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD TO VEHICLE OWNERS.
HAD NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF PROBLEM. THE POWER DOORS CAN BE ACTIVATED BY A CHILD. THEY KEEP CLOSING & DO NOT STOP UNTIL THEY ARE CLOSED & LOCKED. CAN HAPPENS EVEN WHEN SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IS IN THE DOORWAY. *AK
HORN HARD TO ACTVATE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION REQUIRES TO MUCH DOWN FORCE AND TO SPACIFIC AN AREA TO DEPRESS, HORN ONCE ACIVATED CONTINUES TO SOUND FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS AFTER ACTIVATION
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE CONSUMER'S 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. *BF *NM
1999 WINDSTAR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH OVERHEATED. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THERE WERE SPARKS AND BLACK SMOKE AND THAT THE SWITCH WAS DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *NM
1999 WINDSTAR STALLED. SEAL IN HEAD GASKET FAILED. *TS WHEN THE SEAL FAILED IT ALLOWED AIR TO GET SUCKED IN AT THE HOLES FOR THE BOLTS. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *NM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE FOR THE SAME FAILURES (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING), (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL). SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 12-15-08 *BF UPDATED 12/17/08. *JB
1999 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH FRONT END SHUDDERS ON ACCELERATION, SOMETIMES DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL WHEN GAS IS PRESSED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, PROBLEMS DEVELOPED. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *JB
HORN FUNCTIONS IF CORRECT SPOT ON WHEEL IS HIT, BUT THE "SWEET SPOT" IS SMALL. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, PRESSING MOST AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT CAUSE THE HORN TO SOUND -A MAJOR POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *AK
PROBLEM WITH "PULSATING" OF BOTH EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. IN FOR REPAIRS AT DEALER ON 2-5-99, BUT NOT FIXED. BEEN TOLD PROBLEM IS WITH VOLTAGE REGULATOR. INVOICE OF REPAIRS SHOWS 'REPAIRED' WIRING AT ALTERNATOR. *AK
CONSUMER MUST HIT THE HORN AT EXACT SPOT WITH EXTREME FORCE BEFORE HORN WILL BLOW WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S POWER WINDOWS, AT FREEZING POINT UNDER 30 DEGREES WITH DRY FROST, WILL NOT OPERATE. CONSUMER MUST WAIT UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP. *AK
HORN DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE COVER IS VERY THICK, AND MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND THEY SAY THAT THE HORN WORKS AS IT WAS DESIGNED. *AK *ML
SIDE SLIDING DOOR SLAMS SHUT WHEN ON A DOWN GRADE.
DESIGN OF THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE LOCATED ON THE SAME PLANE RESULTING IN ACCIDENTAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR, RESULTING IN COLLISION.
DESIGN OF SLIDING DOOR HANDLE IS DANGEROUS CAUSING EXTENDED FINGERS TO BECOME CAUGHT BETWEEN DOOR AND THE DOORFRAME, IN THIS CASE A SEVERE BRUISE AND LOSS OF A FINGERNAIL RESULTED. NLM
HORN TAKES EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO ACTIVATE AND IS HARD TO FIND. NLM
HORN IS DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE. MUST PRESS HARD IN JUST THE RIGHT SPOT. *AK
VEHICLE CAME WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SEATBELT THAN WHAT IT WAS STATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.THE MANUAL STATED THAT VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE THE AUTOMATIC RETRACTABLE SEATBELT. *AK
THE DESIGN OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER/HEAT SHIELD IS SUCH THAT IT VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS VIBRATION PERMEATES THROUGH THE FLOOR AS A NUISANCE NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK