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
THE HORN DOES SOUND EASILY WHEN PUSHING ON THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. OFTEN THE HORN FAILS TO SOUND. THE TECHNICIANS AT MY FORD DEALER SAID THAT IT IS LIKE THE OTHER WINDSTARS. ALSO THE DESIGN IS DANGEROUS REQUIRING MOVING THE HAND FROM THE RIM OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE CENTER. IF ONLY ONE HAND IS AVAILABLE FOR USE, MOST OF THE CONTROL IS LOST WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SOUND THE HORN. ALSO IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY, THEN A DISLOCATED SHOULDER OR BROKEN ARM IS LILELY TO RESULT. ON THE FORD TAURUS THE HORN CAN BE RELIABLY SOUNDED WITH A THUMB WITHOUT MOVING THE HAND FROM THE OUTER RIM OF THE WHEEL. THIS ALSO LEAVES THE HAND AND ARM OUT OF THE WAY IN THE EVENT THE AIRBAG SHOULD DEPLOY. THE DESIGN OF THE HORN CONTROL ON THE WINDSTAR IS POOR AND DANGEROUS. *AK
THIS WAS NOT A DEFECT ACCORDING TO FORD- THE AUTOMATIC DOORS DID NOT KICK BACK AND CLOSED ON MY HAND. FORD IS STATING THAT THEY ONLY KICK BACK WITH EQUAL WEIGHT- THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE I AM AN ADULT AND A CHILD'S HAND CAN BE CRUSHED IF IN THE WAY OF THE CLOSING DOORS.
AFTER GAS CAP WAS REPLACED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED DO TO THE SENSITIVITY OF THE WARNING SYSTEM. NLM
PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT STAY OPEN ON AN INCLINE. DOOR WILL STAY OPEN FOR A WHILE BUT WHEN A PASSENGER ENTERS THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR RELEASES AND CLOSES ON THE PASSENGER. THIS IS A DANGEROUR CODITION WHICH COULD INJURE AN ADULT OR KILL A CHILD. THE SAME PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR. DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR SINCE THE RAISED SECTION ON THE BOTTOM RAIL IS A FACTORY BODY STAMPING. A REVIEW BY THE DEALER NOTED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE RAISED AREA WAS HIGHER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. *AK
I BOUGHT A FORD WINDSTAR LX IN JUNE 4/99,SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THAT THE STEERING WHEELS SHAKES AND CURRENT IN MY RIGHT LEG WHEN THE SPEED IS ABOUT 70 MILES/HR. FOR 3 TIMES I WENT TO THE DEALER ,BUT THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG IN IT .
DESIGN OF LEFT REAR DOOR CUP HOLDER INADEQUATE, A 2 1/2 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE CUP HOLDER OUT AND PUT A DRINKING CUP IN THE HOLE CAUSING THE CUP TO FALL INTO THE DOOR (WALL). *YC
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FUEL PUMP GAVE OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
FRAME STARTED TO PULL APART AFTER TOWING A TRAILER. DEALER WANTED TO WELD THE FRAME. *AK
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS TOO MUCH WIND TURBULENCE ,EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE WHEN DRIVEN OVER 40 MPH,CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO DRIVER.DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO SOLUTION. *AK
THE PIECE THAT ATTACHES THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO THE DRIVERS DOOR IS SO LARGE THAT IT CREATES POOR VISIBILITY, CONSUMER ALMOST HIT PEOPLE DUE TO DESIGN. MJS
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING DRIVER'S FOOT TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN TRYING TO STOP. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
GEAR WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TAKE OFF WITH CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AND RUN INTO A CREEK. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
HORN REQUIRES EXTREME FORCE TO OPERATE. PASS REAR SLIDING DOOR, INSIDE PANEL RUBS AGAINST REAR FENDER SCRATCHING SURFACE.
WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR, A LOUD METAL-TO-METAL "CLUNKING" NOISE IS HEARD FROM TRANSMISSION. DEALER SAYS IN NORMAL.
HORN VERY HARD TO ACTIVATE. VERY HARD TO LOCATE "SWEET SPOT" WITHOUT LOOKING DOWN AT STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATION.
WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATING, TRANSMISSION JUMPS AND JERKS INTO GEAR.
HORN IS VERY HARD TO DEPLOY; SWEET SPOT TOO SMALL AND REQUIRES EXCESSIVE EFFORT. CANNOT BE USED QUICKLY. FORD CORPORATE REFUSED TO RESPOND TO MY WORRIES ABOUT THIS. ALSO SEATBACK LEVER SPRINGS MIDDLE SEATS BACK SO HARD I HAVE BEEN WHACKED IN THE HEAD SO HARD I SAW STARS.
SLIDING DOOR LATCH DOES NOT CLOSE DOOR PROPERLY. MJS
GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE ON AN INCLINE, TRANSMISSION GRATES AND DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO GEAR, VALVES RATTLE WHEN ACCELERATING, VAN ACCELERATES UP TO 20 MPH WITHOUT TOUCHING GAS PEDAL, POPPING SOUND IN STEERING WHEN TURNING, MAKES GRINDING SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING, DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEMS, ALSO REAR SLIDING DOOR WAS IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT COLOR FROM THE REST OF THE INTERIOR, ENGINE VIBRATION.
SLIDING DOOR WILL OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT WILL ALSO STICK, AND WILL NOT CLOSE, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. HAD TIGHTENED AND CLEANED DOOR ASSEMLY. BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS.
WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK FIRE STARTED TO COME UP FROM THE OPENING, AROUND THE GAS NOZZLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
THE DESIGN OF THE HORN BUTTON IS TO SMALL TO BE SEEN FOR EMERGENCY USE. YH
WHEN USING THE POWER BUTTON TO CLOSE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR, IT DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THEY WAY. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW. *AK
AN INTERNAL LEAK IS CAUSING BUBBLES WITHIN POWER STEERING, AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF DEFECT, BUT CANNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
VEHICLE HAS SUBSTANTIAL DELAYED START CONDITION DUE TO DEFECT. YH
THE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO USE WHEN NEEDED DUE TO LOCATION. IT WOULD FAIL TO WORK WHEN BUTTON IS PUSHED. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC NO PROBLEM WITH HORN. *AK
THE FORD WINDSTAR DOES NOT HAVE THE SWITCHABLE RETRACTOR SEATBELTS INSTALLED ON THE EXTERIOR, REAR LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COMBINATION SEATBELTS; ALTHOUGH FORD PAPERWORK SHOWS THAT AS STANDARD FEATURE IN THE 1999 WINDSTAR AND THE OWNER'S MANUAL ON THIS VEHICLE SAYS THAT THIS TYPE OF SEATBELT IS INSTALLED. THE MANUAL DESCRIBES THE METHOD OF INSTALLING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT AS THOUGH THIS TYPE OF SEATBELT IS INSTALLED (PAGE 130 - 142 IN OWNER'S MANUAL). IF THE INSTALLATION OF THE CAR SEAT IS MADE ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL THE CAR SEAT WILL NOT BE SECURE. THIS IS BECAUSE AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR IS USED ON ALL SEATS IN THE WINDSTAR. I VERIFIED THIS WITH DOREE COLLETT AT 312-324-8914 (A CHILD CAR SEAT SAFETY CONSULTANT). THE INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SEAT IN THE REAR WINDSTAR SEATS CAN BE MADE SAFE WITH A LOCKING CLIP UNTIL THE CORRECT SEATBELTS ARE INSTALLED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURERS CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES. I WAS TOLD THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS ONLY A GENERAL GUIDE AND THAT IT WILL NOT TELL ME WHAT IS ON THE VEHICLE. THIS MAY BE TRUE, BUT CAR SEAT INSTRUCTIONS DIRECT OWNER'S TO REFER TO VEHICLE OWNER MANUALS FOR INSTALLATION AND AS I'VE STATED PREVIOUSLY - FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS WOULD DIRECT A PERSON TO MAKE AN UNSAFE INSTALLATION OF CAR SEATS. (NOTE: IT TOOK ME A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND PERSISTANCE TO EVEN BEGIN TO GET HELP FROM FORD ON THIS ISSUE. I AM NOW USING THE LOCKING CLIP, BUT I AM CERTAIN OTHER KIDS ARE SECURRED IAW THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ARE NOT SAFE). FEEDBACK ON MY REPORT/ANALYSIS OR ACTION BEING TAKEN WOULD BE APPRECIATED.. *AK
THE HORN LOCATION IS HARD TO FIND DUE TO DESIGN. YH
IF YOU PROCEED UPHILL AND COME TO A STOP TO PARK, I PLACE SET THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE BEFORE I PUT THE VAN IN PARK. WHEN I LEAVE I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PUT THE VAN IN DRVE OR WHICHEVER GEAR I NEED AND I GET AN EXTREMELY LOUD CLUNK AS IF THE TRANS. IS GOING TO FALL OUT. WHILE GOING UPHILL, ONCE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH AND A SECOND TIME AT 45 TO 50 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FOR A SECOND ALL TOGETHER. THEN IT JUMPED BACK INTO THE GEAR IT WAS IN PREVIOUSLY, NOT BERFORE ACTUALLY SLOWING DOWN AND ALMOST STOPPING. I BROUGHT THE VAN NTO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT AND WITHIN A FEW HOURS THEY CALLED ME FOR PICK UP AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE, I'VE BEEN AROUND CARS ALL MY LIFE AND THAT SOUND IS NOT NORMAL AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED ARE NOT NORMAL. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY HAVE LOWW TRANNY FLUID. THAT HAS BEEN CHECKED AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING THE RUN AROUND HERE AND AM NOT GETTTING ANY SOUND ANSWERS AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENS. I ALSO JUST FOUND OUT TODAY FROM THE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE WINDSTAR HAS MANY TECHNICAL BULLETINS OUT REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. I FEEL A LITTLE LEFT OUT OF HTE CROWD HERE. I'LL BE TAKING MY FAMILY ON A VACATION BACK TO MINNESOTA AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEVAN WILL MAKE IT. AFTER ALL THATS WHY WE PAY FOR THE WARRANTIES NOW ISN'T IT. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE WITH THIS ISSUE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED IN ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO FAILED COMPONENTS - MICE GET INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH FIREWALL - FIREWALL NOT SEALED?? NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
WHEN MOVING REAR SEAT TO MIDDLE POSITION BEHIND DRIVER, THERE IS NO PLACE TO BUCKLE THE LAP BELT. IN THE REAR POSITION THERE IS, VEHICLE IS ADVERSTISED AND OWNERS MANUAL SHOWS THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO SWAP MIDDLE AND REAR SEATING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT.
WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN OR BECOME STIFF. DRIVER HAS TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES IN ORDER TO TURN. DEALER SAYS THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER HAS REPLACED RACK AN DPINION BEFORE, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
WHILE FILLING VEHICLE WITH GAS SOME SPILLED AROUND FILLER ASSEMBLY . CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. LEAKING FUEL DRAINS INSIDE BODY MOLDING. IT THEN EVAPORATES AND SOME GOES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK *ML
UPON STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTED THE ALTERNATOR DOES NOT TURN OVER WHICH CAUSES A NO START CONDITION, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED DURING A TURN WHEELS LOCKED UP. PEDAL WAS NORMAL,AND THE BRAKES DID RESPOND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN BRAKES PEDAL WAS APPLIED VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AS IT SHOULD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE.*AK
UNKNOWN EXACT PROBLEM AT THIS TIME GRINDING NOISE AFTER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN STARTED AND NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN TOUCHED. SOUNDS EITHER LIKE GEARS ARE SHIFTING LIKE A STICK SHIFT CAR IN THE WRONG GEAR OR LIKE YOU TRYING TO START THE CAR AFTER IT HAS BEEN STARTED.
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER IT HAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FOR 30SEC -1 MIN. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO AND IT IS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE. PLEASE E-MAIL ME IF YOU ARE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED DOOR WOULD OPEN WITHOUT INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
I CONTACTED FORD CORP. 3 EDITIONS OF OWNERS MANUAL SAYS 99 WINDSTAR COMES WITH AUTO.LOCK.RETRACTORS ON THE 3 PT SEATBELTS... (HOW MANY 99 WINDSTARS ARE ON THE ROAD?) FORD SALES INFORMATION BOOK (WHICH EVERY SALESMEN GETS) SAYS ALR IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON 99 WINDSTAR. (HOW MANY DEALERSHIPS & HOW MANY SALESMEN, NOT TO MENTION MGMT?) THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS T H I N K THEY HAVE THIS SAFETY FEATURE AND ITS NOT THERE (BUT IT'S IN WRITING... IN THEIR OWNERS MANUAL). FORD WON'T CHANGE THE BELT RETRACTOR FOR ME. PLEASE RESPOND. PS I WAS TOLD BY FORD ENGINEER TO"DISREGARD BIGBIRD SAFETY CARD. ALR'S DID NOT APPLY TO MY CAR." THEY WOULDN'T EVEN SEND ME ANYTHING THAT MY EXISTING SEATBELTS ARE SAFE AND PROPERLY WORKING... I GUESS PUTTING IT IN WRITING MEANS NOTHING.. SO MUCH FOR FORD MEANS SAFETY FIRST. *AK
THE HORN IS NOT SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE BY PRESSING, REQUIRES EXCESSIVE EFFORT. YH
THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK. YH
DOOR WAS INADVERTENTLY CLOSED ON CHILDS ARM
FRONT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK PLUNGER WILL LOCK DOWN. BUT IF CONSUMER HAS ARM LYING AGAINST IT ,IT WILL ALSO PULL IN SKIN WITH IT DOWN INTO THE HOLE, CAUSING INJURIES AND LACERATIONS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WENT TO TAKE OFF, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND WORKED FOR FORD, AND DETERMINED IT WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION. *AK VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE IN DRIVE GEARS DUE TO METAL PRESENCE IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. *YH
BRAKES FADE ALMOST RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS DUE TO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. *SLC
HORN BUTTON IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND ON STEERING/AIRBAG. YOU HAVE TO PRESS VERY HARD IN A SMALL AREA ONLY IN THE CENTER. IN AN EMERGENCY, I'M SURE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE IT AND AN AVOIDABLE ACCIDENT COULD HAPPEN. *AK
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE BECAUSE OF GASOLINE USAGE. ALSO, THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE REAR WINDOW, AND WATER CAME THOUGH AND RUINED THE CARPET.*AK
HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PRESS. IT TAKES EXTREME PRESSURE FROM DRIVER FOR HORN TO BLOW. ALSO, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND THE RIGHT SPOT TO PUSH. VEHICLE WAS MADE WITH A DEFECT. HORN HAS NOT WORKED.*AK