Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Windstar, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train43
- Suspension38
- Engine and engine cooling38
- Service brakes, hydraulic24
- Vehicle speed control21
- Steering13
- Structure8
- Electrical system7
- Wheels6
- Seats6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 13.0–13.5 L/100 km (about 17–18 mpg US), CO₂ 299–311 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windstar Van · Van: Cargo · Regular gasoline | 15.1 | 10.4 | 13.0 |
| Windstar Wagon · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 15.1 | 10.4 | 13.0 |
| Windstar Van · Van: Cargo · Regular gasoline | 15.4 | 11.1 | 13.5 |
| Windstar Wagon · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 15.4 | 11.1 | 13.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Ford Windstar.
| 2009292 14 Oct 2009 | Other On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur ei… |
| 2001120 8 Jun 2001 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the front suspension coil springs could fracture when operated in high corrosion areas (where salt is used on the roadways in the winter) f… |
| 1999126 23 Jun 1999 | Brakes Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 105 - Hydraulic Brake Systems. The brake fluid warning statement embossed on the side of the brak… |
| 1998157 31 Jul 1998 | Brakes THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE HAD INCORRECT SERVICE REPLACEMENT BRAKE ROTORS INSTALLED WHICH WILL CAUSE AN IMPROPER WHEEL TO HUB ABUTMENT CONDITION TO OCCUR. WITH AN… |
| 1997124 23 Jun 1997 | Powertrain NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE. THESE TRANSAXLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVERS THAT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXL… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
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 ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD FRACTURE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.
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, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." ACCORDING TO FORD, THE VEHICLES WERE IMPORTED INTO THE U.S. ERRONEOUSLY.
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 VISIBLE BY DIRECT VIEW. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT FULLY COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS."
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 CONVERTER.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1997 Ford Windstar: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637456 | SUBJECT REGARDING POWER STEERING LINE PART ORDERING INFORMATION. *TT |
| 636361 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT REAR DRUM BRAKES THAT DRAG OR WILL NOT RELEASE PROPERLY WHEN OPERATED IN WET CONDITIONS AND / OR BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 636312 | EXHIBITING INTERMITTENT ANTI-SKID BRAKE SYSTEM AND / OR RED BRAKE LAMP ON AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 635987 | GRUNT / POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AT SPEEDS BELOW 20 MPH WHEN TURNING. *TT |
| 635966 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A POPPING / GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR MAKING TURNS. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630356 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A PARK PULLOUT CLUNK NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO ANOTHER GEAR POSITION. *TT |
| 630354 | SOME VEHICLES MAY RUN ROUGH AT CRUISE OR MOMENTARILY AFTER STOPPING, A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT,AND P030X CODES. *TT |
| 630351 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A GROAN/BUZZ/VIBRATION WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 625687 | TRANSAXLE - AX4S - REPLACEMENT APPLICATION CHART - WINDSTAR VEHICLES ONLY. *NLM |
| 625034 | INFORMATION REGARDING REPLACEMENT APPLICATION CHART. *ET |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622665 | ON SOME VEHICLES, ENGINE OIL MAY CONTINUE TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET AREA AFTER AN ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED. *TT |
| 619462 | INFORMATION ON INDEXING ORANGE DOT ON TORQUE CONVERTER TO FLEXPLATE. *TT |
| 619424 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN 2001 VEHICLES - SAE 5W-20 MOTOR OIL. *TT |
| 619160 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT REAR DRUM BRAKES THAT DRAG OR WILL NOT RELEASE PROPERLY WHEN OPERATED IN WET CONDITIONS AND / OR BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 615491 | ALL VEHICLES WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE MODULE CONCERNS THAT REQUIRE A MODULE REPLACEMENT, THE TECHNICIAN MUST CALL FOR APPROVAL BEFORE REMOVING AND / OR REPLACING THE MODULE. *TT |
| 615488 | FOR ALL VEHICLES WITH GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM) CONCERNS THAT REQUIRE A MODULE REPLACEMENT, THE TECHNICIAN MUST CALL FOR APPROVAL BEFORE REMOVING AND / OR REPLACING THE MODULE. *TT |
| 615335 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A HARD START / LONG CRANK, COLD START STALL, COLD ROUGH IDLE CONCERN. *TT |
| 615326 | SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLES WITH THE AX4S TRANSAXLE HAVING AN INLINE TRANSMISSION COOLER BYPASS VALVE LOCATED IN THE COOLER LINE NEAR THE RADIATOR COOLER. *TT |
| 615177 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES FOR VEHICLES EXHIBITING CHECK ENGINE LAMP ON AND MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0300 - P0306. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
WHEEL STUD FRACTURE
SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE
SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE
FUEL TANK CRACKS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation