There are 8 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 1996 Ford Windstarin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER OPENING HATCH AND NOW SIDE DOOR. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALWAYS. *JB
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS CLEAR PLASTIC LENS. OVER TIME PLASTIC HAS DISCOLORED WHICH DEGRADES LIGHTING . ALSO LAMP ASSEMBLY COLLECTS MOISTURE INSIDE UNIT FURTHER DEGRADING LIGHTING THIS CONDITION PREVALENT NOT ONLY ON MY VEHICLE BUT ALSO ON OTHER CARS I HAVE OBSERVED. *JB
WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED AND ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND LATCHED, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS STAY ON AS WELL AS THE DOOR AJAR CHIME RINGS. THIS IS CONTINUOUS WHILE DRIVING, AND EVENTUALLY TURNS ITSELF OFF. THIS CREATES A HAZARD ESPECIALLY WHILE BACKING AS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SEE BEHIND VEHICLE AT DUSK OR DARK. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY AS TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT IF A DOOR IS INDEED AJAR, THAT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WILL STAY ON, BUT THE DOME LIGHT WILL GO OFF AS WILL THE CHIME. *JB
THE INSIDE COURTESY DID NOT SHUT OFF.*JB
DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND COURTESY LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON AFTER SHUTTING DOORS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS CONCERNING THAT PROBLEM. *AK
1996 FORD WINDSTAR SWITCHES ARE BAD IN DOORS CAUSING DOOR AJAR LIGHT TO STAY ON. WHEN DRIVING, STAYS ON UNTIL YOU ARE GOING APPROX. 15-18 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS A HAZARD ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. DUE TO THE GLARE ON THE WINDOWS INSIDE THE VAN. I HAVE WENT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE 400.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I DON'T HAVE 400.00. I WAS ALSO VISITING FAMILY IN INDIANA THIS LAST WEEK AND AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE EXACT VAN AND PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN COLORADO AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS ODD THAT SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN INDIANA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH OUR WINDSTAR. SO, THEN I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. AND MAYBE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.*AK
HEAD LIGHT FAILURE.
DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTING OR CLOSING DOOR - INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
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