There are 4 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 1997 Ford Windstarin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
BEHIND IN PAYMENTS. FORD MOTOR CREDIT ISSUED WRITE OF SUMMONS ON 7/3/03, TRIAL SCHEDULED FOR 9/22/03. ON 7/29/03, WHILE AT WORK, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, DAMAGING 2 OTHER VEHICLES PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF ME. FIRE MARSHALL INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENT AND FOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. INSURANCE INVESTIGATED AND VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS. INSURANCE PAID FORD MOTOR CREDIT $5,689.25 (CLAIM [XXX]). FORD MOTOR CREDIT OBTAINED JUDGMENT AND WAGES ARE CURRENTLY BEING GARNISHED ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS CLAIMED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ALTERNATOR FAILED CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO COMPLETELY STOP WITHOUT WARNING. *YC
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO A ENGINE COMPUTER FAILURE AND SENSORS AND STEERING PROBLEM. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER WENT FOR HELP AND CAME BACK TO FIND THE VEHICLE IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
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