NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2000 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
MY 2000 WINDSTAR HAS GIVEN US MORE TROUBLE THAN WE NEED.WE ARE VERY DISPLEASED WITH IT.THE DEALER WILL NOT WORK WITH US TO GIVE US THE ASSURED SAFTY WE NEED. THE SEAT BELTS TIGHTEN UP ON THEIR ON. BACK IN JULY THE BACK WINDOW BURST OUT WHILE SITTING STILL. THE DOOR WAS MISSING A PART THAT CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO FLICKER.THE RADIO GOES OF BY IT'S SELF. ALL WE WANT IS ANOTHER WELL MADE VAN.FORD WILL CONTINUE TO FIX IT BUT WE DO NOT WANT THIS VAN. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU
UPON REVIEW OF THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR, THE DEALER'S SERVICE CENTER HAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AND SOLD TO ME MISSING THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. BECAUSE THE SAFETY SYSTEM ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM RUNS THROUGH A LOOP, ALL OF THE AIR BAGS WERE RENDERED INOPERABLE. THE DEALER IS MAKING AN EFFORT TO BUILD AND INSTALL THE ENTIRE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. THE CONCERN IS HOWEVER, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS 1) ALLOWED OFF OF THE PRODUCTION LINE AND 2) ALLOWED TO BE SOLD BY THE DEALER WITH NO FUNCTIONING AIR BAG SYSTEM. IF THIS QUESTIONAIRE IS SELECTED FOR FURTHER REVIEW, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND 1)THAT THE NHTSA ISSUE AN INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN ALERTING DRIVERS THAT IF THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON IN THEIR VEHICLE, THAT NO AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT; AND 2) THAT A REVIEW OF THE MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY SYSTEM INSPECTION PROCEDURES IS CONDUCTED, AND THAT THE PROCEDURE ENSURES THAT VEHICLES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE PLANT WITHOUT FUNCTIONING AIR BAGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME WITH THIS ISSUE.
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS INADQUATE TO HOLD THE VEHICLE. *MJS
LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. PEDAL FELL TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STOP. *AK
THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL FILLER NECK/PIPE, THE FUEL PUMP NOZZEL KICKS OUT AT ABOUT HALF FULL, CAUSING DIFFICULTY FILLING REMAINING GAS, SERVICE DEPT INSPECTED THE FUEL FILLER AND STATED THAT THE INSTALLATION IS NORMAL. *MJS
I EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN A 12 HOUR PERIOD WITH MY 22,000 MILE 2000 WINDSTAR. I SMELLED A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL FOR APPROX 10 SECONDS AND THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. I THEN HAD DIFFICULTY DURING A NORMAL STOP WHEN THE DISC BRAKES SEEMED TO BE EXPERIENCING ABS ACTIVITY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WASN'T FLUTTERING LIKE A NORMAL ABS STOP NOR WAS THEIR ANY MOISTURE ON THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN 10 MINUTES LATER. THE NEXT DAY AS I WAS TAKING IT TO THE SHOP I MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND A COUPLE OF SECONDS LATER THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD. MY FULL PRESSURE WAS ON BRAKES AND IT WOULDN'T STOP. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. THERE WAS NO FLUID MISSING FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE BRAKE PEDAL DIDN'T MOVE DEEPER AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE. THE TACH DIDN'T INCREASE RPM. THE SHOP CHECKED THE ABS SYSTEM AND FOUND NOTHING. THERE WERE NO COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC CODES FOUND. THEY DROVE IT 200 MILES AND COULDN'T REPLICATE IT. *AK
SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THE SLIDING DOORS HAVE HAD A MIND OF THEIR OWN. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP TWO TIMES FOR THE DOORS OPENING ON THEIR OWN AND THIS WILL BE NUMBER THREE. YOU CAN BE PARKED SOMEWHERE AND COME OUT AND THE DOORS WILL BE OPEN AND THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED AND COMPLETELY CLOSED UPON LEAVING THE VEHICLE. THE SENSORS ON THE DOORS ARE ALSO SUPPOSED TO OPEN IF ANYTHING GETS CAUGHT IN THEM. MY SON HAD HIS ARM IN THE WAY AND IT ALL BUT CRUSHED IT BEFORE IT OPENED. CHECKING AROUND THE NET IT SEEMS THAT QUITE A FEW FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. I AM ONLY GLAD THAT THEY HAVE NOT OPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. OF COURSE WHEN TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE IT WILL NOT DO IT FOR THEM. IF I WERE THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM I COULD SEE WHERE IT WOULD TAKE AWHILE TO FIGURE IT OUT. BUT I'M NOT! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BY FORD BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS BACK FROM THE DEALER THIS TIME I AM SURE IT WILL FALL UNDER THE LEMON LAW. SUPOSEDLY FORD HAS A CASE NUMBER ASSIGNED AND IS WORKING THE SITUATION. WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET. I AM A MASTER CHIEF IN THE NAVY SEABEES AND AM CURRENTLY DEPLOYED TO KOREA AND IT IS HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THE LACK OF SUPPORT WE ARE GETTING FROM FORD. I AM GOING TO EXHAUST ALL POSSIBLE AVENUES TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED, HOPEFULLY FOR MYSELF AND ALL OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING THE PROBLEMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL DRIVER IS EVENTUALLY DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER NOTED DISTANCE BETWEEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT SUFFICIENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
AT TIMES CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN SETTING AT 30-35 MILES PER HOUR, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL ENGAGE ON ITS OWN. *SLC
REAR PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE , CAUSE IS UNNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
REAR PASSENGERS' SLIDING DOORS OPENED WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT FORD WAS NOT ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WOULD ALLOW AIR TO COME THROUGH ON DRIVER'S SIDE. REAR WINDOW ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK INSIDE VEHICLE WHENEVER ITS RAINING OR VEHICLE IS BEING WASHED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES HORN IS VERY HARD TO BLOW. *SLC
WHEN TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHTSTEERING WOULD MAKE A LOT OF NOISE. ITS VERY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. ODOMETER MILEAGE RUNS VERY FAST, AND NOT SHOWING CORRECT MILEAGE. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR VEHICLE 4 TIMES.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHEN EMEGENCY BRAKE LEVER IS PULLED THERE IS NO BRAKE TENSION. IF BRAKE TENSION IS PRESENT IT WILL RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL.*AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON REAR SEATS DOES NOT GO INTO LATCHING ASSEMBLY, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM REAR AT 40 MPH IN WHICH PASSENGER'S SEAT DISENGAGED FROM SEAT TRACK . PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION FROM FRONT END DURING BRAKING. LOCAL DEALER , BAYVIEW FORD LINCOLN-MERCURY IN DAPHNE AL UNABLE TO RESOLVE.*AK
ALTHOUGH BOARD FORD IN WHITTIER FIXED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE, I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE TECH. THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTARS. I WAS CURIOUS TO FIND OUT WHY THE VEHICLE WASN'T RECALLED RE: THE TRANSMISSION, I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WASN'T IN A BAD PART OF TOWN OR ON A FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR FLOPPED OUT ON ME. FORD SHOULD CONSIDER RECALLING THE DEFEATED TRANSMISSIONS ON THE WINDSTARS. I'VE HAD SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE ALREADY, ASIDE FROM THE OTHER PROBLEMS IT'S HAD THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. FOR INSTANCE, BRAKES GOING OUT ON 20,000 MILES, IGNITIONS COIL BEING REPLACED, AND ELECTRONIC LOCKS NOT PROPERLY WORKING.*AK
AFTER INSTALLING CHILD SAFETY SEAT, AND WITHIN IN A DAY OR TWO, SEAT HAS LOOSENED FROM SEATBELT. SEATBELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO MECHANIC AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ALL FOUR TIRE HAD SERIOUS WALL ROT, TROUBLESOME BULDGES OR WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF LOSING THEIR TREAD. (GENERAL AMERI GS 60 GENSEAL TIRES.*YH
MY QUESTIONN IS: WHEN THERE IS A MANUFACTURES RECALL, IS S TH COMPANY OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE TIME THE CAR IS BEING WORKED ON? I.VE HAD A PREVIOUS RECALL SITUATION WITH FORD AND IT TOOK SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE DEALER TO HANDLE THE SITUATION. THE CAR HAD TO BE LEFT OVERNIGHT FOR THE WINDOWS SEALANT TO SETTLE. I WAS GIVEN A CAR RELUCTANTLY BY THE DEALER . IT WAS NOT COMPRABLE TO WHAT I WAS DRIVING AND DIDNT HAVE ENOUGH SEATBELTS FOR ALL THE CHILDREN. NOW THAT I HAVE ANOTHER RECALL AND AM TO BE INCONVENIENCED FOR AT LEAST A HALF OF DAY-ARE THEY SUPPOSE TO LOAN/RENT A CAR FOR ME TO USE?*AK
RECALL NUMBER 00V164000-FUEL LINE FITTINGS. RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT PREFORMED, AND VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO BAD, THERE IS A BAD VIBRATION, ALSO THERE IS A HEAVY PULL TO THE RIGHT.*SLC
REAR BRAKES REPLACED FOR A CRACKED CYLYNDER, NUMEROUS TIMES RETURNED FOR BRAKES FEELING SPONGEY, OR NONE AT ALL. WE WERE TOLD LAST OCT 2001, IT WAS A MASTER CYLINDER PROBLEM, YET TOLD THEY ADJUSTED INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE BRAKING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER HUMOURS ME BY CHECKING THEM, INFORMING US THEY ARE OKAY. I JUST HAD THEM CHECKED AGAIN 2/22/2002, THEY INFORMED ME THEY HAD TO ADJUST THE E-BRAKE. I AM PAYING FOR A VEHICLE I FEEL FAR FROM SAFE IN. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS??*AK
AUTOMATIC LOCK ON PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR, AFTER BEING LOCKED, COME UNLOCKED WITHOUT USING THE UNLOCK SWITCH. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAD PROBLEM FIXED 7 TIMES, STILL SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. *AK *YH
IDLE IS IDLING WAY TOO FAST, AND TAKING TOO LONG TO GO DOWN TO NORMAL POSITION.*AK
TRANSMISSION VIBRATES AND CLUNKS EXCESSIVELY WHEN PUT INTO GEAR. DEALER CONTACTED PART REPLACED.*AK
ENGINE WAS MISSING/TAPPING,AND KNOCKING WHICH WAS CAUSED BY LOOSE BAFFLE IN INTAKE MANIFOLD.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT ABS SYSTEM WAS BROKEN .THERE WAS NO WARNING FROM THE ABS INDICATION LIGHTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE TVEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE IT UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A TREE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED, PINNING OCCUPANT BETWEEN DOOR AND FRAME OF VEHICLE. DOOR SHOULD RETRACT IF RESISTANCE IS PRESENT. CONSUMER ALSO PRESSED RELEASE BUTTON,AND DOOR DID NOT RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING CARGO DOOR COMES OPEN BY ITSELF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE SAME DOOR OPENED AGAIN AND CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS CHECK. *YH
CONSUMER STATED THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE/OPEN PROPERLY OR REMAIN IN THE LOCK POSITION, THE DEALER HAS TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO FIX THE DEFECT BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.(LAWYER, DANIEL UHLFELDER ON BEHALF OF CLIENT)*JB
RADIO AND LOCKING SYSTEM HAS SHORT CIRCUITED. FORD CANNOT EXPLAIN TO CONSUMER THE REASON FOR THE SHORT CIRCUIT. CONSUMER FEELS IT'S DUE TO THE RECALL DEFECT WHICH STATES THAT WATER AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS MAY ENTER THE VEHICLE DAMAGING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED AT THE REAR WIRE HARNESS. *JG
MR. WILLIAM F GOSNALL, ATTORNEY AT LAW IS WRITING ON BEHALF OF MS. GREMPLER STATING THAT THAT CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR GENERAL TIRES (NO TIRE SIZE OR DOT# MENTIONED) DISPLAYED SERIOUS PROMINENT AND VERY NOTICEABLE HAZARDOUS DEFECTS. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER AND FOUND THAT TIRES WERE INDEED DRY ROTTED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REPLACEMENT TIRES AT NO COST. *TT
HAD SEVERAL RECALLS PERFORMED, INCLUDING ONE PERTAINING TO CAMPAIGN 02V072000 CONCERNING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ONE MONTH LATER, VAN HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH DAMAGE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. CITY FIRE CHIEF STATED THAT FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL RELATED.*AK.*MJ
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, WENT TO ACCELERATE AND HEARD A POPPING NOISE. VEHICLE STALLED OUT. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN A STANDING POSITION WITH FOOT ON BRAKES IT LAUNCHED SEVERAL TIMES. ON ONE OF THE OCCASIONS VEHICLE HAD CAUSED A MINOR COLLISION, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO BUMPER.*AK
CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A LOANER CAR WHILE RECALL 01S26 RELATING TO THE AUXILIARY BLOWER MOTOR IS BEING REPAIRED. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO GIVE OUT A LOANER AND RECALL REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMED. *TT
THE CONSUMER CHILD WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK, THE CONSUMER FEELS THE INFORMATION IN REFERENCE TO THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IS MISLEADING. NLM
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR FAILS TO OPEN OR CLOSE. *JG
CONSUMER STATE OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AND ALSO WITH THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.PLEASE ADD MORE DETAILS. TS
THE VEHICLES BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS SYSTEMS. *MR *NLM
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACE STEERING RACK PUMP AND PULLEY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
THE SLIDING DOOR DID NOT LOCK PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING, THE DOOR WOULD OPEN AND REMAIN OPEN. *NLM THE CONSUMER HAS DEMANDED FORD TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. *SCC
CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED STEERING RACK PUMP AND PULLEY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. AS CONSUMER MERGED WHILE ACCELERATING IN THE PASSING GEAR, THE SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH BUT RAPIDLY CLIMBING. CONSUMER TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING, WHICH MADE A LOUD MAXIMUM RPM ENGINE SOUND. THERE WAS A DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE PEDAL, AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, THE CONSUMER STOMPED THE PEDAL, BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP. THE POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKES WENT OFF WITH THE ENGINE. (COASTING AT 85 MPH WITH NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING) SCC *JB