Worst 2002 Ford Windstar Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Hydraulic Brakes
Electrical Faults
Brakes
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Ford Windstar.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic Brakes | 259 | 4 | 9 | 95,037 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 235 | 1 | 15 | 132,343 mi | |
| Brakes | 233 | 3 | 2 | 184,723 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 171 | 6 | 5 | 160,322 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 129 | 4 | 10 | 175,551 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear | 87 | — | 1 | 114,200 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 83 | — | 2 | 98,238 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 44 | 4 | 1 | 244,579 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 30 | — | — | 110,671 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 29 | 1 | 2 | 92,574 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 29 | 7 | — | 113,304 mi | |
| Body Structure | 29 | 5 | — | 131,742 mi | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 28 | — | — | 108,821 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 24 | — | — | 136,631 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 22 | — | — | 85,842 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 22 | 2 | — | 74,029 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light | 22 | — | 2 | 74,274 mi | |
| Airbags | 21 | 8 | — | 88,600 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 20 | — | — | 105,378 mi | |
| Traction Control System | 20 | 1 | — | 101,824 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 18 | 1 | — | 104,815 mi | |
| Instrument Cluster | 17 | — | 1 | 97,460 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 17 | — | 3 | 87,011 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 16 | 1 | 1 | 91,314 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 16 | — | — | 51,870 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 13 | — | 1 | 112,520 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 13 | — | 3 | 70,701 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 | 9 | — | 39,650 mi | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 11 | — | 1 | 70,450 mi |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Ford Windstar. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 Ford Windstar
6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,260,543 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles manufactured September 2, 1997, to July 3, 2003. The affected vehicles were previously remedied to safeguard against the rear axle cracking from corrosion, however, the remedy brackets may have been misinstalled. The incorrect bracket installations may limit the effectiveness of the service repair for NHTSA recalls 10V-385, 12V-193, and 12V-195.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997, THROUGH JULY 3, 2003, AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN VIRGINIA. OVER TIME, CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE REAR AXLE MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO TORSIONAL STRESS. CORROSION AND STRESS CAN LEAD TO CRACKS WHICH, IF UNDETECTED, CAN INCREASE AND RESULT IN A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE AXLE.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. CORROSION-RELATED FRACTURES OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKETS AND BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS MAY OCCUR.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997, THROUGH JULY 3, 2003, REGISTERED IN PUERTO RICO. DUE TO INCREASED STRESSES CAUSED BY HIGH CYCLES OF TORSIONAL LOADING, SPECIFIC TO THIS MARKET, THE REAR AXLE CAN CRACK.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. A SEPARATION OF A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKET MAY RESULT IN A LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATION. A SEPARATION OF BOTH FRONT SUBFRAME REAR BODY MOUNTS MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2003 AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. AFTER MANY YEARS OF VEHICLE SERVICE IN THESE AREAS, CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE REAR AXLE, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO TORSIONAL STRESS. CORROSION AND STRESS CAN LEAD TO CRACKS WHICH IF UNDETECTED CAN PROPAGATE AND RESULT IN A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE AXLE.
Other Ford Windstar Years
2002 Ford Windstar — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Ford Windstar reliable?
What are common problems with the 2002 Ford Windstar?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Ford Windstar?
How safe is the 2002 Ford Windstar?
Does the 2002 Ford Windstar have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2002 Ford Windstar?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Windstar reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Ford Windstar
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99