Worst 2003 Ford Windstar Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
SERVICE BRAKES
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Ford Windstar.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 296 | 4 | 1 | 108,063 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 262 | 4 | 8 | 98,854 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 209 | — | 3 | 81,719 mi | |
| SUSPENSION | 184 | 3 | 3 | 147,227 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 112 | 3 | — | 123,435 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 94 | 1 | 1 | 92,714 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 75 | 4 | 3 | 101,936 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | 69 | — | — | 90,176 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 48 | 1 | 1 | 123,464 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 45 | 3 | — | 129,136 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT | 36 | — | — | 68,168 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 36 | — | 1 | 119,336 mi | |
| STEERING | 34 | 3 | — | 106,320 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 32 | — | 6 | 84,433 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 32 | — | — | 122,721 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 27 | — | 1 | 79,085 mi | |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 25 | 2 | — | 100,168 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 24 | — | — | 103,974 mi | |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 24 | — | — | 79,240 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 22 | 9 | — | 118,366 mi | |
| ENGINE | 22 | 2 | 2 | 110,980 mi | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 18 | — | — | 64,889 mi | |
| PARKING BRAKE | 18 | — | — | 99,612 mi | |
| WHEELS | 18 | 1 | — | 118,003 mi | |
| STRUCTURE | 17 | — | — | 79,838 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 17 | — | — | 127,010 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 16 | — | — | 61,419 mi | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 15 | — | — | 28,889 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 15 | — | 1 | 89,483 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 12 | — | — | 72,968 mi |
Recalls for 2003 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
Wider context: See the full Ford Windstar reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Ford Windstar
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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