MYRModel Year Report

2001 Ford Windstar

● Typical for this model
2001 Ford Windstar
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
1,686
Recalls
16

Campaigns on file for 2001

Investigations
8

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Service brakes

33% of complaints

Complaints per year

1985: 5 complaints 1985 1990: 6 complaints 1991: 3 complaints 1992: 2 complaints 1992 1993: 11 complaints 1994: 23 complaints 1995: 3,328 complaints 1995 1996: 1,386 complaints 1997: 192 complaints 1998: 1,433 complaints 1998 1999: 1,522 complaints 2000: 1,675 complaints 2001: 1,686 complaints 2001 1,686 2002: 1,353 complaints 2003: 1,510 complaints 2004: 24 complaints 2004 2005: 1 complaint
1985: 5 complaints 1985 1990: 6 complaints 1991: 3 complaints 1991 1992: 2 complaints 1993: 11 complaints 1993 1994: 23 complaints 1995: 3,328 complaints 1995 1996: 1,386 complaints 1997: 192 complaints 1997 1998: 1,433 complaints 1999: 1,522 complaints 1999 2000: 1,675 complaints 2001: 1,686 complaints 2001 1,686 2002: 1,353 complaints 2003: 1,510 complaints 2003 2004: 24 complaints 2005: 1 complaint 2005
1985: 5 complaints 1985 1990: 6 complaints 1990 1991: 3 complaints 1991 1992: 2 complaints 1992 1993: 11 complaints 1993 1994: 23 complaints 1994 1995: 3,328 complaints 1995 1996: 1,386 complaints 1996 1997: 192 complaints 1997 1998: 1,433 complaints 1998 1999: 1,522 complaints 1999 2000: 1,675 complaints 2000 2001: 1,686 complaints 2001 1,686 2002: 1,353 complaints 2002 2003: 1,510 complaints 2003 2004: 24 complaints 2004 2005: 1 complaint 2005

2001: 1,686 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19855
19906
19913
19922
199311
199423
19953,328
19961,386
1997192
19981,433
19991,522
20001,675
20011,686
20021,353
20031,510
200424
20051

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Service brakes

33% · 551 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and electric.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Brakes continually have failed causing accidents. Pedal goes all the way to the floor before and after new brake pads and bring bled.throttle idle sensor causes vehicle to stall while driving.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-07-08

Also filed under Electrical system and fuel/propulsion system

Suspension

25% · 421 reports

Most commonly citing rear and front.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the rear axle fractured. There was no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to the residence.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-11-13

Structure

18% · 297 reports

Most commonly citing frame and members and body.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

At a major intersection getting onto a highway our subframe gave out and we came to a screeching halt & a dead stop. The entire subframe under the passengers side of the van rotted and the wheel was up against the frame of the car.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-05-21

Consumer states the automatic doors have no sensors to stop them if someone or something is in the way. Door already closed on consumer while removing children from vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-09

The power rear doors attempt to shut but then fail to latch leaving the doors ajar. This happens regularly during hot weather.

NHTSA ODI report, 2001-08-20

Electrical system

13% · 223 reports

Most commonly citing interior/under dash and wiring.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Power train

9% · 149 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and axle assembly.

CRASHFIRE

Safety timeline

16 recalls · 8 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2000-09-14Air bags00V270000 Certain passenger vehicles, limousines, and mini vans were built with a newly designed restraint control module (Rcm). In some cases, the rcm does not recognize certain system faults that could…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rcm in these vehicles. Owner notification began September 14, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2000-12-21Air bags00V412000 Vehicle description: minivans and passenger vehicles. A restraint control module (Rcm) or a side or front crash sensor may have been assembled with one or more of the screws that mount the…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rcm and crash sensors and, if necessary, replace them.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2001-07-06Vehicle speed control01V207000 Vehicle description: minivans equipped with an adjustable pedal option. The driver floor mat could interfere with the accelerator pedal.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace both front driver and passenger side floor mats in the vehicle. Owner notification began July 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2001-07-25Seat belts01V227001 Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began July 25, 2001. Owners who take their…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2001-08-27Visibility01V261000 Vehicle description: mini vans. Contaminants such as water, salt, and windshield washer solution can enter the wiper motor cover assembly through pinholes on the exterior of the cover that are…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new wiper cover with improved sealing and water resistance. Owner notification begain August 27, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2001-08-27Equipment01V262000 Vehicle description: mini vans equipped with auxiliary rear air-conditioning. If the auxiliary air-conditioning blower motor stops turning while in the medium-low blower speed setting, there is…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a jumper wire that will ensure that the medium-low blower speed setting is protected by the thermal limiter. Owner notification began augsut 27, 2001. Owners who take their…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2002-04-05Trailer hitches02V072000 In some minivans, water and other contaminants (Dirt, salt, etc.) can enter into the right rear passenger compartment due to a missing body sealer.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the electrical connector and surrounding area for absence of body sealing and corrosion. If corrosion is present, dealers will service the body gaps, repair corroded…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2003-11-21Seats03V459000 Certain minivans fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 225, "Child restraint anchorage system." During testing, a third row bench floor-to-seat latch…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat-to-floor latches on the second and third row of seats. Owner notification began on November 21, 2003. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2004-03-03Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-07-01 Power sliding door opening
  10. I
    2004-10-22Recall queryClosed 2005-02-17 Front seat belt buckle assembly
  11. I
    2005-02-17Engineering analysisClosed 2005-07-06 Front seat belt buckle assembly
  12. R
    2006-08-04Fuel system, gasoline06E056000 Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n F65277, shipped from January 16 through June 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Due to incorrect…

    Remedy: Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2006. Owners may contact ufi filters USA at 800-230-5876.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. I
    2008-05-13Preliminary evaluationClosed 2008-09-17 Engine compartment fires
  14. I
    2008-09-17Engineering analysisClosed 2009-10-14 Engine compartment fires
  15. R
    2009-10-27Vehicle speed control09V399000 Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 Windstar, 2000-2003 Excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 F-250 SD through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 E-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 Explorer, 1997 and…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 Windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. I
    2010-05-13Preliminary evaluationClosed 2010-09-22 Rear Axle Cracking
  17. I
    2010-07-20Preliminary evaluationClosed 2010-12-20 Front Subframe Corrosion Failures
  18. R
    2010-10-20Suspension10V385000 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…

    Remedy: As parts become available, dealers will inspect and if necessary install the rear axle reinforcement brackets free of charge. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  19. I
    2010-12-20Engineering analysisClosed 2011-03-17 Front Subframe Corrosion Failures
  20. R
    2011-02-21Structure11V030000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect both front lower control arm rear attaching brackets, and both body mount attachments at the rear of the front subframe, and make the necessary repairs free of charge. If…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  21. R
    2012-06-01Suspension12V195000 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…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install a reinforcement bracket on the rear axle or replace the axles, as necessary. This service will be provided free of charge. The recall…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  22. R
    2012-06-18Suspension12V194000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect both front lower control arm rear attaching brackets and both body mount attachments at the rear of the front subframe and make the necessary repairs free of charge. The recall…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  23. R
    2012-06-19Power train12V193000 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…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install rear axle reinforcement brackets, or replace the axles, as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  24. R
    2015-10-21Suspension15V608000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles manufactured September 2, 1997, to July 3, 2003.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brackets to verify their proper installation. If a bracket is found to have been misinstalled, the rear axle will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2001 Ford Windstar — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 551 reports on file for this year.
  • Suspension: 421 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 297 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 00V270000 · Air bags
  • Recall 00V412000 · Air bags
  • Recall 01V207000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 01V227001 · Seat belts
  • Recall 01V261000 · Visibility
  • Recall 01V262000 · Equipment
  • Recall 02V072000 · Trailer hitches
  • Recall 03V459000 · Seats
  • Recall 06E056000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 09V399000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 10V385000 · Suspension
  • Recall 11V030000 · Structure
  • Recall 12V195000 · Suspension
  • Recall 12V194000 · Suspension
  • Recall 12V193000 · Power train
  • Recall 15V608000 · Suspension
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

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FAQ

Is the 2001 Ford Windstar reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2001 Ford Windstar is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Windstar?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 33% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Windstar have?
16 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.