1997 Ford Windstar Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 3%of 192 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 115,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the seats of the 1997 Ford Windstar, 3% of the 192 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 115,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“- the contact was sitting in van , the vehicle was turned off. The van stated to fill up with smoke. At which point he looked at the driver seat and noticed that the van was on fire. The he put out the initial fire. When he looked under the driver seat he noticed there were more flames. The next day he saw that there were wires under the seat. He was able to drive the va with the seat is damaged due to the fire. Contact drive the van home.”
NHTSA complaint #10176471, filed 2006-12, 115,000 miles“My wife has a damaged spinal column due to flawed nature of van seats. Our private doctor, the service manager at steve marsh Ford at milan, tennessee have both stated that Windstar van have a flawed seat design. Also virtually everyone I have talked to who have driven a Windstar for lengthy periods of time state they are uncomfortable and painful. Our seat was a special seat designed to move forward to allow for driver side entry into van. The sitting portion of seat is flawed and during prolonged driving the posterior becomes numb, pained and in the case of my wife damaged. …”
NHTSA complaint #708421, filed 1999-07“The back seat shoulder belt straps were rerouted at dealership due to locking mechanisms. The back rest of front seat was adjusted forward, the seat belt harness got caught and was so tight that the dealership had to release it. Consumer 's six year old got into the seat and released back forward, she got caught and trapped in the seat. The third time when cleaning the vehicle, the front bucket seat leaned backward and looked upward. At the same time, if released the back so the head rest could come forward and it created a (v). The tops of the two headrests caught consumer's hand,. …”
NHTSA complaint #831694, filed 1998-12Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 7 | 0% |
| 2002 | 9 | 1% |
| 2001 | 15 | 1% |
| 2000 | 10 | 1% |
| 1999 | 15 | 1% |
| 1998 | 15 | 1% |
| 1997 | 6 | 3% |
| 1996 | 6 | 0% |
| 1995 | 11 | 0% |
| 1994 | 1 | 4% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Windstar
43 complaintsEngine cooling
38 complaintsSuspension
38 complaintsBrakes
28 complaintsVehicle speed control
21 complaintsSteering
13 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsWheels
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsTires
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford Windstar
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology