1998 Ford Windstar Interior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 2%of 1,433 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 87,026miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the interior lighting of the 1998 Ford Windstar, 2% of the 1,433 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 87,026 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Two weeks ago our 1998 Ford Windstar minivan, with 220,000 miles on it, caught fire under the hood while parked, and was totally destroyed. We had been carefully following the maintenance schedule from Ford motor company. During the week before the fire, we had problems with the interior lights not always turning off when we exited the van.”
NHTSA complaint #10215513, filed 2008-01, 220,000 miles“Interior dome light stays on until 15-20mph is reached. Dash light indicator says door is open. Isolated problem to sliding door on passenger side. Problem is intermittent. Take to Ford dealerships on 3 seperate ocassions and all 3 times the problem mysteriously went away. Also when this happens the rear wiper doesn't work all the time.”
NHTSA complaint #10005370, filed 2003-02, 50,000 miles“The door open/close indicator light remained on. Sometimes the light remained on for about an hour after the car was parked and turned off. This is an intermittent problem that has been occurring for about a year.”
NHTSA complaint #10076155, filed 2004-07, 87,026 miles“Door open indicator stays on, causes interior light to stay on. Every other 1998 Ford I know has same problem (7 vehicles). Nieghbor has had thier van (98) worked on 4 times in one year. Dealer not helpfull. Ford has blinders on, acts as if they know nothing about thos problem. All I wanted is Ford to say they knew it was a problem, and they were working on a solution. Fords integrity is in question with me.”
NHTSA complaint #743306, filed 2001-03“I have a 1998 Ford Windstar. It first started with my cruise control switch catching on fire and causing wires under my hood to burn... Now for the last year I have been having problems with my passenger sliding door..the sensor on the dash would show that the door was ajar(not closed) I could take the battery cable off for a while and the door light would go off. Now I have had to remove all the bulbs in the lights inside the van to keep my battery from running down this morning I get up and my battery is dead and acid from the battery is all over the post and cable wires. …”
NHTSA complaint #10332084, filed 2010-05Interior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 Ford Windstar
332 complaintsSuspension
229 complaintsBrakes
199 complaintsEngine cooling
196 complaintsSteering
143 complaintsElectrical system
111 complaintsWheels
83 complaintsBody and structure
81 complaintsVehicle speed control
73 complaintsFuel system
71 complaintsTires
57 complaintsOther or unknown
51 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Ford Windstar
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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