1999 Ford Windstar Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 278about this part
- Share
- 18%of 1,522 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 74,250miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 278 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1999 Ford Windstar, 18% of the 1,522 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 74,250 miles. 9 of these say a crash was involved and 13 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While pulling out of gas station ihear noise and smell rubber burning.carefully drive 3 blocks to my house.notice rear tires leaning into wheel wells.I then see broken axle.Ford said axle reinforcement brackets were installed properly 7 months ago under recall.I have no money to fix.”
NHTSA complaint #10924558, filed 2016-11, 198,000 miles“I have 3 problems with my 1999 Ford Windstar which currently has 60,000 miles. One of them is the glass in front when I'm driving in the rain I have to turn on the wipers the driver's side in the middle part of the wiper stays wet while the passenger side cleans very well. The other problem I've always had is the powersteering when I'm driving, I'm going to turn to the side and the car turns off the guide gets hard and I can't straighten it to turn it on again. …”
NHTSA complaint #11282498, filed 2019-11, 60,000 miles“I have 3 problems with my 1999 Ford Windstar which currently has 60,000 miles. One of them is the glass in front when I'm driving in the rain I have to turn on the wipers the driver's side in the middle part of the wiper stays wet while the passenger side cleans very well. The other problem I've always had is the powersteering when I'm driving, I'm going to turn to the side and the car turns off the guide gets hard and I can't straighten it to turn it on again. …”
NHTSA complaint #11282494, filed 2019-11, 60,000 miles“After a trip to the lake,my family and I were headed home and approached a stop sign.(23 miles from home.) I made a complete stop and proceeded to apply gas and the Windstar would not move. When I release the breaks it just rolls backwards,pretty scary. However after a restart it would move again but only for a few feet,then it falls out of gear again. Towed it home,and don't know what to do. We had no warning lights or warning at all whats so ever.”
NHTSA complaint #10630860, filed 2014-09, 214,000 miles“I have a 1999 Ford Windstar xl. And the o/d light flashes on and off when I put my feet on the gas and it cause the van to shift in gear very hard. And when I get over 55 miles per hour it also does the same thing. It happens everyday. The van goes into gear very hard and it is hard for it to pick up speed when I take off. It stalls.”
NHTSA complaint #10227570, filed 2008-05, 150,000 milesRelated recalls
- 12V193000May 3, 2012Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from september 1, 1997, through july 3, 2003, and currently registered or…Covers: Ford Windstar 1998–2003
Related service bulletins
- 10014086Dec 13, 2004General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 7 | 29% |
| 2003 | 225 | 15% |
| 2002 | 97 | 7% |
| 2001 | 145 | 9% |
| 2000 | 271 | 16% |
| 1999 | 278 | 18% |
| 1998 | 332 | 23% |
| 1997 | 43 | 22% |
| 1996 | 322 | 23% |
| 1995 | 875 | 26% |
| 1994 | 8 | 35% |
| 1993 | 1 | 9% |
| 1990 | 1 | 17% |
| 1985 | 2 | 40% |
Other parts of the 1999 Ford Windstar
276 complaintsBrakes
223 complaintsElectrical system
209 complaintsSuspension
208 complaintsSteering
184 complaintsEngine cooling
129 complaintsVehicle speed control
99 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
62 complaintsOther or unknown
59 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
35 complaintsFuel system
29 complaintsAir bags
28 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Ford Windstar
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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