2001 Ford Windstar Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 66about this part
- Share
- 4%of 1,686 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 83,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 66 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2001 Ford Windstar, 4% of the 1,686 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 7 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“There have been numerous issues with this vehicle lately. Car would not start, power steering went out, oil light stays on, I have to put oil in every week, seat motor stop working and now the brakes do not work. We were driving out of town with our 3 kids and I went to press the brakes just to find that it was not there - it was all the way up under the dash board!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10405228, filed 2011-06, 125,655 miles“While on vacationing in vermont. The yellow ABS light and the red brake light came on. Im a mechanic so I had the code reader for the ABS system. The code was the infamous tell tale c1185. I replaced the ABS module once. Unfortunately the problem has manifested again. I'm tempted to do away with the system, but the Windstar transports my young children around. Its like having a gun to my head. What do I do?”
NHTSA complaint #10344913, filed 2010-07, 89,000 miles“The engine cradle was severely rusted and had a catastrophic failure. I narrowly avoided getting t boned and crashed head first into a small hill. My fiance and my self were uninjured but where extremely shook up over this. I lost all control of the steering and the entire engine and transmission where on the ground. Thanks to this defect in fords design I am now without a car and either my fiance or myself could have been badly injured or died.”
NHTSA complaint #10452079, filed 2012-03, 186,950 miles“All parts are affected, my car which is Ford Windstar 2001 , it got fired by itself at early mornings while it was parked and ignition was off, we are the victim of the Ford Windstar 2001,my car is totally burned.”
NHTSA complaint #10524818, filed 2013-07, 98,000 miles“Automobile leaking oil and smoking. Engine, ABS and brake lights constantly illuminated until they were removed by the dealer I informed him the vehicle would not pass inspection and told him of my saftey concerns regarding the same.”
NHTSA complaint #10398252, filed 2011-04, 87,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10026389May 16, 2008Ford: certain 1999-2001 model year vehicles up to 6000 lb gvwr registered in new york and certain 2001 vehicles up to 6000 lb gvwr registered in the state of maine, certified for…
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 4% |
| 2003 | 47 | 3% |
| 2002 | 27 | 2% |
| 2001 | 66 | 4% |
| 2000 | 92 | 5% |
| 1999 | 129 | 8% |
| 1998 | 196 | 14% |
| 1997 | 38 | 20% |
| 1996 | 470 | 34% |
| 1995 | 1,610 | 48% |
| 1994 | 8 | 35% |
| 1993 | 5 | 45% |
| 1985 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2001 Ford Windstar
544 complaintsSuspension
416 complaintsBody and structure
293 complaintsElectrical system
223 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
145 complaintsVehicle speed control
127 complaintsSteering
70 complaintsOther or unknown
61 complaintsAir bags
51 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
41 complaintsExterior lighting
31 complaintsWheels
28 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Ford Windstar
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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