2001 Ford Windstar Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 70about this part
- Share
- 4%of 1,686 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 121,938miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 70 complaints about the steering of the 2001 Ford Windstar, 4% of the 1,686 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 121,938 miles. 3 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.
“I recently had my Windstar front end worked on by a local Ford dealer, who was supposed to take care of all recall issues. They did a crappy job of that and now the vehicle is sitting my driveway with the axle snapped in half. Had it towed to my home when it broke on the highway. This is not a safe vehicle and we were very lucky no-one got hurt.”
NHTSA complaint #10876047, filed 2016-06, 160,000 miles“After noticing wobbling of my back tire driving my daughter home from school my father looked at me vehicle to not only see that my rear axel had cracked (in process of insepction for recall repair on that) but also notuce the the front sub frame is rusting so much that everything attached to it is starting to detach.”
NHTSA complaint #10782087, filed 2015-10, 186,000 miles“The subframe rusted & sway bar ancor bracket broke lose. I was able to weild it back on. I noticed the sub frame had a rust hole in it between the the repairs done by Ford recall 11s16 afew years ago.I called Ford motor company ,was told my van was to old & to many miles on it.I got recall for the rear axel [15s27] took to local dealer and asked about front subframe. They told me it was up to Ford .”
NHTSA complaint #10794830, filed 2015-11, 130,448 miles“While backing out of my driveway the subframe fell out of my vehicle causing the throttle body to open all the way dropped out of reverse and went into drive lost steering ,lost brakes jammed vehicle into park to stop 1 foot from telephone pole. Had vehicle towed to Ford took 1 week to here anything from them ,was told I could not have a rental or loaner vehicle while they had my car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10610400, filed 2014-07, 236,000 miles“I was driving at 35mph when I heard a loud boom and my Windstar careened wildly back and forth and felt like I had slammed on the brakes. The Windstar could not even be driven to the shoulder. The tow truck driver said the subframe was broken and possibly the tie rods had broken as well. The front wheels were pointed outward in opposite directions.”
NHTSA complaint #10439667, filed 2011-12, 108,000 milesSteering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 40 | 3% |
| 2002 | 35 | 3% |
| 2001 | 70 | 4% |
| 2000 | 72 | 4% |
| 1999 | 184 | 12% |
| 1998 | 143 | 10% |
| 1997 | 13 | 7% |
| 1996 | 50 | 4% |
| 1995 | 75 | 2% |
| 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 complaintsEngine cooling
66 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