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Ford WindstarModel year report

2003 Ford Windstar Problems

Complaints
1,510filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
98,035miles, 1,280 complaints with mileage
Recalls
8campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl FWD · 16 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Ford Windstar (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this 2003 Windstar most often complain about the rear axle cracking or fracturing from corrosion, and about ABS and brake warning lights that come on intermittently, sometimes with reduced brake performance. Both patterns show up at high mileages, mostly between roughly 90,000 and 160,000 miles, with axle failures often found during routine service or inspection before anything breaks. Owners also report transmission failures and continuing corrosion in the front subframe and control arm areas.

  1. Suspension

    Rear axle cracked or fractured (corrosion)

    • 260 complaints (17%)
    • median 133,000 mi at 12.5 yrs old (227 state mileage)
    • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $750 (median of 28 quotes)
    • filed 2009–2026

    Complaints describe the rear axle cracking or breaking into two pieces, often after a loud noise, a burning rubber smell, or a wheel that leans in or rubs the wheel well. Several owners say the failure happened at low speed in a turn or over a bump, and that mechanics found severe corrosion. Many report their vehicle had already had a recall repair with brackets installed, and dealers said the repair had been done or that the VIN was not covered. Mostly reported between about 75,000 and 190,000 miles, often found during inspection or routine service, and frequently in vehicles driven in high-corrosion areas.

    Recall 15V608000Recall 12V193000Recall 12V195000Recall 10V3850004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for the recall repair history and inspect the rear axle and its brackets for rust or cracks; a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is worthwhile on these vans.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Although my van has been through all recall repairs/inspections as I pulled into my local gas station today my rear axle broke. Vehicle was towed to closest dealership (dave knapp Ford lincoln) where it was determined that the vehicle had passed inspection during the recall. As vehicle was being towed consumer noticed that the left bracket appeared to be placed incorrectly.”

    NHTSA complaint #11342680, filed 2020-08, 128,000 miles

    “I was driving on a city street going about 30 miles an hour the van filled with smoke when I came to a stop I looked under the car and the back axle was broke I had it towed to the Ford dealership and they said it would cost $3200 to fix it they said it didn't fall under the recall they had for the back axle breaking”

    NHTSA complaint #11412778, filed 2021-04, 147,000 miles
  2. Brakes

    ABS and brake warning lights, intermittent

    • 676 complaints (45%)
    • median 90,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (585 state mileage)
    • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 67 quotes)
    • filed 2005–2024

    Owners describe the ABS and brake lights coming on while driving, sometimes going out again after the van is shut off, and in some cases the pedal losing pressure or the antilock system not working while the lights are on. Complaints mention brake fluid leaks traced to the ABS module or the speed control deactivation switch, and repeat visits to dealers who sometimes could not reproduce the problem. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 150,000 miles, with several owners noting the lights appear more often in hot weather or after 15 to 30 minutes of driving.

    Recall 09V3990001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Check whether the ABS and brake lights illuminate on a test drive, look for leaking fluid around the ABS module and the speed control switch, and ask whether the speed control recall service was performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My 2003 Windstar has been showing its ABS warning light and brake light dash indicators go on after anywhere from 5 miles to 30 miles after you turn on the van. This has been going on for about a week and a half. I had the brakes suddenly go straight to the floorwhen I was braking and then come up. I had a automotive shop look at it and the informed me that the rear brakes were not engaging at all and all the braking was being done by the front discs. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10341647, filed 2010-07, 84,903 miles

    “Driving my 2003 Ford Windstar periodically the ABS light will come on then go off , after approx 25 to 30 miles of driving I will lose my pressure in my brake pedal and there is very little brakes. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10341004, filed 2010-07, 130,000 miles
  3. Body and structure

    Front subframe and control arm corrosion

    • 185 complaints (12%)
    • median 120,000 mi at 9.9 yrs old (156 state mileage)
    • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,150 (median of 8 quotes)
    • filed 2003–2026

    Owners report the front subframe or lower control arm area rusting through, with symptoms such as the steering pulling, the van wobbling or shaking at speed, and in some cases a control arm detaching. Complaints also mention the engine cradle breaking and dealers saying the repair was not covered or the VIN was not included in the recall. Mostly reported above about 100,000 miles, often on vehicles used in areas where road salt is common.

    Recall 11V030000Recall 12V1940004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Have the subframe, control arm mounts and body mounts inspected for rust and separation, and ask whether the subframe recall service has been done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Our engine cradle recently broke and needs to be replaced. We just found out this falls under recall number 15v608 (Ford recall # 15s27). We would like this to be resolved at little or no cost to us, but we are unsure how to start the process with a recall.”

    NHTSA complaint #10938024, filed 2016-12, 160,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle was wobbling. Once the contact arrived at her residence, her husband noticed that the rear of the subframe was fracture. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V385000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 136,000.”

    NHTSA complaint #11491046, filed 2022-10, 136,000 miles
  4. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission failure or loss of power to the wheels

    • 150 complaints (10%)
    • median 106,500 mi at 8.6 yrs old (134 state mileage)
    • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 22 quotes)
    • filed 2004–2023

    Complaints describe the van losing the ability to drive with no warning, engine revving but no power reaching the wheels, and sometimes a transmission that had already been replaced failing again. Some owners were told the transmission, torque converter and filter needed replacement; others noted a squealing or vibration before the failure. Reported from about 60,000 to 175,000 miles, sometimes with repeated failures after repair.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check transmission fluid level and condition on the dipstick and ask whether the transmission has been serviced or replaced; test for slipping or delayed engagement.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “No event leading to failure, vehicle just completely lost the ability to power the tires. Transmission completely failed with no warning, engine revs, but no power to the tires to move the vehicle. Sudden loss of power on the highway is a major safety concern. Research indicates that this is a major issue with the Ford Windstar, considerably more prevalent than the current rear axle recall. Respectfully request Ford and NHTSA further investigate this potentially life threatening failure.”

    NHTSA complaint #10402492, filed 2011-05, 101,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the transmission failed. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where the contact was advised that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 76,000. Updated 05/01/13 the consumer stated the transmission has since failed again.”

    NHTSA complaint #10502619, filed 2013-03, 76,000 miles
  5. Electrical system

    Electrical faults and battery drain

    • 103 complaints (7%)
    • median 99,500 mi at 7.8 yrs old (86 state mileage)
    • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $825 (median of 10 quotes)
    • filed 2004–2020

    Complaints describe the van failing to start, needing jump starts repeatedly, power door locks and windows not working with the remote, and check engine or tire pressure lights staying on. Some owners had sensors or wiring replaced without the problem going away. Reported around 100,000 miles and up, with some complaints noted at low mileage as well.

    What to check: Check that the battery holds a charge, test the power locks, windows and remote, and scan for stored diagnostic codes.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “It has an electrical problem. Needs wiring harness, needs front and real axle replacement. Dangerous. Alarm goes off at random. Won't hold charge. Steering wheel bearings are shot.”

    NHTSA complaint #11324221, filed 2020-05, 103,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that none of the windows or doors opened with the key remote. The windows do not open but the doors can be opened manually. The dealer inspected the vehicle but could not determine what caused the failure to occur. The failure mileage was 100,000.”

    NHTSA complaint #10424318, filed 2011-09, 100,000 miles

Buying note. If you are considering this model year, focus on rust: the rear axle and front subframe are the areas owners complain about most, so get a thorough underbody inspection and confirm which recall repairs were actually completed. Budget for brake and transmission work as well, since those complaints are common at higher mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 1,510 consumer complaints for the 2003 Ford Windstar. 1,280 of the complaints include a mileage, and 13% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 98,035 miles. Of all complaints, 33 involved a crash, 27 a fire, 35 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns and 21 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Latches, locks and linkages (33), Air bags (30), Electronic stability control (27), Interior lighting (24), Engine (22), Wheels (20), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (19), Equipment (10), Tires (10), Fuel system (8), Seat belts (7), Seats (7), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “My ABS light and breaks turn on once I drive for a mile on the road and it stay on till I shut the engine off for the following day for work. I already replace my brakes, rebuild my transmission and replace all spark plugs and cords, also change my engine oil on time pretty much a take care of my one and only vehicle I have. I have enough with the fords.”

NHTSA complaint #10722379, filed 2015-05, 144,000 miles

Electrical system: “My ABS and brake lights on the dashboard come on and off at different times. Sometimes they stay for a while (days) and then go off for (days). Also, I have been having problems with the gauge arms on the dashboard all of sudden will go back and forth in a quick motion. Then sometimes stick in one position and then back to normal and then sometimes not move at all for a while.”

NHTSA complaint #10807677, filed 2015-12, 100,000 miles

Suspension: “My 2003 Ford Windstar rear axle had reinforcement brackets installed for the recall 10s13. My rear axle beam still fractured under the bracket while I was driving. After paying over $300 in towing and service fees Ford told me there is nothing they can do. I was driving with my husband and 4 children in the van. We are lucky it happened on a back road and going slow.”

NHTSA complaint #11209141, filed 2019-05, 150,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “After looking up all of the service reports on this vehicle, I am beginning to recognize that Ford has some explaining to do. We have a large amount of service reports on our vehicle alone that our dealership is not reporting. We have paid more for service repairs than we did paying for the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #10702306, filed 2015-03, 175,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

13% of the 1,280 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 70,000 and 130,000 miles.

3%0–102%10–258%25–5014%50–7524%75–10033%100–15016%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1,280 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 98,035 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’05’08232’11’14’17’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Ford Windstar. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Windstar · w/sab not rated5 / 5———
Windstar · sedan not rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 Ford Windstar version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Windstar FWD Cargo Van3.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162218$3,700
Windstar FWD Wagon3.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162218$3,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 8 recalls for the 2003 Ford Windstar → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 21 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 21 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford Windstar

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200424123,5000———Stable
20031,51098,0358—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20021,353103,0008—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20011,686108,00015—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20001,675104,00015—17Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19991,522105,00011—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19981,43394,00011—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199719288,8905—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19961,38686,0008—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19953,32699,5006—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199423119,5000———Stable
19931197,0000———Not enough data
19906150,0000———Not enough data
19855—0———Not enough data

All Ford Windstar model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Windstar?

Owners of this 2003 Windstar most often complain about the rear axle cracking or fracturing from corrosion, and about ABS and brake warning lights that come on intermittently, sometimes with reduced brake performance. The issues reported most often: Rear axle cracked or fractured (corrosion); ABS and brake warning lights, intermittent; Front subframe and control arm corrosion.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Ford Windstar have?

NHTSA recorded 1,510 consumer complaints for the 2003 Ford Windstar as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Ford Windstar is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 655 complaints (43% of the total), followed by electrical system with 280.

Has the 2003 Ford Windstar been recalled?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Ford Windstar get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Ford Windstar (Windstar FWD Cargo Van, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Ford Windstar reported?

Among the 1,280 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 98,035 miles and the middle half falls between 70,000 and 130,000 miles; 13% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.