2003 Ford Windstar Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 225about this part
- Share
- 15%of 1,510 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 102,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 225 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Ford Windstar, 15% of the 1,510 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 102,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 2 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.
“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“My 2003 Ford Windstar was taken in for the rear axle recall and was repaired. The axle has cracked again we took it to the dealer who said that they contacted Ford about the problem and were told they would not repair or replace the axle the van only has 47000 miles on it we would like to have it repaired or replaced at Ford expense.”
NHTSA complaint #10548826, filed 2013-10, 47,200 miles“When leaving my house on a trip out of town, I drove my Windstar down the street to the intersection leaving my street. As I pulled out into traffic the transmission broke, disengaged and would no longer propel the Windstar forward. The mechanic who towed the vehicle said the transmission was gone and he had seen countless numbers of windstars with the same problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10483235, filed 2012-11, 155,600 miles“I'm the owner of a 2003 Ford Windstar. I had my transmission fail while in the middle of driving.the van drifted to the side of the road,the steering was locked,the lights blinked,my od n blinker flashed off n on.my drivers side window won't go down. Also my ABS light absolutely won't go off!!!!.also replaces,brakes, rotors(which were totally rusted).”
NHTSA complaint #10394492, filed 2011-04, 150,000 miles“We stopped at a restaurant to have lunch. Came out to leave. Started the van and put it into reverse to leave parking place and it wouldn't move at all. Called our dealer and was told it sounded like the torque converter. That was exactly the problem. There was no warning at all. It just stopped working.”
NHTSA complaint #10506059, filed 2013-04, 89,288 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
- 10016808Oct 11, 2005Erratic fluid level reading on transaxle dipstick-leaks-4f50n, ax4n, ax4s transaxle.
- 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 2003 Ford Windstar
655 complaintsElectrical system
280 complaintsSuspension
254 complaintsBody and structure
127 complaintsVehicle speed control
85 complaintsEngine cooling
47 complaintsOther or unknown
44 complaintsSteering
40 complaintsExterior lighting
35 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
33 complaintsAir bags
30 complaintsElectronic stability control
27 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford Windstar
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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