RoadVitals

1990 Ford Windstar

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Feb 3, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Ford Windstar, most frequently naming the fuel system, heating & air conditioning and electrical categories. 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system222.2%
  • Heating & air conditioning111.1%
  • Electrical111.1%
  • Other / unspecified111.1%
  • Tires & wheels111.1%
  • Transmission111.1%
  • Brakes111.1%
  • Visibility111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Feb 3, 2011
Fire reported

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR OF MY 1990 FORD WINDSTAR HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. IT WAS RECALLED EARLY AFTER MANUFACTURE OF THE CAR AND REPLACED BY FORD, BUT THE REPLACEMENT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. INTERMITTENT IS DYSFUNCTIONAL. THE MOTOR CONTINUED TO OPERATE EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF! (CAUSED A FIRE, HAD TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE) AND THAT WAS THE REPLACED MOTOR. FORD REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT SINCE IT WAS ALREADY "REPLACED" UNDER THE RECALL. BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN PAYING PRIVATELY AND THE SAME PROBLEM. DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE MOTORS FORD IS USING ON THIS MODEL OR SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH THIS CAR THAT MAKES THE WIPERS DO THIS. CURRENTLY, NO INTERMITTENTLY ON THE WIPERS AGAIN. (THIRD MOTOR) THANK YOU FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN DO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10380046
Incident
Feb 3, 2011
Mileage
150,000 mi
Filed Nov 11, 2008
Crash reported3 injuries reported

HOW COME YOU DON'T LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT DOWN AT POMONA, MISSOURI? IT'S 45 IN BRANDSVILLE MISSOURI, AND IN KOSHKONG MISSOURI, WE HAVE YIELD SIGNS ON BOTH SIDES AND WE HAVE TO CROSS A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE BUT THE SPEED LIMIT IS STILL 65 MPH. DON'T UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A WRECK TODAY AND THREE PEOPLE WERE LOADED IN A AMBULANCE WHY DON'T YOU CARE? IF PEOPLE GET KILLED HERE I'VE SEEN OTHER WRECKS HERE ,.........DON'T UNDERSTAND TAMMY COLLINS

NHTSA ID
10248533
Incident
Nov 11, 2008
Heating & air conditioningElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Apr 20, 2001

THIS TRUCK HAS ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE STARTING. WHEN DAMP OR COLD IT WONT START AT ALL. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY ALWAYS SHORTS OUT, COSTING ME $17.35 EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR IS DAMP. THE TRUCK WILL FINALLY START AFTER DRYING OUT THEN THE TRANSMISION WHEN PUT IN DRIVE WILL NOT MOVE UNTILL THE TRUCK IS WARM.REPLACED THE TRANS. AND IT STILL IS A PROBLEM. THE STARTER RELAY WENT BAD LAST WEEK COSTING ME 217 DOLLARS. THE TRUCK STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL AT STOP LIGHTS AND REV THE ENGINE TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING..ITS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP TO MANY TIMES TO RECALL AND THEY JUST GAVE UP AS DID I . I HAD TO TAKE IT TO ACADEMY FORD IN LAUREL, MD BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY FORD DEALER FOR MILES THAT COULD GET IT IN THEIR SHOP.. THIS TRUCK HASNT RUN RIGHT FROM DAY ONE AND HAS HAD WAY TO MANY PROBLEMS TO LIST. IT ALSO HAS COST ME AN ARM AND LEG TO TRY AND KEEP IT RUNNING. PEOPLE IN THE SAME BUSINESS AS I AM BOUGHT THE SAME TRUCK ON THE SAME DAY AND ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS TRUCK IS NOTHING MORE THAN A LEMON AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN THANKS

NHTSA ID
744314
Incident
May 8, 1990
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 11, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P29575R15 )

NHTSA ID
730982
Incident
Oct 12, 1998
Brakes
Filed Dec 23, 1996

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL WILL NEARLY TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR, COMPUTER SYSTEM NEVER GAVE INDICATION THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED, MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
806630
Fuel system
Filed Jan 20, 1995

FUEL TANK AUXILLARY SELECTOR SWITCH FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO CHECK VALVE NOT BEING INSTALLED IN REAR TANK DURING INITIAL REPAIRS. (89V-141) *AW

NHTSA ID
481197
Incident
Jun 4, 1994

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

12559

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

CONCERNS WITH REVERSE CLUTCH THAT COULD BECOME SHEARED OR TORN IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. *TT

12178

POWER TRAIN

INFORMATION REGARDING TSB 98-5A-12 (TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE-VEHICLES TOWED BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES-RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES) DOES NOT LIST TOWING INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES. *MJS

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Windstar by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005100—
2004240034.0
20031,5109659.7
20021,3539662.2
20011,68616862.9
20001,67516862.1
19991,52213862.2
19981,433141063.1
19971926660.8
19961,38691362.8
19953,32681461.6
1994230241.6
1993110038.9
1992200—
1991300—
1990Viewing600—
1989000—
1988000—
1985500—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.