1990 Ford Windstar Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 Ford Windstar, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P29575R15 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .