RoadVitals

1993 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.
11
Latest Jan 11, 2008
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

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Ford Windstar, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and airbags categories. 6 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

  • Engine545.5%
  • Brakes218.2%
  • Airbags19.1%
  • Seat belts19.1%
  • Suspension19.1%
  • Transmission19.1%

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

View all 11
Engine
Filed Jan 11, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD JAYCO. THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE WHILE OFF AND PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE FIRE DEPT. BUT NOT THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE TRANSMISSION TYPE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB GARY FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10214510
Incident
Jan 6, 2008
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

3.8L HEAD GASKET

NHTSA ID
10069327
Incident
May 15, 2003
Mileage
94,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 5, 2002

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, SHREDDING THE TIRE. DEALER HAS REPLACED COIL SPRING AND TIRE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED AS HE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE COIL SPRINGS.*JB

NHTSA ID
8013348
Incident
May 27, 2002
Brakes
Filed May 14, 2002

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8009874
Incident
Apr 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Dec 7, 2000

FORD KNOWS THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. THEY HAVE HAD A RECALL BUT ONLY FROM 1994 AND ONLY MADE IN A CERTAIN PLANT. *AK

NHTSA ID
737461
Incident
Dec 5, 2000
Engine
Filed Mar 14, 2000

THE ALUMINUM ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE SEPARATING AND LEAKING, ALLOWING COOLANT AND OIL TO MIX, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THESE ENGINES ARE RECALLED IN THE 94-95 MODELS, BUT NOT IN THE 93 MODEL WITH THE SAME ENGINE. OWNER HAS RECEIVED NO HELP FROM FORD. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
858506
Incident
Mar 14, 2000
Engine
Filed Dec 20, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET ON A 3.8L ENGINE; NOTICED LOTS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CONSUMER WITH SAME PROBLEM. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
854197
Incident
Nov 29, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Feb 13, 1997

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT IS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE SAFETY HARNESS IS TOO SHORT AND TIGHT. FORD AGREES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
546711

Manufacturer communications

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

16-0065

STRUCTURE

For 1999-2003 Windstar vehicles Safety Recall 11S16 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where a front subframe lower control arm (LCA) rear attaching flange or rear body mount could separate from the vehicle subframe. Separation of one LCA attachment or both rear body mounts may result in a loss of vehicle directional control, increasing the risk of a crash.

12559

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

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

98L20

SPECIAL FIELD ACTION REGARDING REVISED WARANTY INFORMATION. *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

BC2361970501

AUTHORIZED WARRANTY PART REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS TO CORRECT EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISE. *TW

BC0678961025

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION ON AODE/4R7W TRANSMISSION MAIN CONTROL & CASE REPLACEMENT. *TT

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
1993Viewing110038.9
1992200—
1991300—
1990600—
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.