RoadVitals

1997 Ford Windstar Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints 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.
13
Latest Mar 6, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 192 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 6, 2007

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FRONT SPRING FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL #01I007000: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10184352
Incident
Mar 3, 2007
Mileage
142,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Nov 30, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATES HAS BEEN HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE 2002. ON APRIL 28, 2004 THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT PROVIDING AN ACCURATE SPEED READING. ON DECEMBER 9, 2004 THE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR SLIDE PROPERLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND DETERMINED THAT THE SLIDE WHEELS WERE DRY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH, AND NOW IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. ON FEBRUARY 5, 2005 THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 75, 172 MILES, AND ON NOVEMBER 21, 2005 THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10144086
Incident
Feb 11, 2005
Mileage
75,172 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 10, 2004

WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10076098
Incident
Apr 25, 2004
Steering
Filed Jun 4, 2003

TIE RODS WERE WORN OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10022361
Incident
Jun 3, 2003
Mileage
12,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 27, 2001
Crash reported

LEFT SIDE TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, ALSO, SUSPENSION JOINTS NEEDED TO BE WELDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

NHTSA ID
884336
Incident
Mar 26, 2001
SteeringTransmission
Filed Jul 30, 1999

NHTSA RECALL 97V-097000 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEAKING OVER CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND PROBLEM WITH STEERING LOSS. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
843859
Incident
Jul 20, 1999
Steering
Filed Mar 22, 1999

WHY WOULD TIE RODS FAIL AT 47000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
704771
Incident
Feb 15, 1999
Steering
Filed Jul 26, 1998

STEERING LOCKED UP ON RIGHT TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. BY FORCING THE WHEEL TO TURN, THERE WAS AN AUDIBLE POPPING SOUND AND THEN THE STEERING UNLOCKED AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID
538930
Incident
Jun 25, 1998
Steering
Filed May 14, 1998

STEERING FAILURE CAUSED A VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
535519
Incident
Apr 27, 1998
Steering
Filed May 4, 1998
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING UP HILL AT 40MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO GUARDRAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID
823018
Powertrain (other)SteeringTransmission
Filed Apr 27, 1998

CV JOINTS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL.*AK

NHTSA ID
534695
Incident
Mar 3, 1998
Steering
Filed Oct 28, 1997

SERVO COVER RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
604807
Incident
Jul 22, 1997
BrakesSteering
Filed Aug 28, 1997

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. VEHICLE ROLLS AFTER BEING IN PARK ON SLIGHTEST INCLINE.

NHTSA ID
523023
Incident
Dec 1, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Suspension38Engine38Brakes28Powertrain (other)23Transmission22Driver assistance21Interior & seats10Body & structure8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .