Model Year Problem Record
The complete public record for the 1996 Ford Windstar: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.
Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.
The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.
508 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
335 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 96V086000, 96V166000.
260 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 02V101000, 99V147000.
113 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
86 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
83 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 09V399000.
79 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
55 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
53 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
42 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
41 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
38 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 97V180000.
25 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
23 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 00V168000.
20 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
18 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
15 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 96V114000.
11 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
9 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.
Lighting. Recall covering the lighting system, reported to NHTSA on June 19, 2000. The campaign covers an estimated 20,637 vehicles across all affected models.
Brakes. Recall covering the brakes system, reported to NHTSA on April 4, 2002. The campaign covers an estimated 250,283 vehicles across all affected models.
Vehicle Speed Control. Recall covering the vehicle speed control system, reported to NHTSA on October 13, 2009. The campaign covers an estimated 4,500,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Power Train. Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on May 14, 1996. The campaign covers an estimated 100,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Seats. Recall covering the seats system, reported to NHTSA on July 1, 1996. The campaign covers an estimated 200 vehicles across all affected models.
Power Train. Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on September 5, 1996. The campaign covers an estimated 40,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Vehicle Structure. Recall covering the vehicle structure system, reported to NHTSA on October 20, 1997. The campaign covers an estimated 769,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Brakes. Recall covering the brakes system, reported to NHTSA on June 14, 1999. The campaign covers an estimated 789,723 vehicles across all affected models.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.
SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE. Resulted in recall campaign 01I007000.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. Resulted in recall campaign 09V399000.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. Resulted in recall campaign 09V399000.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. Resulted in recall campaign 09V399000.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. Resulted in recall campaign 09V399000.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. Resulted in recall campaign 09V399000.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. Resulted in recall campaign 09V399000.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. Resulted in recall campaign 09V399000.
BRAKE PEDAL FADE/EXTENDED STOP DISTANCE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
OUTER HOOD PANEL DETACHMENT. Resulted in recall campaign 97V180000.
FUEL TANK CRACKS. Resulted in recall campaign 99V309000.
SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
FAILURE OF AUTO TRANS PARK LOCK SYSTEM. Resulted in recall campaign 96V086000.
BRAKE PEDAL FADE/EXTENDED STOPPING. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
OUTER HOOD PANEL DETACHMENT. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
FUEL TANK FATIGUE CRACKING. Resulted in recall campaign 99V309000.
HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.
Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.