Model Year Problem Record
The complete public record for the 1998 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.
342 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 12V193000, 97V097000.
236 complaints; 4 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 01V199000, 10V385000, 12V195000, 15V608000.
224 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 99V147000.
211 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
153 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 97V165000.
112 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
83 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
83 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
75 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
73 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 09V399000.
57 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
46 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 00V168000.
46 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
41 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
30 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
26 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
22 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 97V051000.
17 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
13 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
6 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.
Suspension. Recall covering the suspension system, reported to NHTSA on June 18, 2001. The campaign covers an estimated 198,583 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.
Suspension. Recall covering the suspension system, reported to NHTSA on August 26, 2010. The campaign covers an estimated 492,650 vehicles across all affected models.
Power Train. Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on May 3, 2012. The campaign covers an estimated 27,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Suspension. Recall covering the suspension system, reported to NHTSA on May 3, 2012. The campaign covers an estimated 9,192 vehicles across all affected models.
Suspension. Recall covering the suspension system, reported to NHTSA on September 29, 2015. The campaign covers an estimated 283,413 vehicles across all affected models.
Seats. Recall covering the seats system, reported to NHTSA on April 1, 1997. The campaign covers an estimated 202 vehicles across all affected models.
Power Train. Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on June 9, 1997. The campaign covers an estimated 100,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Steering. Recall covering the steering system, reported to NHTSA on September 30, 1997. The campaign covers an estimated 2,250 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.
WHEEL STUD FRACTURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
WHEEL STUD FRACTURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
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.
MISSING/LOOSE FRONT BRAKE. Resulted in recall campaign 98I003000.
SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
WHEEL STUD FRACTURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
WHEEL STUD FRACTURE. 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.
Rear Axle Cracking. Resulted in recall campaign 10V385000.
MISSING/LOOSE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER ANCHOR. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
OVERHEAD CONSOLE LOOSE OR HANGS DOWN. Resulted in recall campaign 66V002001.
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.