1998 Ford Windstar reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1998 Ford Windstar — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,949
- 3 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- 255 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 84 reported crashes · 88 injuries · 4 deaths · 90 fires
What owners report fails — 1998 Ford Windstar
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 255
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 110
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS 86
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 79
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 57
4 recalls on record for the 1998 Ford Windstar
- NHTSA 15V608000 · 2015 · SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE AS If the brackets were not installed properly, the rear axle may fracture, affecting the vehicle handling and increasing t
- NHTSA 12V193000 · 2012 · POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY A FRACTURED AXLE CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- NHTSA 12V195000 · 2012 · SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE AS A FRACTURED AXLE MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- NHTSA 10V385000 · 2010 · SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE AS A FRACTURED AXLE CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1998 Ford Windstar
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1998 Ford Windstar units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Ford Windstar reliable?
NHTSA has 1,949 consumer complaints on record for the 1998 Ford Windstar and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is power train:automatic transmission (255 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1998 Ford Windstar units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ford Windstar?
Owners most often report problems with: power train:automatic transmission (255), engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (110), suspension:front:springs:coil springs (86), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (79). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1998 Ford Windstar?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.