Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1998 vs 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 335 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 7.2% more reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table

Component	1998 share	1999 share	Share change
STRUCTURE	4.0%	16.0%	▲ 12.1 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN	19.2%	14.4%	▼ 4.8 pts smaller share
ENGINE	11.1%	6.6%	▼ 4.5 pts smaller share
WHEELS	5.5%	1.3%	▼ 4.2 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	5.7%	9.7%	▲ 4.0 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM	4.3%	1.5%	▼ 2.8 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION	13.8%	11.1%	▼ 2.7 pts smaller share
STEERING	7.1%	9.2%	▲ 2.1 pts larger share
VISIBILITY	1.7%	3.5%	▲ 1.8 pts larger share
TIRES	2.1%	0.5%	▼ 1.6 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES	10.2%	11.1%	▲ 0.9 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	1.2%	0.5%	▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	4.1%	4.8%	▲ 0.7 pts larger share
AIR BAGS	0.8%	1.4%	▲ 0.6 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS	1.7%	1.1%	▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE	0.4%	0.3%	▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
BACK OVER PREVENTION	not reported	0.1%	▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	79.1%	72.9%	▼ 6.2 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

1998 14

Campaign components: POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING, STRUCTURE, and SUSPENSION

1999 13

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION, and VISIBILITY

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21