2002 Ford Windstar Problems and Recalls (1,338 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2002 Ford Windstar is Brakes (35% of 1,338 owner reports). There are 9 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Brakes — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 1,338 complaints · 9 recalls

What problems show up on the 2002 Ford Windstar?

467 of 1,338 filings named Brakes (35% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Suspension (237 reports).

There are 9 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Suspension, Body / frame, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2001 has 1,666 reports on file; this year has 1,338. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2002 Ford Windstar

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 9 campaigns on file below.
  2. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  3. Suspension. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Brakes. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Brakes 467 complaints · 34.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 43
  • Fires 48
  • Injuries 51
  • Deaths 1
All Ford Windstar years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) appears in 467 of 1,338 owner complaints (34.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 467 complaints, 34.9% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 crash reports 14 fire reports 467 · 34.9% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 237 complaints, 17.7% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 3 crash reports 7 fire reports 237 · 17.7% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 158 complaints, 11.8% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 crash reports 12 fire reports 158 · 11.8% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 94 complaints, 7.0% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 4 crash reports 11 fire reports 94 · 7.0% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 73 complaints, 5.5% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 3 crash reports 73 · 5.5% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 69 complaints, 5.2% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 5 crash reports 1 fire reports 69 · 5.2% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 29 complaints, 2.2% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 14 crash reports 29 · 2.2% Engine (ENGINE): 24 complaints, 1.8% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 24 · 1.8% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 22 complaints, 1.6% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 22 · 1.6% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 689 complaints, 51.5% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 24 crash reports 23 fire reports 689 · 51.5% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 467 34.9% 5 crashes · 14 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 237 17.7% 3 crashes · 7 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 158 11.8% 2 crashes · 12 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 94 7.0% 4 crashes · 11 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 73 5.5% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 69 5.2% 5 crashes · 1 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 29 2.2% 14 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 24 1.8% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 22 1.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 689 51.5% 24 crashes · 23 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2002; the first recall shown was reported in Nov 2003. 2002-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2002-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2003-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2003-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2003-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2004-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2004-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2005-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2006-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2006-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2007-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2007-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2007-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2007-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2008-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2008-Q2: 28 owner reports 28 2008-Q3: 49 owner reports 49 2008-Q4: 25 owner reports 25 2009-Q1: 25 owner reports 25 2009-Q2: 37 owner reports 37 2009-Q3: 62 owner reports 62 2009-Q4: 41 owner reports 41 2010-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2010-Q2: 66 owner reports 66 2010-Q3: 121 owner reports 121 2010-Q4: 57 owner reports 57 2011-Q1: 30 owner reports 30 2011-Q2: 38 owner reports 38 2011-Q3: 28 owner reports 28 2011-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2012-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2012-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2012-Q3: 63 owner reports 63 2012-Q4: 23 owner reports 23 2013-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2013-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2013-Q3: 31 owner reports 31 2013-Q4: 24 owner reports 24 2014-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2014-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2014-Q3: 43 owner reports 43 2014-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2015-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2015-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2015-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2015-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2016-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2016-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2016-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2017-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2017-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2018-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2018-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2019-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2002 Jan 2026 Recall campaign 03V459000 ◆ Recall campaign 03V459000 Recall campaign 06E056000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E056000 Recall campaign 09V399000 ◆ Recall campaign 09V399000 Recall campaign 10V385000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V385000 Recall campaign 11V030000 ◆ Recall campaign 11V030000 Recall campaign 12V193000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V193000 Recall campaign 12V194000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V194000 Recall campaign 12V195000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V195000 Recall campaign 15V608000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V608000 Investigation PE04022 ● Investigation PE04022 Investigation PE08035 ● Investigation PE08035 Investigation EA08021 ● Investigation EA08021 Investigation PE10016 ● Investigation PE10016 Investigation PE10026 ● Investigation PE10026 Investigation EA10007 ● Investigation EA10007
  • Campaign 03V459000 was reported 624 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 10V385000 was reported 1,837 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 11V030000 was reported 3,222 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 12V193000 was reported 3,725 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 12V194000 was reported 2,453 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 12V195000 was reported 2,453 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V608000 was reported 3,697 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2002-Q1 Owner reports 1
2002-Q2 Owner reports 2
2002-Q3 Owner reports 8
2002-Q4 Owner reports 7
2003-Q1 Owner reports 4
2003-Q2 Owner reports 6
2003-Q3 Owner reports 8
2003-Q4 Owner reports 14
2004-Q1 Owner reports 8
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2004-Q3 Owner reports 8
2004-Q4 Owner reports 7
2005-Q1 Owner reports 5
2005-Q2 Owner reports 5
2005-Q3 Owner reports 4
2005-Q4 Owner reports 2
2006-Q1 Owner reports 5
2006-Q2 Owner reports 3
2006-Q3 Owner reports 5
2006-Q4 Owner reports 4
2007-Q1 Owner reports 4
2007-Q2 Owner reports 7
2007-Q3 Owner reports 14
2007-Q4 Owner reports 9
2008-Q1 Owner reports 13
2008-Q2 Owner reports 28
2008-Q3 Owner reports 49
2008-Q4 Owner reports 25
2009-Q1 Owner reports 25
2009-Q2 Owner reports 37
2009-Q3 Owner reports 62
2009-Q4 Owner reports 41
2010-Q1 Owner reports 23
2010-Q2 Owner reports 66
2010-Q3 Owner reports 121
2010-Q4 Owner reports 57
2011-Q1 Owner reports 30
2011-Q2 Owner reports 38
2011-Q3 Owner reports 28
2011-Q4 Owner reports 19
2012-Q1 Owner reports 19
2012-Q2 Owner reports 16
2012-Q3 Owner reports 63
2012-Q4 Owner reports 23
2013-Q1 Owner reports 12
2013-Q2 Owner reports 17
2013-Q3 Owner reports 31
2013-Q4 Owner reports 24
2014-Q1 Owner reports 15
2014-Q2 Owner reports 32
2014-Q3 Owner reports 43
2014-Q4 Owner reports 19
2015-Q1 Owner reports 21
2015-Q2 Owner reports 19
2015-Q3 Owner reports 14
2015-Q4 Owner reports 12
2016-Q1 Owner reports 8
2016-Q2 Owner reports 12
2016-Q3 Owner reports 9
2016-Q4 Owner reports 8
2017-Q1 Owner reports 10
2017-Q2 Owner reports 6
2017-Q3 Owner reports 10
2017-Q4 Owner reports 5
2018-Q1 Owner reports 9
2018-Q2 Owner reports 13
2018-Q3 Owner reports 7
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2019-Q1 Owner reports 4
2019-Q2 Owner reports 3
2019-Q3 Owner reports 9
2019-Q4 Owner reports 4
2020-Q1 Owner reports 5
2020-Q2 Owner reports 3
2020-Q3 Owner reports 7
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q2 Owner reports 1
2021-Q3 Owner reports 3
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 2
2023-Q1 Owner reports 4
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 2
2024-Q1 Owner reports 1
2024-Q2 Owner reports 1
2025-Q2 Owner reports 2
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 03V459000
Recall campaign 1 06E056000
Recall campaign 1 09V399000
Recall campaign 1 10V385000
Recall campaign 1 11V030000
Recall campaign 1 12V193000
Recall campaign 1 12V194000
Recall campaign 1 12V195000
Recall campaign 1 15V608000
Defect investigation 1 PE04022
Defect investigation 1 PE08035
Defect investigation 1 EA08021
Defect investigation 1 PE10016
Defect investigation 1 PE10026
Defect investigation 1 EA10007
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Safety Recalls (9)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Suspension, Body / frame, and Transmission / driveline.

  1. Recall campaign 03V459000

    Safety recall 03V459000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    IF THE LATCHES ON TH4E SECOND OR THIRD ROW SEATS OF THE VEHICLE RELEASE IN A CRASH, THE POTENTIAL FOR OCCUPANT INJURY IS INCREASED.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT-TO-FLOOR LATCHES ON THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW OF SEATS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 21, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 06E056000

    Safety recall 06E056000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 09V399000

    Safety recall 09V399000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
    Remedy:
    FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 10V385000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    A FRACTURED AXLE CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    AS PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY INSTALL THE REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 11V030000

    Body / frame

    Report date
    Component:
    Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKETS, AND BOTH BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS AT THE REAR OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME, AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. IF REPAIRS CANNOT BE MADE TO A VEHICLE, FORD WILL OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 21, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 12V193000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    A FRACTURED AXLE CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS, OR REPLACE THE AXLES, AS NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 12V194000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    A SEPARATION OF A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKET MAY RESULT IN A LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATION. A SEPARATION OF BOTH FRONT SUBFRAME REAR BODY MOUNTS MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKETS AND BOTH BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS AT THE REAR OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 12V195000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    A FRACTURED AXLE MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET ON THE REAR AXLE OR REPLACE THE AXLES, AS NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 1, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Recall campaign 15V608000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    If the brackets were not installed properly, the rear axle may fracture, affecting the vehicle handling and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brackets to verify their proper installation. If a bracket is found to have been misinstalled, the rear axle will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The began on October 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S27.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Safety incident filters
Showing 8 of 1,338 complaints · page 1 of 54
2026-02-24Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11720212
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE) and 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). The contact stated that while approaching a traffic signal and driving slowly, the vehicle shook, and the engine shifted. The contact stated that the engine shifted to the right. In addition, the contact lost control of the steering wheel. The contact stated that the RPMs became elevated. The contact pulled over into a parking lot and turned off the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle, and upon inspection, became aware that the subframe had detached and was dragging. The contact believed that the motor mounts were fractured. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic, and the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle remained at the tow yard unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.
2025-05-13Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11660690
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Axle broke on rt side just underneath the bracket that ford installed for recall.i was only going 10mph when it happened no warning I was able to gain control and stop was towed into a shop not driveable if this seems to be a problem mine looked fine they must filled it up with expand foam I would think that would trap in more moisture but these are dangerous they should all be fixed or bought back from the customer
2025-04-19Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11655566
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Manufacture Recall # 09S09 NHTSA Recall # 09V399000 Instrument cluster has become faulty. Details listed below. Overdrive (O/D) light will randomly start flashing for no reason ABS will randomly engage Parking brake light will randomly turn on Speedometer with become sporadic Transmission has trouble shifting gears due to tachometer becoming sporadic Vehicle will randomly try to die/stall out at a prolonged stop or while coming to a stop, even after all charging components have been replaces i.e. battery, alternator, drive belt, and cables.
2024-06-15Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11594551
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The rear axle passenger side broke.
2024-01-02Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11563056
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the contact pulled over and noticed that the tire was not straight inside the wheel well. While hoisting the vehicle on a lift at the residence, the contact noticed that the tire was rubbing on the inside of the wheel well and that the rear axle had fractured. The contact stated that the failure occurred at the site of the repair on the patch. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was informed about a recall. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V385000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
2023-09-22Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11546076
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle was wobbling uncontrollably and almost caused an accident. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
2023-09-07Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11543158
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over on the side of the road and had the vehicle towed. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the rear driver’s side axle had fractured. The axle was replaced. On another occasion while driving 20 MPH over railroad tracks, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact parked the vehicle and noticed that the rear driver’s side axle had fractured. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who confirmed that the rear driver’s side axle had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 139,619.
2023-04-21Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11518183
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rear Axle . Fell on the highway split in half while I was driving on a state Hwy 71 at 45 mph. Cracked rear axle. 2002 Ford Windstar part of a recall for Rear axle. No warning was given and didn't know about the recall until after it happened. Inspection was preformed by a mechanic. I could have flipped or rolled or caused a major collision as this highway is very heavily traveled.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2002 Ford Windstar?

Owners named Brakes most often — 467 of 1,338 reports (35%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2002 Ford Windstar?

NHTSA lists 9 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Suspension, Body / frame, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2002 Ford Windstar?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources