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#BS-2003-FORWIN-7CA72003 Ford Windstar
Based on reports from 1,000 owners and 9 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 1,000 complaints, 33 crashes, 21 fires, and 9 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.2x the class average. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.
Top reported problems
transmission failure
166 complaints β’ Severity 9.2/10
torque converter failure
20 complaints β’ Severity 9.1/10
wont shift into gear
17 complaints β’ Severity 8.8/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
177 owners reported brakes issues β failures commonly reported around 80K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 60β90K miles (217 reports) β’ Median: 80K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Brakes (177 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2003 Ford Windstar: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Brakes Issues
Brakes complaints account for 18% of all reports filed for the 2003 Ford Windstar, with 177 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 80,450 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 80K-mile mark.
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2003 Ford Windstar, with 135 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2003 Ford Windstar, with 57 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Service Brakes, Electric Issues
Service Brakes, Electric complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2003 Ford Windstar, with 57 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to service brakes, electric-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2003 Ford Windstar. Recent trend: decreasing.



Don't negotiate blind β know what this car costs to own
Repair costs β’ Negotiation scripts β’ Mechanic checklist β’ Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (9 recalls)
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." DURING TESTING, A THIRD ROW BENCH FLOOR-TO-SEAT LATCH RELEASED BEFORE THE STRENGTH REQUIREMENT WAS MET. IDENTICAL LATCHES ARE USED IN THE SECOND ROW OF SEATS.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2003 AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. AFTER MANY YEARS OF VEHICLE SERVICE IN THESE AREAS, CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE REAR AXLE, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO TORSIONAL STRESS. CORROSION AND STRESS CAN LEAD TO CRACKS WHICH IF UNDETECTED CAN PROPAGATE AND RESULT IN A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE AXLE.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. 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.
+ 4 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
This is the worst model year for the Ford Windstar according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is transmission.
2003 Ford Windstar vs. Class Average (Minivan - 2WD)
This vehicle
1,000
Class avg
448
2.2x the class average β significantly more complaints than typical minivan - 2wd vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume β popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,000 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 9 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Ford Windstar Model Years
View all Ford Windstar years β2003 Ford Windstar: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Ford Windstar?
Is the 2003 Ford Windstar reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 2003 Ford Windstar problems?
Does the 2003 Ford Windstar have any recalls?
What mileage do Ford Windstar problems start?
Whatβs in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
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Get the Full 2003 Ford Windstar Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,000 owner reports. Know before you buy.