Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 2,440 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Windstar, and it carries 14 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 323 | 13% |
| Suspension | 309 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 272 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 157 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 153 | 6% |
| Steering | 137 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 117 | 5% |
| Wheels | 110 | 5% |
| Tires | 82 | 3% |
| Visibility | 74 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering significantly. The vehicle was taken to a Tire Store, where it was diagnosed that the rear axle was co
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
Bought replacement brake pads from RockAuto 07/08/2023 9:06PM order 244457897 that are supposed to be Bosch BSH BC702 ceramic. What arrived is unbranded, unnumbered tag torn off the box with no identifiers at all. All b
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
We woke up this morning to the driver's side completely burned and melted. It had been parked sinced Monday. Fire inspector said it was definitely an electrical issue coming from the seat.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHERE THE SOUND ORIGINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO BEGAN TO SMELL
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
SUBFRAME RUSTED ON LEFT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAD A POPPING NOISE WHEN I MADE A LEFT TURN AND LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO LEFT. I HAD TAKEN IT TO A AUTO SHOP AND THEY REPLACED
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND SURGED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. TH
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TAKATA RECALL: THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME, IT SMELLS OF AN ELECTRICAL LINE IS BURNING, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES ERRATIC AND THEY ZEROS OUT AND DOESN'
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
MY REAR AXLE BROKE AND THEN MY DOOR AJAR CONSTANTLY GOES OFF EVEN WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED. THE AXLE BROKE REAR DRIVERS SIDE LEAVING ME STRANDED. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN 20 MPH.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for the 1998 Ford Windstar. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles manufactured September 2, 1997, to July 3, 2003. The affected vehicles were previously remedied to safeguard against the rear axle cracking from corrosion, however, the remedy brackets may have been misinstalled.
Risk: If the brackets were not installed properly, the rear axle may fracture, affecting the vehicle handling and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 wil
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997, THROUGH JULY 3, 2003, AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN VIRGINIA. OVER TIME, CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE REAR AXLE MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO TORSIONAL STRESS. CORROSION AND STRESS CAN LEA
Risk: A FRACTURED AXLE CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997, THROUGH JULY 3, 2003, REGISTERED IN PUERTO RICO. DUE TO INCREASED STRESSES CAUSED BY HIGH CYCLES OF TORSIONAL LOADING, SPECIFIC TO THIS MARKET, THE REAR AXLE CAN CRACK.
Risk: A FRACTURED AXLE MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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 B
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, MINN
Risk: A FRACTURED AXLE CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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 O
| Reliability raw | 46 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 63 | average |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 2,440 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 323 of them (13%). There are 14 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 46/100 (below average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 63/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 58/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.