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2004 Ford Windstar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Ford Windstar are lower than the model-year median of 192.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

23 reports with mileage · 1 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

7 reports
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122,414 miles · Nov 4, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH , THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE SPEED DID NOT DECREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH , THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE SPEED DID NOT DECREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,414.

NHTSA ODI #10434263

97,000 miles · Apr 12, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; THEREFORE, IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; THEREFORE, IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10395644

153,000 miles · Jul 19, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 3 MPH THE REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE BEAM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND C…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 3 MPH THE REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE BEAM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 153,000.

NHTSA ODI #10344020

97,001 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Power Train

FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SLIGHT NOISE FROM VEHICLE WHICH WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. DRIVING DOWN ROAD TOTAL LOSS OF MOTION WITHIN SECONDS WITH NO SIGN OF DEFECT OR SOUND WHICH PUT MY WHOLE FAMILY IN DANGER. THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKE AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342792

123,005 miles · Mar 5, 2010
Power TrainFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE ALSO HEARD AN EXPLOSION. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE SAW THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME. THE PERSON WHO TOWED THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE ALSO HEARD AN EXPLOSION. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE SAW THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME. THE PERSON WHO TOWED THE VEHICLE FOUND THAT REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF WHICH PUNCTURED THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAUSING IT TO BLOW. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE IS OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES; THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,005.

NHTSA ODI #10317060

101,000 miles · Dec 11, 2009
Power Train

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY & SUDDENLY LOST POWER, ALTHOUGH ENGINE WAS STILL ON. TOWED TO DEALER & TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295340

123,500 miles · Dec 9, 2009
Power TrainSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE HEARD A PECULIAR NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE HEARD A PECULIAR NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 123,500 UPDATED 01/1410 *BF THE REAR AXLE WAS RUSTED FROM INSIDE OUT AND CRACKED 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO TILT INWARD AT THE TOP AND OUTWARD AT THE BOTTOM. UPDATED 01/10/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10295064

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.