The 1999 Ford Windstar has 15 recalls, the most serious being a rear axle that can crack and fracture from corrosion or stress, causing sudden loss of vehicle control. Prior repair attempts on the axle issue may not have fully resolved the problem, as replacement brackets on some vehicles were misinstalled. Corrosion also threatens the front lower control arm brackets, which can fracture and allow the control arm to separate, reducing steering control. A related subframe coating issue can lead to similar steering consequences.
Vehicles with rear auxiliary air conditioning carry a fire risk: if the blower motor stalls on the medium-low speed setting, the resistor can overheat and ignite. On the visibility side, water and road salt can enter the wiper motor through small holes in the cover, causing the switch to malfunction or overheat, most often on the intermittent setting or when ice prevents the blades from returning to their parked position.
The overhead console can crack at its rear mounting bracket, come loose, and fall onto a front seat occupant or distract the driver. Two lower-severity recalls cover power windows that remain operable after the ignition is turned off and a door is opened, and a compliance label missing required rim size information.
At a glance
What can fail
Brackets installed during previous rear axle repairs may have been positioned incorrectly, reducing the effectiveness of those repairs against axle cracking from corrosion.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect bracket installation. If found misinstalled, the rear axle will be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The rear axle can crack due to high stress from repeated twisting forces, particularly in this market's driving conditions.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear axle and install a reinforcement bracket or replace the axle if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Corrosion weakens the rear axle over time, making it vulnerable to stress. This can cause cracks that grow larger and potentially break the axle completely.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear axle and install reinforcement brackets or replace the axle as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Rust can cause the front lower control arm rear brackets and body mount attachments to crack and fracture.
What the fix does
Your dealer will inspect both front lower control arm brackets and body mount attachments, then repair any damage at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bracket that attaches the front lower control arm can separate, causing the control arm to detach. Both rear body mounts of the front subframe can also separate, causing the steering intermediate shaft to separate.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect both front lower control arm brackets and both rear subframe body mount attachments, then repair them at no cost. If repairs cannot be completed, Ford will repurchase the vehicle.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front subframe may not have been properly coated during manufacturing. In areas with heavy winter salt use, the subframe can rust, weakening the brackets that hold the front lower control arm and rear body mounts. This could cause the control arm or body mounts to separate, reducing steering control.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the front subframe brackets and body mounts for damage. If none is found, you'll be notified when to return for installation of reinforcement brackets.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Corrosion weakens the rear axle over years of service in certain regions, making it vulnerable to stress-related cracks that can spread and cause complete axle failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear axle and install reinforcement brackets as needed at no cost to strengthen the axle against corrosion and stress.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire and rim information label is missing required details about wheel size and type for non-passenger vehicles, as specified by safety standards.
What the fix does
No corrective action required, as this labeling omission does not create a safety risk.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water, salt, and washer fluid can seep through small holes in the wiper motor cover. On some 2000 vehicles, a switch in the cover can overheat. These issues may cause wipers to stop working, smoke, or ignite the cover.
What the fix does
Install a new wiper motor cover with improved sealing and water resistance.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The auxiliary air-conditioning blower motor can stop working on medium-low speed, causing the resistor to overheat, smoke, and potentially catch fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a jumper wire to protect the medium-low blower speed setting with a thermal limiter.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water, salt, and windshield washer fluid can seep into the wiper motor cover through small holes made during manufacturing. On some 2000 minivans, a switch in the cover can overheat. These issues may cause wipers to stop working, malfunction unexpectedly, or catch fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a new wiper motor cover with improved sealing and water resistance at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The auxiliary rear air-conditioning blower motor may stop working on the medium-low speed setting. When this happens, the resistor can overheat and smoke.
What the fix does
A jumper wire will be installed to protect the medium-low blower speed setting with a thermal limiter.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Power windows and accessories stay on after the ignition is turned off if the key was held in the accessory position for more than 70 seconds and a front door is opened.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's front end electronic module to correct the accessory relay timing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Power windows may remain operable after the ignition is turned off and front doors are opened, instead of shutting down as required.
What the fix does
Dealers will reconfigure the front end electronic module to disable power windows when the ignition is off.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear retaining bracket that holds the overhead console can crack and separate, causing the overhead console to loosen and potentially fall down.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a redesigned retaining bracket to secure the overhead console.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
