VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford Windstar engine problems

The 1997 Ford Windstar has 41 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 16% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

41

Engine complaints

16%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Windstar engine complaints by model year1,849 complaints1985: 2 complaints1993: 5 complaints1994: 8 complaints1995: 1,849 complaints1996: 527 complaints1997: 41 complaints1998: 231 complaints1999: 141 complaints2000: 107 complaints2001: 78 complaints2002: 41 complaints2003: 69 complaints2004: 4 complaints2005: 1 complaints
Windstar engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“FAILED HEAD GASKET LED TO A PISTON ROD SHOOTING THROUGH THE OIL PAN. VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE CARS BEHIND ME AS OIL WAS SHOOTING OVER THE HIGHWAY. SLIPPERY FOR CARS FOLLOWING, AND WENT ON OTHER CARS PAINT AND WINDSHIELDS. HEAD GASKETS WERE RECALLED IN PREVIOUS 3 YEARS OF VEHICLES 1993-96 FORD…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · March 20, 2004 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1997 Ford Windstar have?

NHTSA has 41 complaints about the 1997 Ford Windstar engine — 16% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.