Overview & Reviews

This year the Windstar has been totally redesigned. The biggest news for '99, in addition to the completely new exterior and interior styling, is a left-hand sliding door. The second- and third-row seats are now on rollers for easier removal/interchangeability and the instrument panel has been redesigned for improved ergonomics. There's also a more powerful and cleaner-burning 3.8-liter V6 plus upgraded suspension, transmission, brakes and air conditioning components. New options include side airbags and a trick reverse sensing system.

• As the most recent minivan to undergo a major redesign, the Windstar is now king of safety and high-tech features.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 148.00

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  At what point should I scrap it? - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By C Horton - October 31 - 9:01 pm

  We bought this from German friends who were returning back home. They kept detailed records and had every service done and every repair done imaginable. I figured we should have a good run. We bought it with 80k miles. After 2 1/2 years, with only 98k miles Ive had to repace the transmission. The door locks never quite work and the check engine light goes on every and ever trip to the dealer/service station costs at least $600 to fix it. Im crossing my fingers to get six more months out of it as the inspection comes up at that time. Im fed up with all of the maintance costs for this poorly designed vehicle. Ford dealerships love all of the high margin work they get from this car.

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  Do not buy - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Terry - August 27 - 9:07 pm

  Bought van 5 years ago with around 50000 mi. 77000 on van now. Started while under warranty with check engine light had intake gaskets replaced and after warranty out same problem. Replaced o2 sensors and still have intake manifold leaks. Tranny out now. Suprised ford not richer with what they are selling. No help for the working guy. I also had door switch replaced at my cost. Good luck if you have one. Still debating on fixing tranny maybe I should get out while the getting is good

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  transmission - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By falibota - May 9 - 10:00 am

  Had to replace the transmission at 40000 miles at my cost. Less than 3 yrs. old, no help from ford or dealer. Transmission was making noise from day one, dealer convinced me that was normal. 3 nhtsa were issued for that problem, still no help.

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  Windstar - Maybe it will get you there - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Nancy - January 12 - 9:36 am

  This van has been a total disappointment. Weve had problem after problem, some of which left me stranded on the side of the road with my three kids in the car. Problems range from transmission to electrical to mechanical. Every problem that results in a visit to the Ford Service department takes days to fix. I bought the van because of the high safety rating - I didnt feel safe stuck in the breakdown down lane of I-95. I cheaped out and didnt buy the Toyota Sienna back in 99, I wont make the same mistake this time. I hear Ford is getting out of the minivan business due to lack of demand of minivans. They must mean lack of demand of their poorly built piece of garbage van.

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  Never Again - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Karen E - November 30 - 1:01 pm

  Worst, most unreliable vehicle ever. We are looking at cars and wont even consider Ford after our Windstar experience. Nearing 50K miles needed new transmission. Interior lights and locks dont work properly. Noises galore. Check engine light perpetually on - need to clear this for third time at 60K. Clunky metal squeak from rear of car. Windshield cracked twice above rearview mirror which kept falling off. Tires went bald at 20K. Nightmare.

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  Would not buy another - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By kari - July 8 - 10:20 am

  I hate this minivan! The gas mileage stinks! And we have tried to give it a tune up, but nothing works. On our best day we get 10mpg in town and like 16 highway. Will buy foreign next time for the better mpg. And I am an "American" car fan!

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  25 is to young to die. - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By young - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I have a 3.8L 99 windstar with 25,000 miles on it. I have always followed the schedueled maintainance. While driving 45 mph suddenly the van lost power and the engine light came on. Today the engine was diganoised with no compression in two cylinders. The dealer recomended I replace the long block for around $5,000.00.

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  My Ford Nightmare - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Ron Melancon - July 9 - 1:00 am

  I bought a new 1999 Windstar and thank goodness I got the extended warranty. Because after 36,000 miles, every five months something has gone wrong. It has cost the warranty company over $18,000 dollars to date. It is so bad they did not offer to extend my coverage. Now the van has only 80,000 miles on it and my wife wants to get rid of it. Why in the world would anybody produce a car and have it break down so often? Here is some of what happened: 38,000 replaced transmission 42,000 replaced full rack and pinion steering 48,000 new head gasket 52,000 new left ball joint and strut, also checked weird thump on the driver side, did not find anything 58,000 new cold start valve.

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  feel like i was ripped off - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By never buy a ford - June 29 - 4:08 pm

  We bought the car new in 1999. In six years, we put only 50,000 miles on it and expected for it to last another four years to make it worth the money we paid. So far weve had to replace the steering rack, intake gaskets ($600), rod ends, brakes, and suffered with various unfixable noises and broken bits of interior plastic. Now the whole transmission has conked out the estimate is $2,700 to fix it, and we are done. We are not throwing good money after bad we walking away from our losses, giving the car to a mechanic for $1000. Ford has nothing to say, neither does the dealer. I am done with Ford I would never ever trust them again. DonÂ’t buy a Windstar, youll regret it.

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  FIX OR REPAIR DAILY (FORD) - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By maryann - June 20 - 1:24 pm

  I thought I was getting something that would be comfortable for my family and I BUT... This vehicle has been nothing but TROUBLE. After buying the vehicle I had to replace the speedometer that cost me $1700. Oh and that was only after I bought the car and owned it for 3 months. Ok, so a year goes by and guess where my car is at the dealership once again with a problem they dont know! I can no longer tell how fast I am going because that dont work and how many miles my vehicle has. Oh and the ABS light is on and the air conditioning is no longer working. Check engine light on and they say it is an O2 sensor Ford Motor has had lots of complaints and wont recall it