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 31 through 40 of 148.00

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  Dont buy Windstars - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Run away - October 4 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car new in 1999, and thats where the trouble started. It didnt have all of the options we were led to believe (rear audio plate was on the car but there was no rear audio). Electrical glitches very early on. As soon as the warranty ran out, the steering rack needed replaced, radio which was never that good broke, and numerous electrical glitches. Air bag light spent more time on than off after fixing twice, just gave up. Torque converter went at 85000 miles and fixed. Transmission finally went at 95000 miles and the brake light started coming on and I am calling it quits. These are just the major problems. I am now donating this car to charity and I feel guilty.

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  junk - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By scott4353425 - July 16 - 2:00 am

  Head gasket and transmission both went. What else is there to say but dont buy one. I feel lucky, I got 84K on it before the tranny went.

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  1999 Windstar SEL - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Dale Mann - May 22 - 9:23 am

  II leased this van in 1999. It was at Ford within the first week for repairs. The van has had a number of recalls and repairs. Tires and brakes had tto be replaced at about 25k. Gas mileage is bad, about 15mpg. This van iis expensive to own and operate. I finally stopped driving this van about a year ago and purchased a new car.

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  Can you afford to - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By ttudave - May 14 - 2:00 am

  "Buy American" I thought proudly. Two transmissions later Im replacing my Windstar with a Camry or an Accord. I cant afford to be patriotic if that means supporting unreliable vehicles like this Windstar. Dealers charge over $100 to diagnose mysterious trouble lights on the dash...three times already. The AC and power steering systems leak. Ford has a problem with their automatic transmissions. The service manager at the dealership advised me that transmissions were a known Ford weakness. Fords customer service was useless.

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  Fix Or Repair Daily--ford 99 sel - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By danny z. - April 7 - 2:00 am

  purchased used at 36,000.needed intake manifold,starter,trans,battery,computer, side doors dont closed all the time [motors replaced,dashboard ratels,etc.. called ford and they can care less.van now has 54,00 onit and today the plastics gear changer that regulates the air flow to parts of the van is sounding like a bomb in the dash.Called ford another 4400 please.What a junk box...traded my honda for this !!!

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  How can Ford keep selling this junk? - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Bummed customer - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I thought maybe I was the exception and just had made a horrible mistake. After reading these reviews I realize I am in solid (and unfortunately miserable) company. It is hard to conceive of how Ford can keep selling this garbage with a straight face. When I talked to the "service supervisor" about how shocked I was that the tranny died at 50K miles, he nodded and said "yep, that really shouldnt happen." Then I had to be the jerk attorney I can be and threaten them with all kinds of bad stuff just to get a new tranny for $800. Never again. Buy foreign, you wont be sorry.

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  never stranded again - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By rebnab - January 17 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle used at a reputable used car dealership with 30,000 miles on it. After 15 months of ownership I switched back to Chevrolet. The transmission blew at 32,000, major engine problems at 33,000, rack and pinion went out and needed replacing at 36,000, the engine just malfunctioned again and was down another 5 days. I soon as I got it back I traded it in. I usually sell my cars myself and get a decent price out of them, however with this one I could not honestly sell it to anyone. This is the first used car Ive bought from a dealership and bought the extended warranty which saved my bacon.

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  stay away - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By nomorefords-25 - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Bought from local ford dealer with 30,000 miles on the odometer. He gave us Fords bmpr to bmpr warranty for 4yrs or 48,000 miles at cost...why? I now know-at 40,000 miles the tie rods went, at 50,000 miles the transmission went. Since new rear speakers work at their leasure and buy bulbs for the rear lights by the case, you will save $$ in the long run, they go every 3 months. Our van is loaded with 4drs, rear heat/ac, 10 disc changer,alloys,abs,etc- the van has depreciated $8,000+ in the last 14 months-there is a reason. Not worth the $$, there are better alternatives- find them.

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  Never Agaiin! - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Dandi58 - October 15 - 2:00 am

  After replacing a Grand Caravan with the Windstar, I have to say I am extremely disappointed with American minivans. In the last year, I have spent over $4000 on the Windstar (granted, some items were maintenance, like brakes). I am staring at a bill for $1300 to fix the heat (blendor broken) and plan to send Ford a heated letter. I had to replace the intake manifold gasket at 60,000 miles, a $500 job (Ford paid 1/2), have had several recalls on the transmission and have generally found this van to be unreliable and requiring a LOT of maintenance. Oh yes, the gas mileage is terrible as well. And the windnoise is unbelievable.

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  Id better buy a Kia or a Lafa - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Windstart victim - October 1 - 2:00 am

  An awful car, weve gotproblems with : - electric accessories - brakes - transmission - engine We bought this car last year with 80K miles and there is no week without a failure somewhere. We tryied to sell it, but it seems that now the Windstar is well known now for these problems. Nobody wants it :-(