1996 Ford Windstar Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 1,386 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1996 Ford Windstar overview page.
What owners report
“BLOWN ENGINE GASKET AND SPEEDOMETER OFF BY FIVE MILES (RECALLED).”NHTSA complaint 528000 — filed 01/08/1998
“WHEN THE CONSUMER FIRST CONTACTED THE DEALER NO TOOLS WERE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, ON THE SECOND AND THIRD TRIP PARTS WERE NOT ABLE…”NHTSA complaint 800732 — filed 08/12/1996
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1996 Ford Windstar have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 1996 Ford Windstar: 138 of 1,386 complaints on file (10%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 1996 Ford Windstar have in total?
1,386 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 60 involved a crash, 45 involved a fire, 52 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
