1997 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 192 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Ford Windstar overview page.
What owners report
“AT 60000 MILES SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED, AND CONSUMER COULD NO LONGER READ THE SPEED ON VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED SPEEDOMETER CABLE.”NHTSA complaint 8010199 — filed 05/21/2002
“WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY STARTED TO READ THE WRONG SPEED. CONSUMER STATED IT BOUNCED ALL OVER THE PLACE. AT TIMES CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY…”NHTSA complaint 8004600 — filed 02/26/2002
“SPEEDOMETER STARTED TWITCHING VERY LITTLE AT ABOUT 34,000 MILES. THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT BECAUSE IT WAS SO SMALL. AFTER WARRANTY WAS OVER IT WOULD SWING…”NHTSA complaint 756155 — filed 12/29/2001
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1997 Ford Windstar have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Ford Windstar: 20 of 192 complaints on file (10.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 1997 Ford Windstar have in total?
192 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 6 involved a crash, 9 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none 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.
