10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
756 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1999 Ford Windstar electrical problems

electrical problem

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1999 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #45

May 022003

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Horn is very hard to activate. I see that many people have already filed this complaint, but I don't see any action taken. Ford has sold a car with a useless horn, which must be in violation of some safety regulation.

- Teaneck, NJ, USA

problem #44

Feb 212003

Windstar 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,000 miles
The horn is near impossible to activate in an emergency and even not in an emergency.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #43

Sep 162002

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
Horn assembly is hard to locate on steering wheel. Dealer has been notified.

- Athens, WI, USA

problem #42

Jul 152002

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Horn does not work. Dealer checked vehicle, and installed a new horn assembly, but horn still does not function.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #41

Sep 092000

Windstar

  • miles
Consumer states he has never been able to activate horn, have been unable to activate during dangerous near-crash situations.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #40

Nov 282001

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
Horn button is difficult to operate. It is also impossible to modulate, resulting in all-or- nothing operation.

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #39

Jun 011999

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Horn is very hard to press, and at night symbol is very difficult to see. Contacted dealer, and dealer noted that problem is normal for a vehicle.

- Fairfeild, NJ, USA

problem #38

May 212001

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Horn will only blow if horn is hit at direct center and with a lot of force. Consumer was run off the road by another vehicle since she was unable to locate spot for horn.

- Concord, MA, USA

problem #37

Mar 012000

Windstar

  • miles
Contacts for horn are difficult to locate, and they are very hard to push to sound horn.

- Erie, MI, USA

problem #36

Feb 082001

(reported on)

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Horn sensor is extremely difficult to locate in an emergency.

- Ann Harbor, MI, USA

problem #35

Jan 042001

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It is very difficult to depress the horn pad/button. Dealership is unable to fix due to configuration.

- Vienna, VA, USA

problem #34

Jan 292001

(reported on)

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
To avoid an accident conusmer depressed horn buttons, and horn would not sound. Consumer stated horn buttons have to be depressed very hard to sound. The design of the horn and steering wheel assembly does not provide effective access to horn in emergency situations. Also, turn signal does not properly engage on curved road ways.

- Betthlemhem, PA, USA

problem #33

Dec 112000

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
Horn button will not respond when needed in a "hurry-up" situation. Exact location must be depressed for horn to blow. Never has the horn blown when I needed it in a hurry. Use of the heel or palm of your hand will not blow the horn. You must locate the horn emblem first, then depress the horn there. In a hurry-up need for the horn, there is no time to find the button. The dealer states that this is due to the air bag installed within the steering wheel and therefore there is only a small area that will activate the horn. In my personal opinion, this is a safety issue. I have had many occassions to blow the horn for someone getting too close to me, or changing lanes with a threat of sideswiping me. When I hit the horn with the heel of my hand, there is no response. In the 2 years + that I've had the car, I've still been unable to overcome this by trying to hit just the right spot to blow the horn. I have inquired with other Windstar owners when I see one in a parking lot. They all say the same thing. Basically, they say, and I agree, the horn is non-functional when needed in a hurry.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #32

Dec 301998

Windstar

  • miles
When new, the horn on this van would only work if you pushed right on the horn icon, which is in the center of the steering wheel. In a panic situation, pushing anywhere except the square inch right over this horn symbol would not result in the horn honking and posed a safety/crash hazard multiple times. Service department said this was normal for this model to only have the horn work in that one small spot. When returned for next warranty service I mentioned this again, and this time they said they would replace the horn/air bag unit. After replacement, now the upper left quadrant of the surface works to make the horn blow, but this is still a safety hazard in a panic situation when most commonly my right hand is used to hit the horn as warning - in most cases the horn still doesn't work. When I complained again, they said this was normal. This is a safety hazard when an accident is imminent and you cannot honk your horn quickly (having to first remember exactly where on the surface you must push!)... this cannot be normal!!!!! additionally, in a panic situation when the reflex is to honk a warning, when the horn doesn't work my attention is diverted from the incident at hand in trying to find the spot to make the horn work. Unacceptable (but one of several quirky problems with this vehicle, including power steering module going out at 40,000 miles, and inside heater/air conditioning fan for rear area going on and off mysteriously even with master control turned off, and with accompanying clicking sound in relay under dash on left. Lemon !!!

- Gilbert, IA, USA

problem #31

Oct 272000

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
Horn does not function or needs very high effort. Useless in emergency avoidance. Someone is going to get in an accident if they rely on this horn.

- Smithtown, NY, USA

problem #30

Jun 101999

Windstar

  • miles
Horn delay equivalent to a delay in the brake system. Upgraded by Ford from outgariously slow to terriblely slow. Useless in a parking lot. Ineffective in traffic because of lack of timely response. A horn is a safety device used as warning system. It is ineffective because it is time delayed even after an upgrade. I get angry and frustrated every time I try to use it.

- Metairie, LA, USA

problem #29

Jun 011999

Windstar

  • miles
Horn does not work unless you hit it with a sledge hammer. Multiple near accident misses.

- Wilmington, MA, USA

problem #28

Oct 182000

(reported on)

Windstar

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Horn is very difficult to press. It takes extreme pressure from driver for horn to blow. Also, it is very difficult to find the right spot to push. Vehicle was made with a defect. Horn has not worked.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #27

Sep 272000

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
Horn button is very difficult to find on steering/airbag. You have to press very hard in a small area only in the center. In an emergency, I'm sure I would not be able to use it and an avoidable accident could happen.

- Copley, OH, USA

problem #26

Jun 022000

(reported on)

Windstar

  • miles
The horn is not sensitive enough to activate by pressing, requires excessive effort.

- Sherman, MS, USA

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