The 2003 Ford Windstar Wagon comes packed with a reliable and powerful V6 engine, and you can get a VCR in the backseat if you’re feeling nostalgic. That’s about the nicest thing you can say about the minivan. The defunct Windstar is known for early failure, uncomfortable seating, and mediocre performance in just about every area.
Is the 2003 Ford Windstar a Good Used Minivan?
- Overall Rating 5/10 – The 2003 Ford Windstar fails to deliver even on the modest promises of a budget-priced minivan.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – The 7 is for the generous cargo space. The seating is pretty rough, and every time you go for a ride you’ll be waiting for it to end.
- Reliability 6/10 – Junkyards are full of Windstars with blown transmissions, and powerful V6 engines that still have thousands of miles to go if someone would salvage them.
- Safety 7/10 – The features are outdated and crash test scores are mediocre, but, credit where it’s due, not a lot of vehicles had parking assist in 2003.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – 17/23 miles to the gallon, city/highway, isn’t terrible for a twenty year old minivan.
- Value 5/10 – If you want mediocrity at a fair price, check out the 2003 Dodge Caravan. Even at $3,000, Windstar sellers are overcharging.
What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Ford Windstar?
Edmunds found the 2003 Windstar impressive when it came to safety and interior features, and they liked the powerful V6 engine. They found the ride and handling a bit wobbly, the interior cramped, and the engine too noisy.
Kelley Blue Book users give the Windstar a lukewarm 77% recommendation, praising it as a decent family vehicle with a luxurious interior in the higher trim levels, but note that it’s a bit expensive to maintain, with lots of tiny repairs early in the minivan’s life, and big problems starting at just 100,000 miles.
What Common Problems Does the 2003 Ford Windstar Have?
The 2003 Ford Windstar has been the subject of some high-profile recalls. A recurring problem with rear axles cracking from premature corrosion started with half a million recalled units in 2010, then four more in 2011 and 2012, and a followup in 2015 for issues with the administered repairs.
There are 1,499 complaints on file, with the biggest issue being in the brakes. Service brakes have generated 296 reports, while hydraulic brakes have generated another 282. Drivers are reporting the power brakes going out, anti-lock brakes failing, brakes seizing up and so on.
The Windstar has 225 powertrain complaints on file with a recent one reporting that the transmission completely failed on the way home from the dealer. On the other hand, the engine has relatively few complaints, so the Windstar can be recommended as a parts car.
With 9 recalls on file, 6 investigations, and countless reports of early transmission failure, there’s no way to sugarcoat it: The Windstar is unreliable.
How Long Will the 2003 Ford Windstar Last?
Drivers are typically reporting mileage in the low 200,000 range before the transmission totally goes out, but we’re also seeing reports as low as 100,000 before something needs to be rebuilt or swapped out. Expect a fairly meager typical lifespan of 180,000 miles.
RepairPal estimate an annual maintenance cost of $428, with expensive common repairs being new oil pumps starting at $720, and new airbag control modules at $522.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is pretty good. You get a six-disc CD player in the higher trim levels and an extra sound system for the back row. If you’ve got a stack of VHS tapes collecting dust, some models even came with a VCR in the back seat.
Safety features were cutting edge for 2003. Full airbags, traction control, an inertia switch for the fuel system, the Windstar even features parking assist in the LTD, something you almost never saw in the early ’00s. Dated by modern standards, sure, but pretty good for a twenty year old minivan.
Is the 2003 Ford Windstar a Good Value?
Buying a used 2003 Ford Windstar would be a waste of money. An LX typically lists in the $3,103 range, which is a pretty low price, but this is for a model with around 160,000 miles on the odometer. A Windstar probably won’t make it past 180,000 and you’ll be looking for another car in a year.
The only way a used Windstar would be worth the purchase is if you could get it at under a thousand bucks, or if you’re buying one that’s immobile to salvage for parts. At three grand, there are far better minivans and SUVs to be found in this price range.
What are the Different Models of the 2003 Ford Windstar?
The Windstar spreads a decent suite of upgrades a bit thin across five trim levels, from the standard Base to the high-end LTD.
With the entry-level Base you’re getting:
- Power locks
- Warning indicators for low oil, washer fluid, and tire pressure
- 12v power outlets
- Securilock anti-theft
- AM/FM radio with four speakers
Next up is the LX, adding:
- Remote keyless entry
- Power windows
- Cassette player
- Manual air conditioning
The mid-range SE adds:
- Dual zone air conditioning
- CD player
- Leather wrapped steering wheel
Second-best is the SEL, which adds:
- Heated mirrors
- Leather seat trim
Finally, the top-of-the-line LTD includes:
- Parking assist
- Heated front seats
What Engines Come In the 2003 Ford Windstar?
- The Windstar comes equipped with a 3.8L V6 delivering 240 lb.-ft. of torque and 200 horsepower. The engine is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission and configured in front wheel drive, averaging 17/23 miles to the gallon, city/highway.
What Colors Does the 2003 Ford Windstar Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2003 Ford Windstar?
The 2003 Ford Windstar is a minivan, so it’s more spacious than something like a typical compact SUV. But reviewers report that it’s not quite as spacious as you expect. Leg room can be a bit tight and the ride is a bit stiff.
Add to that a long history of problems with the vehicle’s suspension, and you’re going to be feeling every pothole and pebble in the road.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Ford Windstar Have?
The Windstar can pack up to 136 cubic feet of cargo with the seats down, or 29 with the seats up. If the minivan makes it to the airport, you’ve got more than enough space to bring everyone’s luggage with you. The vehicle has a payload capacity of up to 1,241 pounds, so as long as you’re not hauling lead, load weight shouldn’t be a concern.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2003 Windstar was the last of the 2nd Generation, dating back to the 1999 model.
1999: A total redesign for the minivan, the 1999 was styled according to Ford’s “New Edge” aesthetic, with soft aerodynamic shapes highlighted by sharp creases. Even if you’ve never heard the phrase, you’ll know the look at a glance when you see any Ford from the late 90s to the mid ’00s.
2000: The 2000 model introduced a VCR in the back seat as an option in the SE, SEL and Limited.
2001: Minor visual redesigns and a new transmission were the big changes for 2001.
2002: Dual sliding doors became standard in 2002.
2003: No major changes, as Ford were already gearing up the “Freestar” rebranding and phasing the old model out.
How Does the 2003 Ford Windstar Compare to the Competition?
The 2003 Toyota Sienna’s specs are more impressive than those of the Windstar, at 210 horsepower and more space in the backseats, but it sells for close to two thousand dollars more than the Windstar, and it has fewer than one tenth as many driver complaints on file with the NHTSA.
A Dodge Caravan sells at around the same price as the Windstar and is generally regarded as pretty mediocre all around. But it’s far more likely than the Windstar to reach 250,000 miles on the original transmission.
There are a lot of minivans to choose from in the 2003 model year, and the Windstar just can’t compete with the best models, like the Sienna, or even the merely-adequate models, like the Caravan. Even if you can find one for less than a thousand bucks, maintenance costs will likely double, triple, and quadruple that price before long.
