Ford›Windstar›2000›Overview/ford/windstar/2000/base/

2000 Ford Windstar

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2000 Windstar.

Body VAN

The 2000 Ford Windstar is a mid‑size van built on Ford’s versatile platform, offering a comfortable, practical interior for families and commuters alike. It requires a 5.0‑quart fill of 5W‑20 API oil, reflecting its moderate maintenance needs for this model year. In the broader 1990‑2005 reliability window, the Windstar ranks modestly, with 1,693 owner complaints and a top complaint area of suspension, but it sits near the bottom of the range, suggesting that reliability concerns were less pronounced than in earlier years. This context indicates that while the 2000 model still faced some mechanical scrutiny, it benefited from a relatively stable reliability record compared to its predecessors.

Model year2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 · 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 · 650 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP225-60R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	200.8 in
Overall width	75.6 in
Overall height	65.7 in
Wheelbase	120.9 in
Curb weight	3732 lb
Track (front / rear)	64.2 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	59/41

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	7.4 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	23-28 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	55-65 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	59 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Upper: 14-
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15-22 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	24 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Upper: 7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	184 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	221 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	740 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	60 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	715 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	15 rpm
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.042-0.046 in
Spark Plug Torque	7.0-15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	Front A/C only, 2.75; front and rear A/C, 3.50. lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	68
Oil Capacity	Front A/C only, 10.00; front and rear A/C, 14.00. oz
Optional BCI Group Number	65
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	750 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	65

Service checks

Pressure Test	14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	183-190 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	30.0-45.0
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	30.0-45.0
Injector Primary Resistance	11-18 DOHC ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	11-18 ohms
Engine Oil Pressure	40-60 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	85 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.040; Rear: 0.030 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.030
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.97 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	59 ft. lbs.	59 ft. lbs
2	mum of one full turn
3	33-41 ft. lbs.	33–41 ft. lbs
4	63-73

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	14 ft. lbs.	14 ft. lbs
2	29 ft. lbs.	29 ft. lbs
3	36 ft. lbs.; Perform following 3 steps on each bolt; before moving to next bolt in sequence	36 ft. lbs
1	loosen 2-3 turns
2	if long bolt	30–37 ft. lbs
3	turn 175-185 degrees; Proceed to next bolt in sequence	175–185 degrees

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

37 ft. lbs., Step 2: 115-120

37 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 45,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Transmission Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2000 model year arrives during a sustained period of elevated federal activity following the 1998 peak, recording 1,693 complaints and 16 recalls—figures that edge upward from 1999's 1,588 complaints and 13 recalls while remaining well below the generation's worst year of 1995, which saw 3,777 complaints. After 1997's anomalous low of 220 complaints, the model line entered a volatile cycle where 2000 and 2001 maintain complaint volumes roughly 20 percent higher than 2002 levels and orders of magnitude above the near-zero reporting of 2004-2005. The 2000 model specifically generated substantial filings across suspension (240), power train (205), structure (146), and hydraulic service brakes (126), alongside 62 crash-related and 56 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes for these incidents. Positioned between the 1998 crisis peak and the eventual 2004 collapse, this year captures the generation during its prolonged high-reporting plateau rather than its declining phase. Given that complaint volumes remain substantially elevated above 2002-2003 levels and recall activity persists at 16 campaigns—nearly double the nine recalls seen in 2002-2003—this model year sits in the generation's high-risk middle period rather than its safer final years, making it a cautious purchase at best.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

225

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

1,693

Owner complaints

62 involved a crash · 56 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99’00’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,693 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension240

Power Train205

Structure146

Service Brakes, Hydraulic126

Electrical System98

Service Brakes73

Vehicle Speed Control70

Engine & Engine Cooling63

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 16 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V608000Suspension:Rear:Axle:Non-Powered Axle AssemblyReported 29/09/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles manufactured September 2, 1997, to July 3, 2003. The affected vehicles were previously remedied to safeguard against the rear axle… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brackets to verify their proper installation. If a bracket is found to have been misinstalled, the rear axle will be…

12V193000Power Train:Axle AssemblyReported 03/05/2012

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997, THROUGH JULY 3, 2003, AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN VIRGINIA. OVER TIME, CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE… Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS, OR REPLACE THE AXLES, AS NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 225 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
16-0065	2020-04-20	Structure	For 1999-2003 Windstar vehicles Safety Recall 11S16 has been issued for vehicles that are…
TSB160070	2016-04-21	Suspension	Safety recall 10S13 - Rear axle corrosion - requests for recall service action
16-0070	2016-04-21	Suspension	For 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles Safety Recall 10S13 has been issued for vehicles that are…
TSB160065	2016-04-20	Structure	Safety recall 11s16 - LCA rear attaching flanges or rear subframe body mount corrosion…
CSP-15-N-02	2015-09-29	Suspension	SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Windstar. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 65 battery Vehicles taking 5.0 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2000 Windstar take?

5.0 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2000 Windstar have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 16 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.