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.
Speedometer going haywire, odometer up and down, overdrive flashing, brake light on, ABS light on. '99 Windstar a complete lemon from 30,000 miles on. In shop at 34000 miles for six weeks. Presently smoke from under hood caused by brake pressure deactivation switch. Replacing this date. Previous quote for repair approximately $600. Replacing myself for $21. This is obviously a common occurrence, and should be corrected before someone catches on fire. Luckily I caught this in time to prevent more serious damage.
We recently purchased a used 1999 Ford Windstar sel minivan. We took it to an auto shop to have an oil change, and air filters replaced. Upon returning home that evening, we noticed and smelled smoke from underneath the hood. When we went to look at it, we found white smoke coming up from behind the air filter and in front of the master brake cylinder. We thought that some fluids had been spilt and were simply burning off. When we went to drive it later that evening, the entire inside of the vehicle went dark. All of the interior lights, the odometer, speedometer, computer station, radio, climate control, windows, door locks, A/C, instrument panel, cruise control, and turn signals stopped working. We made it home safely as the head and tail lights were still working. Upon inspection the following day, we found that the brake pressure differential deactivation switch (2B264) located under the master cylinder (behind the air filter) developed a leak. It had been leaking for some time and had literally eaten away the electrical plug. The wires had been eaten through as well and had crossed and caused the short.
1999 Ford Windstar 3.0L 4sp auto. Anti lock brake control module (tested at my expense $70) has gone bad, seems to be a big problem as many people have reported this. I have no odometer, speedometer or anti lock brakes. The engine also shuts off on its own on occasion, don't know if that's related or not. Van runs good otherwise, has 107000 miles on it I think, since the odometer hasn't worked for 3 months. I cant even get a replacement module unless I go to Ford and then I have to pay to have it programmed too. Its shameful how much of the gauges are affected. I could live without the antilock, but I need a speedometer, my van is dead in the driveway until I work enough overtime to pay for something that shouldn't have gone out.
I have had a lot of electrical problems with my 1999 Windstar SE. The inside fan goes on when opening/closing doors, lights flicker off and on, for no apparent reason, my master cylinder leaks and I have had ABS problems. We've replaced the rack and pinion three times. I love my van, but it has a lot of problems. The horn only works on occasion which caused me to be backed into!
Loss of brake fluid, brake light on after service, brake light red, 15 amp fuse blowing out, smoke coming from under the hood or from engine compartment, speedometer and odometer stopped working, cruise control will not activate or deactivates without warning, ABS warning light is on.
- Durango, CO, USA
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2 weeks ago, my family and I had made a trip to the dallas Texas area. A few days into the vacation we had gone to church. Well, when we had left church, I noticed that the speedometer, the air conditioning system were not working. I also noticed that the ABS was on. My father-in-law suggested that there was a fuse problem that made the ac stop working. We looked the fuses over and replaced the burnt ones according to the manual. The problem still persisted until we had left Texas. On the way back home, (we were in Oklahoma at the time) we had stopped at a gas station to fuel up. Leaving the gas station onto the highway our dash lights went out completely (it was around 5 am). So I pulled over to see what the problem was, by this time the hood of the van was blowing out faint smoke. We looked under the driver's side and seen there was a fire. My wife and I immediately got our 3 kids out of the van and into our parent's car, while my father-in-law doused the flames. Thank god we had road side assistance that towed us to the nearest autozone. We were shocked as to what exactly had happened. After replacing some more fuses, we got it up and running long enough to make it home. The speedometer still does not function properly and the ABS light is still on. During that time we noticed that the connection under the master cylinder that housed the ABS module had completely melted and had started the fire. I went on the internet to see if anyone else had the same problem. It seems to me that this has been a big issue with 1995-2003 Windstar models. I have owned this vehicle for approximately 10 months and have not had any problems except for this. Like I have stated before, I have 3 babies that could have been harmed or killed by a faulty design on this vehicle. I would like to know what could be done about this issue. I do not have the money at this time to have it repaired to insure that it wont happen again. The vehicle is drivable but does not have ac/heat/ or ABS.
1999 Ford Windstar ABS electronic control module failure. ABS warning light in dash has become illuminated and diagnostic codes indicate ABS ECM relay failure. Failure is due to a poor design, and poor materials choice in the construction of the anti-lock brake system electronic control module. Module failure effects the traction control system and results in unexpected, random braking of the vehicle. Removal of fuses of circuits 101 and 102, de-energize ABS system and traction control and makes the vehicle operable again, without ABS brakes or traction control.
Replaced wiring on fuse block, replaced high pressure switch twice, ABS traction control light keeps going on dash, driver brake light don't work, dealer said it is the rear brake module. I hope this is going to recall on all these cars that are having the same issue. I hope to here back from someone on all these issues with my Ford Windstar 1999. I had called the dealer on my brake module and they are having a had time getting a part, I had called the dealer on 3/20/09 and called them on 3/24/09 and I haven't heard from the dealer on what this is going to cost for the part and labor. Hope to here from someone soon.
Speedometer, odometer, air conditioning, cruise control quit working. ( approximately late February 2009) brake light constantly lit. Rear passenger compartment fan constantly on when heat/ac engaged. #10 fuse blown. Fix was on 3/25/09---brake pressure differential deactivation switch (2B264) and plug and fuse #10 replaced. Some leakage of brake fluid with corrosion evident to mechanic, although minimal wire damage noted. Mechanic believes that fluid had just recently started leaking.
Multiple ABS light problems. Most recent fixed by replacing brake switch and harness. Structural problems had caused shorted fuse which knocked out speedometer, heater and cruise control. This bill was $336.86, and it's the fourth time we've had ABS-related problems. Recall needed!
Our 1999 Windstar idling while stationary in park or with brake depressed would become erratic and stall, with brakes depressed we would have to put vehicle in N to try to keep rpms up, vehicle stall when started to warm up then start up after turning key off then back on then the fuel pump went out we had to get the whole fuel system minus the gas tank replaced(pump, filter, sending unit) but when it was repaired we didnt get the fuel gage back and the mechanic couldnt find why. Then we had static coming thru the speakers while vehicle was off and continued while driving and just stopped as soon as started, then our battery was constantly dead we had just bought a new battery so we had to unhook and hook up the cables everytime we drove or battery would die.then the interior lamps would not go off at times we had to make sure they were off on the dial at all times they would sometimes come on while we were driving and not go off. Then we started having brake problems from the ABS sensor to excessive fluid loss and pads(twice within a couple months) and drums needing completely repaired brake lights that wouldnt go off except when vehicle was turned off ABS sensor flashing/staying on, we had problems starting vehicle but when we took it in starter, alternator, battery were fine it would take 30 mins or more to get vehicle to start but it would crank over, one day it stalled and wouldnt start we took it in and were told the fp(9 mos old) and PCM fuse was blowing. We had the fuel pump replaced but was still pulling 16 amps it ran for about 60 miles and died. New fuse and while driving guages went haywire, van died, while filling with brown smoke my son and I were in it both have asthma and dr said to keep him home til he felt better(he was complainig of being tired and sick ) all mechanics agrred it was wiring but couldnt find bad wires, missing grounds anywhere in the vehicle obdii didnt help. Property damage is loss of vehicle, inside ruined window couldnt be put up.
Cruise control went out 12/2008. Then on 1/31/09, the speedomter & odometer quit working and the ABS warning light appeared on the dashboard. Taken to Ford garage to fix the problems
The ABS light comes on when the car has been running for over 30 minutes. Received following codes. C1185 C1194 C1198 C1210 C1214 C1242 C1246 C1250 C1254.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 35 mph, the contact noticed smoke coming from the front end of the vehicle. After closer inspection of the vehicle, he noticed that the wiring harness leading to the master cylinder was melted. The failure led to a small fire under the hood. His model was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 07V336000 (vehicle speed control). The contact still has possession of the melted wiring harness. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer to determine the cause of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 162,000. Updated 12/02/08. Updated 12/03/08.
We have a 1999 Ford Windstar, ABS light on, doors wont unlock, odometer doesn't work, now blinkers are not blinking lights will not turn off, had to unhook the battery. What are our options. We have an electrical mess.
On the Windstar the ABS relay shorts out putting a small hole in the unit and leaks brake fluid. I have met other Windstar owners and this has happened on a lot of them. It cost me over $200 to fix at the dealer and was told this is a problem on Ford trucks and was recalled on them but not the vans yet.
ABS module system failure and electrical fire due to pressure switch leak. According to Ford, 1999 model year Windstar is not part of recall but my vehicle exhibited the same failure as other model years as listed on the www.fordwindstarrecallinfo.com website.
ABS dash light comes on randomly, , seems more frequent when weather is hot. ABS does not work when light is on... but does work when the warning light is not on.... diagnostic fault = C1185... rear brakes replaced, fault code cleared... error and warning light returned within 30 seconds after pick-up from Ford service.
For the past year, I have had the following issues with my 1999 Ford Windstar: 1. ABS light come on and off...now stays on 2. red emergency brake light comes on. 3. interior lights and locks work without pressing a switch. In last month: Speedometer and odometer stopped working A/C stopped at same time these issues seem to be a common problem with this car......what can your Agency do to make Ford correct this situation since the mechanics don't have any idea about an economical solution. Thank you.
1999 Ford Windstar was observed producing smoke while sitting in the driveway at 7:00am 7/31/08 (the vehicle was last driven around 8:00pm the previous evening). The vehicle was started and driven to a local mechanic who reported the ABS unit had burned and apparently smoldered out on its own. The ABS unit was disconnected and the mechanic advised to contact a Ford dealer to see if the item was under recall due to his personal experience in dealing with these defects. Holman Ford (mt. Laurel, NJ) service department was contacted and stated there were no recalls on that particular vehicle. Note: Roughly 1 month prior to the incident, the cruise control, air conditioner, and other electronic items stopped functioning. The service mechanic observed the cruise control unit appeared burned.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Saluda, VA, USA