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.
ABS lights showed up on display cluster. 10 amp fuse on 2nd row #2 keeps blowing. Ac stopped working, odometer went to all dashes, speedometer stopped working, electronic fuel display went to "fuel error". after unplugging ABS to keep 10 amp fuse from blowing and to get the ac to work, braking system is leaking.
My 2000 Ford Windstar van has frequent and intermittent problems with the ABS light coming on and eventually going off; the cruise control not working sometimes even after it was repaired by the dealer; and the gauges in the instrument panel (including the speedometer) erratically malfunctioning. I have been told that these are common problems with Ford Windstar and may be subject to recalls. (even though the mileage is high, I replaced the transmission and engine with a brand new transmission and a brand new engine in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Only less than 50,000 miles on the vehicle since 2006.)
The speedometer and other dashboard gauges start jumping around from zero to wide open, very erratic and then will settle down normal, then start the process all over again. Unable to tell how fast I am going or how much gas is in the tank. Tachometer is also involved and other gauges.
- Cary, NC, USA
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Every light on the dashboard is lit up, including the ABS, brake, check engine, etc. The speedometer doesn't work. The air conditioner doesn't work. The rear axle broke, thankfully I was in the driveway. Also, I had to pay for the rear axle because it was not part of the recall. All this started happening before the vehicle had 100,000 miles on it. The dealer I took it to for the last recall said that Ford should buy all the vans back.
ABS light comes on intermittently, not sure if they work after this. I have had it to the repair shop repeatedly to have the brakes and sensors inspected. This vehicle also leaks from the speed control module, instrument cluster dies, air conditioning fails due to control module shorts, fuses blow, suspension and rot issues.
Gauges go crazy and don't work half the time. ABS light is always on. Steering creeks. There is a recall for my make, model, and year but Ford somehow says it is not part of the recall but may become a recall in the future. This is not acceptable. Does someone have to die before they will listen and act?
All the gauges started jumping back and forth with the speedometer sticking past 120. It stayed there for several days, went back to normal and then has repeated the problem several times. When the tac gauge acts up it wedges the shift indicator making it stick in park position. This is a safety issue to have a speedometer not work and not knowing the trans gear you are in because the indicator position only stays in park. Ford should make good on this safety issue. Replacing the gauge assembly is costly.
I was just told that the electrical cluster for the speedometer/RPM/gas gauges on my 2000 Ford Windstar van is faulty. I have been experiencing periods of time when the gauges work just fine, won't work at all, or go completely beserk. They act out at various times; ie: Just yesterday, I had been driving the van for about 15 min, gauges working fine, when I put it into park all the gauges went crazy, with the RPM needle ending up buried past the highest it could go. There have been times where it hasn't worked/gone beserk upon start up. There have also been times where it is working just fine on start up and within a couple of minutes/miles they all go beserk or stop working completely, and at that point, sometimes it goes back to working fine, and other times it doesn't. my dad just got this van for my kids and I less than a month ago, thinking it would be a safe vehicle for us. It's sad to think that my dad threw money away on a vehicle that his regular mechanic now says to just sell/junk it and get a different vehicle because of the gauge cluster being faulty, the recalls on the van and the mount for the exhaust system being busted.
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, he noticed that the instrument panel was not reading the correct readings. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 170,000 and the current mileage was 180,000. Updated 08/07/12 the consumer stated the needle would jump from left to right. Updated 08/15/12
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the vehicle jerked and all the electrical systems in the vehicle shut off completely. The contact was able to safely drive the vehicle home. The contact also stated that the vehicle would overheat and the ant-freeze would leak. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and they stated that the vehicle was not under warranty. The failure mileage was 73,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.
Beginning in 2002 the ABS light appeared & after several trips to Ford and Napa mechanics, diagnosis was never determined. Then the recall of 2009 to replace the malfunctioned part occurred on 12/9/2009 - the very next day (Dec 10, 2009) the ABS light again appeared. I contacted the dealership where the recall work was done and they told me to bring the van back and they would 'diagnose' the problem for $120. May 2012 we replaced the affected ABS part with our own finances because the Ford dealership told us that the affected part was no longer under recall and was not their problem. It solved the ABS light from coming on for about a week. To this date the light comes on. We purchased this vehicle based on the reports that it was an excellent family vehicle for safety. I would consider braking an important feature, too. Please have Ford resolve this matter immediately and not just ignore the matter. I have less than 85,000 miles on the van so it is not due to overuse or neglect. And the vehicle has never been driven in snowy conditions, is parked in a garage when not in use and all maintenance is kept current. Please get this issue resolved correctly. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
ABS and brake light on dashboard remains on all the time. Replaced master cylinder and had all brake system checked numerous times but problem not resolved.
Vehicle ABS light came on, ac stopped blowing cold air & speedometer stopped all at same time. Fuse 10 amp was blown and when replaced continued to blow out
Van would/runs for over an hour, shut off for 15 minutes and try to restart, and it won't. after multiples issues with this, and being able to temporarily repair, speedometer and RPM meters are now sticking permanently and are not showing speed or RPM's accurately at all! more issues too...
We came from eating breakfast to a dead battery, then we had someone help us to jump it; however, my husband noticed the electrical was not working, and it was still running, but very slow. It finally gave up and we had to tow it, and have someone look at it. We are in the middle of the problem, so hopefully Ford will have a notice or something in the mail soon. We have had problems before with the battery, and thinking maybe that is the problem, but we are hearing stories from online of other issues that could of caused this.
On Sunday 5/20/12, upon starting our 2000 Ford Windstar van, I noticed that the speedometer was not working and the ABS (yellow) light was persistently on. (however the red brake light that had been shining on the dashboard persistently for many, many months, even after recall servicing, was now off.) driving for a few minutes, we realized that the air conditioning was not putting out cool air, only warm, and that the odometer was displaying only dashes. I should also mention, now that I have read up on these problems, which had seemed unrelated, but are apparently all traceable to a defective/leaking sdcd, that the cruise control on this vehicle has not worked for many months.
As is typical with the Windstar, the deactivation switch is leaking brake fluid. Thus, causing problems with the ABS and cruise. Unfortunately, Ford already honored the recall (09S09) on this vehicle. At that time the deactivation switch was not leaking so they installed a wire harness to avoid a fire when it did start leaking. (why put on a wire harness" because they knew the switch was going to fail. Why not just replace the switch in the first place") now Ford will not re-open the recall to replace the switch and fix the other related problems.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Knoxville, TN, USA