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.
After going through a heavy downpour at about 20mph the ABS and brake light came on. Nothing was hung up and it later cleared. We figured a sensor got wet but periodically maybe stopping quickly or even just turning off auto and restarting within 15 minutes may trigger the lights. They may stay on entire time of travel until shutting off car or they may just go away while driving. Not sure if it's a brake problem or electrical because my temp notification for outside temp also does not work and the gas gauge will sometimes report empty after filling up and also I have had issues where the cruise control can not be shut off by button. I must apply the brake to shut off the cruise control. The brake lights started back in 2012 but they all did not fail at the same time. These other things have been a problem at least since 2013. I have approx. 138,000 miles on the van.
A few weeks after purchasing my van I had issues with my brake light and ABS light coming on while I was driving. It did seem to cause any issues and the lights when off ever time I turned my van off and then back on. A few months ago I was coming up to a red light so naturally I started to slow down when I tried to come to a complete stop I kept going. The perfect way to describe what happen, it felt like I hit my brakes on a solid sheet of ice. I could here the ABS clicking and also felt the vibration in the brake pedal. That day it was 95 degrees and sunny. I almost caused an accident and the only things that stopped me was the emergency brake. It continued to do it every time I tried to slow down to stop that I refused to put my children in the vehicle. Last week after almost causing a few accidents I ended up pulling the main fuses to the ABS. Since I have done this the only issue I have had is my speedometer acting up. I feel that Ford needs to seriously look into this issue. I have already had 5 recalls fixed on my van and this needs to be another one.
During normal operation of vehicle at posted driving speed limits the vehicles ABS, brake warning lights have continuously come on after driving begins. It has been also noted that after several brake service inspections and repairs at major auto repair shops, such as midas, carx, and pep boys. Technicians have observed that the brake systems major components and hardware appeared to have failed due to high levels of corrosion and easily rusting parts such as brake shoes, pads, wheel cylinders, brake drums, brake line hoses and connectors. Each of these repair shops have informed me that the repair/ replacement of many of these vital components would be extremely costly to repair and could result in serious injuries or create a hazardous situation for the vehicle's operator and other drivers if not repaired immediately. The vehicles brakes and hardware have been replaced more than three times by asae certified /qualified mechanics and the brake systems warning lights continuously remain on during regular operation. The rear brakes are grinding and wearing the brake shoes down much faster than they did before even after repairs have been completed. Currently when applying the brakes before coming to a full stop the brake peddle must be applied at a distance of at least 30 seconds sooner to ensure a safe stop. I do believe that there is a high risk of concern in the failure of the Ford Windstar brake system operations and a thorough inspection of the ABS system and brakes including its major components should be inspected immediately to prevent a serious accident or injuries to the vehicle's operator and to protect the safety of the general public.
- Chicago, IL, USA
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ABS and brake lights started coming on randomly. Never when vehicle was first started but only after van warmed up/was operating for a while. As vehicle aged lights came on sooner and lasted longer. Checked codes which was always a long list which included C1185. Sensors were all cleaned and inspected/tested. Brakes system was inspected and checked out and safe sans the ABS function. Many reports of the ECM main board soldering failure after running for a while and heating up.
ABS, traction control, and brake lights came on. When the lights are on, ABS and traction control are disabled. Lights came on more frequently in summer months than in winter months. I've heard these problems may be a fire hazard.
My 2001 Windstar started having electrical problems a couple weeks after I had all the other recalls taken care of. I turned the van on and all my needles went crazy darting back and forth, and my driver door censors aren't working now. The next day was the same and my ABS and brake lights on the dash are on and won't turn off. I have also had to keep my interior lights turned off completely because at any given time my vans door censors will decided that the door isn't closed. This is the second Windstar I have owned and at this point I will never buy another Ford. The safety of my children and myself is much more important.
About two years or so after purchasing our Ford Windstar the brakes started having problems. My husband replaced the shoes etc. The lights had to be reset. They would go out and then months later come back on. The brakes seem to be ok. A little squeaky sometimes, and then the brake and ABS lights go out. They come on and off every so often when we go over bumps, or sometimes doing absolutely nothing. It's still doing the intermittent on and off thing. The fluid levels are fine etc. We replaced brake parts twice since purchasing it.
During the course of normal driving, on a Ford Windstar with less than 100K miles, the ABS system failed. The ABS/tc/E-brake lights all came on, permanently. I had to have the system replaced, at extensive cost. In online research it turns out this is a fairly common problem, potentially due to leaking fluid from the scds component. NHTSA please make Ford deal with this!
ECU module for ABS is shorted out and causes gauge cluster to short out. This causes ABS light & brake light to turn on and all gauges stop working and they jump around. This was diagnosed by Ford dealership in wi. Said brake fluid leaks in to ECU and shorts out wires. Told me. $2000 to fix. These problems are a safety issue. ABS and speedometer and gauges don't work. Should be a recall.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the ABS and brake warning lights illuminated and that the brakes failed to function. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ABS brake module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 155,000.
We were headed home on the freeway and turned onto our exit. My husband put his foot on the brake to start slowing the van down, but the pedal did nothing. He was able to stop the van by coasting and switching into reverse. He then got out and checked fluid which was full and checked the brake lines which were fine. There was no warning signs or anything that our brakes were going to fail. I am just glad that we were already at our exit and there was no other traffic! we had our 5 children in the van with us at the time. I have been researching and reading about the ABS problems in our year Windstar and am hoping Ford decides to take some action on the matter!
A couple of months after the sub-frame recall (N99 11S16) work was done both the 'ABS' and 'brake' lights came on for a few minutes and then went off again for a few weeks. The frequency of this occurrence has accelerated, over time, and now these two lights are on about 60% of time.
Stopping at red lights or stop signs cause ABS to make noise and keep you from coming to a stop with out pumping brakes have tried new brakes and bleeding of brakes and new all around calipers and other brake parts and still having the same effect.
The ABS light and the brake light come on most of the time and I'm sure this means my braking system is not functioning properly. It hs been occurring with this vehicle for many years and hundreds of dollars later it is still not resolved. Ford needs to step-up and fix this issue. A.S.a.P. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The ABS, brake, and trac lights come on while driving down the road. This doesn't happen every time, but has become more frequent. Have not found a reason for it to come on, like hitting bumps or wet whether. The electrical system issues is rear windows won't open all of the time. The door locks don't work all of the time. The lights in and outside the van dim in and out.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Belton, SC, USA