10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
86,385 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2001 Ford Windstar brakes problems

brakes problem

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2001 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 8 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #83

Aug 192009

Windstar

  • 72,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the ABS and brake light illuminated; therefore, the contact feared that the braking system would fail. The mechanic repaired the ABS control module. The contact is concerned about the safety risk. Ford has a recall on the braking system for several other vehicles. The current and failure mileages were 72,000.

- North Field, NJ, USA

problem #82

Sep 092009

Windstar

  • miles
2001 Ford Windstar with the ABS and the brake warning lights on. I had a leaking master cylinder. Changed the master cylinder and the front disk brake pads. Bled the brake lines. When the van is started the lights are not on, but as it is driven down the road these two lights will come on. The brakes don't have to be applied for this to happen. It could happen in the first 100ft. Or maybe they will not come on until it has been driven several miles. I thought I had it fixed one time as I drove 65 miles without them coming on, then there they are. The van will stop and the brakes don't feel mushy.

- West Monroe, LA, USA

problem #81

Aug 202009

Windstar

  • 135,000 miles
ABS light and brake light comes on intermittently. It goes off sometimes for a week but then will come back again.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #80

May 202009

Windstar

  • 170,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

ABS & brake lights on intermittently. This happens mostly when outside temperature is above 24C. Checked, but the scanner didn't show any of the codes" the mechanic said could be the malfunction of the computer" the problem not fixed because replacing the computer is too expensive and the brake would function ok without ABS.

- Mississauga, 00, USA

problem #79

Apr 122008

Windstar

  • 107,000 miles
2001 Ford Windstar - recurring ABS & E-brake lights on while driving in 2001 Ford Windstar. Lights come on intermittently and stay on until vehicle is turned off. After restarting, lights will come on again once driving has started. Mechanic unable to determine problem. Possible fire damage.

- Carolina Beach, NC, USA

problem #78

Aug 232009

Windstar

  • 112,000 miles
Drove to Virginia- 3 hrs into trip went to rest area and brakes gave out totally- ran into the back of another mini van, no injuries. The brakes came back, later brake fluid was 100% empty, filled it back up, and just last weekend driving back from annapolis- 90 degrees -and came off 100 onto rt 1 and no brakes whatsoever!!! then almost crashed =made very sharp left turn and swerved around other vehicles-scariest moment in my lift, then brakes came back again!! did research and see there is an issue and Ford is ready to do a recall---I'm so upset and haven't driven the van since-.

- Elkridge, MD, USA

problem #77

Nov 162007

Windstar

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2001 Ford Windstar ABS and cruise control will both stop working at the same time.

- Lansdale, PA, USA

problem #76

Aug 122009

Windstar

  • 105,292 miles
Smoke!! brought Ford Windstar to a local tires plus for service $310.03 - ABS light on after a few minutes or more while driving. Intermittent light. Brake light comes on from leak. Need fluid. ABS light and brake light comes on while driving, when I turn vehicle off and restart the lights come on again while driving I have noticed brake fluid on the switch below the master cylinder and also on another switch bank in the area below. I have found many complaints and websites explaining this problem. Ford need to do something!! www.fordwindstarrecall.info/.

- Clearwater Beach, FL, USA

problem #75

Jun 152009

Windstar

  • 51,000 miles
Red brake indicator and yellow ABS indicator come on randomly. They come on at any speed and usually reset after turn off and turn on. They may come back on immediately or next day. Seems to be false indication. No indication of brake or ABS problems.

- Gladstone, MO, USA

problem #74

Jul 232009

Windstar

  • 106,720 miles
Brake pressure deactivation switch leaks, causing loss of brake fluid and illumination of brake warning light. Replenished fluid, but before switch could be replaced it shorted burning out fuse #10. This caused loss of function of speedometer, tachometer, odometer and ac; ABS and brake warning lights illuminated and overdrive off indicator flashes. Replacing switch and fuse #10 resolved issue. Research on the internet found that failure of this component has led to fires due to brake fluid leaking on other electrical components, though no additional evidence of damage was found in this case.

- St. Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #73

Jun 152008

Windstar

  • 127,111 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

ABS & brake light senors continuously remain lit on instrument panel of vehicle.

- Stanhope, NJ, USA

problem #72

Jul 172009

Windstar

  • 155,000 miles
2001 Ford Windstar ABS light and brake light comes on while driving, when I turn vehicle off and restart the lights come on again while driving I have noticed brake fluid on the switch below the master cylinder and also on another switch bank in the area below. I am currently researching how to repair and if there is a recall on this view Ford tsb 15682.

- South Holland, IL, USA

problem #71

Jul 162009

Windstar

  • 87,000 miles
I have a 2001 Ford Windstar SE van where the brake, ABS and traction control lights intermittently come on. When this happens, my understanding is that the ABS and traction control systems will not function normally. To me this is a safety concern. I have had a mechanic look at the problem and run the computer codes but was unable to determine the cause. I will have to bring this vehicle to the Ford dealer and spend a bunch of money to have them fix it I'm sure. In the meantime, I understand that some vehicles experiencing this problem have started on fire (mine hasn't) but this is a ticking time bomb as this is the car my wife and children ride in. I believe that Ford should have to perform a recall to fix or replace the faulty part(s).

- Grand Haven, MI, USA

problem #70

May 012009

Windstar

  • 69,544 miles
ABS and brake light come light up intermittently on my 2001 Ford Windstar. Brakes seem ok, but I have read of a problem common with this model that causes this from leaking brake fluid and possible fire hazard. This occurs 3-4 times a week. I am having the van looked at by my mechanic next week.

- Wisconsin Rapids, WI, USA

problem #69

Jun 292009

Windstar

  • 44,000 miles
The ABS warning light on my van comes on intermittently. After the vehicle has been turned off for awhile, it will go out. This happens at least once a day, though the light does not come on every time the vehicle is used. This problem has been steadily getting worse over the past three months. Also, the brake pressure differential deceleration switch has been leaking brake fluid for many months. I replaced it with a new part from Ford a few days ago.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #68

Jul 032009

Windstar

  • 75,822 miles
Brake fluid consistently leaking. Brake pressure differential deactivation switch leaking onto ABS brake module. Have cleaned and dried thoroughly twice only to have contamination reoccur.

- Pahrump, NV, USA

problem #67

Oct 202008

Windstar

  • 155,000 miles
ABS yellow warning light on, red brake light on and cruise control will not work. Have replaced the ABS module with unit from a salvage yard in Oct 2008 and it failed June of 2009. The brake pressure switch on the bottom of the master cylinder was replaced in Oct 2008 and it has failed again in May 2009 with intermittent operation of the cruise control or the cruise control kicking out intermittently.

- Rochester, IN, USA

problem #66

Jun 192009

Windstar

  • 119,000 miles
I had a total loss of brake function on my 2001 Ford Windstar SE for 5 seconds.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #65

Jun 092009

Windstar

  • 141,123 miles
ABS and brake light illuminated on dash.

- Clarksburg, MD, USA

problem #64

Jun 052009

Windstar

  • 66,659 miles
While driving my 2001 Ford Windstar, the brake light in the instrument panel illuminated and then the brakes suddenly failed. I was able to safely park the vehicle and inspect for problems. I noticed brake fluid all over the intake manifold and also running down the deactivation switch (which is mounted to the master cylinder) and parts located below it as well. Since the fluid was spraying onto a hot manifold, it started to smoke but luckily did not ignite. I left the hood open to cool and waited for a tow.

- Gettysburg, PA, USA

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