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.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing numerous failures with the ABS, brake light illumination, slow gear shifting and power windows and door lock failures. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that there were no recalls for the vehicle. The manufacturer denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 101,000 and the current mileage was 104,000.
I have a 2003 Ford Windstar. The brake and ABS lights are on almost all the time. In cold weather the lights don't come on until the engine is warmed up. I had a Ford dealer run a diagnostic on the vehicle and they said the ABS brake module and hydraulic control unit must be replaced. The cost for parts only is $1645.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Intermittent failure of ABS module causing red brake light and orange ABS light to come on and loss of ABS function. This seams to happen more often in hot weather. Sometimes the ABS can be "turned back on" by shutting off the vehicle and restarting. Also rear power sliding doors have intermittent problem to where they will not fully unlock. Door will partially open, then get stuck, so that you have to manually push the rear of the door shut in order to attempt to get the door to properly open. Worried that doors will not open in case of accident.
ABS light is on as well as check engine light.car is idling rough. Checked with numerous car repair places with no success. Also, van is pulling to the right even after I changed tires and did alignment check !
The brake and ABS lights came on. When I stepped on the brake, the van started bucking and was unsafe to drive. The ABS electronic ECU module and brake rotors needed replacement, at a total cost of $881.69, including parts, tax and labor.
Wow, my 2003 Ford Windstar only has 119, ooo miles and I cant believe all the issues! the ABS system and emergency brake lights costantly stay on, mechanic said high dollar part. Also check engine light will not go off. Car hops and jumps, replaced coils and all oxygen sensors and still throwing many codes. Dont even feel safe in this family vechile. I beg Ford to recall these issues!!
The ABS and brake lights had simultaneously been coming on intermittently since sometime in 2008 (a 5-year-old vehicle), occurring with greater frequency as time went on. However, since about March 2011 they now come on every day, usually within 2 minutes of starting the vehicle. There were no accidents or damage leading up to this failure--the problem is inherent in the module. After about the first year of intermittent failure I had a Ford dealership technician diagnose the problem; he told me it was due to a bad ECM for the ABS (which I already suspected, having done some prior research); we had a conversation about it concerning the aluminum heat sink plate; he told me it was a bad design, it should've never been designed that way. In May 2011, after the warning lights were coming on daily, I had some other service work done at a Ford dealership; in speaking with the service representative I asked about the ABS and brake lights, he told me the ABS ECM was bad, that many of them go bad like that because it's a bad design and he had in fact just replaced one the week before for a customer--it was $1,400. These same modules were used on earlier model years of the Windstar, and all model years using this module have had failures. When the module is not functioning, the anti-lock brake system- does not engage. When the system fails, this can lead to unexpected wheel lock-up and uncontrolled sliding, increased braking distances, and greater risk of injury accident. The vehicle is equipped with ABS, and as a safety feature it must not fail--just like seatbelts, airbags and tmps. With the system failing daily now, I fear this coming winter the vehicle will not respond as expected when braking on snow-covered roads. With 2 Ford employees telling me this module is a bad design, with the relatively low part cost for the module (actual cost, not marked-up), considering the factor of safety at stake, this should be repaired under a recall, the same as any safety system.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the brakes would fail sporadically without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000 and the current mileage was 140,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the anti lock brake light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that all of the gauges on the instrument panel would intermittently display inaccurate readings. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the failure was a factory defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the ABS and brake warning lights were shutting on and off on the instrument panel. The contact replaced the brakes but the failure continued to occur. The contact was unable to determine what caused the failure. The vehicle was not inspected. The failure was 100,000 and the current mileage was 124,000.
Braking distance suddenly increased. It occurs 75% of the time the vehicle is driven. When driving the vehicle the ABS, brakes and traction lights illuminate. Its intermittent when this occurs, but occurs often. Occurs more often when temperatures are hot. Recall 09S09 was completed and problem started happening around time of repair.
I have taken my van into the Ford dealer more than twice for the brakes making real bad noises when I first drive it for the day. Ford dealer says it is brake dust and is normal for that year of van.the noise is real bad and I'm worried that it may cause a problem down the road.
Ford recall no. 09S09 - 49 cfr part 573-defect we were not informed of recall. -- per down-loaded pdf letter from Ford Motor Company today, this recall obligation expired on 12/8/2009. Question: Is Ford obligated and required to pay for repairs in near future (July 19, 2011) to correct defect?
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the antilock braking system (ABS) warning light was illuminated. The ABS would activate on the front driver side tire when braking intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the where the failure was located at the electronic control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 112,000.
Braking distance suddenly increased. It occurs 75% of the time the vehicle is driven. When driving the vehicle the ABS, brakes and traction lights illuminate. Its intermittent when this occurs, but occurs often. Occurs more often when temperatures are hot.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Monroe, OH, USA