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.
My Ford Windstar has had all of it's brakes redone twice because of failure of ABS system. As I have been driving the ABS lights along with the brake lights will come on the dashboard. I had the brakes redone twice, still happening come to find out it is a malfunction of ABS unit itself. Do I have to contact my consumer advocates on the local news to get a recall started because I am a hairs breathe away from doing it. I can no longer put up with these repair bills as I am on disability for a bad heart and the news will just eat this up!
Ford Windstar brake, ABS brake, cruise control, and speedometer/odometer electrical problems. Our van has had this issue twice now and needs to be a recall item as Ford is well aware of the issue and the major safety issues it presents! we are looking for NHTSA to press them for a resolution with so many of these vehicles on the roads and the number of events.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the wires from the overdrive switch in the transmission were burned and the fuse was inoperable. The vehicle became engulfed in smoke while driving at an unknown speed. Smoke was rising from the instrument panel and the vehicle would have caught fire if the contact had not turned off the engine. The dealer stated that there was no recall on the wiring harness; therefore, the contact would have to pay for the repair. The failure mileage was 96,000. Updated 03/12/09. Updated 03/16/09.
The vehicle ABS warning light and brake warning light go on and off. Diagnostic code of C1185. No viable reason for the failure. Lights are illuminated on the dash board regularly but with no particular pattern or reason. Loss of ABS breaks as a result. Fearful of accident or vehicle fire due to issue. Nothing done to correct the problem as there does not seem to be a clearcut solution to the problem without impacting other functions of the vehicle. Additional issue with interior cabin lights going on and off while driving. This is distracting at night and could cause an accident. This is a product defect that has been happening since 2007. I will not pay to fix something that happens in many of the same models and is clearly a defect that should be recalled. I've told the dealership and they say I need to pay to have a modular replaced.
Brake light (E-brake) and ABS light come on intermittently after about 5-10 minutes of driving. This either cause the ABS to disable or not depending on which mechanic I talk to. Two mechanics have looked at this, and recently I was denied an emissions test due to this (non-emission related) problem. According to several websites, this is slated as a _very_ common problem with this year of vehicle, and I would like to get it fixed... the dealer wants over $1000 to diagnose and repair this problem that if not resolved, results in intermittent ABS, or fire.
- Erie, CO, USA
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2003 Ford Windstar. Brake and ABS lights came on, fluid leaking out of brake pressure switch. Fluid wicking down to other wires blowing fuses. ABS control unit wires soaked in fluid. Possible fire. Also electric door locks stick both fail to unlock and fail to lock even though the solenoid is triggered. The actual lock is sticking on 3 of the four doors.
I drive a 2003 Ford Windstar. Within about 5-10 minutes of starting the vehicle, both the yellow ABS light, and the red emergency brake light light up on the dash. The brakes still seem to be working properly. I even took the vehicle to a mechanic and the brake system checked out fine. However, the lights are still on, and won't go away.
Smoke coming out from under the hood, then after a few weeks the ABS light coming on. At the same time as the ABS light the speedometer started going all over the place. Also at this time cruise control when on would deactivate and basically do whatever it wanted. But while all this was happening there was no smoke.
It started with the interior lighting coming on while driving, then the dash windows nd radio, battery dying and the outside lighting staying on while keys were out and not working once started. They are all happening constantly even with all the new parts that the Ford garage replaced{battery, switches, alternator, light sockets, etc}.
I kept getting an intermittent brake and ABS light that resets when the car is turned off. My mechanic troubleshoot it down to the ECM for the ABS. Failure of ECM in the ABS brake system resulting in the ABS light and the brake light being illuminated. I am sure they have fixed plenty of these by now. Why no recall on an obviously bad part/design?
I have had several electrical failures with this vehicle include the wires corroding for the brake/ABS lines, the ignition wires failing and the more minor codes produced for faulty sensors in the door ajar system. I am currently determining if it pays for me to replace the wiring, or junk the vehicle.
Purchased a used van from local dealer. It has a dvd player already installed (not factory installed). Approx. 6 months later, I complained to service assoc. While getting an oil change, that my radio does not get stations clearly. Maybe there's a problem with the antennae. He said, "it's a Ford thing" in 2005 I told same service assoc. That the 'door is ajar' light keeps coming on. The trunk. Hatch light comes on and stays on even when back is closed. And the interior lights go on and off. And the dvd player no longer worked. He said it could be the contacts, and he would clean them but there's 'no guarantee". the next service check, I told him that the lights stay on after the doors are closed and I 'm afraid my battery will go dead. Also that the power locks now go on and off while driving around. I was told that it was probably an electrical problem but that it was not under any warranty and it would be very costly, it could take hours and hours of looking for the problem and it may never be found. I went home and my husband purchased and changed the contact thing for the back door. The light for that back hatch then stopped staying on when the door was closed. I was very concerned about the locks going up and down while driving my three small children around. How could I know if the locks were engaged or not"?? if there is a 'short; could a fire start?" I called the Ford co. Consumer number, explained my problems and the rep. Just told me that "there is no recall for those problems with that van". I said I was afraid for my children's safety, not knowing if the doors were locked or open. When repeated her statement and said to take it to the dealer at my expense. It is now 2008, my locks continue to go up and down while driving randomly, I have to turn all the interior lights off and leave them off, already replaced a battery, back door is open light still stays on!! please advise me!! I am quite frustrated and nervous about this vehicle.
ABS light and brake lights stays on, cruise control never has worked, have fixed the brakes and the lights are still on. Now I think the 02 sensor I guess it may be the oxygen sensor is out also I think it keep on burning up my alternators, I put a new last year and just had to put another one and I think it is about gone also.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The ABS light remains illuminated, followed by the brake light. There is also fluid leaking and melted wires under the hood. The contact has not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The current mileage was 135,000 and failure mileage was 132,000.
My ABS and brake light on my 2003 Ford Windstar which has only 63,000 miles had been coming on intermittently. When I carried the vehicle to the local Ford dealer they informed me that if I had arrived one day earlier on 8/19/08 I could have received an out of warranty service adjustment but when I arrived on 8/20/08 I was one day too late. The ECM is causing the brake light and ABS light to turn on according to the diagnosis and will have to be replaced. The original estimate was $757 but when I mentioned the number of complaints on the NHTSA.gov website they automatically dropped to $672. I will now be required to pay this amount for a known problem with the Ford Windstar vehicle. Ford is not taking responsibility at the local service center.
Brake, ABS, and other lights come on, drive disengages, van will only run in 2nd or low gear until you turn it off then on again. Very dangerous situation as the van loses power and decelerates. Fuse #1 sparks when putting in a fuse. Blows the fuse immediately. Interior light then will not work. Van is currently being looked at by phil long Ford.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the passenger side sliding door would not function with the power button. The door would have to be opened manually from the passenger compartment. The dealer stated that there was a service bulletin for the failure, but there was no recall. The contact was informed that a tsb kit was needed. The manufacturer stated that nothing could be done and referred her to NHTSA. The current mileage was approximately 77,000 and failure mileage was approximately 76,000. Updated 07/15/08 updated
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Atco, NJ, USA