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 lights on the instrument panel and the head lamps sporadically come on and off even when the car is not started. The brake lights sporadically come on and off as well even when the brakes are not being applied. The aircondtioner also failed and only comes out through the defroster vents. The vehicle has been taken to a local mechanic but a problem could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the air condition was repaired however it failed again soon after. The current and failure mileage was unknown. The vehicle has not been repaired as of current date. (SC) updated 06/16/08
I noticed the brake lights on my dashboard coming on and disappearing intermittently. I had no idea that my anti lock braking system is sporadically working like so many thousands of other Windstar owners. I have three small children that I Transport on the highway to and from school and I hate to think of an accident that could be made worse by this situation. Don't wait until a child or any other person loses their life over this situation. Please recall this module as was done on the Ford escape so that lives don't have to be lost. This seems like a severe safety issue. My brakes squeal constantly in hot weather and I fear of a fire breaking out while my dog and three small children are in the car. Please let me know if maybe getting in touch with our local news channel or any other media outlet would shed extra light on this problem.
On almost every trip the ABS and brake warning lights come on the dash. Dealer stated a problem code C1185 and said the ABS module would need to be replaced for about $800.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start occasionally. When he would follow the instructions in the owner's manual, the vehicle would function correctly. In other instances, the vehicle would not start at all. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they wanted to charge him for a diagnostic. The dealer was unable to assist. The current mileage was 76,000 and failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 7/3/08 the doors would not open when using the remote. Updated 07/03/08
Last week, my parents were driving my 2003 Ford Windstar home from breakfast with friends. The friends were following them home, when they saw fire coming from the bottom of the van. They immediately began honking their horn to get my parents to pull over. My dad stopped the van they franticly got themselves and my 4 and 6 year old children out of the van. Within 3-4 minutes of everyone getting out, the van was completely engulfed in flames. And the van was reduced to just metal with in less than 10 minutes. We do not know the reason the fire started at this point, but do know that this has been happening with Ford vehicles over the past few years.
- Aragon, GA, USA
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My wife and I bought our van after owning a 2000 Ford Windstar. I used to work for a Ford dealership and have only owned Ford vehicles most of my life. This van has changed my mind and I will have to think long and hard before buying another Ford. Our van has been a problem ever since we drove it off the lot. On the way home the right front door window quit working and took two trips to the dealer to repair. Like other people have said the electric side doors have a mind of there own opening a closing on there own. There is a loud pop every time the side doors open. After several trips to the dealer nothing was done. The engine keeps revving up to the point that you have to stand on the brakes at a red light to keep it from running into the intersection. The dealer again looked at the several times and nothing has been found. As a former mechanic I have been fooled by this also and have replaced the throttle position sensor hoping that would fix it with no luck. The van would not start at times and would have to be jumped off. The battery was replaced as a precautionary measure because this is my wife and kids in this car and I want to take no chances. Finely I was around one time it would not start and found the alternator to be bad. Replacing it and nightmare but that another story. Now the van still idles high and the check engine light and or loose fuel cap light is on. This van is a piece of junk and I regret the day I bought it. I am in my fourteenth year as a deputy sheriff. I do not want any thing but a Ford as my patrol unit after working on and driving every kind of car out there. It will be hard to buy another Ford as the vehicle my wife and children ride in.
2003 Ford Windstar was being backed out of the driveway, approximately 15 feet. Driver smelled something, heard sound, and felt heat at feet. Driver immediately turned off ignition and removed front seat passenger from vehicle to a safe area. The vehicle burst into flames within seconds and was totally consumed by the fire.
My 2003 Ford Windstar is a nightmare. It started with the dome lights flickering on and off or just staying on. I turned the switch off but the lights still come on. Then when I would open the rear windows a fuse would blow causing all windows, radio, etc.. to stop working. I have taken it in several time to have this looked at that they were tired of me coming in and took a black marker to show me which fuse to change when this happens. I have a friend who is a firefighter who said this is extremely unsafe--for the fuse to keep blowing could cause a fire. After this, I woke up one morning and the car wouldn't start out of no where. After towing it in and a few hundred dollars later I ended up replacing the alternator and the battery. As far as the dome lights & the fuse---still flickering and the fuse still blows out--they say they don't know what is wrong with that. After this, while driving with my girls, the car just died out on us. Started with the battery light going on then the dash said low battery and then it just stopped running. Brought the car in again and they said it was the alternator again. This happened about 1 year after replacing the first one. So once again a few hundred dollars later---they still don't know what is causing this to keep happening. The lights still keep flashing, the fuse still keeps blowing and still no answers. There has got to be something wrong with the electrical system but no one knows what it is. I also found that there are other 2003 Windstar with the exact same problems--lights flickering, electrical problems, replacing alternators & batteries, etc...I filed a complaint with Ford Motor Company but they did nothing--they said all I can say is hold on to all your receipts and if a recall is made you will get reimbursed. What does it take to make Ford recall these vans??
I have a 2003 Ford Windstar SE. I have had many electrical problems with this vehicle. After searching this van on the web I have found out that many other people have had the exact problems with their 2003 Windstar. There is obviously something wrong with this years models and Ford should recall these vans!
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the motor for the driver side window was repaired several months ago because it had not been working at all. The rear wing windows work sporadically. He also stated that all of the interior lights illuminate for no reason. The current and failure mileages were 30,515. Updated 12-12-07. Updated
Item # 1 engine light came on and stayed on. Vehicle began to idle sluggishly when cold. Repair shop investigated and found the lower engine manifold gasket had failed. Replaced lower manifold and gasket and problem was corrected. Item # 2 battery light flickering. Grounding strap between alternator and body frame failed. Reads open with multimeter. Created by own grounding strap using 10 ga. Wire and weather resistant ring-type connectors. No more battery light. Item # 3 internal lights flicker randomly and intermittently. Slamming all doors does not seem to affect the condition. Problem still remains. I turned of the dome light switch to keep from running down my battery and eliminate the mobile "disco" effect.
- on January 17, 2007 the contact's 2003 Ford Windstar caught on fire. There were no warning indicator lights when she drove the vehicle earlier in that day. The contact was informed that the vehicle was on fire, and that sparks were seen under the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. The fire department has not determined the cause or location of the fire. The fire also caused damage to two other vehicles. The contact has pictures and a videotape.
Our 2003 Ford Windstar has had multiple electrical issues and now a possible bad intake gasket causing a rough idle/check engine light/lean running code. I have no confidence in our local Ford dealer as they couldn't repair either the interior lights coming on while driving or intermittent operation of the rear passenger vent window. Their answers are always well if it's not acting up when we test it there isn't anything we can do. But I know that they have other vehicles in for the same problems so they do know. We have replaced 2 taillight bulbs and 1 headlight bulb in a vehicle 3 1/2 years old with 34,000 miles. I won't take the rough idle problem in till it's doing it 100% of the time so they can't squirm out of it. They say since we have the extended warranty it would be covered if it's the intake gaskets but I don't trust them. This is our 3rd and last new Ford vehicle and they have all had electrical issues and intake/head gasket issues. Ford=poor quality and service.
: the contact stated the brake and ABS lights illuminated without incident. An independent repair shop determined there was no problem with the vehicle and reset the codes. The lights illuminated again and the dealership determined the ABS master cylinder needed to be replaced. Also, the door ajar light stayed illuminated, but was not been inspected by a mechanic.
This is a copy of the letter I sent to Ford recently. I thought I would try both paths to see if there is any other information out there about this issue. Ford Motor Company customer relationship center P.O. Box 6248 dearborn, mi 48126 hello, I have a 2003 Ford Windstar VIN xxxxxxxxx that has a problem. {dealer name} has looked at the problem twice and found nothing. The problem has occurred twice in the last 12 months. So far it has happened within the first five minutes of operating the van. If the van is in drive and you are holding pressure on the brakes for an extended period of time (extra long stop lights), the following will happen. The engine will increase in rpms and jolt forward until you get enough pressure on the brakes to hold it at a stop. If you put it in neutral or park, it will continue to move forward if you let up on the brakes. The only way to get the van out of the situation is to shut it off. Once you restart it, everything is fine. By pressure on the brakes, I mean you better push the pedal to the floor or you will be moving! I am not sure if my wife could hold it long enough to get it turned off. The first event happened in stop and go traffic at a congested intersection. I almost rear ended the car in front of me. The second event happened when I was the first vehicle at a stop light. When it jolted forward I was in the intersection. Luckily I was not hit by another car. My question is, what can be done about this problem? my wife will no longer drive the van because she is scared of it. The problem will happen again. Hopefully it will not cause an accident, but eventually will. So I would like to resolve the issue before it becomes a bigger problem. The van has also had other electrical abnormalities.
Continuing problem with power rear sliding doors. Non-operational on drivers side and opening by itself on the passenger side. Also, does not retract when closing if there is an object in the way as stated in owners manual. Happened after 1 year warranty expired. Feel quality should be better than 1 year especially since the power doors were a big selling point with the vehicle. One door was fixed within the 1st year, but 3 or 4 months after that we had problems with the other door and now we have it with both doors. We will leave the minivan in the mall parking lot and return with one of the doors open. It also opens automatically, at times, when we close one of the front doors.
Our 2003 Ford Windstar began experiencing intermittent electrical failures. On May 27, after driving normally, we stopped for about 30 minutes. Then the van stalled several times on a short trip. After another 10 minute stop, it operated normally again. Several times during the next week, although the car did not stall, the power to the steering and brakes went out. We had an appointment with our local Ford dealer to service the van on June 7. however, on June 6 the power systems failed, causing the car to crash into a road side mailbox. No personal injuries occured. Nothing was done to correct the failure. At our expense, Ford would have had someone look at the vehicle to see if they could determine the exact cause of the accident. We choose to deal with our insurance company instead. The car was totaled and repossessed by state farm insurance.
We own a 2003 Ford Windstar. Our instrument panel has gone haywire. The tachometer stopped working, it is completely off the scal. The speedometer does not work. Sometimes it registers that you are doing 50mph when the vehicle is not moving, and then will not register any speed when you are moving. You cannot determine what your speed is at any given time. My vehicle is beginning it's third week in the at the dealership. I was told that the parts were being held at the border in Mexico. I have also been told that the part is on a "national backorder". at this point the dealership has determined that I need a new instrument cluster, which again, is at the mexican border, in customs, or so says the dealership.
Sliding side doors worked intermittently. Told nothing wrong. One stopped working. Cost close to $400 dollars and took all day. Said it was an electricians nightmare. The very next day the other door quite working. We have no children, so do not use door in excess. This is more than coincidence. The first one needed a new plate or something like that. They said it would be $1000 if the motor goes.
We purchased the 2003 Ford Windstar in October of 2003. Since that time, the van has been in and out of the shop 5 times because of a loud screeching in the power steering, interior lights flickering on and off (which they told me that they couldn't find a reason for that and that I should just turn the interior lights off so that it dosen't happen), and a thumping in the front end when the wheels are turned sharply. They told me that I should bring the van to the shop whenever any of these things happen since they couldn't figure out what was causing these problems and I have done that. I am currently driving a loaner car from the dealership because the van is back in the shop. I called Ford Motor Company and filed a complaint with them. I need to know why this is happening and what can be done to fix this van.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bessemer City, NC, USA