10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
102,021 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #16

Oct 102017

Windstar

  • 141,588 miles
Sub frame

- North Lima, OH, USA

problem #15

Aug 152013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
The check traction control light comes on. Brake light, ABS light and traction off light start blinking, turn off the ignition for a few minutes and all is well for a few seconds or maby a few days, (this doesn't happen all the time. I think the problem is somehow related to temperature because as soon as it gets cold, (below about 30 degrees) the problem goes away til warmer weather and when it gets vrey warm it happens all the time. I suspect this problem may be related to a defect in the ECM as this might explain the temp situation. Note also fortunately during the winter the traction control works fine but when this light problem is around the traction control does not work.

- Spring Grove, IL, USA

problem #14

May 012014

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 144,500 miles
ABS, traction control, cruise control and speedometer either are intermittent or not working at all. This causes issues with braking, vehicle control, driver attentiveness and other safety related issues.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

problem #13

Mar 032010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 84,372 miles
The ABS and hand brake kept coming on intermittently. The braking distance has increased. And now the lights are on almost permanently. Based on reports, am afraid if this is going to result in a fire eventually.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #12

Aug 082014

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 203,000 miles
ABS light on dash and brake light on for no reason.

- Litchfield Park, AZ, USA

problem #11

May 052014

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 99,000 miles
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!

- Altadena, CA, USA

problem #10

May 312014

Windstar

  • 164,000 miles
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!

- Queen Valley , AZ, USA

problem #9

Mar 012011

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
Since the beginning of 2011 the ABS and the brake light came one. I have no idea why it comes on and stays one. I am afraid to go long distance because of this.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #8

Sep 012011

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 125,000 miles
The check traction control system warning illuminates, as well as the ABS, trac off, and the brake system warning lights on the dash.

- Spencer, MA, USA

problem #7

Aug 102010

Windstar

  • 92,000 miles
ABS light on 2001 Ford Windstar stays on & all odometer functions & radio cease operation & freeze in place!

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #6

Jan 092007

Windstar

  • miles
During normal driving the "check traction control" message comes on and then deactivates both ABS and traction control significantly impacting the drivable in winter conditions. I do not know of any significant events leading up to this failure. The message isn't always on, just periodically especially when it rains.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #5

Jul 282009

Windstar

  • 105,879 miles
ABS and brake light come on intermittently while driving down the road, cruise control stopped working just before Ford recall. Nothing done about these problems.

- San Tan Valley, AZ, USA

problem #4

Jul 012008

Windstar

  • 120,000 miles
Ford 2001 Windstar has repeated ABS and brake light illuminated. Problem clears each time the car is turned off. Problem re-appears irregularly between minutes and days after the car is restarted. Causes the drivers concern and distraction.

- Arbovale, WV, USA

problem #3

Mar 232009

Windstar

  • 77,000 miles
ABS amber light, and red brake light have been coming on. Loss of brake fluid through the brake pressure differential switch and code C1185 ABS main relay failure code. Non-functional cruise control.

- Lancaster, OH, USA

problem #2

Jan 282009

Windstar

  • 101,000 miles
Brake pressure differential deactivation switch leaked brake fluid down wires to the ABS module, shorting the module and causing a brief but non-sustained fire with resulting smoke and melting of ABS module and wiring harness components. This disabled the speedometer, odometer, ABS system, cruise control, and activated ABS lights and brake system lights. Appears to have occurred while driving and smoke and smell was present when parked in garage after occurrence.

- Quartz Hill, CA, USA

problem #1

Jun 132008

Windstar

  • miles
Ford Windstar brake, ABS brake, cruise control, and speedometer/odometer electrical problems * brake light (red) stays on * 15 amp fuse #10 blowing out * fire or smoke coming from under the van ABS ECM area while off. * melted ABS ECM wiring connector. * speedometer and odometer stop working. * cruise control will not activate or deactivates without warning. * ABS brake light (yellow).

- Alhambra, CA, USA