Bought this van used. Almost immediately, the ABS and brake light would come on the instrument panel for no reason. The vehicle still operates normally. After turning off and restarting, the lights go off. They may not come on again for days. It seems to happen more in warmer weather.

- Burrton, KS, USA

Brake and ABS lights come on in hot weather.

- Omaha, NE, USA

Problem - ABS ECM failure - ABS brake light. The ABS brake system does not function. The ABS light comes on and off when it heats up. The electrical connection is faulty.

- Phoenixville, PA, USA

I have a 2002 Windstar. For over a year the ABS and parking brake light come on and stay on especially when it is warm outside. The dealership wants over $1000 to replace the ABS module even though this is a well documented problem with this make and model and there are documented cases of fires associated with this problem.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

Hi, I have had a few problems for a long period of time, but recently I have been noticing even more problems. The following problems include, loss of brake fluid (problem # 1)brake light (red) (problem # 1 or problem # 2)fire or smoke coming from under the van ABS ECM area while off. (problem # 1)speedometer and odometer stop working. (problem # 1)cruise control will not activate or deactivates without warning. (problem # 1)ABS brake light (yellow) (problem # 2 or problem # 1)brakes turn on squeal without warning. (problem # 2). Each of these problems have a occurred at least once, many more than once. My brake light goes on about every day as does the ABS brake. So far nothing has been replaced because there are so many things to replace I don't know what to do. Please recall this van for it is a huge safety hazard and I do not want to be behind the wheel when something bad happens. Please help me.

- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

Hello. I would like to file a report a problem that is currently being reported by Ford Windstar owners. I own a Ford Windstar that has the ABS and brake light issue. The problem occurs intermittently, and is not consistent. I have taken my car to the dealership in the past, and all the dealership seems to be doing is guessing as to what is broken, and the problem has not been fixed. The exact description of the problem is found here: www.fordwindstarrecall.info/ I am getting the error codes C1185, C1198, C1194, C1254, C1246, C1250, C1242, C1214, C1210, U1261. They replaced and reprogrammed the ABS module, on Mar 31, 2005, but the problem is still present. I took it back numerous times, only to be told some stupid thing. I am concerned that this is a hazard/life threatening issue, and I would like the Ford motor to take the time, think this problem out, and solve the problem, and not just guess at the solution. There are other people logging complaints about this, and when I took my vehicle in a year ago for an oil change, I had them check my VIN # for any recalls, and I was told that my vehicle did not fall under some of the current ones with identical problems. If this is the type of quality they give to their customers, then my next purchase, I can tell you this, will not be a Ford product.

- Warren, MI, USA

ABS failure Windstar 2002 code C1185. It seems to be a common problem that Ford is not doing anything about. I took my van to a dealer im having the ABS module replace.

- Bronx, Ny, NY, USA

From time to time, the ABS light will come on and stay on, would shut off vehicle, wait a few seconds, and restart it in order to "turn off" light, sometimes would go out itself while driving.

- Tyner, NC, USA

This is an update to ODI number 10278659. The cruise control actuator switch was identified as leaking brake fluid by my independant auto repair shop. They replaced the "cruise control actuator switch" part number yf1Z 9C888 ab at a cost of $34.56 for parts and $22.50 for labor. They also replaced the wiring harness that connects to the switch. After this was done, the cruise control started to work consistently again. The ABS light and brake warning light still come on intermittently. Sometimes I have noticed they go on after I hit a bump. Once they go on, they remain on for the duration of the journey (until the car is turned off).

- Pleasant Prairie, WI, USA

Hit a bump in the road and traction light, ABS light and brakes lights come on. The lights stay on until I turn the car off. It only happens when I hit a bump a certain way so the lights are not on all the time. I've taken it to a few garages and was told that nothing is wrong with my brakes. If nothing is wrong why do the lights comes on. No one knows.

- Brockton, MA, USA

This morning on my way to drop off my son at school my 2002 Ford Windstar moved into oncoming traffic as I was stopped at a stop sign. I had the brake pedal down and the van suddenly starting moving forward. By the time I pressed as hard as I could on the brake pedal the van stopped about 10 feet into the oncoming lane of traffic. The dash brake light came. I was able to make it to a local shop where I was told the brakes were fine. I nearly was hit by oncoming traffic and had 3 small children in the van.

- Lebanon, OR, USA

ABS and brake light come illuminate on a daily basis. First noticed after hitting a bump on the highway about a year ago... since then the light will come and go off at will. Occasionally there may be a sluggish feeling when in drive. I had it inspected but no one can tell me anything.

- Brunswick , GA, USA

2002 Ford Windstar - after driving for some time, traction control, ABS, and brake lights on dash illuminate, along with an audible alarm. Lights go off if car is turned off and on again, only to return later unpredictably. Analysis to date indicates either and ECM/ECU or ABS control module failure.

- Wyoming, OH, USA

I own a 2002 Ford Windstar. For the last year the ABS light (yellow) and the brake warning light (red) has intermittently been lighting up on the instrument panel. On Aug 16, 2009, I noticed fluid leaking from under the van. I found the leak coming from the brake pressure differential deactivation switch under the master cylinder. As I searched the internet for a replacement part, I found that this has been a recurring issue for the 2002 Windstar, which as I assume you have been informed, has been the root cause of some fires with the Windstar. Is there or will there be a recall for this issue? at this time I feel the vehicle is unsafe and I am very uncomfortable driving it.

- Georgetown, KY, USA

Ford 2002 Windstar. In May 2009 the ABS and brakes warning likes came on twice over the course of a couple of days. Took the van to our shop, but the lights had gone out. The shop thought it might just be a light problem. Lights remained out until August 2009. Both cam one intermittently. Took the van to the shop and this time it was determined that the ABS control module is bad. Over the past week I have researched the problem and found it to be a potential future recall issues pending NHTSA finding.

- Charles Town, WV, USA

2002 Ford Windstar leaking brake fluid under master cylinder.

- Bridgewater, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that she noticed that the ABS and service brake warning lights consistently illuminated on the instrument control panel. Additionally her vehicle spontaneously loses brake fluid. If the brakes fail while driving, her increase for vehicle crash and safety hazard are increased. She is in the process of having the vehicle inspected to determine the cause of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 71,000.

- Sheffield, AL, USA

ABS, traction, and brake light comes on.

- Flora, IL, USA

For the past year the ABS and brake lights have intermittently illuminated on the dashboard of my 2002 Ford Windstar. About 1 week ago they came on and have remained illuminated when I start my van. I took my vehicle to the local Ford dealer and was quoted $700 to fix the ABS sensor module, but was told by the service rep that I'd still have normal (not ABS) brake function without the module repair. Here are the diagnostic codes: C1185, C1194, C1198, C1210, C1214, C1242, C1246, C1250 and C1254. It was also noted that the van's brake fluid is low and a wheel cylinder may be leaking. I also note a very discernible squeaking sound when braking---this has been ongoing for quite a while.

- Sandusky, OH, USA

Ford Windstar 2002. Cruise control only engages intermittently. When cruise control is on, it will dis-engage abruptly for no reason. Yellow ABS dash light and red brake warning dash light go on intermittently (simultaneously). After they go on, they stay on until the car is turned off. The ABS system appears to still work correctly even when the yellow ABS light is on and the red brake light is on (although there is no way for the driver to tell if the ABS system and brake system are working correctly or not when the warning lights are on). My local Ford dealership diagnosed that the ECM control module needs to be replaced. This is an expensive electronic component with no moving parts, and there is no reason that this board should be failing. This is a common problem with 2002 Ford Windstar models. I believe Ford should be required to offer free diagnosis and repair for any problems related to ECM control modules for this model year. I first noticed the problem around October 2008 as the weather turned colder. This is consistent with a theory that the ECM board is sensitive to temperature changes, which affects the correct working of the cruise control and ABS systems. The cruise control mostly did not work during the winter 2008-2009. As warmer temperatures arrived in spring 2009, the cruise control started to work intermittently again. Sometimes it engages correctly, sometimes I push the "set" button repeatedly and finally it engages, sometimes I push the "set" button repeatedly and it will not engage. When it is engaged, it will dis-engage abruptly for no reason. I suspect sometimes it dis-engages because the car hit a bump in the road - but frequently it dis-engages with no bump in the road. Having the cruise control dis-engage abruptly for no reason is a safety issue and could easily result in an accident. Having the ABS system not work correctly (due to the ECM module) is a safety issue and could easily result in an accident.

- Pleasant Prairie, WI, USA