10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 15
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
110,852 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #154

Jan 032012

Windstar 6-cyl

  • miles
The ABS light and the brake warning lights come on sometimes and stay on a long time. When the ABS light is on the ABS brakes do not work; it reverts back to regular brakes. I am trying to sell the car but prospects do not buy because the light comes on un-expectedly.

- Dunnellon, FL, USA

problem #153

Jan 032012

Windstar

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the key could not be turned in the ignition. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised her that the cylinder in the ignition may have fractured and could need replacing. The failure and the current mileages were approximately 90,000.

- Chalsont, PA, USA

problem #152

Nov 072011

Windstar

  • 135,000 miles
The ABS and brake lights come on intermittently while driving. They stay on until the engine is shut off.

- La Crosse, WI, USA

problem #151

Jul 272006

Windstar 6-cyl

  • miles
Speedometer not working accurately (occasionally speedometer will work than stops, which indicates defective part). Ford says speedometer and gear needs to be replaced now. Prior to that they said computer needed to be reprogrammed because of tire size.. cruise control did not work but was fixed by Ford via recall notice due to leaking speed control deactivation switch (scds). As I understand the dealer would also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair as necessary. ABS and brake light are on all of the time which is a result ABS control module failure.

- Manitowoc, WI, USA

problem #150

Nov 092010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 102,000 miles
Brake light (red) speedometer and odometer stop working cruise control will not activate or deactivates without warning ABS brake light (yellow) Ford trouble code C1185 problem codes P0171, P0174, P0401 171,174,401, egr or system too lean issue.

- Tonawanda, NY, USA

problem #149

Jun 162006

Windstar

  • miles
Vehicle was parked and someone noticed that smoke was coming from under the hood. An electrical fire had started from windshield wiper motor assembly and burnt through motor terminal guide. Both parts had to be replaced. If this problem was not caught early extensive fire damage would have occurred.

- Manitowoc, WI, USA

problem #148

Oct 032011

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 160,000 miles
ABS, and service brake, come on simultaneously. I am afraid that stopping distance shall be increased, thusly causing personal & property damage liability. Fear of braking distance suddenly increased, when driving, on a personal daily basis. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #147

Dec 222010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 78,035 miles
Red brake light came on along with traction control and ABS light stopping distance was further than normal and van skidded on wet road. Need to adjust stopping distance as it was alot further to come to a stop. Light is an intermitant issue along with stopping distance.

- Rome, NY, USA

problem #146

Sep 012011

Windstar

  • 180,000 miles
The Windstar is my only means of transportation and when driving it the speedometer will freak out and ended up breaking the needle on the tacometer and this leads to the theft light popping up when I am driving down the road. This acted up when I was going over and intersection and ended up stalling the vehicle right in the middle and while a car was coming from one way luckly I got the vehicle started and time and got out of there but after taking it to the dealership they couldnt even figure out what could be wrong I dont feel like loosing my life.

- Marshall, MI, USA

problem #145

Sep 092011

Windstar

  • 108,000 miles
The ABS warning light and brake warning light on. Resets after car cools down then lights will illuminate after driving and temperature increases. When lights are illuminated braking distance suddenly increases and brake pedal feels soft. Had the brake system serviced and flushed with new brake fluid and it did not solve the issue of the ABS and brake warning lights coming on, or the increased braking distance. All the brake pads have been checked and are in serviceable condition. Front calipers and rear brake drum clynders have been checked and all are working correctly. Wheel speed senors have been cleaned and checked with a meter and all four are working correctly. The recalls for the brake pressure differential deactivation switch was done in 2010 and there is no evidence of fluid leaking at this time. Suspect problem with ABS electronic control module.

- Oregon City, OR, USA

problem #144

May 182011

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
1st incident happened while driving at highway speeds. ABS and brake light illuminated until car was turned off. Lights now come on randomly. I took my vehicle to a Ford dealership on Aug. 31 2002 for recall on front and rear axles. They installed shackles on suspension and said that everything was fine. After I came home with vehicle, I noticed a clunking sound coming from the R/F wheel area and my overdrive off dash light starts flashing randomly until car is turned off. Concerning the ABS issue, I took my vehicle to an independent garage and they told me I needed to replace the ABS control module, then he told me that they did the exact same repair on another 02' Windstar earlier that week and the repair would cost $700-$800 dollars. Coincidence"??"

- Monroe, ME, USA

problem #143

Jan 012010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
While driving at normal speeds the ABS, brake and trac lights come on and stay on. The van was stopped and when restarted, the lights were off. This has repeated almost every day and continues until today. There are no codes and there seams to be no effect on the van (except maybe the anti lock brakes not working).

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #142

Aug 152011

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
While driving down my hill, my brake light came on. Now my ABS light comes on with my brake light. Brake fluid is present, brakes are almost a year old. For over a year now, my van after it being turned on and off (errands, shopping etc), it does not want to start. Once it does start, as I turn the wheel while in park, it stalls. Now that my brake and ABS lights come on, as I turn the wheel it wants to stall while driving. When I am turning my vehicle off, I turn the key down very slow and all the way down, that seemed to only help it restart a few times. I had my vehicle at the Ford dealer for the recall in 2010 dealing with the cruise control issues. My od light has been off for over a year now as well. While driving my vehicle, when I am stopped, I notice a white colored smoke coming out from under the hood, and no one can find where it is coming from, especially happens when it is damp or raining out, and engine temp is normal.(I can not take my van to an auto car wash due to the fact it starts shaking, smoking and won't run or stay started when the under carriage is being sprayed) fuel pump, starter and ignition coil are fine. Has new plugs and wires.

- Springdale, PA, USA

problem #141

Feb 272009

Windstar 6-cyl

  • miles
We were driving down the highway at 75 mph I smelled smoke coming from the engine compartment. Told the wife and kids I was pulling over and to get ready to bail out of van as soon as I stopped and to stay clear of it. When everyone was out and safe I opened the hood and saw a fire under the master brake cylinder. Got water bottles from inside van and a rag and put the fire out. There was brake fluid on the switch below the brake master cylinder on the wires to a switch underneath. Later I cleaned the mess cut the wires that had caught fire the ones that went to the switch under the master brake cylinder and wrapped them so they wouldn't ground out.continued on home for another 1 1/2 hrs. When I got home I took the switch that had burned under the master brake cylinder off and put a bolt in it's place.I thru out the switch. I haven't replaced the switch I also lost my cruise control since the fire. I didn't think anything about it until today when I was looking up some info for my van and read that this is a problem.

- Yuma , AZ, USA

problem #140

Jul 242011

Windstar

  • miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the steering column made noise whenever the contact was making a left or right turn. The contact stated the fluid level was correct, but the failure continued to occur. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The contact stated the failure was a manufacturers defect. The contact stated lights on the dashboard and the radio began to flash on and off. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer again and was told that the alternator needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 68,785.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #139

Aug 102010

Windstar

  • 98,000 miles
ABS and brake lights coming on for no apparent reason. Had recall service on cruise control and the warning lights for the ABS and brake lights have been coming on intermittently since that service was done. Talked with the local Ford service department and they are aware of this problem. Said that the previous recall on the cruise control didn't have anything to do with my warning lights for ABS and brakes (but they have had more issues with this problem than the cruise control recall). If I remember the correctly, the cruise control recall - it had something to do with brake fluid contact and potential for fire, my cruise was shorted out and not working - must have been from brake fluid. I am thinking that this flaw has something to do with electrical components connected from the brake and ABS system to the warning lights being shorted out in a similar way; it is just a guess, I am sure that the real mechanics know what is going on.... this is a safety issue and Ford needs to recall this design flaw; the warning device is not working as designed. I am sure that the $1,600 to fix the problem is an issue for Ford. Sometimes the lights turn on when I start the vehicle, sometimes I may be driving and they will turn on, at times the warning lights do not come on at all. The brakes are not effected from what I can tell and my fluid levels are normal. I hope that my brakes don't really experience a problem.

- Monticello , MN, USA

problem #138

Jul 012010

Windstar

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the ABS and brake warning lamps were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that break fluids were leaking onto the wiring harness and as a result, they performed the repairs specified on NHTSA campaign id number: 09V399000 (vehicle speed control). The remedy failed to repair the problem. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 135,000.

- Charlestown , IN, USA

problem #137

Jun 302011

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 146,000 miles
I purchased a 2002 Ford Windstar from genoa Ford genoa Ohio...with the ABS light and brake light on...the salseman said that we have the car priced low because it will need brakes...we purchased the brakes and still had the problem...we then had the master cylinder replaced the next day 3 days later as we where driving the van the ABS and brake light turned on and the van was not able to be started so it was towed for the second time...the day before this we had it at tireman in northwood to get radiator flushed...and new tires when we pulled away the van lost all power and then the battery was replaced...so today after this problem happened the mechanic tells us we need an alternator. In the mean time I have searched online and found that recall #09S09 deals with electrical issues as in the ABS the scds the cruise control etc... so this issue obviously has not been stopped with the recall being performed on my vehicle at genoa Ford on Oct 19, 2009( as the mechanic [xxx] told me on the phone)...so I have come here to file this complaint. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Millbury, OH, USA

problem #136

Jul 012011

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
I am the owner of a 2002 Ford Windstar. I bought the vehicle with 16,000 miles on it and it now has 104,000. I am current on all of the recalls issued by Ford as of June 2011. My ABS light, and brake light have been coming on randomly throughout the course of driving during the day for the past 4 years. I live in Florida. It is on always throughout the summer and less frequent during the winter months. I have had the computer updated with the latest software by Ford 3 years ago when the problem started occurring... did nothing to help. I have taken it to the Ford dealership and local mechanic. Each have looked at it and have told me different things. The dealer suggested I needed a new electronic control module. ( I did the recall suggested by Ford and have the new wire harness on the van. It has done nothing to solve the problem of the ABS light and brake light coming on) he says because of the heat it warms up and causes intermittent electrical connection in the unit because the fragile board is being stretched and malformed. The code most commonly scanned by professional mechanics is code C1185. The local mechanic (not Ford) test drove the van and found all kinds of ABS codes coming up and sinks failing. I left it at his shop and the next morning he drove it again and the lights were off. He said it is a computer issue because everything doesn't just fail all at once and then no lights come on the next day in the a.M. later that day when I took it home and it started to heat up in the summer time here in Florida the lights came back on indicating to me that I had no anti-lock brakes!!!!! Ford needs to recall this part because it is a safety issue that we as customers have paid for and expect. Please look into this issue and do something!

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #135

Jun 052011

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 152,867 miles
2002 Ford Windstar, 153028 miles sat because of rear axle broke close to home. Got recall notice from Ford for axle. Contacted country roads Ford in new martinsville wv. They had van for couple months waiting for axle. Axle was replaced but no other recalls were done physically. The mechanic signed that all was done. I got in van, which sat for a couple weeks, attempted to stop at lite and no brakes. Pedal went to floor. Pumped brakes an grabbed E-brake to stop inches from the car in front of me. Took it home after filling master cylinder with fluid. Found that it was leaking thru the switch itself. Brake fluid trailed to different connectors.took it back to Ford. They did the recall for the brake sensor and the sub frame. 11S16. Now the engines revs to 2000 RPM when the steering wheel is turned and when its shifted from gear to gear at any given moment. Revs up at any time which is a hazard to anyone in or near the vehicle when operating at lites, in store parking areas. The wiring harness installed was manufactured 06-27-2008. Part no. Bw7T14A411A35nb ca. Diagnostic codes change when the battery terminals are removed, then replaced for resetting computer. The cruise control works when it wants to. Shuts off during driving. The uncontrollable engine revs is the most serious of the problems. Called country roads Ford again and they said it wasn't caused by anything they did for the recalls and that only 3 pertained to my vehicle. Having a different shop look at it.

- Wv, WV, USA

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