Brake warning light and ABS warning light illuminate for no apparent reason.

- Novi, MI, 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

The ABS and brake lights come on my dashboard intermittently on my 2002 Ford Windstar. I have no trouble w/ my brakes, yet this continues to happen. I have changed the deactivation switch under the master cylinder twice, but this keeps recurring. Ford should have a recall on this problem.

- Levittown, NY, USA

The odometer, speedometer, A/C, and overdrive stopped working so we replaced fuse #10 and later that day the brake pressure deactivation switch caught on fire.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

While driving home one night headlights, and signal lights stopped working (lights in back continued to function) odometer stopped illuminating, and message panel displayed inconsistently. ABS light came on randomly at times, and eventually, the speedometer stopped working. After several hours of labor tracking down the problem, the G.E.M. module was replaced (at great cost). After replacing the G.E.M. module, it became apparent that the instrument cluster was bad and needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, these parts are on backorder and our only car has now been in the shop for more than two weeks and nobody can give us any idea when the part will be available and when the car will be repaired. Furthermore, the Ford dealership where our car sits in an undrivable state (the repair department told us that there is a risk of fire if we were to drive it) told us that there are three other Windstar there waiting for the same part, and agreed with us (off the books) that considering the quantity of problems they are seeing with the instrument cluster there should have been a recall.

- Tariffville, CT, USA

Brake pressure switch leaked brake fluid causing failure of cruise control, speedometer, and odometer. Red brake light and yellow ABS light on constantly. Had repair done at local Ford dealer. Paid $200 for analyzer and $700 to replace wiring, cruise control module and speedometer module. Brake and ABS lights are now off. Second day out of the shop the ABS and brake lights come on intermittently. Estimate #700.00 I am hoping the NHTSA rules on this defect as a safety hazard and orders a recall.

- Chester, NY, USA

Brake lights come on when vehicle is off and they will stay on after you remove your foot from the pedal. We have had the brake pedal switch replaced 2 times already and it keeps happening. If the lights come on in the middle of the night (has happened several times), the van will not start in the morning. This remains an ongoing problem which the repair shop can not fix and recommended that we file this report. This has been going on for the last couple of years. The van sometimes smells hot inside if we catch it before the battery goes dead. I'm not sure what to put for the approximate incident date so I will put today's date since it did it again today.

- Altoona, IA, USA

I own a 2002 Ford Windstar sel. Recently had two messages of low brake fluid. ABS brake warning lights also come on and off on instrument panel. Cruise control stops working from time to time. Then on Aug 4, the entire instrument panel went haywire, and air conditioner stopped cooling. Having it looked at tomorrow, but this sounds like leaking brake fluid from bad switch has caused electrical meltdown. No fire - yet.

- Kernersville, NC, 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

All at once, brake light and ABS light came on, O/D off light flashing. Speedometer and odometer ceased to function. Cruise control not working. Occurs immediately upon starting vehicle. Per mechanic, needs new ABS module, fuses however none are currently available in my area. They are waiting for the dealer to get a part - estimating 2-3 days.

- Elgin, IL, USA

The speedometer sticks when the cruise control is turned on. The dash lights were showing the exclamation mark. I am looking into getting this fixed but it should be taken care of by Ford. It is an obvious engineering flaw with the brake pressure deactivation switch.

- Vancouver, 00, USA

Purchased a 2002 Windstar XL from a dealer Feb 2009. All happened in a 12 week period. Engine, ABS, and brake lights came on as I left the lot from dealer. Went to have checked out and I was told I had a misfire in #5 plug and replaced intake manifold gaskets, new plugs, wires, oil changed. Had an oil leak 2 days later and went back and plug in oil pan replaced. Engine light stayed off 1 week and then started smelling antifreeze through A/C vents. Heater core is bad in it too so I had the heater core bypassed as a temporary fix. Engine light, ABS light & brake light was off for 2 hours then came back on. Found the cruise control deactivation switch was unplugged and plugged it in and then it blew a relay fuse in the box next to the battery. Replaced and left it unplugged. This controls the gauges on instrument panel, A/C, and cruise control. I replaced the cruise control deactivation switch and it burned the wires when engine was started. Overheating of wires caused the melting of wires. I had hood open so stopped engine before wires ignited.

- West Columbia, SC, USA

ABS yellow and red brakes lights come on. Just adding my complaint to the list. Spent $400 to replace front axle they thought was the problem but is not. Happened at around 90,000 miles.

- Danville, IN, USA

My brake pressure deactivation switch has failed and is allowing brake fluid to leak from my master cylinder onto my ABS system. My car is a 2002 Ford Windstar van. I noticed it about 3 weeks ago when I had to add fluid to my master cylinder (the brake light on the dash came on). This fixed the problem for a few days but then the light came on again. I have been adding fluid, but the bad switch allows it to leak out every couple of days. To be safe, I am replacing the switch and the master cylinder. I will have the old switch available.

- Decatur, AL, USA

ABS and brake lights keep coming on. Cruise control not working. Speedometer, odometer and airconditioning have also stopped working. Due to short in the cruise control disable switch aka brake pressure differential deactivation switch located under the master cylinder caused from brake fluid leaking onto it. This in turn blew the #10 fuse. This switch is covered with brake fluid and could start a fire at any time. I have stopped driving it until I can replace the switch and clean off the brake fluid.

- San Diego, CA, USA

We have a 2002 Windstar with 165K miles. The ABS /brake light has intermittently come off and on for the last 2 years. I noticed that last year my cruise control began to periodically work. On Wednesday July 8th I started the van and noticed white smoke pouring from the hood. I immediately shut the vehicle off and traced the smoke to the brake pressure deactivation switch. I didn't know what it was until I read this article www.fordwindstarrecall.info this was extremely helpful and saved me time on estimating the problem. The switch had burned and the plastic switch was dripping the melted fire plastic into my motor!

- Cypress, TX, USA

I have a 2002 Ford Windstar. About 2 months ago the brake light, ABS light, and the traction control light came on the dashboard, as well as the speedometer and digital odometer quit working. I took it to a local Ford dealer to have it looked at, and they told me that the ABS module went bad and would need replaced. They quoted me $1006.17 + tax to fix it! it is my understanding that this year Windstar has a recurring problem with this module, and I would like to know if any work is being done on a recall?

- Hartville, OH, USA

I have a 2002 Ford Windstar van, while driving, the van the ABS light, traction control light and the emergency brake light all come on at the same time. They remain on until I park the van. If I turn the van back on the lights are off, but once I begin driving again all three warning lights come on. I have had the van. I have read that there is a serious problem with this happening in Ford Windstar vans and it has resulted in fires. I am terrified to drive the van now, and would like to know when there will be a recall. This has been going on with my van, especially since the weather has gotten warmer.

- Halethorpe, MD, USA

We own a Ford Windstar 2002 van. The following are occurring: Lost brake fluid, brake light, speedometer and odometer stopped working, ABS brake light, check engine light, cruise control will not activate and this is caused by leak in the brake pressure differential deactivation switch. The lights on the dashboard are permanent and I will need to take van in to the Ford dealer for repairs. Since this is a serious and dangerous matter caused by a defective part, we hope that they will recall this part and cover the costs for the parts and labor. We are disappointed with Ford.

- Houston, TX, USA

2002 Ford Windstar brake light and ABS light on. Comes on after short time every time.

- V, AZ, USA