10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 11
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
96,783 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2001 Ford Windstar engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Ford Windstar:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2001 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 3 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #61

Jan 012010

Windstar

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2001 Ford Windstar. When I received recall notice 09V399000 I brought my vehicle in for the repair. The issue that I was experiencing in regards to the ABS/brake lights going on while the car is in use has not been fixed. I believe that there is still and issue that needs to be addressed. This is an ongoing problem.

- Fergus Falls, MN, USA

problem #60

Oct 122010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
Occurrence: 12 October 2010. Traveling I-95 Washington, DC/suitland, md. Vehicle: Ford Windstar, 2001. Speed : 60-65 mph. Traffic : dense. Failure of defective part : rear axle snapped in two parts while traveling on smooth highway, northbound. Explosive sound, lots of smoke, extreme consternation/fear of heart attack experienced by my wife and I ( my wife has a dangerous heart condition "ihss") at occurrence. I immediately turned on hazard flashers. Managed to maneuver across several lanes of traffic to get to highway shoulder safely!! thank god for the alert fellow travelers behind us!!! if we were hit by any 18-wheelers on the highway, I wouldn't be writing this complaint now!!! concern for our safety was shown to us by fellow travelers; particularly, md traffic safety person, who should be commended by his superiors for his professional and understanding actions!! he looked at the damage and said that he had never seen anything like it before; and he said that we were lucky to be alive!!! van was transported by professionals to the nearest Ford dealership where I first became aware that a recall notice was in force for my vehicle!!! at this point, I became greatly disturbed that I had no previous notification of this dangerous condition and that my wife, grand children, etal were traveling in potential rolling coffin! in my opinion, this seems to be criminal; particularly if greater profit motives might be involved! I certainly hope that inferior materials were not used in this regard!! I was informed that my van would have to remain at the Ford dealership until Ford Motor Company decides how I will be provided with a safe vehicle, since no replacement axles were available. (nb ; I have no idea whatever other damage exists as a result of this awful failure! I certainly don't want a duplicate axle replacement to replay this horrific catastrophe! in my wife's delicate condition, I cannot expect her to travel in this unsafe vehicle! justice!!!

- Ramsey, NJ, USA

problem #59

Oct 102010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 96,966 miles
ABS and brake light come on when driving a few miles after starting car, anti lock brakes do not work. If you shut car off and start back up the lights will go off, they will come back on sometime or stay of for several hundred miles. There were no codes stored to bring up. The speed control deactivation switch has been change.

- Fort Mill, SC, USA

problem #58

Aug 282010

Windstar

  • 130,534 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 8-9 mph the contact stated that the ABS and red brake light illuminated on the dashboard. The contact checked the brake fluid, and added fluid to the vehicle. He was able to continue driving to his destination with the warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The dealer advised him of recall 09V399000, vehicle speed control and performed the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to an auto parts store for diagnostic testing; however, there were no failure codes displayed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 130,534 and the current mileage was 131,768.

- Cheapeake, VA, USA

problem #57

Sep 012010

Windstar

  • 90,000 miles
My ABS brake light is still on. I had recall 09S09 performed at a Ford dealership. My cruise control does not work. My brake! light comes on and stays on intermittently.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #56

Mar 152010

Windstar

  • 60,000 miles
The brake pressure differential deactivation switch (scds) (2B264) located under the master cylinder (behind the air filter) developed a leak. This caused a short and a fuse trip, fuse #10 if the engine is on. This leak also caused brake fluid to wick down two wires to the ABS brake module (2C219). The fluid accumulated on the (always on) power connectors for the ABS brake system which are powered by fuses 101 and 102 and are both 40 amp. The fluid attracts moisture, road salt and leads to a fire when the fluid and moisture act as conductor between the hot leads and ground. Lights that stay on are: ABS, and brake, od flashes. Speedometer and odometer do not work. Also there is no heat or ac.

- Dudley, MA, USA

problem #55

May 152010

Windstar

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After having the Ford Windstar Oct. 09 09S09 recall fixed on our 2001 Windstar due to leaks and malfunctioning A/C and cruise control, the ABS and brake indicator lights are still intermittently lighting on the dashboard. The Ford dealer we took it to said that when those are on, we have no ABS system because the ECM is malfunctioning at those times. We're seeing increased braking distance with this problem.

- Shepherdsville, KY, USA

problem #54

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 #53

Jun 012010

Windstar

  • 85,000 miles
When the ABS light and brake warning lights come on, the braking distance significantly increases. This is an intermittent problem that comes on with hot weather. On a cool morning or at night there will be no warning lights, but they come up when car heats up in the sun. The Ford recall 09S09 was done on this car and brakes are in very good condition. The ABS seems to work when the warning light are gone, but brakes seem to be slow to respond in hot weather when heat triggers the ABS warning lights.

- Blairstown, NJ, USA

problem #52

Aug 112010

Windstar

  • 137,437 miles
Customer brought vehicle in for ABS light on, found scds switch to be leaking brake fluid and replaced with a motorcraft updated switch. After service while vehicle was still in shop bay with ignition off, vehicle ABS unit started on fire. We then removed all power from vehicle and found that after removing the ABS module connector brake fluid was found inside of ABS module, and the connector was melted. We then called Ford dealership to see if the were any recalls concerning this vehicle and the ABS module and or switch, and were told that there were none. We have since found many articles online concerning this matter, and yet no recall ? another half hour and the doors would have been closed for the night, we would have lost our shop, all vehicles inside. Please make them stand behind this clear and evident problem.

- Clintonville, WI, USA

problem #51

Jul 012010

Windstar

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Braking distance suddenly increased.

- Holtsville, NY, USA

problem #50

Jul 292010

Windstar

  • 83,000 miles
Hi, I went in to the Ford dealership to take my car for a recall for a speed control switch on 2001 Ford Windstar, after 2 weeks of being there my brakes and ABS lights came on at the same time, I told my husband he said maybe I need it brake fluid, we put brake fluid it was missing some but nothing considerable, that was almost at the end of the winter, the lights will come on and off as they felt like it, but now they stay lid all the time, I was looking online and seems to be lots of owners of same car has same problems with both lights staying lid always. Should this be a Ford problem or should I spend $800 plus labor to get my car fix"??"

- Oaklyn, NJ, USA

problem #49

Jul 212010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 99,808 miles
Had my 2001 Ford Windstar in for recall 09S09 (also described as 05S28 on my Ford service invoice). Speed control deactivation switch was replaced after burning odor was detected and a determination that unit was leaking. Service advisor at Ford told me my vehicle would need a new ABS electronic control module (ECM). I replied that my on-line research indicated that problems with the ECM could or might very likely be connected to the leaking scds. His answer was that they were "unrelated". considering my research, that statement appears to be untruthful. I have begun to notice an increase in braking distance. Both my ABS and brake lights are on, allowing no distinction to be made between an ABS problem and an actual brake problem. This in itself is a design flaw and defect! please note also that there is a design flaw in the ECM, the design of which causes noticeable expansion in the unit during periods of hot weather, and results in electrical contact issues within the unit. I believe this ECM issue also deserves the immediate attention of NHTSA, and an immediate recall from Ford. Thank you for giving this matter your most serious consideration and attention. This is a safety issue that concerns many thousands of us, and we appreciate your advocacy on our behalf.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #48

Jul 182010

Windstar

  • 155,816 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The vehicle was parked and engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to scene and the fire was extinguished. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The vehicle was towed to a recovery facility. The contact stated that the failure was directly related to the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 09V399000(vehicle speed control). The recall remedy repair was performed on the vehicle prior to the fire. The cause of failure had not been determined at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was 155,816.

- Glendale Heights, IL, USA

problem #47

Jul 142010

Windstar

  • 75,586 miles
I had the recall 09809 repair done on my 2001 Ford Windstar on 12-0-09 (inspected deactivation switch, leaking, replace switch and apply grease to connectors). Prior to that on 7-13-09 I reported to Ford dealer that the red brake and yellow anti-lock brake lights came on especially when the ac was on. They quick checked the module and filled brake level per the receipt for $29.50. This past week I took it in again with the same problem and also an oil change and told them I thought the recall repair needed to be done again. They told me the lights coming on where not related to the recall and gave me code #S and stated that it needs ABS control modules with a part estimate of $853.88 and labor at $97.50. They stated they contacted Ford as I had told them I was wanting an adjustment on the cost of checking on it again and they said Ford offered no assistance. When I had first taken the car in I attempted to show the man a consumer reports article about the recall in the January 2010 edition which mentions the faulty cruise control switch leaking causing potential for a fire. Anyway the second man when I went to pick up the van would also not look at the article and asked me where I heard of it "on the internet?". I feel like the problem stems from what was supposedly fixed in the recall and from what I have now seen on the internet it appears others are still having the same problems after recall repairs. I don't know if I should get the module fixed, have them undo/remove the cruise or ABS system or what. I feel Ford is trying to get by not entirely fixing the problem due to financial reasons. Please let me know if an investigation can be opened if one has not been already and what my safest best course of action would be.

- Marshall, MO, USA

problem #46

Jun 302010

Windstar

  • 78,000 miles
2001 Ford Windstar ABS warning light comes on intermittently with fewer incidence of low tire pressure warning light although all tires pressure reads 32psi when cold just had scds switch replaced under recall and was told had nothing to do with the ABS warning light.

- Pinckney, MI, USA

problem #45

May 122010

Windstar

  • 123,000 miles
ABS light and brake light are on ever since the recall (11/09) fix on the cruise switch.

- Granger, IN, USA

problem #44

May 052010

Windstar

  • 18,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact had the cruise control set at 60 mph when the vehicle suddenly accelerated to over 60 mph. When the contact applied the brake, the cruise control did not disengage. When the contact shifted into neutral, the cruise control disengaged. The failure occurred twice after the vehicle was taken to the local dealership for repairs for recall 09V399000 (vehicle speed control). The contact planned to take the vehicle to the dealership for diagnosis. The current and failure mileages were approximately 18,000.

- Gretna, NE, USA

problem #43

Apr 282010

Windstar

  • miles
Had Ford Motor Company recall 09S09 that was issued in October of 2009 performed on my vehicle. Wire harness was replace, no leaks found, however the yellow ABS and red brake dash lights remain on. Research indicates that the yellow and red lights on the dash indicate a possible ECM failure which has resulted in fires in several instances.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

problem #42

Apr 122010

Windstar

  • 260,000 miles
Had fused wiring harness installed by Ford dealership as part of recall 09S09 24/11/09. 12/04/10 am now having brake/ABS/trac off dash lights coming on after vehicle running for 20 minutes or so. Braking distance has since increased.

- Milton, 00, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?