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.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact also stated that the instrument panel gauges spiraled back and forth. In addition, there was smoke coming from the front end of the hood. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 09V399000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,000.
Van intermittently has ABS light, trac control off light, and emergency brake light all on at various times. If vehicle is turned off sometimes lights go off sometimes they do not. Also at random times the theft light will come on and van will immediately shut off (this occurs at speeds over 35mph). In addition the power steering reservoir will not hold fluid. Needs to have fluid added at least 2 times a day. With the exception of the power steering issue, the brake failure and the theft system failure is extremely dangerous. I have seen numerous complaints regarding these items. I took my vehicle to Ford for repair of the recall on the speed module and they told me that these other issues were not their problem. I called Ford customer service and the individual on the phone told me that if I felt it was unsafe then I should sell my van. This is an extremely dangerous problem with Ford vans....the brakes fail and the theft system is faulty!!!!!! they should not be allowed to manufacture any vehicles!!!!
I purchased the 2002 Windstar van on 7/15/14 with 155,400 miles. Shortly after that the ABS light and the brake light came on. I could not find any problem with the brakes nor with braking. The brakes seem to be working fine. The lights seem to reset themselves every so often but will come back on. (note: I am an old school mechanic not a modern day automotive tech).
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. While driving 35 mph, the ABS and the brake warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure recurred. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who stated that the electrical control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.
My ABS and brake lights keep coming on and off. I have had the entire brake system replaced and the ABS sensors. There is no particular thing that causes them to come on. In fact sometimes I will be driving down the road and not even touching the brakes and they will just pop on. I don't feel that we as Ford owners should have to pay a costly repair bill to have multiple things done to the vehicle when this seems to be an issue with the vehicle itself not normal maintenance. I have always been a Ford owner and have sworn by Ford but this van is causing me to not want to own another Ford ever.
- New Berlin, WI, USA
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I was driving the van this afternoon on a public road when for no apparent reason the van started smoking from under the engine. I pulled into a automotive garage and got out of the van and it was still smoking badly. I individual who actually worked at the garage was on his way home from a restaurant and pulled into the parking area. He had me go into the vehicle to pull the latch to the hood and when he opened the hood the engine and other parts were engulfed with flames. They spread into the inside of the van and destroyed the dash board, windshield and other area. The roof on the inside was melting. They were able to put out the fire but the van is destroyed. The individual who stopped and helped me out is a mechanic at that particular garage and said it looked to him like a electrical problem started the fire. I am now without a vehicle. Personal items I had inside the van are ruined or destroyed.
Car bought in March 2014 from used car dealership. ABS light and brake light started coming on in May. Mechanic told me that this is a problem with the ECM and getting it replaced is costly. If I chose to replace it, the issue may occur again because Ford has not resolved the issue on the actual part. Brake failure concerns me because I have two children under 4 years of age in the car with me most of the time. This past weekend, the brakes did not respond when I decelerated. I had to put the car in park and shut off the engine to stop it. Ford needs to look into resolving this major problem asap, as no driver should have to be worried that their brakes will fail while driving.
While driving the ABS and brake light will illuminate at the same time within the instrument cluster. While the lights are on, the ABS system is inoperable and braking distance is reduced. Problem is intermittent. When driving the problem will show up and after turning off the engine and restarting, the lights will go out. Issue happens again within a few days/week later.
Back in 2008 my ABS and brake lights would come on while driving to work. I had the problem looked at at my local Ford dealership. They diagnosed the problem as the ECU/hcu control box. But because my extended warranty did not want to pay for the $1200 bill because they felt that only the electronic side and not the hydraulic side needed to be replaced. So I then went to another Ford dealer and they diagnosed and replaced only the electronic side. There were 3 times that I had to pay the $100 deductible to have the same problem diagnosed, which was eventually fixed(no more lights) by the second dealer. Then in June of 2013, now with 116,563 miles on it, my gauge cluster started to act funny. All of a sudden when I was driving, the gauge needles would move out of control. Eventually the tac needle pegged itself all the way to the right and the speedometer quit working. I took it to the Ford dealer and they replaced the gauge cluster with a rebuilt one for $789. Since that time I have not had any more issues with the gauge cluster. I was told by the tech that this is a common problem with the Windstar. I also have a 2001 Ford Windstar that has 105,000 miles on it that I am thinking about selling so I don't have to endure the cost of a gauge cluster in it. Also along with having to replace fuel pumps in both vehicles at a cost of around $1000 each I am wondering if Ford has a good product. Thanks for your time.
Yellow ABS and red brake lights come on. O/D light flashes. Resets when car is turned off, but the ABS and brake light come on shortly after staring to drive. Had brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder and had that replaced. Brakes work and fluid level is fine. When O/D light is flashing, car jerks on first transmission shift. Have to turn off car and restart to get rid of flashing O/D light.
My vehicle was taken in to ace Ford in woodbury, NJ as part of a series of recalls. The 09S09 speed control campaign was one and they did the fixes as well as the rear axle. After getting my vehicle I noticed my ABS light was on, my odometer has all dashes, my brake light is on, my speedometer does not work and my O/D light blinks fast constantly. Service was closed at the time so I drove it home. Upon driving every bump I hit it felt like my back end was going to fall off. I took it back the next day on May 21st, 2014 and complained about the issues. They did not seat my rear axle properly and they say they fixed it. As for my dashboard issues, I was told that the 09S09 speed control was installed and it then made another part fail. They said (dealer and corporate Ford), they will not replace it for free. I have to pay $390 for the part and then labor. I have been in talks with Ford to no avail. I did some minimal research on the internet and found many other people have had the same issue. Ford will not replace the part.
The ABS and brake lights came on just two weeks after I purchased my Windstar. They would come on and off intermittently over the course of the next few weeks. I took the car to a mechanic and was told it was my ECU master relay which cost me almost $1000 dollars. After a few days the lights came back on again I took it back the mechanic and he said that maybe the part was faulty and he would provide me another. To which I asked for a refund because that was a brand new part it has to be more then the part.
All of the following happened at the same time: ABS and brake lights went on and stay on. O/D light flashing. Odometer and speedometer stop working. The electronic compass, remaining fuel info., automatic electronic diagnostic and electronic temp. Showing errors. Electronic sliding door would not open unless engine is not running. Power windows stopped working 6 months ago, not sure if it is related. I had a mechanic replaced the alternator and checked the brakes. It did not fix the problems and there was nothing wrong with the brakes. I took it to Ford dealer and I was told that the ABS module could be the problem because they replaced a lot of them. The ABS module supposedly messing up the whole electronic system. It has less than 65,000 miles and I'm scared to drive it because the electronic system might suddenly cause other problems and cause an accident. The electronic sliding doors already would not open unless the engine is not running. In case of an emergency or a crash, someone might not be able to get out and be trapped inside because the doors and windows would not open. I was told by a Ford customer service that there is no recall to fix the problem or look into it even though they admitted they've been having similar problems to a lot of Ford vehicles.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the brake lights and turning signals failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured electric module, which was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,581 and the current mileage was 121,000.
On June 16, 2006, while vehicle was parked in a parking lot, someone informed us that my 2002 Ford Windstar was smoking from under the hood. An internal fire occurred, damaging the wiring harness and windshield wiper motor. Unaware to the cause of said fire the damaged parts were replaced. Then other problems started to arise, the vehicle cruise control stopped working, the ABS/brake light remained on and the speedometer was not working properly (not accurately reading). The local Ford dealer was informed of the before-mentioned problems including the internal fire that had occurred, at the time of the initial brake pressure deactivation switch recall. The dealer stated that the brake pressure deactivation switch indeed was leaking and that they supposedly checked the ABS control module. Still the ABS/brake light remained on and the speedometer did not work properly. On 3/14/14 the Windstar was taken to a local garage to diagnose the ABS/brake issues again. It was determined that said unit needed to be replaced. The ABS module was subsequently removed and examined the control module (3/21/2014). The ABS module suffered an internal fire and the wiring harness connector was melted and damaged. Also found was evidence of significant burning around the pins at the connections. This evidence included the blackened fluid, severe discoloration, and lifted traces, all of which are clearly apparent in photos of the module interior. The local dealer refused to repair or replace the module under the recall claim, stating that it was not part of the recall, and that said recall was closed. Ford has been negligent in this matter and luckily the vehicle prior to today, has not become a runaway fire event and burned to the ground!! at this time the vehicle has not been repaired, and is sitting idle. I have kept the damaged control module for examination.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle would exhibit a loud noise when started. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic, who stated that the starter was hanging and the housing of the transmission was fractured. The contact was advised that the engine, starter motor and transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 61,000.
***********updated information from ODI number:10554248************ ABS and brake warning lights on the dashboard came on and when codes were retrieved, it was C1185, ABS power relay output circuit fault. My wife just informed me that when the lights came on, she could feel the brakes be applied just a little on its own (without pressing the brake pedal) for about a second or two. Had the codes cleared and the same code came back on a short time later with same reaction from brakes.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Warren, MI, USA