10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
108,555 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 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2001 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 5 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #113

Jan 252012

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles

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

I purchased. This car in August 2013 before I got the car has 20 miles down the road the brake light came on subsequently both the ABS and the emergency brake light has come on and off the ABS light is on most of the time and there is a noise when breaking my mechanic doesn't know what it is and I have found out that this is a recall problem on other vehicles by calling the Ford dealer and looking online. This particular van is not covered but it's clearly having the same problem. The speed control stop working within three or four months of my having the car as well. And the rear wiper doesn't work and I'm very suspicious as to why.

- Berrien Springs, MI, USA

problem #112

Mar 012011

Windstar 6-cyl

  • miles
Well my ABS/ brake lights have been on and off ever since I bought this van and I have keep up on everything that need keeping up on. Now I am having problems with my wipers and they don't work on any of the speeds but high and next to high and the other speeds don't work. Another problem I have been having is the electronic slidding doors don't always close or want to stay shut. The doors have even tried to open when driving down the road which is very dangerous considering I have children ridding in the back of my van. I have had codes come up on my van that sound like a manufacturing problem and I have had about enough of this. I have not felt save in my van since they called me in for the recall they fixed on it at dick withems. I still think it needs an inspection by the company and they need to fix everything that is malfunctioning due to manufacturing problems. I put my children's and my life in Ford's hands when I drive this van and if anything ever happens to my children or me I will be getting ahold of Ford, my lawyer. I think that when vehicle's are built they should make sure there are less manufacturing problems as possible. Please contact me.

- Waterloo, IA, USA

problem #111

Mar 162014

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
I didn't have a crash I noticed that my ABS brake and tire pressure light was staying on and a short time after I started hearing a loud rumbling noise in the front end every time I slow an it's impossible to make sudden stops and at times my speedometer starts flickering back and forth as well as my cruise control is currently inoperable. I have limited driving this vehicle in which I purchased due to feeling it is not in a safe manner for my children to be in. I have had several shops as well as individuals that told me these areas are common to go out on this specific vehicle and that there is possible recall. I just want to be able to drive my van with out worrying if I'm going to be able to come to a stop when needed as well as not knowing if I could possible break down or something break in the front end while I am driving at somewhat high speeds. Thank you and hope to hear from someone soon in regards to this situation!

- Florence, KY, USA

problem #110

Apr 012014

Windstar

  • 133,000 miles

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

I was driving my Ford Windstar 2001 when the brakes failed. The cruise control stop working and the ABS and the brake lights came on. The brakes became soft causing me being unable to stop the van.

- Claxton, GA, USA

problem #109

Apr 092014

Windstar

  • 155,500 miles
The ABS and brake light goes off and on, mostly on all the time on the dash, will not get a state inspection like this.........what can you do to slove this for me [xxx].... information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

problem #108

Jun 032013

Windstar

  • 81,000 miles
ABS lights on dash comes on especially when its hot out. Brakes lock up when trying to stop fast. Was told its a defective ABS control module. Ford issued a revised or updated module. Its too expensive to replace right now.

- Kokomo, IN, USA

problem #107

Feb 262014

Windstar

  • 209,000 miles

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

My ABS light is on and have heard it is from ECU master relay has a bad soldier joint which fails prematurely and causes the ABS light and dtc C1185. It also causes the enhanced ABS braking system to become inoperable.

- Manchester, TN, USA

problem #106

Jun 122012

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
ABS trouble light keeps coming on and going off. It was checked and the mechanic said it was safe to drive if I didn't want to spend the money. I have found out that the connector is absorbing fluids and shorting out. This shorting out happens mostly in warm weather. In sub 0 weather the light pretty much stays off. There is still a chance of fire when it is shorting out. I complained to Ford and was told there was no recall on this item. They gave me a case number for my complaint. It is #[xxx]. this problem is a direct cause of fluids leaking on the modgular connector and heat from engine. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Birch Run, MI, USA

problem #105

Mar 022006

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
ABS and brake light comes on when the temp is hot outside, turn engine off, and back on goes out for a while, then comes back on. It seems to be a big problem but Ford says it is not a recall. Or I cannot find a recall.

- Morrisville, NC, USA

problem #104

Aug 152013

Windstar

  • 128,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the brake light continued to illuminate after the emergency brake was disengaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis however, the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact stated there was a manufacturer's recall for the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #103

Nov 182013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles

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

My vehicle has a ABS fault light caused by a faulty ECU master relay. This causes the ABS and brake fault lights to light on my dash board. The fault code reads C1185 from the engine diagnostics. This has rendered my ABS system inoperable.

- Elm Grove, LA, USA

problem #102

Oct 292013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 168,110 miles
Arrived at destinations and stopped. Tried to leave, brakes had not released and would not release.. had to drive home against the brakes which were smoking upon arrival at home. Next day, brakes went back to normal. Two days later, same occurrence. Brakes would not release, overheated, brake pedal pushed hard up with all brakes applied. Nest morning after cool down, brake pedal resting on floor; would not pump up; no brakes. Since I have owned this vehicle, brake and ABS indicators come on for no apparent reason, I.e., 3 drops of rain on windshield and indicators come on. Ford dealer was made aware of this, said it was an ECU problem and did nothing about it, saying it would cost me about $700 to fix.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #101

May 052008

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
ABS light and brake light on/ off more then 5 years every time driving, brake working fine. All the gauge moving crazy about 1 a week. Winter time the problem less.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #100

Oct 282013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • miles
My ABS lights came on as well as my brake lights don't know why my brakes are knew.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #99

May 012012

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 162,000 miles
The parking brake and ABS warning lights come on intermittently and tend to stay on when the vehicle is warm. This vehicle has already had the recall 09V399000 performed on it so the lights coming on should not be related to that issue. It appears to be the same problem that many other people are experiencing with their Windstar vans which is a bad solder on the ABS control module circuit board. I have only driven the van a few thousand miles since the lights started coming on so I have not noticed any loss of function that other people have experienced.

- Osakis, MN, USA

problem #98

Jun 012013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 175,000 miles
Traction control engages when turning. Acceleration is limited while traction control is engaged. Anti-lock brakes engage when stopping causing extra stopping distance. Dry pavement.

- Centerville, OH, USA

problem #97

Feb 052013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 144,000 miles
Intermittent increase in braking distance in an emergency situation. Due to ABS system failure related to the ECM control unit. Indicator at time of failure "yellow ABS brake light" and "red brake light" on dashboard of vehicle. Resulting in interment operating of ABS system. This becomes a large driving hazard when operating the vehicle during winter months when roadway is often covered in wet, snow and ice. These road conditions are typical for my winter driving months in the climate and area of vehicle purchased and operated. The cause of this ABS system failure is related to the ECM control unit. Root cause is identified as failure of circuit board solder joints with in the ECM unit, deactivating ABS system. Poor quality of connections, heat and stress, not robust enough for application. Need to have these quality and performance issue resolved by the oem.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #96

Jul 292009

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 135,457 miles
Yellow ABS light comes on and off, red brake light does the same, I was unaware that Ford had a recall for this problem, I am just finding out about this today. No one contacted me about the ABS module, I had been contacted about other recall issues and they were repaired.

- Capitol Heights, MD, USA

problem #95

Jul 082010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
ABS and brake lights come on and off at different times when driven. My light system stays on all the time. Please help me get it recalled.

- Affront, MO, USA

problem #94

Apr 112013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • miles
Just driving the van and it shows check traction control and my ABS and brake lights come on and traction control off. It keeps recurring and do not know what to do to fix it. If I pull over on the side road and shut off the key and wait a minute and start it back up the lights and all go away for a bit. If I drive it with lights on and the check traction control on it smells like something is burning. So I have to pull over and shut it off all the time until the lights are gone.

- Paisley, FL, USA

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