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.
ABS light comes on intermittently, even in summer with no adverse driving conditions. It stays on for varying lengths of time, then disappears for some time, then out of the blue comes back on. Braking a little bit harder than usual does seem to trigger it. Also, recently, the cruise control just suddenly stopped working. It worked fine one day, then all of a sudden, a day or two later, I hit on, but it refused to set. I tried again on another day and it still wouldn't set.
ABS and brake light turns on usually when its wet outside or going over a big bump, mostly in the summer but lately in winter too. Sometimes when coming to a stop it also turns on. Turns off after engine restart but usually is back on again soon after.
The brake and ABS lights came on and stayed on. Since then they are off at times, but mostly on. Usually when the car starts up the warning lights are off, but come on after the car warms up.
Intermittent illumination of ABS warning lamp and red brake system warning lamp during driving - no underlying brake system malfunction; also, ABS and brake system warning lamps occasionally remain on after start-up warning system check cycle.
- Middletown, DE, USA
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The brake light and anti lock brake light and tri active lights keep coming on and staying on. I can restart my vehicle and they will stay off for a while but eventually come back on. Going into winter am worried about antilock brake system not working.
ABS & brake warning lights come on seemingly randomly. Braking distance compromised. Believe it to be a faulty ABS control module - no covered by a Ford recall.
As mentioned on the www.fordwindstarrecall.info/ website, we seem to have this problem: 6/25/12 - another recall effort is in the works. The (mostly unservicable) 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. If your ABS light is on. Report the problem at NHTSA - safercar.gov. Use the category brakes, the more reports the better a chance of continued action.
This is a continuing situation: After driving a short distance and applying the brakes the first time; as the car slows to 5mph, the brakes fail and a grinding/cranking type of noise is heard; after a small distance the brakes re-engage and stop the car; very dangerous; the ABS light then comes on and the brakes work normally* without ABS controls. This situation happens every time that the car is started until the ABS light comes on and apparently disengages the ABS system.
I took my vehicle for a recall for the rear axle a year ago and they sprayed some sealer on it and said it was good to go. So now the axle is cracked, and ready to snap. What should I do" also there is a recall on the brake pressure deactivation switch on my vehicle which is leaking brake fluid on the wiring harness. I shouldn't be driving it, but I need to get to boston. Again what can I do about this"
Braking distance suddenly increased. ABS dash light as well as red brake light illuminate intermittently. All systems checked, fluid levels at proper height, no ABS codes, replaced driver side speed sensor as visual inspection revealed a crack in the housing. ABS light remains intermittent and ABS activates randomly, mainly at speeds less than 10mph.
The date pertains to the first occurance. The ABS & red brake light will illuminate. When this happens the vehicle has lost the assistance of the ABS durning an emergancy stop. The dealers diagnostic report requires the ABS control module to be replaced at my expense. This vehicle has less than 20,000 original miles.
The issue is caused by heat in the ABS (anti-lock brake system) ECM (electronic control module) (2C219) module causing expansion of a large aluminum plate (heat sink) in the ECM which is attached to the ECM main circuit board at all points. The expansion occurs when the unit gets warm especially in the summer months 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. Seen by us owners as a yellow ABS brake light.
ABS brake light on brake light on the (mostly unserviceable) 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.
Brake and ABS lights came on during driving, can happen at any speed. It could be reset at first by stopping, turn off engine then restart. At first, it can go for a couple of weeks before it happened again. But lately it happens more often and ignition off/on to reset is only about 50% successful.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Redford, MI, USA