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.
Ford Windstar 2001 brake and ABS light come on after a short distance of driving and remain on. Checked with mechanic who said it's a known problem with Ford Windstar. This causes me great concern because it means braking distances are increased in an emergency braking or slippery conditions.
Have noticed the braking distance has suddenly increased. Have inspected brakes, lines, and master cylinder and found no leaks or abnormalities. Amber "ABS" light and red emergency brake light come on randomly while vehicle is in motion. Recall 09S09 has been completed by Ford.
In Sept. 2009 I purchased a used 2001 Ford Windstar. The day after I got home the ABS and brake light came on. I took it to a mechanic who informed me that this is a recurring problem for my van. My brake lights stay on sometimes and it drains my battery. This is all surrounding the ABS and brake light issues. I have replaced rotors, brake shoes, brake pads, and many trips to my mechanic. I contacted Ford about my issue and they said it isn't their problem and their is no recall on it. I have researched that I am not alone. Please make Ford look into this brake issue/ABS.
Ford Windstar - 2001 - ABS and brake light come on - or just brake light comes on - appears to be same problem as reported by many on http://www.fordwindstarrecall.info/.
On a hot summer day in 2010 parked about 20 minutes with air conditioning running the ABS fault with the red brake lamp first appeared. When the engine is shut down the fault lamps are cleared. Currently when the ambient temperature is above 80 Fahrenheit and as the engine compartment warms I can expect the yellow ABS lamp and the red brake lamp to both turn on. Had fault codes read once and it reported main relay failed. No repairs have been made as I decided it's a superfluous feature and I will drive without ABS protection.
- Crosby, TX, USA
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I own a 2001 Ford Windstar. In August of 2010, I took the van into the dealership due to recall 09S09. They installed a fuse harness only. It appeared to fix the problem, and the ABS light went out. Today, the ABS light came back on, so apparently there's still a problem.
There has not been an incident or crash, but the ABS, trace off, and brake! light all come on at once. Anti-lock brakes and traction control do not function when this happens. It has occurred intermittently for about a year, but happens almost constantly now. The lights would go off after restart, but now come on almost immediately, and stay on in spite of a restart in cold or hot weather. The Ford dealership says their diagnostic code indicates a need to replace the "ABS module" at a cost of nearly $1300 with labor on my 2001 Ford Windstar LX minivan which now only has 60,000 original miles. I goggled this problem and found a site at www.fordwindstarrecall.info that discussed my problem.
11-23-2009 vehicle recall (09S09), "ABS light & brake light coming on". work was performed this date to correct problem at croft Ford, athens, pa. About a 15 minute repair. Vehicle ok for about (8) months (lights did not come on). Starting in August 2010 both lights started coming on again and come on almost everytime the vehicle is driven a few miles. I do notice during the cold weather of December and January that they don't come on very often in the cold weather. This appears to be the same problem for which recall (09S09) was put out. We are concerened about this problem especially when the weather warms back up here in New York.
Braking distance suddenly increased - ABS and brake lights illuminate on dash with warmer temperatures. It has also occurred in January 2011 at 30 F outside temp. It de-activates ABS system. This poses a major safety issue on icy roads since I'm use to the ABS typically working. I never know when the ABS system will drop out and add distance to my braking.
Brake and ABS lights on dashboard come up on during driving randomly, but go off after you restart the vehicle. There is no leak under brake fluid master cylinder, so must be some other problems out there other than the recall Ford made on the scds in 2009.
"brake", "ABS", and trac dash lights are on most of the time for the past two years. When traveling North in colder weather the lights are off. Spoke w/ local Ford service rep. And was told to rr ABS module if lights bother me. Otherwise not a problem as regular brakes ok but ABS will not function. Just finished goggling the problem and found a description of the problem w/ the cause. The ABS module circuit board is "securely" attached to a heat sink that expands/contracts with temperature changes. This expansion/contraction results in damage to the cicuit board resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of designed braking assitance/distance. I have lived with this problem for the past couple of years due to the cost of the repair, as I imagine others have. The design/assembly of this circuit board is obviously flawed as the web site has documented. A question for Ford would be, "how many ABS ECM inquires have been received and how many have been replaced under warranty or at customer expense?".
2001 Ford winstar recall 09so09 they did not fix the problem. The dealer said they only needed to change out the cruise control connector!!! I asked about the ABS and other parts listed to be inspected in the recall and he denied that any of that was to be inspected under this recall. So they may have fixed the cause of the problem but did nothing about the damage to the vehicle. My symptoms are: Loss of brake fluid (problem # 1) burning smell or smoke (problem # 1) brake light on after brake service. (we think this back pressure breaks the deac switch) (problem # 1) brake light (red) (problem # 1 or problem # 2) 15 amp fuse #10 blowing out (problem # 1) speedometer and odometer stop working. (problem # 1) cruise control will not activate or deactivates without warning. (problem # 1) ABS brake light (yellow) (problem # 2 or problem # 1) Ford trouble code C1185. (problem # 2 or problem # 1) brakes turn on squeal without warning. (problem # 2) problem codes P0171, P0174, P0401 171,174,401, egr or system too lean issue extremely excessive braking distance!!! almost been in a couple accidents because the vehicle will not brake efficiently. Brakes lock sometimes when braking, causing vehicle to slide!!! Ford denied to my face that any of these problems were related to the recall, but your report and other investigations prove that it was and that I have been lied to about a very important safety issue that has already put me and my families lives at risk!!! I request further investigation into this matter and do wish to see something done about it.
ABS and brake light has been coming on and off for 2 years now increased braking distance. When I really needed my brakes they failed to work properly I use to be able to stop fast now it takes alot more to stop. This is dangerous and this is a family vehicle!!
Vehicle makes a grinding noise on the front passenger side. While turning as well as a hissing noise/clicking noise. Also my ABS light and emergency brake light are always on and they never turn off.
The warning lights for the ABS system on my 2001 Ford Windstar are coming on much more often now. Over the past couple of years they would come on only very infrequently, maybe once a week and only after having driven for an hour or so. Now they come on within minutes, though they still do not come on immediately. Now that it is winter I have noticed the brakes locking up and sending me into a skid whenever there is snow or ice on the road. The problem is getting very bad and I fear for the day when the brakes go out completely and I do have an accident.
Braking distance suddenly increased we have noticed that the braking system illuminates the ABS and brake light intermittently and there is a corresponding failure of the ABS system that prevents it from working properly. Fortunately, we have not yet had an accident as a result of the failure, but we have also not yet replaced the system to fix it.
Driving Ford Windstar van in warm weather. ABS failure light illuminates on dash on a daily basis in summer. Downloaded error codes; cleaned ECU for ABS.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Alden, NY, USA