10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 15
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
110,852 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.

2002 Ford Windstar electrical problems

electrical problem

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2002 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 1 of 12)

problem #234

Nov 292022

Windstar

  • miles

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

The gauges are acting crazy which causes the engine to jerk or the transmission and then it starts making the lights flicker in the interior and the gauges start sticking. It seems to make the overflow on the radiator to empty more because it is causing the sensors in the electrical for the parts to go crazy and run hot. Sometimes it only does it every so often but after getting the reserve hose on the power steering that connects to the reservoir to the coolant the battery was drained. Then going after getting it charged down the highway it caused the interior lights radio and seat and turn signals not to work when coming to a complete stop and it was idling the dashboard and all the lights were coming back on once given a guess it winded up not working again causing the battery to become hot or warm and acid you can smell in the air like rotten eggs. It is causing the overflow tank of the radiator to evaporate more or come out quicker and it is causing other component parts to react strangely which I'm afraid will cause a fire in the vehicle and the idling is not correct also on it now

- Fountain Inn, SC, USA

problem #233

Aug 062020

Windstar

  • 166,000 miles
We were driving down the road and the car randomly cuts off in the middle of the road sometimes it cuts off in the middle of a intersection causing us to almost get hit in the side of the car several times this has happend numorus times

- North Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #232

Oct 122019

Windstar

  • 235,834 miles
I have my vehicle in a shop to replace the transmission. While working on the vehicle the mechanic noticed the front reservoir of the master cylinder was empty. Upon further examination, he found that the speed control sensor under the master cylinder was leaking and brake fluid is leaking on all the components below, I.e. transmission, steering components, etc. I looked the issue up online and I found that there was a recall for this very issue with Ford. When I checked my VIN for active recalls, the NHTSA website states that there are no unresolved issues with my vehicle.

- Parkesburg, PA, USA

problem #231

May 132018

Windstar

  • miles

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

ABS light on. Tire ! light on. RPM off scale.

- Roseville, MI, USA

problem #230

Feb 252018

Windstar

  • 241 miles
Instrument panel goes crazy. It was sitting in park when it does it.

- Newcastle, IN, USA

problem #229

Sep 072017

Windstar

  • 157,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 60 mph, the speedometer stopped working, the air conditioning was not working, and the overdrive warning indicator illuminated. Next, all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 157,000.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #228

Feb 272017

Windstar

  • 1 miles

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

I was driving down the road and our and and brake lights had came on. Took it to the local shop and was told about the C1185 code was on. We were driving on the way home, and it just comes and goes with every start up and shut off. Car was in motion. To my acknowledgement I'm not positive what is causing this issue but I've been researching and have read about many of the same issues in this particular van series. I've read about Ford's safety recall number 09S09 and and my vehicle is to be in that recall as well.

- Duncan, SC, USA

problem #227

Feb 262016

Windstar

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle's battery was draining. The contact had to remove the terminal to charge the battery. The battery was replaced three times in four months. The ABS and anti-theft warning lights flashed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but they could not start the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #226

Sep 092015

Windstar

  • 1,300,000 miles
While driving, the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and temperature needles started "dancing" (bouncing all over the place). When I came to a stop, the speedometer needle had gone all the way to the right and was stuck there, blocking the gear shift indicator and not letting me put the car in "park." I had to drive to a nearby mechanic who was able to free the stuck speedometer needle. The problem has continued on a regular basis and has gone from being intermittent to permanent. It doesn't seem to be a "unique" problem with Windstar vans.

- Roslyn, PA, USA

problem #225

May 202011

Windstar

  • 16,894 miles
Electrical shorts fire, ac, brakes speel control, locks doors

- Pearland, TX, USA

problem #224

Apr 012015

Windstar

  • 155,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 60 mph in rainy conditions, the vehicle began to jerk. The entire instrument panel, headlights, windshield wipers, and power windows failed to operate. The engine warning indicator illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road until the rain subsided. After restarting, the failure persisted. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where a code was not detected. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #223

Mar 122015

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 169,235 miles
Had been driving the vehicle all day with no problems. Later in the day, the ABS and brake light came on. It turned off after about an hour. A couple of hours after that, I turned off the vehicle and went into the store. I came out about 20 minutes later, and the theft light was blinking. The vehicle would not start. I googled different ways to try to fix the issue, and tried 3 of them. We unhooked the battery, pulled some fuses, and tried different keys. None worked. As of now, the vehicle is sitting in the store parking lot and I am not sure what to do. We just bought it a couple of weeks ago.

- Whitmore Lake, MI, USA

problem #222

Feb 012015

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 92,205 miles
The ABS sensor light comes on after a minute of driving. Sometimes the emergency brake light will come on when braking. This happen to me after putting in new wheel bearings. Then I put in new ABS sensors still have problem. Alot of other people on the internet are having same issue as me. The I put in speed control deactivation switch. Still have same issue.

- Farmington, MN, USA

problem #221

Jun 012014

Windstar

  • 131,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. While driving 30 mph, the headlights and the instrument panel lighting illuminated intermittently. In addition, the brake lights and the windows failed to operate. The contact restarted the vehicle, but it could not be driven. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the torque converter, the battery, and the motor mount needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000. The VIN was not available.

- Colchester, VT, USA

problem #220

Jan 302015

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 156,000 miles
2002 Ford Windstar sel with VIN [xxx], I am the third owner of this vehicle. The ABS and traction control system is damaged and has a recurring warning when the engine is started with the ABS / brake and traction control warning lights on. The person I purchased this van from (2nd owner) stated that he had all the recalls completed on this vehicle however he believed that the defect identified in Ford safety recall 09S09 for the speed control system has resulted in damage to the ABS system computer and/or associated harness wiring or harness connections. He (2nd owner) did not keep the repair orders for any of the recall repairs so I do not have any records to review. I believe that the wire harness, related wire harness connectors and the ABS system computer are damaged resulting from brake fluid leaking and/or corrosion related to the defect found in Ford safety recall 09S09. I believe that the Ford dealership that performed this recall failed to properly repair or identify collateral damage in the wire harness and ABS system computer as noted in recall repair procedure. The vehicle is currently not repaired and the ABS system is not functioning as designed (non-functioning), I believe this is a safety hazard. Current owner: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Hendersonville, NC, USA

problem #219

Nov 132014

Windstar

  • 135,000 miles
I was not aware that there were recalls on the 2002 Ford Windstar. My mom purchased the vehicle 3 years ago from ralph thayer dealership in livonia Michigan. The ABS brake light has been on and now the gauges are just flipping.

- St. Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #218

Sep 012006

Windstar

  • 64,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. While operating the vehicle, the ABS sensor light and brake sensor light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician reset the lights in order to turn it off, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 64,000.

- Columbus , OH, USA

problem #217

Dec 182013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 124,511 miles
ABS system activated under normal breaking conditions, caused extended breaking distance. Has happened 13 times since the initial failure. Dealer unable to replicate but scanned for codes and found C1185 which they said was failure of the ABS controller/computer. They suggested $1200 in repairs but couldn't guarantee it would "fix the problem". have multiple ABS fault codes all the time now. C1198, C1194, C1254, C1246, C1250, C1242, C1214, C1210, C1446 which all point to multiple failures in the computer. Searching the internet it appears on www.fordwindstarrecall.info/ that a recall for this issue may be in the works as of 5/2014.

- Marion, IA, USA

problem #216

Apr 152010

Windstar

  • 105,000 miles
After purchasing used van the ABS and brake lights lit up on dash, and come on intermittently while driving. Weather seems to play a role whether the lights come on or not if its hot outside the lights come on quickly, and if it's raining they come on going through puddles. Once the lights come on they stay on until the van is shut off. Had a diagnosis done a Ford dealer, and was told there is a leak over the ABS brake module that is causing it to short out the ABS system.

- Fayetteville , OH, USA

problem #215

Oct 012014

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Brake light, ABS light on dashboard came on, then lost over drive, cruise control and mileage meter. Mileage meter goes blank than odometer starts working after a few minutes.the dashboard looks like X mas with all the flashing lights. This van has the factory recall for the rear axle and front frame reinforcement work done.what about the electrical/ electronic problems ?

- Webster, NH, USA

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