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.
Brake light (red) speedometer and odometer stop working cruise control will not activate or deactivates without warning ABS brake light (yellow) Ford trouble code C1185 problem codes P0171, P0174, P0401 171,174,401, egr or system too lean issue.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact noticed that the instrument panel lights and the power locks were failing. He replaced the fuse several times and smelled a burning odor underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact found fluid leaking from the vehicle, which originated from the cruise control. The wiring harness was damaged. The dealer replaced the cruise control wiring harness, switch, and the speedometer wiring harness at the cost of $888. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 07V336000 (vehicle speed control); therefore, they would not assist. The vehicle has been repaired. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 80,000.
Brake pressure differential deactivation switch leaking causing loss of brake fluid and fluid has wicked into cruise module and ABS module causing red brake light, ABS light, intermittent speedometer and odometer, complete lack of cruise control, loss of ABS function. Replaced bpdds, cruise control now sometimes functional, no other problems fixed. Damage caused by leaking fluid still present.
Brake pressure differential deactivation switch (2B264) located under the master cylinder (behind the air filter) over time developed a leak. My cruise control has stopped responding, and brake fluid is leaking at an exponential rate out of the reservoir above the master cylinder.
Ford Windstar cruise control switch shorted out. That caused the brake fluid to leak on the electrical system and shorted it out. The dealer said it is a fire hazard and other Ford had been recalled but not the Ford Windstar. Now this is costing us $2500 to get fixed. My parents Windstar is starting the same thing and my dad is handicap so if it catches fire there may not be enough time to get him out please recall the Windstar also before something bad happens. Thank you
- Gentry, AR, USA
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My was driving on the expressway and attempted to set my cruise control on my van when there was a loud sound from my engine. My check engine light is on and from time to time it blinks. There is a burning smell sometimes also. This only happened when I set my cruise control. It starts and runs but the check engine light is on and the noise is still there.
2002 Ford Windstar with inoperable cruise control, odometer, A/C temp. Control, ABS light remains on and other related electrical malfunctions. Vehicle is leaking brake fluid and I have no doubt I'm experiencing the same problem thousands of other Windstar owners are with a contaminated "brake pressure differential deactivation switch". is Ford taking responsibility for this manufacturing defect and providing a fix - without charge"?"
My wife asked me to check the brakes because the brake light was on. I had checked the wheels for any leakage and found none. The master cylinder was low so I started to look for leak at other places and found the leak at the brake light switch. The brake fluid was leaking on the wires. So I looked on line and found a article that can cause a fire in the engine compartment. This why I am making this complaint. I as have lost my cruise control and the article said that this will happen. I am going to change the switch and replace the fuse if needed.
My 2002 Ford Windstar van had an inoperable cruise control. I traced the problem to a leaking (brake fluid) switch mounted under the brake master cylinder. The leaking switch leaked flammable brake fluid onto the hot engine or exhaust system but did not caused a engine fire. I purchased a modified switch and wire harness from the Ford dealer and installed it myself. I was told by the Ford parts salesman that there was no recall for my Windstar at that time. This is the same defect found on the other Ford vehicles according to the New York times, 18 April 2008. I still have the defective switch in hopes I can be reimbursed by Ford. The defective switch is available for inspection if needed.
I have been reading about recent complaints to the Ford Windstar 2002 and have concerns. I had my ABS module replaced last year because all my idiot brake lights were going off intermittently. I have also not used my cruise control in over two years because once activated it will not shut off until the car is turned off. It appears that the brakes are related to the cruise control leaking on the brake line, but Ford does not see the Windstar as a problem. This concerns me, since there have been fires with the Windstar van. I also took my car into a Ford dealership to check the seat latches and was told my car was not covered. My recent repair woes is the air conditioner compressor is going. This was a problem with my last Ford Windstar. (related vehicle information: Model year=2002, make=Ford, model=Windstar).
We a Ford Windstar van that caught fire and burnt our house down a complete loss. Our homeowners determined that it was the cruise control switch.we had no problems with the van and were never informed of any recalls.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the ABS light illuminated intermittently. He also noticed that the cruise control switch does not activate. He has not taken the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle has not yet caught fire. The contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 124,000 and current mileage is 132,000. Updated 01/17/08
Our cruise control went out on our 2002 Ford Windstar. We took it to the local Ford service station and they explained that the brake fluid was leaking onto the cruise control. It apparently is a recall with several Ford brands but not with the Windstar yet. The mechanic explained that we were lucky the cruise control went out and that it didn't start a fire!
While driving to work I noticed my odometer and speedometer quit working and then every light possible lit up, so when I got to work my husband told me to see if I could get it to grande truck center in san antonio. I left it and later received a call telling me the wiring harness had shorted out and I was very lucky that my van did not burn up. I was told maybe a varmint had chewed on the wires, but my van is always parked in the garage at night.. I decided to do some research after recalling an incident not far from our home that involved some type of Ford SUV that caught fire in the garage and burned the house down. All this was due to a faulty cruise control switch that cost about $21. I found that millions of vehicles had been recalled by Ford because of this problem and the Windstar was on the list of having the same or similar switch, but was not recalled and still has not been recalled. I have put a request in with grande truck to be reimbursed, since it was a manufacturer error and nothing I did, but to date I have not heard from them. I emailed Ford to ask why my van was not recalled and received an answer that all recalls are handled by the NHTSA. Yes, I do have the original switch that was removed from the van (looks like part#F58A-9F924-aa 2063) it was kind of hard to read. The invoice states replace ABS module & hydraulic unit, replace wire harness & cruise control switch, service bleed, bleed sys. $2654.81. My husband was allowed to see the wiring harness that was almost burnt in half, but that was not kept. I thank god that there was no real tragedy that came out of this, but I also feel that Ford is responsible and should take action to reimburse me my money. I would like to know if you have received any other complaints on the Ford Windstar. When I contacted your office by phone I was told that there was a new recall as of 8-31-2007, that included the Windstar, but I did not see that information. Thank you for your time. Updated 12/12/07
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The failure mileage was 79000, and the current mileage was 84000. The dashboard brake warning light was constantly turned on. Brake fluid was put into the vehicle. However the warning light remained on, and the vehicle still needed more brake fluid. The vehicle has had no failure stopping. The dashboard lights turned off, but the power windows and doors malfunctioned. The mechanic stated that the electrical problems were the result of the defective cruise control. The mechanic disconnected the cruise control.
My husband, my 7 month old baby and I were driving on our way to lunch at about 30 mph when we noticed smoke coming out of the hood of our 2002 Ford Windstar. Immediately smoke filled up our cabin through the vents. My husband pulled over to the side of the road, and I quickly got my baby out of the van. My husband opened the hood and saw flames and we all ran away from the car. My husband ran to a nearby business that luckily had a fire extinguisher. My husband was able to put the fire out in time before who knows what could have happened. My husband took the car to an auto shop that happened to be very close to where the incident happened. After having to let the car cool down and the terrible smell go away the mechanics looked at the car and told us right away that they knew it was the same cruise control switch that has been recalled on Ford trucks. He advised us to take the van to Ford and have them fix it without any charge because that was a problem that should have been recalled in the Windstar as well. My husband took the van to the local Ford shop and they did agree that the problem was the cruise control switch. They "upgraded" the part and then tried to charge us almost $400 for the job. Not until after I complained to the manager did they waive the fee, but told me it was because "I was a local customer" (I have never bought anything from their dealership) they waived the fee because they knew this was a problem of Ford.
While driving at any speed, intermittently the back right sliding door comes ajar. The problem has occurred on three occasions. The dealer has no idea what causes the problem. Currently, the consumer has a problem with the back/left side door closing securely. The door had been leaking since the vehicle was purchased. The door had a significant difference in space between the front door in comparison to the driver door. Also the cruise control was inoperative.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tonawanda, NY, USA