10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,643 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.

2003 Ford Windstar brakes problems

brakes problem

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2003 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 4 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #149

Jan 012004

Windstar

  • 5,000 miles

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

The brake light is always on for ABS and emergency brake. They are often spongy and don't operate well. This issue has been ongoing. The car has been looked at dozens of times but no issue can be identified.

- Hershey, PA, USA

problem #148

Oct 012010

Windstar

  • 125,000 miles
ABS and brake light on.

- Onsted, MI, USA

problem #147

Oct 242010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
ABS and brake lights come on in my Ford Windstar. I was told by the mechanic that when this happens I have no ABS brakes and my braking distance would be suddenly increased when the lights are on. They come on intermittently during the course of driving the van.

- Cherry Valley, IL, USA

problem #146

Jul 152010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 48,000 miles

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

ABS and brake light come on intermittently, more often in hot weather. This tells me the ABS would not work in emergency situation.

- Darien, IL, USA

problem #145

Jun 012010

Windstar

  • 85,000 miles
Braking distance suddenly increased. The ABS system failed. There was an intermittent electrical connection. The ABS warning light would come on and stay on intermittently. The unit was replaced and the replaced unit failed at approximately 88,000 miles. There appears to be an issue with the ABS control unit.

- Clemmons, NC, USA

problem #144

Aug 192010

Windstar

  • 122,043 miles
ABS brake light is on due to faulty ABS ECM. Replaced the ABS ECM.

- Springfield, NE, USA

problem #143

Oct 292010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 87,572 miles

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

The ABS and brake lights on the dashboard of my 2003 Ford Windstar have been illuminating intermittently (always together) for the last week. The latest event occurred after turning the van off for a minute or so and restarting. The lights were off (normal) prior to the restart for the duration of my first trip (about 15 minutes) and then turned on for the duration of my second trip (about 5 minutes). We have recently had cooler weather in the overnights with lows in the 50S after a long hot summer with daytime temperatures above 100 F, consistently above 80 F. nothing has been done to attempt repairs at this point.

- Fountain Hills, AZ, USA

problem #142

Oct 192010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • miles
Sit down, get a coffee, because you will be reading a book. I purchased a 2003 Ford Windstar, with 20,000 miles, in 2005. I've had nothing but major problems. In 12/2008 with 87,205 miles the transmission went, that was $2013, then in 3-2009 check engine light, had to replace gaskets, that cost $500, . then in 10/15/2010 I had to bring van in for different sensors, and ABS light, and emergency brake light kept coming on. That was. That was $232. Then on 10/19/2010 brought van in to the Ford dealer, because none of my gauges work, letting me know how fast I'm going, or how much gas I have. They say it is the gauge cluster, that's $500 alone not including labor, they inform me I have a hole in the left rear axle, and I have to leave the van there, and I may also need a new alternator, and it may takes weeks for the part to come in. That's not including other miner repairs along the way. The best part of all. I still have 6 payments left. What rights do I have? I can't believe all the major issues. They should take this van, and give me a different one. Not a Ford. I told you, that you were reading a book.

- Westhampton, MA, USA

problem #141

Oct 192010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 92,100 miles
On several occasions the ABS and brake lights in the dash come on for no apparent reason. My Windstar was worked on last year (recall) to correct potential fire problem with the ECU module. These lights started coming on a couple months after that. I had the brakes checked and replaced the front pads but this did not correct the problem. Upon checking the internet, I discovered that Ford may not have done the recall correctly.

- Ormond Beach, FL, USA

problem #140

Aug 102010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 127,545 miles
Braking distance suddenly increased.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #139

Oct 142010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 125,000 miles

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

I have a 2003 Ford Windstar and the ABS and brake light comes on every time im out driving. I feel this is a safety hazard and needs the attention of the government to resolve this matter before we start losing families.

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #138

Nov 022009

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 87,000 miles
Braking distance suddenly increased brake and ABS lights come on when going down road. I have replaced the brakes and this still happens, the mechanic says there is a fluid leak around the ABS connector system??. door open light stays on and will not allow doors to lock properly.

- Birmingham, IA, USA

problem #137

Sep 222010

Windstar

  • miles
The ABS and brake lights comes on intermittently. I brought it in for repair and they replaced both front wheel speed sensors. The warning lights still come on intermittently.

- Dousman, WI, USA

problem #136

Jun 012010

Windstar

  • 125,000 miles
Brake warning light and ABS warning light are frequently on, even though the brakes are mechanically in excellent shape. I am thinking that the ABS controller's circuit board has a cold solder connection.

- Ames, IA, USA

problem #135

Sep 052010

Windstar

  • 83,000 miles
Randomly, but with increasing regularity, the ABS and brake lights come on simultaneously and stay lit. Only way to "correct" issue is to turn off vehicle for a period of time(more than 10 minutes) and then start up again. No "noticeable" effects occur when lights come on, but I haven't had to "use" the ABS system as it is summertime and road conditions are optimal for braking. Also, not sure if it's related but, recently used the parking brake and even though it is "fully released" inside the vehicle.....the rear brakes appear to still be locked due to the fact of visual evidence of smoke and accompanying burning smell after driving for any distance.

- Harborcreek, PA, USA

problem #134

Jul 142010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 111,000 miles
ABS/brake light comes on intermittently. (red light)

- Saint Pauls, NC, USA

problem #133

Apr 302009

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 73,000 miles
I have a 2003 Ford Windstar sel that has 86,700 miles on it and for the last 18 months the ABS and brake warning lights come on at the same time after driving about a mile. I'm not sure if this compromises the safety of the vehicle. There should be a recall on this because my mother-in law's 2002 Windstar is doing the same thing as well.

- Tupelo, MS, USA

problem #132

Mar 012010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar LX. While the brake was applied the ABS light illuminated. The failure occurred intermittently. She was also experiencing the failure with the speedometer while driving 45 mph; however, the odometer read 20 mph. The vehicle wasn't taken to the dealer. The vehicle wasn't repaired. The manufacturer will be contacted. The failure mileage was 92,000 and the current mileage was 94,450. Updated 02/07/11 the consumer stated the ABS light stayed on most of the time. Updated 03/17/11

- Waveland, MS, USA

problem #131

Aug 292010

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 130,220 miles
2003 Ford Windstar's brake light keeps staying on within 2-3 minutes of car heating up.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #130

Dec 012009

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 70,473 miles
Braking distance suddenly increased. After having my 2003 Ford Windstar serviced according to Ford recall 09S09 I continue to experience my dashboard light for both ABS and brakes almost continually on when the car is running. I have been told by the Ford dealer that the addition of the fuses to prevent fires was the only thing called for in the recall. But obviously this alone did not fix the problem and I am driving around with no ABS.

- Brevard, NC, USA

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