My 2003 Ford Windstar Cargo Van seems to have a Wiring Harness issue. The car has had several Alternators replaced in very short periods of time. I replaced the Battery which didn't fix the problem. Brand new batteries would go dead after driving miles. Had several mechanics who had at one time had the same model with same issues.

Purchased the van in May 2017 and immediately had to replace the Alternator which went bad around July or August. Replaced again around January 2018 and this one didn't even last 1 month.

1. Initially when barely pressing the brakes or going over railroad tracks the BRAKE & ABS lights would light up. Now they do not go out unless car is off. Then come on when I turn the car on

2.ENGINE light would light up

3. BATTERY LIGHT recently lit up and the Battery was brand new and was tested good. Alternator on the other hand reads bad.

Help please.

The battery went dead all at once, however when it was jumped started everything was fine. About a month, if that it started acting strange and then the battery died but the flashers went on, lights, door opening only on the drivers side. We have checked everything, and all I can think of is I did not have this problem when they did the recall warranty work on the back and front axles.

I live in an area where the salt from our winters were causing the axles to corrode and break. So I took it in and they put brackets on the back and did nothing to the front (though they said they had and the front was fine). My sway bar was broken, so that told me hey did not look at front. They put brackets on and I have had problems ever since.

Noises, the battery, unusual electrical problems,etc. I am just now going through all this so I back dated and looked at when all this started. I believe that the brackets have caused my problems and I believe this van is dangerous to drive.

Have had to jump off the battery 4 times in the past 3 weeks. Had battery checked twice and was told battery was fine, just needed to charge. FINALLY just had the battery replaced anyway....as the guy was putting the new battery in, my headlights and wipers flickered on and off....keep in mind, my keys were not even in the ignition. The guy then told me I have an obvious eletrical issue....GREAT! ONE MORE THING to go wrong with this POS.

On another note, I have had this van in the shop probably at least 20 times for various reasons...7 of the times it was for the same reason and the problem is STILL not resolved. It makes this HORRIBLE grinding sound when turning the steering wheel when it is cold. The colder it is outside, the louder the grinding sound...warming up the van first does not help either. I had the struts, strut plates, etc all replaced..

Also have had the transmission fixed ($1500), luckily it was still under extended warranty at the time. The coils misfired on a long road trip (18 hours one way), the windsheild cleaner stopped working on the same trip, not good when the windshield kept icing over while driving down the interstate.

One door randomly opens and closes on its own, wont open often...a REAL PIA.. the interior lights have often flickered on and off randomly. If I did not know better I would think my van was possessed.

Unfortunately, we still have another 2 yrs worth of payments on this POS. We cant afford to be upside down and get a new car...Plus hubby's car is a POS too. We really got screwed on both purchases (which were made on the same day, at the same dealership)

I will NEVER buy another Ford!

me and my husband bought a 2003 ford windstar in march of 2008 since then we have replace the transmission, battery, alternator, and had a four hour diagnostic done on it and we still cannot figure out what is wrong all we get is " check charging system light" on the dash this is crap i don't understand what is going on this is our family vehicle and we cant even use it. i warned by husband about fords they are a piece of SH*T. what does ford stand for "Found On Road Dead" or better yet "F*ck Over Rebuilt Dodge".

Wow! I actually logged on to see if anyone has had the problem of the rear door ajar light staying on (I've isolated my 2003 Windstar, 65,000.0 miles) to being the rear door. Then I find 2 complaints about the dead battery syndrome! Since November of 07, I have replaced the battery twice after thinking the 2 year old battery that was in there was n/g. I've had it to my (very reliable and experienced) mechanic who went through everything he could thing of, sensors and whatever else. Similar to you, both rear lights were out. He was dumbfounded and recommended a fellow mechanic, 30 years as a Ford dealer certified mechanic. He kept the van for over two weeks finally replacing the battery with a heavy duty long life as well as the oil pressure switch saying that it appeared to be drawing current when the vehicle was off. I was very excited to think the problem was solved only to have a dead battery two weeks later! The problem of being dead happened one other time in since March 08. Today is 17 May 08 but the door ajar light is on which happens quite regularly. I don't know if this problem could be related to the dead battery thing but I do know that it's driving me nuts. I have always been a Ford vehicle owner, this being my 6th, but if I had any money whatsoever to afford a new vehicle at this time I would definitely move on to another brand. No wonder Toyota is taking over as number 1. If anyone can tell me how to access the switch on the rear door or has any idea of what the dead battery syndrome might be I would really appreciate the info. Much Thanks. Lou R. Weymouth, MA

We have had all of the above problems (except a burned out alternator) with my 2003 Limited and are thinking of dumping it while it still has some value. Flickering lights, dead batteries. Problems kicked in this summer when I found the battery dead, it hadn't been driven in approx 4 days. I put in a new battery and two weeks later its dead. They replaced a board, said it was drawing power with the Van tuned off. Two weeks after that rear wiper isn't working dash lights are strobing, I take it back in. They said the battery was leaking acid and burned out relays. That battery had been in the van less than 30 days. Last week again completely dead battery, so drained the car could not be jump started. Rear break light burned out, flashing interior lights. Again the dealer could find no apparent problems or duplicate any of these things. Replaced the rear brake light and the new one burned out in forty days. Face it folks Ford stopped making the Windstar in 2003 they are not motivated to solve these electrical problems, simply waiting for warranties to run out so they can start charging us for repairs. If you still have some warranty left it might be worth keeping, but we are definitely dumping ours before the warranty expires early next year.

After bringing in the van several times for electrical problems--none of which were ever resolved--they keep saying they can't find the problem--I woke up to a dead car. Had the car towed and ended up getting a new alternator and battery. About 1 year later out of no where while driving the battery dies again! When I call ford they say the alternator is no longer under warranty--that only lasts 12 month/12,000 miles. After questioning them I find out they replaced the alternator with a refurbished part instead of a new one and now they have the nerve to tell me if it is the alternator again they would have to replace it again at my expense. Seems like this years model has major electrical issues and the company should do the right thing and recall these vans but of course they are a bunch of ???? and don't care if I keep getting stuck on the side of the road with my kids!