394 of the
2,191 complaints about the 2000 Ford Windstar are about the
braking system — 18% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
105,000 miles.
GOING DOWN THE ROAD TRACTION CONTROL WILL GO OFF AND ON . IT WILL MAKE THE STEERING VERY HARD. THEN WHEN YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF. IT IS VERY HARD TO START UP . SOME TIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE HOURS THEN IT WILL START RIGHT UP. THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IS VERY BAD. SOMETIMES WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL STARTS TO HAVE A PROBLEM THE VAN IS VERY HARD TO EVEN KEEP IT IN CONTROL I'M DISABLED AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A BETTER VAN. I'VE TRIED TO TAKE IT BACK TO FORD BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. ALL THEY TALE ME IS TO GET ANEW ONE .BUT I CAN'T. THE POWER ON THE DOOR LOCKS ARE BAD THE LOCKS WILL GO LOCKED AND UNLOCK AS YOU DRIVE IT DOWN THE ROAD. BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT. 3 YEARS. OR MORE. HAD IT IN TO FORD MANY TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #11384006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesKaysville, UT
SERVICE BRAKES
MY FORD WINDSTAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. IT TURNS ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD RANDOMLY. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON, THE ABS IS NOT WORKING. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS OFF, THE ABS IS WORKING. I HAD MY MECHANIC FIX THIS FOR $850. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE NEW PART STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. I NEVER KNOW HOW TO BRAKE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION BECAUSE THE ABS IS ON SOME OF THE TIME AND OFF SOME OF THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11139679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200,000 milesLancing, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND THE ABS SENSOR INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #11013430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 144,000 milesSouth Jordan, UT
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS LIGHT COME ON PERIODICALLY. IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE ABS MODULE WITH A SOLDERING JOINT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WILL STAY ON AND DISAPPEAR WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND SWITCHED OFF. THEN THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AGAIN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS MOVED.
NHTSA complaint #10980932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Compton, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
TAKATA RECALL I SMELL GAS OFTENFROM INSIDE THE CAR, BREAK LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN ENGINE LIGHT WONT GO OFF I HAD A TRANSMISSION PUT INY CA\-
NHTSA complaint #10939610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grand Rapids, MICrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH CAUSING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE PAVEMENT. THE BRAKE LINES WERE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL UNDER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES TO THE HIP THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10786433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHT TURNED ON WON'T TURN OFF ABS INOPERABLE
NHTSA complaint #10726707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 98,000 milesGreensburg, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
A.B.S. LIGHT ON. SUSPENSION BROKEN IN RIGHT FRONT TIRE. DASHBOARD GAUGES NOT WORKING PROPERLY
NHTSA complaint #10726405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesColdwater, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10715044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,000 milesGrandville, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS AND TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON. IF I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT SOMETIMES THE WARNING LIGHTS WILL GO OFF BUT THIS IS INCONSISTENT AT BEST. IF I HIT A BUMP THE SYSTEMS WILL GO OFF. IT DOES SEEM WORSE AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS UP. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS FAILURE OF MY BRAKING SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10714454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 183,000 milesVista, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
SO I FIXED MY DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER AND GOT A ABS ERROR CODE C1185 WHICH IS A BAD ABS RELAY. THIS RELAY IS DEFECTIVE BY BEING ON THE BACK SIDE OF A HEAT-SINK PLATE THAT MAKES THE BOARD EXPAND AND CONTRACT ALLOWING FOR SOME, IF NOT ALL, OF THE SOLDER JOINTS BREAK. AS IT STANDS NOW I HAVE NO IDEA IF MY VAN IS SAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT STATE WITH THE FAILURE OF THAT RELAY NOR WOULD I LIKE TO RISK IT. SO MY VAN SITS DRIVABLE HOWEVER, NOT USED BECAUSE OF FORD'S LACKLUSTER PERFORMANCE ON RECALLS. I WILL NOT PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES ANYMORE!!! IT"S CRIMINAL!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10703971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,727 milesLansdale, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
HAVING ABS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. OVER DRIVE LIGHTS WAS BLINKING SO I HAD A FULL SCAN DONE. ABS SYSTEM SHOWS ABOUT 12 ERROR CODES AND THE ABS LIGHT WASN'T ON. CHECK THE LIGHT AND THE LIGHT WORKS. THE MECHANIC SEEMS TO NOT TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY ALARMING TO ME BECAUSE THIS CAN BE REALLY BAD FOR MY FAMILY SAFETY. ALSO ANOTHER CODE PULLED FOR THE ALTERNATOR OVERCHARGING THE BATTERY WHICH NEVER TURNED THE CHECK ENGINE ON. CHECK ENGINE WAS PROVEN TO WORK AND THAT WAS REPAIRED AND WORK TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #10702752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesChicago, IL
SERVICE BRAKES
IN JUNE OF 2012 THE ABS LIGHT BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY COME ON. REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE RELAYS AND THE LIGHT STAYED OFF UNTIL OCTOBER 2012. REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. AGAIN THIS FIXED THE INTERMITTENT LIGHT, HOWEVER, WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE LIGHT WAS COMING ON THIS TIME SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR WAS STARTED AND STAYING ON. IT CURRENTLY COMES ON WHEN I START THE CAR AND STAYS ON. I DON'T KNOW IF THE ABS BREAKING SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY WORKING. THE BREAKS DO WORK, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT AS LONG AS I CAN STOP THE CAR I IGNORE THE ABS LIGHT. I NOW WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 97500 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN GARAGED KEPT FOR THE LAST 77500 MILES. I GOT THIS AS A COMPANY CAR AT 19000 MILES AND PURCHASED IT FROM MY COMPANY AT 75000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10669653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, GA
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE HAD AN INTERMITTENT ABS LIGHT ON IN MY VAN. I HAD THE CODES READ AT UTOZONE AND THEY ARE C1185 C1198 C1194. I HAVE READ ON SOME FORUMS THAT THIS ERROR IS DUE TO A FAULTY SOLDER JOINT IN THE ABS MODULE. IF THIS IS THE CASE, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BY FORD.
NHTSA complaint #10669211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,121 milesStevenson, WA
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE . ABS LIGHT REMAINS ON.
NHTSA complaint #10660331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesLA Porte, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
DURING A TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 70 MPH THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON AS LONG AS VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN UNTIL ITS RESTARTED AGAIN AND CYCLE CONTINUES.
NHTSA complaint #10649962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 186,888 milesKaty, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
FOR SOME REASON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL CUSTARD NEEDLES STARTED,TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN FOR NO REASON AND SOMETIMES ITS OK.THAN YOU BE DRIVING AND EVERYTHING ITS OK, BUT THAN THERE GOES THE NEEDLES BOUNCING UP AND DOWN AGAIN AND THAN IT STOPS OR IF I STOP AT STORE OR GAS STATION AND START THE IGNITION AGAIN IT DOES IT AGAIN.PROBLEM 2, BEFORE THE FIRES ON THE FORD VEHICLES ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH MINE HAD ALREADY BURNED OUT AS I WAS AT THE STORE PARKING LOT I PICKED UP MY HOOD AND THERE WAS THE SMOKE AND SHORT WIRES BELOW THE BRAKE FLUID HOLDER I FIXED IT,ON MY OWN THAN SEE ALL THE PROBLEMS ON THE DAILY NEWS. THIS HAPPEN WHEN I ONLY HADABOUT 85000 MILES.PROBLEM 3, FOR SOME REASON I'M HAVING WITH MY ABS,THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND MY BRAKES DON'T WORK RIGHT,BUT WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS OFF MY BRAKES WORK FINE, I TELL YOU FORD CAN REALLY MAKE SORRY VANS LIKE THE WINDSTAR LX MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10649538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,856 milesRoosevelt, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS. THERE IS A SWITCH (CALLED THE BRAKE PRESSURE DEACTIVATION SWITCH) HOOKED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM THAT DETECTS WHEN THE BRAKE HAS BEEN PUSHED AND STOPS THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCORDINGLY. WELL? THIS SWITCH IS KNOWN TO DEVELOP LEAKS, WHICH ALLOWS BRAKE FLUID TO RUN DOWN INTO THE WIRING AND CAUSE A SHORT. THIS BLOWS THE FUSE WHICH CONTROLS THE SPEEDOMETER, A/C, ODOMETER, ETC.
NHTSA complaint #10648636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 198,000 milesGrand Rapids, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AND ABS STOPPED WORKING AND SPEEDOMETER RPM STOPPED WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10640847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bellmawr, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IS LEAKING FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #10640917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesGaylord, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES, DIFFERENT SPEEDS, AND DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, ALTHOUGH WET CONDITIONS AND BUMPY ROADS SEEM TO GUARANTEED IT COMES ON.
NHTSA complaint #10640333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,798 milesTaylor, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
MY ABS LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF. WE HAVE REPLACED BRAKES ETC AND THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON.
NHTSA complaint #10638325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brocton, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHT IS ON AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10632359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesLewes, DE
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON.
NHTSA complaint #10632106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 133,000 milesAlexandria, IN
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHT STAYS ON MAKING THEM INOPERABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10631288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 134,000 milesAlexandria, IN
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE GAUGES FLUCTUATE AND THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
NHTSA complaint #10630828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesFront Royal, VA
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING BRAKE FLUID EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 11/24/14*LJ UPDATED 5/6/2015
NHTSA complaint #10629313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesLaurel, MD
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAD STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN. WHEN IT WAS CLEAR FOR ME TO GO, I ACCELERATED AND WHEN I GOT TO THE NEXT STO SIGN AND SLOWED OWN, MY CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES, HEARD A LOUD VROOM AND THE CAR KEPT GOING. IT'S HAPPEN 3 MORE TIMES. ONE TIME, I WAS AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT DRIVE THRU. I WAS SLOWING DOWN AS I GOT IN LINE AND WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR MADE A LOUD VROOM SOUND AND KEEP GOING. I KEPT PUSHING ON THE BRAKES AND IT FINALLY STOPPED. I CANNOT REMEMBER IF I PUT THE CAR IN PARK OR NOT BUT I THINK I DID THAT TIME. I WOULD HAVE TAPPED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I READ ONLINE ABOUT A SON WHOSE MOTHERS WIND STAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT MAY NEED TO BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10629401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 178,237 milesHattiesburg, MS
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME AND INTERMITTENTLY GOES OFF BUT COMES RIGHT BACK ON.
NHTSA complaint #10628907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 134,500 milesKyle, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHT ON. SYSTEM CODE C1185.
NHTSA complaint #10627842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.