687 of the
2,057 complaints about the 2003 Ford Windstar are about the
braking system — 33% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
89,028 miles.
When driving my muffler broke loose and was dragging on the ground. My axel creaks when I stop or sit idle at a light. When several miles from home my ignition cylinder came out. I couldn't start or turn the ignition on nor operate the steering. I'm now afraid to drive my vehicle. Since acquiring it. I've put a lot of money into repairs. In addition to purchasing this vehicle, I've spent well over $2,000 in repairs. Once I learned of the recall and viewed the risks (Video) of the dangers I became grossly disturbed by what I am facing at the thought of driving. I have contacted 4 Ford Service Centers and none of them contacted back regarding fixing my 'recall'. I NEED HELP!! I have a disability and now I don't have transportation besides this car. How come no one is returning my calls? I am stranded at my home knowing that my safety is at risk. I would like to get my issue remedied with a $4,999.00 Reimbursement for this vehicle ASAP so I may invest in getting a safer one. Please give me a dealership address here in Los Angeles so I can have the vehicle towed there and be done with it. I no longer want a vehicle that I can not drive nor can get my 'recalls' remedied. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
NHTSA complaint #11446673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesAltamonte Springs, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN TRAVELING 15 MPH ON BRICK ROAD I PRESSED BRAKES TO STOP THEN LOUD NOISE AND CAR STILL ROLLED FORWARD - SCARY AND UNSAFE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS - THE ABS LIGHT IS ON IN MY VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #11266482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 158,200 milesBeaverton, OR
SERVICE BRAKES
THE PARK AND BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, LOOKED UP AND IT SAID THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING LIKE IT SHOULD. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING IN CITY , HIGHWAYS, NOT MOVING.
NHTSA complaint #11258992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,018 milesMcalpin, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
TRANSMISSION SLOW TO ENGAGE AFTER SITTING. THIS IS NOT ONLY A REPEAT PROBLEM AFTER BEING REPAIRED, BUT ALSO AFTER BEING TOTALLY REPLACED BY FORD DEALER. ABS NEVER RECALLED FOR SCDS 09S09. CONSTANTLY RESETTING AND DISENGAGING. AFTER 15 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, I HAVE YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF OR HAD ANYTHING REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ( WHEN THE RPM'S WENT UP AND THE TRANSMISSION QUIT PULLING) ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, NO PLACE TO GO. NEARLY CAUSING A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT. WITH THE ABS PROBLEM, ANYTHING INDICATING A BRAKE FAILURE, POSSIBLE ONBOARD FIRE, OR LOSS OF CONTROL, LEAVES YOU WITH A HUGE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11163100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,575 milesForest Lake, MN
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE THE FAMILIAR 9 C CODES FOR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WITH THE COLD SOLDER JOINTS THAT EFFECTS THE ABS FUNCTION. THERE IS A 23 PAGE 2CARSPRO.COM FORUM WITH INDIVIDUALS SHARING THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE DEFECT ON THEIR WINDSTAR VEHICLES. THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #11157183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,000 milesOcala, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.
NHTSA complaint #11120135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 103,000 milesGeneva, OH
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT WAS STIFF AND FAILED TO RESPOND. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING PULLED TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS14205849. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.
NHTSA complaint #11075071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesDyer, IN
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VAN AND DRIVING IT. BEEN LIKE THIS FOR YEARS. LOOKS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND ADDRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #11052753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Windsor, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS AND BREAK LIGHTS IS ON AFTER DRIVER 3 MIN
NHTSA complaint #11043982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesLutz, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS MODULE IS BAD - WELL KNOWN COLD SOLDER JOINT PROBLEM
NHTSA complaint #11021500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 162,900 milesSAN Jose, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT THE SAME TIME
NHTSA complaint #11010589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 145,000 milesMcalpin, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON SIMUTAINOUSLY AND THE ABS SYSTEM FAILS TO OPERATE.. THIS IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM.. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THE SYSTEM RESETS. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNDER MOTION AND CAN BE UNDER ANY CONDITIONS...
NHTSA complaint #11003638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,300 milesWest Chester, OH
SERVICE BRAKES
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE FAILURE AT 102,000 MILES. APPEARS TO BE A CONTINUING TREND WITH VARIOUS FORD MODELS, AND REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE; APPROXIMATELY $2,000. IF ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAILING, ABS NO LONGER WORKS. DOUBT ACCURACY OF ABS WARNING LIGHT TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #11000070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesShushan, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE STATIONARY, THE HAZARD LIGHTS FLASHED AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS COULD NOT BE USED DUE TO THE INVOLUNTARY FLASHING OF THE HAZARD LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10968332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesMaryville, TN
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT COME ON AFTER DRIVING. THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAR THE LIGHTS IS TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURN THIS BACK ON. THE LIGHTS WILL EVENTUALLY COME BACK. THE CONCERN IS ARE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY HAVING AN ISSUE. SYSTEM HAS BEEN GIVEN AN OVERHAUL: PADS, ROTORS, NEW MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE FLUID BLEED AND REFILL, AND THE ISSUE PERSISTS. NO NONE FIXES FROM MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10946895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesRedford, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ABS, ENGINE, AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #10930304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 77,480 milesTulsa, OK
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT AND RED BRAKE LIGHT COME ON TOGETHER. MY VAN HAS 77,483 ACTUAL MILES ON IT! I HAD A BRAKE CHECK AT LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY REPORTED 80% BRAKE LINING STILL ON,
NHTSA complaint #10916171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 180,000 milesCottage Grove, OR
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS AND BRAKE ALARM LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING AND STAY ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I SUSPECT THIS INDICATES A PROBLEM THAT DISABLES THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER SHOWS AT LEAST 12 STORED FAULTS IN THE ABS SYSTEM WHICH CANNOT BE ERASED.
NHTSA complaint #10915877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 95,000 milesNampa, ID
SERVICE BRAKES
MY ABS LIGHTS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND ABS SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE ENGAGED WHEN NO BRAKING IS HAPPENING. WHEN BRAKES ARE ENGAGED THE BRAKING SEEMS TO TAKE A LOT LONGER. ABS MODULE HAS DEFECTIVE SOLDER JOINTS CAUSING MANY SYSTEM FAILURES. FAILURE HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY.
NHTSA complaint #10903502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,000 milesLewis Center, OH
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHT. TOOK MY 2003 WINDSTAR WITH ONLY 74,000 MILES ON IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO GET CODES AS TO EXPLAIN THE REDUNDANT ABS LIGHT. THERE WERE AT LEAST 12 CODES ALL POINTING BACK TO THE ABS MODULE. THIS ISSUE WITH THE ABS HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR 2+ YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10899866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 174,000 milesElsmere, KY
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT REMAIN ON CONSTANTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10897006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesLexington, SC
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN MY FORD WINDSTAR 2003 ENGINE STARTED REVVING AND I HAD TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BREAKS TO STOP THE CAR FROM RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES TO RELEASE THE ENGINE FROM REVVING DID IT STOP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE SAME DAY AND IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO STOP THE FORD WINDSTAR 2003 MODEL. IT COULD HAVE DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE EITHER TO ANOTHER CAR OR A PERSON. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THIS PROBLEM HAS TO BE CORRECTED OR PUT ON A RECALL BASIS BEFORE OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE THE PROBLEM, CAN EITHER GET IT FIXED OR TAKEN OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10889166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesOtsego, MN
SERVICE BRAKES
MY SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK AT ALL, GO UP AND DOWN OR GET STUCK, INDICATING THE WRONG SPEED, WHILE IN MOTION, ALSO AT A STOP, IT WILL POP UP, HAPPENS ON CITY STREET AND ON HIGHWAY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ISSUE WITH FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS. TO ME THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AS I FIND IT DISTRACTING, HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I'M GOING. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE TODAY AND WHILE I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST, I COULD NOT SAY FOR CERTAIN THAT I WAS WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT. I'M CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING AT MY SPEEDOMETER, TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO SEE IF IT WILL DROP, BUT I CAN'T TRUST THAT THE SPEED READING BEFORE WAS CORRECT. I CAN BE DRIVING AND IT WILL POP RIGHT UP TO INDICATED 100MPH, WHEN I'M DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I GET ALERTS AND SIGNAL ALARMS FOR "LOW BRAKE FLUID", "CHECK ADVANCETRACK", MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND MY REAR BACK UP SENSORS DON'T WORK EITHER. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR NOT STAYING SHUT WHEN PARKED, I HAVE HAD THIS FEATURE DISABLED FOR SAFETY REASONS. IT WILL START TO CLOSE, REOPEN, START AGAIN, CLOSE PARTIALLY AND THEN REOPEN AGAIN, EVEN IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED IT WILL DO THIS. THESE ARE ALL ONGOING PROBLEMS, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE TIED TOGETHER. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT FOR PROBLEMS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT CODES COME UP UNDER DIAGNOSTICS BUT WHEN THE ACTUAL PARTS THEY ARE WARNING ABOUT LIKE THE ABS, LOW BRAKE FLUID ARE FINE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT A FORD DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE DOOR ISSUE AND WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIGURE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10884432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,568 milesElamogordo, NM
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE BLACK TIRES MARKS ON THE ROAD AND THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKES SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,568.
NHTSA complaint #10865614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesClancy, MT
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND STAYS ON.
NHTSA complaint #10855553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesMechanicsville, MD
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE ANTI-BRAKE SYSTEM AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SWITCH OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #10824074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
French Lick, IN
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT BRAKE FLUID NEEDED TO BE ADDED IN THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BRAKE FLUID STILL NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE FLUID WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10817568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesChillicothe, IL
SERVICE BRAKES
MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD COME ON AND OFF AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SOMETIMES THEY STAY FOR A WHILE (DAYS) AND THEN GO OFF FOR (DAYS). ALSO, I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAUGE ARMS ON THE DASHBOARD ALL OF SUDDEN WILL GO BACK AND FORTH IN A QUICK MOTION. THEN SOMETIMES STICK IN ONE POSITION AND THEN BACK TO NORMAL AND THEN SOMETIMES NOT MOVE AT ALL FOR A WHILE.
NHTSA complaint #10807677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 144,000 milesDetroit, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE BRAKE AND OVERDRIVE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
NHTSA complaint #10779260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesWellington, OH
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. THEN THE VEHICLE IS FINE FOR DAYS THEN IT COMES ON AGAIN FOR NO REASON. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN INFREQUENT AND HAS ONLY RECENTLY BEFORE MORE OF A ISSUE. USUALLY THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AND DOES NOT COME BACK FOR WEEKS. I WENT TO THE LOCAL ADVANCE AUTO SO THEY COULD PULL THE CODE AND IDENTIFY WHICH WHEEL WAS SENDING THE CODE SO I COULD NARROW IT DOWN AND REPLACE PARTS AS NECESSARY. THE CODES PULLED ARE FOLLOWED. C1185, C1198, C1194, C1254,C1246, C1250, C1242, C1214 & C1210. THAT'S RIGHT 9 ABS CODES CAME OUT. THE 1ST ON IS THE PROBLEM C1185, THE REST ARE FAILURES AT EACH WHEELS INLET OUTLET VALVES. WHEN SEARCHING THE C1185 ISSUE I FOUND 100'S OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THIS ISSUE AND MANY DEALERSHIP HORROR STORIES. TOO MANY BACK YARD HACKS TELL PEOPLE TO DISCONNECT THIS OR THAT, OR PULL THE ECM ONLY TO HAVE THAT NOT FIX THE ISSUE AND OTHERS TELLING HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO RESOLDER THE ABS MODULE CONNECTIONS AND FIX THE ISSUE. THE ONE COMMON PROBLEM THAT CAUSED ISSUES WAS HAVING A DEALERSHIP BRAKE JOB DONE AND THEN THE ABS SYSTEMS FAILS THE NEXT DAY OR FOLLOWING WEEK. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DID NOT NOTICE THIS ISSUE AFTER DOING THE BRAKES, BUT I DID HAVE THEM DONE PRIOR TO THE ABS SYSTEM FAILURES STARTING.
NHTSA complaint #10731987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.