2003 Ford Windstar headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

STARTED HAVING WIPER ISSUES (INTERMITTENT DID NOT WORK) RANDOMLY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, THEN HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WITH NO OTHER CARS, FIRST FOR A COUPLE SECONDS OFF THEN ON THEN OFF FOR GOOD AFTER A FEW MORE SECONDS. AFTER ANOTHER 10 MIN OR SO THEY WENT BACK ON AND STAYED ON. ALSO WIPERS DID NOT WORK, OR RADIO, WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS. ANOTHER TIME DURING HEAVY RAIN IN DAYTIME THE SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN, WIPERS WENT OFF. THIS WAS ON BUSY HIGHWAY. LUCKILY THEY WENT ON AGAIN AFTER 10S AND I WAS ABLE TO SEE AND PULL OVER. VERY SCARY. HAPPENED OFF AND ON AGAIN. TURNED OUT FORWARD CONTROL MODULE WAS BAD. DEALER REPLACED ONE I GOT FROM JUNKYARD, NO MORE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11165003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WAS WARNED BY A FELLOW DRIVER THAT I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TAIL LIGHTS WORK. ALL BULB FILAMENTS ARE INTACT. INTERIOR FUSES #'S 10 & 11 ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL ARE INTACT. I REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH. STILL I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS.

NHTSA complaint #10714224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. ALSO, BRAKE (E-BRAKE) LIGHT COMES ON, INTERIOR LIGHTS OCCASIONALLY FLASH, ALL RUNNING LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT (REALLY BAD WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT NIGHT), AND LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL (RADIO, LIGHTS, HEATER FAN, DASH ILLUMINATION, HEADLIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS, ETC... ALL GO OUT AT SAME TIME). ALTERNATOR AND SEVERAL BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ELECTRIC WINDOWS WILL OCCASIONALLY STOP WORKING AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY THE HUGE ISSUE HERE IS THE FACT THAT THE ABS SYSTEM MAY BE DISABLED, DASH WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON AND OFF, AND ALL ELECTRICAL SHUTS OFF, WITH LOSING HEADLIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS BEING THE BIGGEST ISSUE!

NHTSA complaint #10681338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE FLICKER ON AND OFF AT RANDOM WHEN DRIVING. IT DOES IT DURING THE DAY AND AT NIGHT. AT NIGHT IS THE WORST. SOMETIMES IT WON'T DO IT FOR A LONG TIME AND THERE IS TIMES WHERE IT DOES IT CONSTANTLY. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING CORRECTS IT BUT ONLY SOME OF THE TIME. I HAVE BEEN SEEING COMPLAINTS ON MANY DIFFERENT WEB SITES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I HAVE SEEN NO TSB ISSUED FROM FORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10621098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE FLICKER ON AND OFF AT RANDOM WHEN DRIVING. IT DOES IT DURING THE DAY AND AT NIGHT. AT NIGHT IS THE WORST. SOMETIMES IT WON'T DO IT FOR A LONG TIME AND THERE IS TIMES WHERE IT DOES IT CONSTANTLY. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING CORRECTS IT BUT ONLY SOME OF THE TIME. I HAVE BEEN SEEING COMPLAINTS ON MANY DIFFERENT WEB SITES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I HAVE SEEN NO TSB ISSUED FROM FORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10621098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING ALL THE TIME. I KEEP THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OFF SO THEY DON'T FLICKER.

NHTSA complaint #10597457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING ALL THE TIME. I KEEP THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OFF SO THEY DON'T FLICKER.

NHTSA complaint #10597457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND ALL GAUGES WON'T STOP GOING CRAZY. MAKING BY BATTERY DIE.

NHTSA complaint #10592312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BATTERY WAS DEAD ALL OF A SUDDEN... JUMPED IT AND ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING... DOME LIGHT DASH LIGHTS... WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND THEY WERE TURNED OFF... DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN UNTIL THE GAS WAS PRESSED AND THEN IT ALL CAME BACK ON... CALLED SEVERAL PLACES AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG.

NHTSA complaint #10512135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

AFTER GOING ABOUT 4 MILES AFTER STARTING UP VAN, ABS LIGHT COMES ON, OCCASIONALLY THE RED BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON TOO, SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY (UP AND DOWN) AND INSIDE LIGHTS FLICKER AT RANDOM. SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND/OR BRAKE ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #10499584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING BEGAN FLASHING ERRONEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,720.

NHTSA complaint #10487953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT ON AND WERE FLASHING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10475728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND GOES BACK OUT ALL THE TIME. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BLOWS OUT ABOUT EVERY TWO WEEKS TO TWO MONTHS, HAVE REPLACED ABOUT 20 TIMES SINCE BUYING VEHICLE. NEIGHBOR HAS A 2003 WINDSTAR WITH SAME PROBLEM. HORN FAILED, CONNECTION PROBLEM, WORKS OFF AND ON. ATTEMPTED TO GET REPLACEMENT PART BUT WAS INFORMED NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10471997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LIGHTS TURN ON AND OF INSIDE THE CAR. THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ON AND OFF. WINDOWS STOP WORKING GET STUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10471919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT STAY ON. HAVE NEW BRAKES. INTERIOR LIGHTS KEEP FLASHING ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING BATTERY LIGHT STAYS ON. I HAVE HAD BATTERY TESTED.

NHTSA complaint #10468776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

ABS MODULE DOES NOT WORK, AND SHOWS A CONSTANT ALARM LIGHT. COST TO REPAIR IS $2K DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND HAVE TO BE OPENED MANUALLY. COST TO REPAIR IS $500/LOCK POWER STEERING UNIT CONSTANTLY NOISY, HARD TO STEER VEHICLE. NO REPAIR COST KNOWN. DOOR OPEN LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON. NO REPAIR COST KNOWN. INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN DOORS ARE OPENED. NO REPAIR COST KNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10457099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SPEEDOMETER LIGHTS COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND DON'T GO AWAY. NOW THE CAR WONT START FROM WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. REAR DRIVER LIGHT DOESN'T WORK BUT CAN SIGNAL,LEFT REAR PASSENGER LIGHTS WONT SIGNAL.

NHTSA complaint #10453714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY AND BLINK WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THEY STAY ON AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE DOOR AJAR STAYS ON WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. ALL CONTACTS CLEANED AND IT STILL DOES THIS. DRIVING WITH A FLASHING LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE IS DISTRACTING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM IN ALL FORD WINDSTARS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA complaint #10439248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING, I FELT THE VAN WAS NOT SHIFTING, SO I WENT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER-AGAIN, NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION BUT THEY DID DO A TRANSMISSION TUNE UP. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I DROVE INTO TOWN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO STOP ON A RED LIGHT. ON GREEN, I PRESSED MY GAS PEDAL BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IN A DESPERATE EFFORT, I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN, BUT FOR ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER MILE TO HAVE TO DO THE SAME REPEATEDLY UNTIL I GOT TO A SAFER SPOT. FINALLY, I ENDED UP LEAVING MY VAN PARKED AT A SHOPPING CENTER AND CALLED A CAB HOME. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH WITH MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING, AND MY AIR CONDITIONING DOESN'T WORK, EVEN WHEN I HAD FREE ON PUT IN IT. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR ANOTHER CAR, NOR DO I HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, ALONG WITH HAVING IT PUT IN. I LIVE IN A TOWN WHERE THERE ARE NO BUSES AND CAN ONLY GET A RIDE FROM A TAXI. I DON'T HAVE $10 ONE WAY FOR THIS! I NEED TO GET TO WORK, AND CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MY JOB. ALL BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING SAME PROBLEMS FOR MANY OTHERS OUT THERE. FORD SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE VEHICLES!

NHTSA complaint #10426361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WAS PARKED OUTSIDE MY HOME.I WENT OUT TO MY VAN TO GO PICK UP DINNER AND TO MY DISTRESS, THE VAN WOULDN'T REVERSE OR GO FORWARD. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION FROM ONLINE SOURCE AND AUTO MECHANICS, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD'S TRANSMISSIONS. NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM.IN THE PAST WEEKS,MY INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHILE IM DRIVING. THIS VAN IS A HAZARD. YOU REALLY NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS PLEASE.

NHTSA complaint #10424368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON CONSTANTLY....LOSING POWER....FRONT/PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK, LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF.....

NHTSA complaint #10414772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON CONSTANTLY....LOSING POWER....FRONT/PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK, LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF.....

NHTSA complaint #10414772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

2003 WINDSTAR ELECTRONIC CONCERN -FUSE NO.3 TO POWER REAR VIEW MIRROR SHORTS OUT. CAN NOT KEEP A FUSE IN IT. THE LITE ON MIRROR IS GREAT IDEAL. BUT DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THEY WANT 89.00 TO 100 CHECK TO RUN A ECTRIC CHECK TO SEE WHY? I AM STILL PAYING A BANK FEE AND THIS VAN HAS RUN ME IN DEBT TRYING TO FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10399479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

VEHICLE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD COME ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BY ITSELF AND NOW PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD NOT WORK ON DIM. THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THEM TO TAKE THE SAME MATERIALS AGAIN. I'M DECIDING IF I SHOULD CUT MY LOSSES AND SELL. MY HUSBAND SAID WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT A FORD. I'M DISABLED AND CAN'T AFFORD TO BE STICKING THIS KIND OF MONEY MONTHLY INTO IT.

NHTSA complaint #10399396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

FORD WINDSTAR THAT HAS HAD 2 RECALLS FOR FRONT AND REAR AXLES. INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS!

NHTSA complaint #10389983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MAIN ELECTRICAL HARNESS 3 TIMES, WHICH WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLASH AND FLICKER TO THIS DAY, BOTH DAY AND NIGHT, CREATING A HAZARD TO SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE ALSO FALSE ALEERTS OF THE TIRE WARNING SYSTEM, AND OTHER INTERMITTANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END, WHICH IS IN THE AREA OF THE SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA complaint #10372783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AS DRIVING. THE LIGHTS INCLUDE THOSE ON THE DASH, WHICH MAKES IT DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. PLEASE DO A SEARCH FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND NOTE THE EXCEPTIONAL NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS POSTED BY OTHER OWNERS.

NHTSA complaint #10369200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2003 FORD WINDSTAR'S BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS STAYING ON WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES OF CAR HEATING UP.

NHTSA complaint #10353103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHERE TO START? ALMOST SEEM LIKE TO MANY PROBLEMS TO LIST. WE WILL START WITH THE CONSTANT DRAINING AND REPLACEMENT OF THE BATTERY. NEW BATTERY EVERY FEW MONTHS. THINKING THIS ISSUE MAY HAVE TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF AT RANDOM UNEXPLAINED TIMES. SOMETIMES REMAINING ON ONCE THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND ALL DOORS ARE COMPLETELY CLOSED. PROBLEM WITH ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AT RANDOMS TIMES IN ADDITION TP THE CHECL CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON AND OFF BUT IF THEY REMAIN ON CAUSE THE CAR TO HESITATE OR JUST QUIT ON YOU. I HAVE 3 KIDS AND AM TERRIFIED FOR OUR SAFETY EVERYTIME WE ARE IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE FINALLY HAD ENOUGH AND AM FILING A COMPLAINT SINCE I HAVE READ FROM NUMEROUS SOURCES THAT I AM ONE OF THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. PLEASE CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND SUBSEQUENTLY ANY INNOCENT MOTORIST OR PEDESTRIAN WHO MAY BECOME INJURED FROM THESE SAFETY ISSUES. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10352391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.