34 of the 2,057 complaints about the 2003 Ford Windstar are about the stability control — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 95,000 miles.
34
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
IT HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. NEEDS WIRING HARNESS, NEEDS FRONT AND REAL AXLE REPLACEMENT. DANGEROUS. ALARM GOES OFF AT RANDOM. WON'T HOLD CHARGE. STEERING WHEEL BEARINGS ARE SHOT.
NHTSA complaint #11324221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ON MAY 24 WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY SONS CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A TREMENDOUS RATE OF SPEED AND WITH A LOUD NOISE AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO OUR SHED. I SUSTAINED INJURIES OF 6 BROKEN RIBS, BRUISED LUNG AND CONTUSIONS TO MY CHEST. IF NOT FOR THE CAR AND SHED IN FRONT WE WOULD HAVE ENDED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL BEHIND OUR HOME. THE INSURANCE COMPANY, 21ST CENTURY, DID NOT SEND A CLAIM FORM AND IS FIGHTING PAYING FOR THIS ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10884092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE TRACTION CONTROL TURNS ON AND OFF WITH SWITCH IN OFF POSITION. ON A CLEAR DRY DAY THE SYSTEM WILL TURN ON WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT . THE CAR MUST BE IN MOTION FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THE CAR DOES THIS VERY OFTEN. WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT HEAR A HUM. IT HAPPENS ON ALL TYPES OF PAVEMENT AND BOTH DAY AND NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10816272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THIS MORNING, 4/29/15. I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE LAST NIGHT, NO PROBLEMS. THIS MORNING WHEN I LEFT THE HOUSE TO GET THE TITLE TRANSFERRED AND VEHICLE REGISTERED, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION AND TURNED IT OFF, THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, THE LIGHT REMAINED ON, AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ONE. NEITHER WILL GO OFF. I HAD A 1998 WINDSTAR THAT I SOLD DUE TO AGE BUT LOVED. I AM NOT HAPPY TO HAVE THIS ISSUE THE FIRST DAY I OWN ITS REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10713685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, FOLLOWED SOON AFTERWARDS BY THE POWER RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW FAILING TO GO AND DOWN, FOLLOWED BY THE TRANSMISSION O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING. THESE WOULD OCCUR UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN, THEN MOST OF THE TIME THE SYMPTOMS WOULD GO AWAY, ALWAYS TO RETURN. WHEN THE O/D OFF LIGHT WOULD COME ON, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL TO PERFORM AT SPEED AND WE WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE OUR SPEED TO UNDER 50 MPH IN ORDER TO NOT REV THE ENGINE ABOVE 3500 RPM. WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON, YOU CANNOT GET TO 60 MPH WITHOUT REDLINING THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD DEALERS AND MECHANICS LOOK AT THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #10640044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ABS, BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR NO REASON. SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS HAVING IT DIAGNOSED. REPLACE MANY PARTS. NO RESOLUTION. DRIVES OFTEN WITH A MISS ESPECIALLY DURING ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10592784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS HAVE COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND WILL NOT RESET. THE TRACTION CONTROL SWITCH DOES NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10583386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE ABS LIGHT, ADVANCED TRAC CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT, AND DASH LIGHTS ARE FLASHING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. ALARMS BEEP AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. THEN COMING ONTO THE FREEWAY THIS MORNING IT OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER ALMOST GETTING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. TRIED TO START THE VAN SEVERAL TIMES AND AFTER A FEW TRIES IT STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY WITHOUT GETTING HIT. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM MANY 03 WINDSTAR VAN OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THEM. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS FROM OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THESE SAME PROBLEMS. FORD DEALERSHIPS HAVE REPAIRED/REPLACED VARIOUS COMPONENTS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BUT IT KEEPS RECURRING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. IT IS A DESIGN THING.
NHTSA complaint #10569380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ABS LIGHT AND RED E. BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AT SAME TIME. INDICATING BRAKE MODULE HAS FAULTED. SEEMS MANY OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE AT EARLY STAGES OF OWNERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10544452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
MY ABS LIGHT IS ON AND WONT GO OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10524468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON ALL AT THE SAME TIME AFTER DRIVING FOR ONLY A FEW MINUTES. ONCE THESE LIGHTS COME ON, THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROLS ARE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE, AND IN BAD WEATHER THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE FASTER WHEN IT IS WARMER OUTSIDE. I BELIEVE THAT AT $2800 TO REPAIR, THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD MOST CERTAINLY BE A RECALL, ESPECIALLY IN A FAMILY VEHICLE WHERE CHILDREN COULD BE IN DANGER.
NHTSA complaint #10515653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ERRONEOUSLY ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
NHTSA complaint #10507091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ABS LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF AND THE CAR WILL NOT TAKE ANY GAS.
NHTSA complaint #10500715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ABS AND BRAKES LIGHTS CAME ON. ABS INOPERABLE. STOPPING DISTANCE GREATLY INCREASED.
NHTSA complaint #10471469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
VEHICLE VIOLENTLY BUCKLES FORWARD AND BACK WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT. THIS CONTINUES FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN THE ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON AT THE SAME TIME AND THE CAR STOPS BUCKLING. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME I USE THE VEHICLE. SO APPROXIMATELY 5-9 TIMES A DAY. THE BUCKLING IS SO BAD I'M AFRAID MY FOOT WILL SLIDE OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND I WILL ROLL INTO AN INTERSECTION. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THEODORE ROBINS FORD IN COSTA MESA (949) 642-3017 TODAY AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I ALSO FOUND THIS WEBSITE TALKING ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/. PLEASE HELP [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10434220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT BOTH COME ON AND STAY ON, BEGINNING AT VARYING TIMES AFTER BEGINNING DRIVING. AFTER TESTING AT FORD DEALERSHIP, MIKE FITZPATRICK FORD IN NEWNAN, GA, DIAGNOSIS WAS ABS CONTROLLER FAILURE. CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TO REPLACE ABS CONTROL UNIT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH OPERATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONTINUED TO OPERATE VEHICLE UNTIL JUNE 20, 2011 BECAUSE BRAKES AND BRAKE LIGHT WORKED AND THE COST WAS PROHIBITIVE. PART NUMBERS REPLACED WERE 2F2Z-2C219-BA CONTROL AND SW-6218 SWITCH. THE ABS CONTROL FAILURE AT 84,500 MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE INDICATES AN INADEQUATE RELIABILITY OF DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING QUALITY.
NHTSA complaint #10408457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON.
NHTSA complaint #10407327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
MY 2003 WINDSTAR'S ABS & BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. A LOCAL FORD DEALER SCANNED ABS SYSTEM, FOUND (1)CODE C1185 RELAY IN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED, AND ASKED $1220 TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #10359580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
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.
NHTSA complaint #10353986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON.
NHTSA complaint #10349993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON.
NHTSA complaint #10349993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS LIGHT OR BRAKE LIGHT FOR OUR FORD 2003 WINDSTAR. THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON, THEN OFF, THEN ON AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10341658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR KEEP SHOWING SYSTEM INFORMATION ERROR AND ABS, BRAKE LIGHT,OD OFFLIGHTS STAYS ON. THIS NORMALLY STARTS AFTER ABOUT TWO TO THREE MINUTES INTO DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10339947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY GIVING MY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST THE REAR PARKING SENSORS DISENGAGE WHEN IN REVERSE. WHILE DRIVING THE ABS, BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON THE DASHBOARD. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT DOES, BUT THE VEHICLE DOES THEN NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKES DON'T SEEM TO BE WORKING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10314974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE ABS LIGHT IS ON, DIFFICULTY GETTING VAN OUT OF PARK. SMELLED SMOKE AFTER LAST USE OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10295181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ECM MODULE DEFECTED ACCORDING TO THE BRAKE SHOP. THE BRAKE SHOP PULLED THE CODES AND ALL THE CODES SAID TO REPLACE THE ECM MODULE. THE REASON I TOOK MY 2003 WINDSTAR TO THE BRAKE SHOP BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHT, ON BY DASH, COMES ON AND MY BRAKES MAKES NOISE LIKE THE BRAKES ARE ON BUT THEY ARE NOT. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT RESETS WHEN THE MINIVAN IS TURNED OFF. THE BRAKE SHOP SAID I HAD EXCELLENT BRAKES AND THE ECM MODULE IS DEFECTED. IT WILL COST 600-800.00 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS AT MY FORD GARAGE. BUT I UNDERSTAND AS OF NOW, THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE ECM MODULE, HOWEVER THERE MAYBE A RECALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE. A RECALL WILL BE GREAT FOR ME SAVING ME 600-800.00 DOLLARS. THANKS
NHTSA complaint #10283617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
ECM MODULE DEFECTED ACCORDING TO THE BRAKE SHOP. THE BRAKE SHOP PULLED THE CODES AND ALL THE CODES SAID TO REPLACE THE ECM MODULE. THE REASON I TOOK MY 2003 WINDSTAR TO THE BRAKE SHOP BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHT, ON BY DASH, COMES ON AND MY BRAKES MAKES NOISE LIKE THE BRAKES ARE ON BUT THEY ARE NOT. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT RESETS WHEN THE MINIVAN IS TURNED OFF. THE BRAKE SHOP SAID I HAD EXCELLENT BRAKES AND THE ECM MODULE IS DEFECTED. IT WILL COST 600-800.00 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS AT MY FORD GARAGE. BUT I UNDERSTAND AS OF NOW, THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE ECM MODULE, HOWEVER THERE MAYBE A RECALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE. A RECALL WILL BE GREAT FOR ME SAVING ME 600-800.00 DOLLARS. THANKS
NHTSA complaint #10283617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
2003 FORD WINDSTAR. ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. SEAMS TO BE MOSTLY WHEN WET ROADS, BUT HAS OCCURRED ON DRY DAYS ALSO. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD ABS MODULE HAD A LOT OF ERROR CODES AND THE WIRING CONNECTION LOOKED DAMP. MECHANIC PUT DIELECTRIC GREASE ON THE CONNECTION, BUT I RECEIVED NO INFO ON THE ERROR CODES.
NHTSA complaint #10279918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LIMITED. THE CHECK ADVANCETRAC AND ABS LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY...HIRSCH FORD IN MICHIGAN CITY WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE ON REPAIRS AFTER SPENDING 1 1/2 HOURS DIAGNOSTIC TIME...ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP WAS ABLE TO PULL THE C1185 CODE AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS FROM THE ONBOARD COMPUTER BUT ONLY GAVE ME A $1400.00 REPAIR ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10275377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
FORD WINDSTAR BRAKE, ABS BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. OUR VAN HAS HAD THIS ISSUE TWICE NOW AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ITEM AS FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES IT PRESENTS! WE ARE LOOKING FOR NHTSA TO PRESS THEM FOR A RESOLUTION WITH SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROADS AND THE NUMBER OF EVENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10259812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.