3,678 of the
19,460 complaints filed about the Ford Windstar
are about the braking system —
19% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
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.
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. I DO NOT HAVE ABS FUNCTION WHILE THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN WARMER WEATHER. WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF IT RESETS AND DOESN'T COME BACK ON UNTIL DRIVEN A FEW MILES AGAIN. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ON A LARGE AMOUNT OF FORD WINDSTAR'S SIMILAR TO MINE OR ASSEMBLED IN CANADA.
NHTSA complaint #11385072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I HAVE MY VEHICLE IN A SHOP TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE FRONT RESERVOIR OF THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS EMPTY. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION, HE FOUND THAT THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING ON ALL THE COMPONENTS BELOW, I.E. TRANSMISSION, STEERING COMPONENTS, ETC. I LOOKED THE ISSUE UP ONLINE AND I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE WITH FORD. WHEN I CHECKED MY VIN FOR ACTIVE RECALLS, THE NHTSA WEBSITE STATES THAT THERE ARE NO UNRESOLVED ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11268118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
MOST IMPORTANT IS THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND CHECKED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKES HAVE JUST FAILED AND I WOULD PUMP THEM ENOUGH JUST TO GET IN A SAFE LOCATION. AAA HAS HAD TO PICK ME UP AND WHEN THE BRAKES WHERE CHECKED THEY WERE FIND AND THE FLUID FULL. ALSO THE REAR JUST FELL BUT I HAD THAT REPAIRED BY A LOCAL REPUTABLE SHOP ON CANDLER RD, DECATUR/ THERE IS A RESIDUE ALL AROUND WHERE I PUT THE GAS IN. I'VE HAD THE SAME MECHANIC FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND HE SAYS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES MAY BE FAULTY. THE BRAKE AND ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT EVEN WHEN REPAIRS ARE MADE ACCORDING TO THE CODES THAT COME UP. THE SCARIEST TIME WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON UNIVERSITY AVE IN ATLANTA AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AT THE LIGHT AT A NORMALLY BUSY INTERSECTION. I BEGAN BLOWING THE HORN AND THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS AHEAD OF ME. AAA TOOK THEIR SWEET TIME COMING AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE THE PEDAL WAS BACK UP BUT I HAD THEM TO TOW ME HOME ANYWAYS. MY MECHANIC CHECKED IT AND ALL WAS FIND BUT HE WAS CONCERNED AND SO WAS I. I DID NOT CONTACT FORD BUT IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AS I STARTED IT YESTERDAY MORNING AND THE BRAKES WERE ON THE FLOOR. THIS IS JUST TOO DANGEROUS. I TOLD MY MECHANIC NOT TO COME CHECK IT BEFORE CONTACTING FORD.
NHTSA complaint #11257697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ROTTED REAR AXLE BEAM , 2002 FORD WINDSTAR , THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NEAR BY TOWN FORD DEALERSHIP : ACE MOTORS IN WOODBURY NJ , FOR THE REAR AXLE RECALL IN 2015 NOT SURE IF ANYTHING HAS BEEN REPAIRED OR NOT I WAS JUST TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND PASSED AND OK TO DRIVE BUT WHEN THE AXLE BROKE ON THE DRIVER SIDE I TOOK PITCHERS AND IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE HAS PUT ON SOME KIND OF SLAVE CLAMPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AXLE THAT I DON'T SEE ON OTHER FORD WINDSTAR MINI VANS ( SEE PITCHERS ) CALLED UP THE DEALERSHIP ACE MOTORS AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT UP TO THEM AND THEY WILL HAVE A LOOK AT IT AND MAYBE IT CAN BE PUT IN A CLAIM TICKET BUT AGAIN MAYBE NOT , IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO PUT ON A FLATBED TOW TRUCK WITH THE DAMAGE THAT IT HAS AND IF SOME REASON THEY DON'T PUT A CLAIM TICKET IN I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP TOWING THIS VEHICLE ALL OVER THE PLACE SO DEALERSHIP GAVE ME THE FORD I.N.C COMPANY PHONE NUMBER : 800-392-3673 , SO I CALLED THEM AND MORE LESS THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO , ONE THING I'M HAPPY ABOUT IS WE WAS GOING SLOW IN MY HOME TOWN PULLING OFF THE MAIN ROAD ONTO A SIDE ROAD HEADING TO THE HOUSE WHEN IT HAPPENED AND NOBODY GOT HEART WHEN IT HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SO LOUD AND NOSY THINK IT BROKE A SHOOK AND BRAKE LINES . 8 / 8 / 2019
NHTSA complaint #11242700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKES CONTINUALLY HAVE FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENTS. PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE AND AFTER NEW BRAKE PADS AND BRING BLED.THROTTLE IDLE SENSOR CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. NOW THEY JUST STAY ON. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT,IF ANY RECALLS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR ANY OPTIONS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11230128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS VAN LOOKS FINE ON THE OUTSIDE,BUT THE FRAME AND FLOOR ARE RUSTED OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED THE MECHANIC AT CARLS BODY SHOP , WHERE IT WAS TI BE REPAIRED TOLD ME IT WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VAN IS MADE TO TRANSPORT A WHEELCHAIR AND THE AREA WHERE THE WHEELCHAIR IS RUSTED THE WORST. THE MECHANIC ALSO TOOK PICTURES OF THE UNDER BODY TO SHOW ME HOW BAD IT REALLY WAS.
NHTSA complaint #11206940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DELAYED IN RESPONDING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED TO ANOTHER SHOP IN REGARDS TO IT BEING A MODIFIED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
NHTSA complaint #11206493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH, AND STATED THAT THE AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (FETTE FORD, 1137 U S 46, CLIFTON, NJ 07013, (973) 779-7000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE LOCAL DEALER THAT THE AXLE WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11130354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
REAR AXLE BREAK DUE TO CORROSION OF ACKNOWLEDGED INADEQUATELY DESIGNED AXLE. BREAK HAPPENED IN THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET INSTALLED DO TO INITIAL AXLE RECALL FOR POTENTIAL BREAK DUE TO CORROSION.. CAR WAS ON CITY STREET IN MOTION TO FREEWAY ONRAMP FORTUNATELY THE AXLE BROKE PRIOR TO ENTERING FREEWAY. AXLE BREAK RESULTED IN SAGGING AXLE AND A WHEEL TILTED INWARD AT ABOUT 20 DEGREES AND WEDGED AGAINST THE INNER WHEEL WELL. TIRE STARTED TO SMOKE. CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE. THE REPAIR IS ESTIMATED TO $1400. FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS BREAK IN THE BRACKETS INSTALLED TO PREVENT THE BREAK. ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS ARE ALSO NEEDING REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE BREAK OF THE AXLE.
NHTSA complaint #11102776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON THE RED BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON IT IS THROWING 9 CODE STARTING WITH C1185 AND 8 OTHER THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH THE FIRST CODE I AVE TRIED AND TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM MANY TIMES IT WILL NOT PASS A SAFETY CHECK. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND HIS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND VERY UNSAFE I KNOW IT CAN CATCH A FIRE AND ALSO THE BRAKES MAY LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #11096952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.