305 of the
19,460 complaints filed about the Ford Windstar
are about the lighting —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
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.
I NEEDED THE STARTER REPLACED, MY BRAKES, I'M HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES, MY CAR STOPS WHEN IT WANTS TO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY,.. IT MAKES NOISES WHEN I'M TURNING, I HAVE RUST COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR. THE SIGNAL LIGHTS FLICKERS
NHTSA complaint #11010660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OUR AND AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAD CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL SHOP AND WAS TOLD ABOUT THE C1185 CODE WAS ON. WE WERE DRIVING ON THE WAY HOME, AND IT JUST COMES AND GOES WITH EVERY START UP AND SHUT OFF. CAR WAS IN MOTION. TO MY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I'M NOT POSITIVE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE BUT I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING AND HAVE READ ABOUT MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES IN THIS PARTICULAR VAN SERIES. I'VE READ ABOUT FORD'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 09S09 AND AND MY VEHICLE IS TO BE IN THAT RECALL AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10957471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A CONTINUOUS CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS HERSELF; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A TROUBLE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
NHTSA complaint #10860085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I JAN 2014 THE ABS & BREAK WARNING LIGHT STARTED COMING ON OCCASSIONALLY I HAS BEEN TO A MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES I AM TOLD THE BREAKS ARE FINE BUT MY ABS SYSTEM MAY NOT WORK AND IT WOULD BE A $1500 REPAIR. NOW THE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY
NHTSA complaint #10724577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL, HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDED. AFTER RESTARTING, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE A CODE WAS NOT DETECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
NHTSA complaint #10713017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I NEVER KNEW ABOUT FORD'S RECALLS UNTIL LAST MARCH. BEFORE CALLING FORD I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ME. MINE STARTED IN 2012 WHEN OUT OF THE BLUE THE FRONT WINDOWS WOULD NO LONGER OPEN. NEXT WHEN YOU TRIED TO PUT THE HEAT ON IN THE REAR THERE WAS STRANGE NOISE AND NOW I'M TO AFRAID TO USE IT. THE PAST 3 YRS THE GAUGES GO HAYWIRE. SOMETIMES IF YOU HIT THE DASH IT'LL STOP BUT LOCKS UP AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR SPEED IS. IF I LEAVE IT ALONE SOMETIMES IT WILL STOP ON IT'S OWN BUT LOCKS UP TO WHEREVER IT STOPS AT. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON. FOR OVER 2 YRS NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. I HAD IT CHECKED & WAS TOLD IT WAS THE O2 SENSORS FOR WHICH I REPLACED, 3 DAYS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN THEY SAID IT WAS THE O2 SENSORS. IN THE PAST 2 1/2 YRS I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON. IF I ACCELERATE IT GOES OFF BUT NOBODY KNOWS WHY THE BATTERY KEEPS DYING. SOME SAY ITS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON FOR NO REASON SO I HAD THEM REMOVED AS I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE DRAINING THE BATTERY. LAST SUMMER OUT OF THE BLUE THE A/C STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND JUST QUIT JUST LIKE A MONTH AGO I HEARD THIS CLICKING NOISE ONLY TO FIND OUT I HAD NO HEAT. I SPOKE TO FORD ABOUT THE GAUGES, THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE A/C AND SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS IT WASN'T ON THEIR RECALL LIST AND WOULD ONLY FIX THE REAR AXLE, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE FRONT IF THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN I MENTIONED ALL THE INFO I FOUND ON NHTSA'S SITE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT IS FIXED. I AM DISABLED AND AM LIVING IN A PLACE FOR THE HOMELESS & WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS HOW DOES FORD EXPECT ME TO FIX THEIR DEFECTS? EVERY TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE WHICH ISN'T OFTEN I PRAY I MAKE IT TO & FROM SAFELY.
NHTSA complaint #10672465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE AND BOTH BULBS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10640648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE AND BOTH BULBS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10640648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS DESPITE THE VEHICLE BEING CHECKED AND SERVICED, ETC. IT'S NOT THE ONLY PANEL PROBLEM. ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, ETC. FREQUENTLY FREAK OUT AND SPIN WILDLY. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE RIGHT WILL STICK, AND THE TURN SIGNAL ON ALARM WILL SOUND ENDLESSLY.
NHTSA complaint #10597208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.