There are 21 stored owner reports matching the brakes leading-label group for the 1997 Ford Windstar in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 21 of 21 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)MY WINDSTAR GL WOULDN'T START. I REPLACED THE RANGE SELECTOR SWITCH. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE I FORGOT THE RECONNECT THE BRAKE PRESSURE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED TO GET THE CODE CLEARED BUT NO-ONE COULD ACCESS THE CODE. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL NOTICE ON THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM AND HAD THEM LOOK INTO WHY THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TOLD THE ABS MODULE HAD QUIT AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MODULE IS $1500.00 AND $300.00 TO INSTALL. THAT'S MORE THAN THE VAN IS WORTH. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT MANY OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS ALSO QUIT AND THE DEALER REP. TELLS ME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO GOES THROUGH THIS MODULE. WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE IT SEEMS RATHER IRRESPONSIBLE FOR FORD TO DO NOTHING MORE THAN INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK AS A SAFETY MEASURE. I AM LOOKING INTO BUYING A USED MODULE TO REPAIR THE CRUISE AND ABS. THE FAILURE IS TOTAL. NEITHER THE CRUISE CONTROL OR THE ABS SYSTEM WORKS AT THIS TIME. *TR
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON SAME TIME. NOTICE BRAKE FLUID LEAK. REFILL BRAKE FLUID OFTEN. SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE SWAYS ERRATICALLY FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. CRUISE CONTROL INOPERABLE FOR 2 YEARS. *TR
NOTICED THAT I WAS LEAKING SOME BRAKE FLUID FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ON MY 1997 FORD WINDSTAR BUT VERY LITTLE AT THAT. ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. RAISED THE HOOD BUT THE SMOKE HAD QUIT. GOT BACK HOME AND NOTICED THIS AGAIN WHEN I WAS STOPPED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AGAIN AND FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS SMOKING AND VERY HOT. WENT TO THE FORD DEALER TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND THERE WAS NOT . INSTALLED THE REPLACEMENT PART WITH PLUG ADAPTOR AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH SMOKING AND THE CRUISE STARTED WORKING AGAIN. NOTICED ON THE NET THIS SAME PART THAT IS IN MY WINDSTAR IS ALSO IN OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. WHY IS THIS? THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUGHT FIRE AND BEEN A TOTAL LOSS TO THE VAN AND IF IT HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE THE HOUSE ALSO. *TR
ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKING ENGAGES DURING NORMAL DRY BRAKING. THIS CAUSES A LESSENING IN BRAKING JUST BEFORE A COMPLETE STOP. COULD CAUSE A COLLISION BY NOT STOPPING CAR WITHIN THE DISTANCE EXPECTED. *JB
I BOUGHT THIS 1997 FORD WINDSTAR IN MARCH OF 2003. THE VERY NEXT DAY I RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDENT CAR DEALER DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THEY RESET THE LIGHT. WITHIN A WEEK IT WAS ON AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS A FLUXATION IN THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND IT WAS MAKING THE LIGHT COME ON. THEY RESET IT. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER IT IS LOSING COOLANT SOMEWHERE AND RUNNING ROUGH, THEY CHECK IT AND NOW IT NEEDS 2 OUT OF 4 OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED IM TOLD. THEY PAY FOR IT IF THEY TRULY FIXED IT BECAUSE ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS LATER I AM HAVINT THE SAME PROBLEMS SO THEY REPLACE THE OTHER 2 OXYGEN SENSORS, BUT CANNOT EXPLAIN THE COOLANT LOSS. EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SO I DECIDED TO GO TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER EVEN THOUGH I TRY TO AVOID DEALERS BECAUSE OF PRICES AND THEY CHARGE ME $58 TO TELL ME I NEED A HEAD GASKET, MY ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING, TIMING COVER IS LEAKING, BALL BEARING IS SHOT AND MY ANTIFREEZE LOOKS LIKE MUD. THIS IS ALL WROTE ON A SERVICE ESTIMATE I ASKED THEM FOR. IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1700 + TAX FOR THEM TO FIX. I HAVE READ THAT FORD KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE 95 WINDSTARS AND THE HEAD GASKETS AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OR MONEY TOWARDS A NEW CAR SO I FEEL THEY KNOW ALL WINDSTARS WITH THIS 3.8L ENGINE ARE FAULTY NOT JUST THE 95'S. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME TOUGH LUCK BASICALLY. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEAD GASKETS IN ALL 3.8L WINDSTARS AND I WANT MY VAN FIXED.
ABS BRAKING LIGHT SYSTEM APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. ALSO THERE IS COOLANT MIXED IN WITH OIL INSIDE OF ENGINE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. *AK
RIGHT REAR BRAKE WOULD LOCK UP AFTER BEING PARKED. WOULD BREAK LOOSE AFTER BEING DRAGGED ON DRY PAVEMENT FOR ABOUT 20 FEET. ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON SPORADICALLY. HAD FORD DEALER REPLACE REAR BRAKES.*AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AT 78,000 MILES. CAR HAS FAILED 4 TIMES. REPEATED TRIPS TO SERVICE CENTER, TUNE-UP TWICE, NEW BATTERY, NEW FUEL PUMP. APPROX. $1500 PAID SO FAR, CAR CONTINUES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. FORD MOTOR CO.
TRACKING SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. AND BRAKES ARE NOT OPERABLE. LIGHT ON THE INSIDE COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ALONG WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STAY LIT WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING USED. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT THE DOOR AJAR BUZZER TENDS TO KEEP SOUNDING WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A HINDRANCE WHILE DRIVING.
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK
FRONT BRAKES ARE SOFT.
NORM CONDITIONS 20 MPH STOP ABS ENGAGED,DELAYED STOP. NEAR ACCIDENT. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM, NOT REPEATABLE. ONE YEAR LATER PROBLEM RECURRED, AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER TO REPLACE LEFT WHEEL SENSOR. SEEMS THAT IF THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER DOESN'T THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM, THE TECHNICIANS CANNOT FIND IT. SENSORS COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED EARLIER AS A PRECAUTION. OTHER PROBLEM- DRIVING 55 ON HIGHWAY AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED UNCOMMANDED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED SINCE EARLIER INCIDENT WITH THE DEALER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. SENSOR IN GEAR SELECTOR WAS BAD. HOPEFULLY, NO UNDUE WEAR AND TEAR ON TRANSMISSION RESULTED FROM THE HIGHWAY DOWNSHIFT.
BRAKE PADS FAILED. YH
BRAKE PADS TWICE AND THE BRAKE ROTORS ONCE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ABS LIGHT AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT IN THE DASH BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF. CURRENTLY, THEY ARE STAYING ON IN VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENT. *AK
ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES.
ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. MJS
MY ANTI LOCK LIGHT STAYS ON BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR STAYS ON AFTER I COME TO A HAULT FOR THE FIRST TIME OUT FOR THE DAY. BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE BRAKE DRUMS CRUSHING MY BRAKE PAD I HAD TO REPLACE ONE AT A TIME.BUT THE IN ONE MONTH MY REAR RIM CRACKS LEAKING AIR THEN FRONT RIM DOES SAME THING IN SAME MONTH DEALER SAY WE CA SCEDUEL YOU AN APPOINTMENT AT YOUR COST. THANKS YOU FORD FOR A FINE RESPONSE. *AK
RIGHT SIDE BRAKES MAKE INTERMITTENT RUMBLING NOISE, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. NLM
ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
Showing 1-20 of 21 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: May 4, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.