2001 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

ON 08/09/2008, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE THEN HAD TO BE JUMP-STARTED, AND I NOTICED A FAINT BURNING SMELL WHILE DRIVING. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THE BURNING SCENT WAS EXTREMELY STRONG. THE VEHICLE IS NOW INOPERATIVE. THE BATTERY, PURCHASED AT SEARS ON 06/04/2005, CAN NO LONGER HOLD A CHARGE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS GONE HAYWIRE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE HEADLIGHTS NOW COME ON, DIMLY, WHEN THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT WAS 119,200. I HAD ONE PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. IN JUNE 2007, BOTH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND WERE ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND IN THE BRAKES. TWICE, ON WET PAVEMENT, MY BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION NORMALLY. ALTHOUGH I AVOIDED ANY COLLISION, ON ONE OCCASION I WAS FORCED TO PROCEED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHERE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED RED. AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC WAS CODE C1185. AS A PRECAUTION, THEY FLUSHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THEREAFTER, THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN IN MAY 2008. AGAIN, THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SQUEALING BRAKES. I HAD A FORD DEALERSHIP GO OVER THE VEHICLE AND RECEIVED A WRITTEN REPORT IN MAY 2008 THAT SHOWED THE BRAKES TO BE IN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION. THERE WERE NO FURTHER INCIDENTS UNTIL AUGUST 2008. BECAUSE OF THE COMPLAINTS I'VE READ ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, I WILL MENTION THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH ON THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT WORKED IN QUITE SOME TIME. I MUST USE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

ABS LIGHT IS ON MOST OF THE TIME. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO OFF AND THEN IT IS CONTINUALLY ON. *TR

WHEN DRIVING VAN IN HOT WEATHER OR GOING UP STEEP HILLS OR GRADES THE TRANSMISSION WILL START LEAKING OUT TRANSMISSION FLUID. ENOUGH WILL BE COMING OUT TO CREATE A VISIBLE CLOUD OF SMOKE BEHIND THE VEHICLE AS IT IS HITTING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. HAD NEW TRANS AXLE SEAL INSTALLED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL IS THERE. IF YOU PARK THE VAN FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES IT QUITS LEAKING AND YOU CAN PROCEED. FOR SOME REASON THE FLUID GETS SO HOT IT IS BASICALLY BOILING OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

2001 FORD WINDSTAR ABS/BRAKE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND STAY ON. WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF, BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON. BRAKE PEDAL NEEDS TO BE PUMPED AND PULLED FOR LIGHTS TO TURN OFF. PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO, WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT IS NOW, AS OF 4 MONTHS AGO, HAPPENING EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. A FRIEND'S WINDSTAR IS DOING THE SAME THING, AND WHEN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL BY FORD. *TR

THE EXTERIOR AND UNDERPART OF THE VAN HAS TONS OF RUST ON IT. THE EXTERIOR IS THE LEAST OF MY WORRIES, BUT ALL THE METAL PIECES UNDER THE CAR CONTINUE TO RUST LIKE NO OTHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL RELAY SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 2002. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000. UPDATED 11-19-08 *BF UPDATED 11/20/08.*JB

RUBBER TIRE VALVE STEM CRACKED. TIRE DEFLATES. HAS OCCURRED SO FAR ON 3 OF 4 TIRES PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2006. FAILURES OCCURRED IN MARCH 2008, JULY 2008 (TWICE). IN ALL THREE CASES, VALVE REPLACED BY TIRE DEALER. *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. 2001 FORD WINDSTAR BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ON. HAPPENS MORE OFTEN IN SUMMER TIME THAN WINTER. USUALLY HAPPENS MORE OFTEN IN CITY DRIVING AFTER APPLYING BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. WILL USUALLY NOT COME ON RIGHT AT STARTUP, BUT AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES. AT THE TIME THE LIGHT IS ON, ABS SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK RESULTING IN INCREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE ON SLIPPERY PAVEMENT. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE ECM MODULE TO FIX PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS THE CAUSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT IGNITED INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL, CONSISTING OF THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,000. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ALSO BEEN ON. UPDATED 10/06/08. *JB

ABS LIGHT IS ON, BRAKE LIGHT IS ON, A/C IS BLOWING OUT WARM AIR, ODOMETER IS NOT WORKING, O/D OFF LIGHT IS BLINKING. REPLACED FUSE #10 TWICE, BUT KEEPS BLOWING. WE HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED YET. *TR

THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE BROKE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO THE MOVIES WITH ALL MY KIDS IN THE VAN. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT MY MECHANIC SAID THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. HE ALSO SAID IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BAD, REALLY BAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHE HAD TO EXERT EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT AN ABS MODULE WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

MY 2001 FORD WINSTAR SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER,A/C, O/D LIGHT FLASHING, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK ALL AT ONCE. I WAS TOLD IT IS A DEFICTIVE BRAKE SWITCH. *TR

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND RED BRAKE LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THAT IS ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, USUALLY ON HOT DAYS, THESE LIGHTS COME ON. BUT WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED THEY ARE OFF. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTARS AND IS DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING ABS ELECTRONIC MODULE. REPLACING THE MODULE DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT COME BACK. THIS CAN BE SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON, NO SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER OR CRUISE . *TR

FUSE #10 KEEPS BLOWS, ABS AND PARKING BRAKES LIGHTS ARE ON, O/D OFF LIGHT IS FLASHING, SPEEDOMETER, A/C, AND ODOMETER ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE DASH WARNING LIGHTS ARE LIT INDICATING FAILURE OF THE ECM THAT CONTROLS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR FORD TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR RESULTED IN NO ASSIGNABLE CAUSES. ADDITIONALLY, CRUISE CONTROL AND OVERDRIVE FUNCTIONS HAVE ALSO NOW QUIT. *TT

2001 FORD WINDSTAR, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, THEY ONLY GO OUT WHEN THE CAR COOLS. TERRYS LINCOLN MERCURY IN ORLAND PARK IL REPLACED/OR ADDED SOME SORT OF CABLE PER DETROIT (I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL, THEY PERFORMED THIS WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE AS I FOUND OUT. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS. *TR

ON A VERY HOT DAY I WENT OVER A BUMP AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT AND YELLOW ABS LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. I WAS PANICKED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL, BUT AFTER PARKING THE VAN AND RESTARTING IT, THE LIGHTS WERE GONE. THEY CAME BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDED A NEW ABS MODULE. I RESEARCH THE INTERNET TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM, AND WHY IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS HOT OUT. WE DECIDED TO POSTPONE THE $700 REPAIR, SINCE IT DOESN'T OCCUR WHEN IT IS COLD OUT. WE HAD NO PROBLEMS THIS WINTER, BUT NOW THAT IT HOT AGAIN, THE LIGHTS ARE AGAIN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE WON'T HAVE ABS ONLY WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON. BUT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN IN THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO COUNT ON THE ABS SYSTEM WORKING WHEN WE NEED IT. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT RESULTS FROM A DEFECTIVE PART THEY DESIGNED. AT THIS POINT WE HAVE NOT REPLACED THE PART, IT IS STILL IN THE VAN, BUT I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT SOON AS THE WEATHER GETS WARMER AND THE LIGHTS BECOME MORE FREQUENT. *TR

WE HAVE HAD OUR BRAKES SERVICED BACK IN 2008, AND ONCE BEFORE THAT IN 2003 (ALMOST A YEAR AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR). IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, THE ABS LIGHT AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT HAVE CONSTANTLY BEEN TURNING ON AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE BRAKES STILL WORK, BUT I AM UNAWARE OF WHY THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO COME ON. WHEN WE HAD OUR BRAKES SERVICED IN 2008, THE LIGHTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMING ON, AND REPLACING THE BRAKES DID NOT HELP. BRAKES HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OUR WINDSTAR SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR

2001 FORD WINDSTAR, ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMING ON. MECHANIC SAYS THERE ARE OVER 11 CODES SHOWING UP. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED, NOBODY CAN FIX IT, JUST KEEPS HAPPENING. I'VE HEARD ABOUT FIRES OCCURRING AND AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *TR

I HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE VAN. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE COULD HELP ONLY TO FIND THE EXACT PROBLEM. LUCKY FOR MY FAMILY I FOUND THE SIGHT. IT CONCERNS THE FORD WINDSTAR 1999-2003 BRAKE AND ABS PROBLEMS. I AM AFRAID TO HAUL MY FAMILY AROUND IN THIS VAN UNTIL IT IS FIXED. THE SITE IS WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. *TR

FORD 2001 WINDSTAR HAS REPEATED ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PROBLEM CLEARS EACH TIME THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. PROBLEM RE-APPEARS IRREGULARLY BETWEEN MINUTES AND DAYS AFTER THE CAR IS RESTARTED. CAUSES THE DRIVERS CONCERN AND DISTRACTION. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR SEL. WHILE DRIVING ON WET / SLIPPERY ROADS, THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM IS INDICATED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS AND BRAKE DASHBOARD LIGHTS. THE FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE IS ANY TIME THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING DURING WARM / SUMMER WEATHER AND LESS FREQUENTLY, BUT STILL ALMOST DAILY, DURING COOL / WINTER WEATHER. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN FULLY INSPECTED AND WORN OR SUSPECT PARTS REPLACED. AT THE LAST SERVICE VISIT (TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC THAN PREVIOUS VISITS) THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COMPUTER CODE INDICATED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTAR VEHICLES. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED DUE TO THE EXPENSE. *TR

SCARY ISSUE: ABS BRAKES STARTED TWICE WITHOUT ANY NEED AND WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD WHILE BRAKES WERE FIRMLY APPLIED. ONCE AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE STOPPED AND ONCE WHEN STOPPING FOR A STOP SIGN AT NORMAL SPEEDS/CONDITIONS. ADDITIONALLY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND INTERMITTENTLY MOSTLY WHEN WARM OUT AND MORE CONSISTENTLY WHEN BOTH WARM OUT AND VEHICLE IS STOPPED AFTER REACHING FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND THEN RESTARTED SHORTLY AFTER (I.E. STOP AT A STORE AND THEN RETURN TO VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES OR WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ON HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY NORMAL SPEEDS. STOPPING SEEMS TO ALLOW MORE HEAT TO COLLECT TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM AS AIR DOES NOT COOL THE PARTS WHICH MAY BE THE CAUSE. SUSPECT EXACTLY WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/ PROBLEM # 2. MY CRUISE CONTROL ALSO STOPPED WORKING OVER A YEAR AGO AND THE REPAIR WAS TO CHANGE THE SWITCH IN PROBLEM #1. I DID NOT INCUR A FIRE BUT THE SWITCH DID FAIL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, AND SERVICE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TRACTION AND ABS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THE COMPUTER MODULE AND THEY RESET THE CODES. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND HAD THE FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE CODES APPEARED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ABS POWER RELAY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE ABS MODULE AT THE COST OF $800. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

I JUST RECENTLY BROUGHT MY FORD WINDSTAR (2001) TO THE REPAIR SHOP DUE TO SOME UNEXPECTED ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. AT FIRST, BOTH ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD TURNED ON THEN THE ODOMETER COUNTER WENT BLANK, O/D LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY BLINKING AND THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WILL NOT ENGAGE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ABOUT WHAT HE DISCOVERED UNDER THE DASHBOARD, THE ABS MECHANISM DAMAGED THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS DUE TO ABS CONTROL FLUID LEAK. I DECIDED TO LOOK FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ON THE INTERNET DUE TO A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A LOT OUT THERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES I HAD EXPERIENCED. LUCKILY MY VEHICLE DID NOT SET ON FIRE. I AM SURPRISED THAT FORD COMPANY NEVER TOOK ACTION ON THIS ISSUE KNOWING THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. KINDLY INFORM ME IF THERE IS ANY RECALL FROM FORD COMPANY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

BRAKE PRESSURE DIFF SWITCH IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ON THE WIRES UNDER IT AND FUSES AND POPPING. ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, A/C, ABS AND O/D HAVE ALL POSTED AS NOT WORKING. *TR

ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND DISABLES THE ABS BRAKE FEATURE. *LN

MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT JUST STARTED COMING ON IT GOES OFF BUT AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING IT COMES BACK ON. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG THEY SAID THE BRAKES LOOKS GOOD,THEY RESET THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT THEN 1 WEEK LATER IT CAME BACK ON AND HAS BEEN ON SINCE I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEY STILL COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG THEY PUT IT ON A MACHINE THAT READ NO FAILED SIGNAL.*TR

MY ABS AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON, WE HAVE FIXED THE PART FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON. 96,000 MILES. *TR

MY 2001 WINDSTAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT. LAST SUMMER WHILE STANDING AND RUNNING IT ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD SMOKE RISING ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE VAN ON THE DRIVER SIDE, MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE LOW BRAKE FLUID SENSOR LEAKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. MY CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INTERMITTENT AND MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AFTER HITTING A BUMP. A LOCAL SHOP STATED THAT A WIRE WAS LOOSE AND IT WOULD COST A $1000 TO FIND THE PROBLEM. TODAY I LEARNED THAT THE SWITCH IS LEAKING AND THE CONNECTOR TO THE WIRING HARNESS IS BURNED AND HAS BEEN SHORTED BY LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THANKFULLY THAT I DID SHUT DOWN THE CAR WHEN THE SMOKE APPEARED AND I DID NOT HAVE A FIRE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING WINDSTARS THAT HAVE HAD FIRES OR PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. *TR

I OWN A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. IT IS USED BY MY WIFE. LAST WEEKEND, SHE CAME HOME FROM A LOCAL SHOPPING TRIP AND TOLD ME THE A/C WAS NOT BLOWING COLD ANYMORE AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ALSO THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER WERE NOT WORKING. ALSO THE O/D LIGHT WAS BLINKING ON AND OFF. LATER IN THE EVENING I WENT AND CHECKED MY FUSES ON THE VAN AND FOUND THE #10 FUSE (15AMP WAS BURNT). I REPLACED THE FUSE WITH A NEW ONE AND STARTED THE VAN. THE A/C WAS NOW BLOWING VERY COLD AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT NOW WAS OFF. AFTER LEAVING THE VAN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES, I NOTICED HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND GOT A FLASHLIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS BURNING. I NOTICED NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER, A GROUP OF WIRES THAT HAD BURNED NEAR THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I THEN CAME INSIDE AND SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR THIS ISSUE AND CAME ACROSS A FEW BLOGS THAT STATED THE SAME PROBLEM. I THEN BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN THE NEXT DAY TO AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERSHIP THAT CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT MY VAN DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE WHILE MY WIFE HAS BEEN USING THE VAN TO BRING MY CHILDREN TO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES. THIS IS TOTALLY AN UNSAFE MATTER AND FORD SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO A RECALL. WHAT MORE CAN I DO TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN?? *TR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ABS MODULE ASSY. FORD CODE 1185. OCCURS RANDOMLY. HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION YET. HIGH EXPENSE ITEMS. *TR

ABS & BRAKE LIGHT SENORS CONTINUOUSLY REMAIN LIT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL OF VEHICLE. *TR

FORD WINDSTAR BRAKE, ABS BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS * BRAKE LIGHT (RED) STAYS ON * 15 AMP FUSE #10 BLOWING OUT * FIRE OR SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VAN ABS ECM AREA WHILE OFF. * MELTED ABS ECM WIRING CONNECTOR. * SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STOP WORKING. * CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ACTIVATE OR DEACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING. * ABS BRAKE LIGHT (YELLOW). *TR

2001 FORD WINDSTAR ABS BRAKE ISSUE. THE ABS, RED BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS CONTROL UNIT ACTIVATES ON ALL STOPS FROM 5 MPH UNTIL A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON IN MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THIS OCCURS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY ABS MODULE. *TR

I HAD A GREEN LIGHT ON A N/S STREET. THE DRIVER ON THE E/W STREET RAN THE LIGHT. I HIT THE DRIVER SIDE OF HIS CAR, DAMAGING MY ENTIRE FRONT END TO THE POINT OF A TOTAL LOSS ON THE VAN. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DID DEPLOY (NO PASSENGER, HOWEVER). THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT. I AM DEALING WITH DEEP BRUISING ON MY STERNUM AND CHEST. *TR

MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT EVERY DAY. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY, BUT WHEN WE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, WE DID SOME CHECKING AT THE BRAKE PRESSURE DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND THERE IS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CONNECTION. WE TOOK OUT THE FUSES, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSES FIRES. PLEASE MAKE FORD CALL THIS AS A RECALL. WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THIS WITH OUR 98 FORD EXPEDITION.... WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER CAR AS A FIRE HAZARD! *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON RANDOMLY. NEVER WHEN VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED BUT ONLY AFTER VAN WARMED UP/WAS OPERATING FOR A WHILE. AS VEHICLE AGED LIGHTS CAME ON SOONER AND LASTED LONGER. CHECKED CODES WHICH WAS ALWAYS A LONG LIST WHICH INCLUDED C1185. SENSORS WERE ALL CLEANED AND INSPECTED/TESTED. BRAKES SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED AND CHECKED OUT AND SAFE SANS THE ABS FUNCTION. MANY REPORTS OF THE ECM MAIN BOARD SOLDERING FAILURE AFTER RUNNING FOR A WHILE AND HEATING UP. *TR

WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE REAR AXEL ON MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN SNAPPED COMPLETELY IN TWO. WE HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF A BUSY HIGHWAY AND LUCKILY WERE GOING VERY SLOWLY ON A SIDE STREET. WE ALL WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS HAD HAPPENED 5 MINUTES EARLIER. *TR

MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE COME INTERMITTENT ON AND MY CRUISE CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT. SEARCHING THE INTERNET REVEALED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE "SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH" THAT IS MOUNTED ON THE FRONT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. I HAVE INSPECTED MY SWITCH AND IT DOES HAVE A FLUID LEAK THAT IS RUNNING DOWN THE WIRES. THIS HAS NOT CAUSED ANY OTHER PROBLEMS YET. *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED IN FORD 2001 WINDSTAR AFTER REPAIR OF LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER. ABS LIGHT IS ON NON-STOP. *TR

NHTSA EXPANDS FORD WINDSTAR CORROSION PROBE TO FRONT SUBFRAMES. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS BUT HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE H-FRAME IN THE FRONT OF MY WINDSTAR REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL CONNECTION HAD CORRODED THROUGH AND THE WHEEL WAS GOING TO POTENTIALLY COME OFF. IT WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY SO MY MECHANIC TOOK A LOOK TO SEE IF THE SHOCKS, BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. HE FOUND THE H-FRAME CORRODED AND REQUIRED REPLACING. THIS WAS 2 YEAR AGO AND COST ABOUT $2000 TO REPLACE. I AM NOW HAVING ISSUES WITH MY REAR END WHICH IS CAUSING LOUD NOISES GOING OVER BUMPS AND VIBRATING AT SPEED. WENT TO THE SAME MECHANIC AND HE SAYS THAT THE U-FRAME HOLDING UP THE REAR END IS CRACKED AND CORRODED. EVENTUALLY IT WILL BREAK THROUGH AND DROP THE CAR. SINCE THIS IS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 80,000 MILES, I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO UNDERGO THE REPAIRS BUT TO LOOK FOR A NEW VEHICLE. THE WINDSTAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT FOR ITS ENTIRE LIFE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND SPARKS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND FROM THE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE SMOKE AND ELECTRICAL SPARKS OCCURRED ONCE ON MAY 31, 2008. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING 40 MPH, AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE WEATHER WAS DRY AND SUNNY. ON JUNE 3, 2008, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS CIRCUIT FAILURE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WILL NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER AND IS WAITING ON FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL SO THAT HER VEHICLE CAN BE REMEDIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,000. UPDATED 07/09/08 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY LOSS EXCESSIVE BRAKE FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $86.67. SECONDLY, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE VIN RANGE. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,032. UPDATED 09/16/08 *BF THE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. UPDATED 09/22/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE AND REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM CONSUMERS WHO WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 154,000.

INTERMITTENT C1185 ABS CODE IS BEING CAUSED BY HEAT IN THE ABS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) (2C219) MODULE CAUSING EXPANSION OF A LARGE ALUMINUM PLATE (HEAT SINK) IN THE ECM WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE ECM MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD AT ALL POINTS. THE EXPANSION OCCURS WHEN THE UNIT GETS WARM ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AND CAUSES INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE UNIT BECAUSE THE FRAGILE BOARD IS BEING STRETCHED AND MALFORMED. THIS CAUSES AN INTERMITTENT ABS LIGHT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ABS RELAY. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT HAS SERIOUS SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. *TR