2001 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASH COME AND GO MOSTLY ON ALL THE TIME. *TR

OUR 2001 FORD WINDSTAR'S TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ONLY MOMENTS BEFORE AND SAID "CHECK TRANSMISSION". MY CONCERN IS TWO FOLD. FIRST, THEIR WAS NOT ADEQUATE TIME TO RESPOND WHEN THE "CHECK TRANSMISSION" LIGHT APPEARED AND THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. LUCKILY MY WIFE WAS JUST PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A SIDE STREET AND WAS GOING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. SECONDLY, THE VAN HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS NOT THE NORM FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. *AK

DRIVING ON US 60 AND LOOP 101 WHEN THE SIDE AIR BAG LOCATED IN DRIVERS LEFT SIDE OF SEAT EXPLODED. THERE HAD BEEN SOME WOOD PALLET DEBRIS APPROXIMATELY SCATTERED ON THE ROAD 100 HUNDRED YARDS BEHIND THE POINT OF THE AIR BAG ACTIVATION. ANALYSIS FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP SHOWS THAT SOME SMALL OBJECT IMPACTED ONTO THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE CENTER POST ABOUT 6 INCHES UP ON THE FRAME POST. I THINK THAT THIS AREA IS OF IMPACT IS UNPROTECTED FROM SMALL OBJECTS DETONATING THE AIR BAG IN A NON EMERGENCY CONDITION. (EXAMPLE) GRAVEL ROADS ANY SMALL ROCK COULD TRIGGER THE AIR BAG. THIS CONDITION MAY HAPPEN ON ANY ROAD FROM OBJECTS TOO SMALL TO BE OBSERVED. THE ONLY DAMAGE NOTED IS SOME PAINT SCRAPED FROM FRAME. DEALER PUT THE CAR ON HOIST AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THE IMPACT AREA. IT IS ACTUALLY ABOUT 6 INCHES ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF CAR FRAME. MECHANIC SAID THE AREA WAS 6 INCHES FROM THE SENSOR. I AM NOW DEALING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET THE AIR BAG AND SEAT REPLACED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I DO HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE AREA IMPACTED BUT FEEL THE SENSOR IS NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTED FROM FALSE EXPLOSIONS. *NM

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR REMAINED ON INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG AND SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE IN THE HARNESS. THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE LEFT FRONT SEAT CONSOLE AND AIR BAG MODULE TO GET AT THE LOOSE WIRE. THEY RECONNECTED IT. THIS COST ME $256.34 WITH TAX. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND ANOTHER PERSON THAT SEEMED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID. I WONDER IF THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AND A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE WITH ALL FORD WINDSTARS?. *JB

SINCE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS REPEATEDLY MALFUNCTIONED. THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE PROBLEMS. THE FIRST AND MOST COMMON IS THAT THE DOOR WILL CLOSE, ONLY TO INSTANTLY OPEN AGAIN. ANY OF THE THREE BUTTONS USED TO CLOSE THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY CAUSE THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THESE OCCASIONS, IF WE ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE DOOR MANUALLY, IT WILL NOT LATCH AT ALL. USUALLY AFTER 20+ ATTEMPTS THE DOOR WILL LATCH PROPERLY. SLIGHTLY LESS COMMON IS THE SECOND PROBLEM, WHEN THE DOOR WILL REFUSE TO UNLOCK. THE LOCK BUTTON CAN'T BE PULLED UP, AND THE BUTTONS ON THE KEY FOB OR DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM ONLY PERTAINS TO THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR. THE THIRD AND MOST RECENT PROBLEM IS THAT, ON HALF A DOZEN OR SO OCCASIONS, THE DOOR HAS SPONTANEOUSLY OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. THE MOST RECENT OCCASION WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS EXITING A HIGHWAY AND TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MPH, IN APPROXIMATELY 25 DEGREE WEATHER, WITH AN INFANT IN THE SEAT BY THE DOOR. ON THESE OCCASIONS THE DOOR WILL ALSO EXHIBIT THE FIRST NOTED PROBLEM, REFUSAL TO REMAIN CLOSED. TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS HAVE MADE THE REPAIRS AUTHORIZED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT BEYOND THAT HAVE STONEWALLED. ONE DEALERSHIP REFERRED THE PROBLEM TO THE "REGIONAL REP", BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS. UPON PRESSING THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR IT DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. CONSUMER HAS TO PUSH THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE TO CLOSE IT COMPLETELY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE DEALER HAD DONE NOTHING ,BUT PUT A BAND AID ON IT. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *TC

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH CHILDREN INSIDE. WHEN ONE OF THE CHILDREN EXITED THE VEHICLE IT WAS ON FIRE. CONSUMER REMOVED THE SECOND CHILD AND NOTICED THAT FIRE SPREAD FROM THE DASHBOARD TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

I PURCHASED THIS 2001 FORD WINDSTAR SEL 11/18/04 FROM POHANKA CHEVROLET. ON MY WAY TO KANSAS ON 11/20/04 THE CD/CASSETTE PLAYER WENT OUT. THAN I STARTED HEARING A NOISE IN THE STEERING. WHEN I RETURNED THEY EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE STEREO AND AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES IN, THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. AFTER THAT I STARTED HEARING A GRATING SOUND WHEN COMING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. PULLING OUT IN REVERSE, OR GOING FORWARD, AFTER TURNING THE WHEEL TO GO STRAIGHT IT WOULD MAKE THIS SOUND. THEY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT SO I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER WHO SAID THIS WAS NORMAL FOR A WINDSTAR. IT DOESN'T FEEL NORMAL AND I HOPE THEY WILL REPLACE ANYTHING IT MAY BE DAMAGING. ALSO, AFTER THE POWER STEERING WAS "FIXED" I STARTED FEELING AND HEARING THIS WHIRLING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. A FEW TIMES THE CAR ALMOST CUT OFF AT A STOP LIGHT, BUT I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT CONTINUED RUNNING. AGAIN, THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL FOR A WINDSTAR. I NOW SEE WHY THERE ARE NO NEW WINDSTARS. I JUST WANTED IT NOTED THAT THIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH POHANKA AND TED BRITT FORD, TO NOT AVAIL. POHANKA EVEN OFFERED ME A CHEVROLET MALIBU, PLUS MORE MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET, AS A REPLACEMENT. I WANTED A VAN, NOT A CAR.

VEHICLE'S BACK END SWAYED LEFT AND RIGHT, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE BOLT WAS REPLACED AND A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE LOWER REAR TIGHT SIDE BOLT WAS NO GOOD. THE CONUSMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. TESTS FOUND VACUUM LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. LOWER AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE REPLACED. IDLE SPEED CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE BRAKES SQUEAKED . WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE IDLES HIGH. *TC

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW SHATTERED TWICE. *AK WITH BOTH OCCURRENCES, THE WEATHER WAS MODERATE, PARKED, LOCKED AND UNOCCUPIED, NO KEYS WERE IN THE IGNITION. *SC

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE PASSENGER WENT TO THE DOCTOR THE NEXT DAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S BODY SHOP. *AK THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM HEADACHES, NECK PAIN, BACK PAIN, AND SHOULDER PAIN. THE DEALER DID NOT ASSUME ANY REPONSIBILITY. *TC

1) THERE WERE 2 MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH OUR FORD WINDSTAR 2001 WHICH WE BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM OUR DEALER. THE FIRST PROBLEM: WE THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BURNING OIL. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME AND THEY REPLACED A SEAL. WE TOOK A TRIP AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WE WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. WE ENDED UP SPENDING ABOUT $3500 ON THE CAR. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE ABS BRAIN FAILED AND WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE IT AND THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $1200. IT WAS AT THIS POINT, WE DECIDED WE WOULD NOT PURSUE THAT REPAIR AS THAT WOULD MEAN WE WOULD HAVE PUT IN ABOUT 5K INTO OUR CAR WITHIN A YEAR. 3) FORD WENT IN "HALF" WITH US ON THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I DO NOT RECALL THE EXACT DATE FOR THE FIRST FAILURE. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 2005. *JB

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY HUSBAND HAD AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH OUR CAR WAS TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, AND THE SEAT BELTS DIDN'T HOLD HIM IN PLACE. HIS CHEST IS REAL SORE ,AND HE GOT WHIP LASH. HE IS GOING TO THE DOCTOR. ON THE VEHICLE THAT HIT HIM THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

ON 10/22/04 I DROPPED MY CHILD AT SCHOOL, AND EXITING THE PARKING LOT THE LEFT REAR SIDE WINDOW OF MY 2001 WINDSTAR VAN EXPLODED. I WAS IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. ON 3/22/05 I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH NO-ONE BEHIND MY VAN WHEN MY BACK LIFTGATE WINDOW EXPLODED. THE ONLY COMMONALITY BETWEEN THESE EVENTS WAS THAT BOTH MORNINGS WERE COOL AND THE INSIDE OF THE VAN HAD BEEN WARMED FOR 20-30 MINUTES. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 58,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES). $3000 TO REPLACE. I ONLY HAD WINDSTAR FOR 2 YEARS. PURCHASED IN NOV. 2002 WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT. POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED TO LOCK SINCE PURCHASE. THEY MUST BE MANUALLY PUSHED DOWN ($300 TO FIX). *AK

THE TRANSMISSION MADE A GRIND NOISE AND ENGAGED AND SLAMMED INTO MY GARAGE. WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. AND NOW THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE.*AK

WHILE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY, WITHOUT IGNITION RUNNING, ON A RAINY, 60-DEGREE DAY, REAR WINDOW EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT OR THE DRIVEWAY, AS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. IT WAS QUITE AN EXPLOSION, AS THE LARGEST PIECE OF GLASS WAS THE SIZE OF A SILVER DOLLAR.*AK

THE DRIVER 'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNRAVELED. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A TEAR BETWEEN THE RETRACTOR. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SEAT BELTS WAS NOT A LIFE TIME WARRANTY. *JB *SC

WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE NOZZLE TURNS OFF, THE GAS BACKS UP AND LEAKS OUT. IT CAN TAKE UP TO A HALF HOUR TO FILL THE TANK.*AK

THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED TO DRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TEST, FAILURE CODE 2290 WAS FOUND. AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE/SOME WIRES, AND SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL 00V270000 AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK

I HAVE MADE CONTACTS BEFORE WITH FORD. MANY ITEMS UPON MY VEHICLE HAVE WENT BAD SINCE PURCHASE. MY MAIN CONCERN WAS TIRE BLOW OUTS. I CONTACTED FORD AFTER 2 TIRES BLOW OUTS WITHIN 3 MONTHS TIME. SINCE MY CONTACT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AN AIR CONDITIONER, AND OTHER ITEMS. BUT MY MAIN CONCERN WAS A TIRE BLOW OUT AGAIN THAT LEFT MY VEHICLE WITH FRONT DAMAGE AND MY LOWER BACK IN PAIN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE ODOMETER WENT OUT. CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE LITTLE SPARKS OF FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE WIRING THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER MELTED. THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING DOWN ON THE WIRING. *AK

OIL LEAKS LEADING TO THE ENGINE $700.00 @60,000 MILES ABS ---SYSTEM REPLACED $1200 @74,500 MILES HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AND SOME SUSPENSION PROBLEM $2,000 @ 7500MILES. *AK

SLIDING DOOR SHUT ON ITS OWN. TODDLER WAS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR, AND THE DOOR STRUCK HIS HAND. THERE SHOULD BE A SENSOR FOR PEOPLE EXITING OR ENTERING THE VEHICLE.*AK

QUESTIONS: MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN WHICH HAS BEEN CAUSING US TROUBLE LATELY. TWO MONTHS AGO, THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR HALF AN HOUR, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD MUZI DEALER, HOWEVER, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT, SO I CALLED FORD CORPORATION CONCERNING THE ISSUE OF SAFETY, AND WE AGREED THAT I CO-PAY $100.00 TO REPLACE THE CAM-SENSOR, WHICH THEY SAID WOULD SOLVE. *JB THE PROBLEM. TWO WEEKS AFTER REPLACING THE CAM-SENSOR, HOWEVER, MY CAR STOPPED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. THE CAR WAS LATER TOWED TO MUZI FORD DEALER AND FIXED AGAIN. TODAY, AROUND 5 P.M., THE ENGINE STOPPED ABRUPTLY AGAIN WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND HIM, OR OUR CAR MIGHT HAVE BEEN RUN INTO AND OUR FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. SINCE THE FORD DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, WE REQUESTED FOR A PARTIAL REFUND OR AN EXCHANGE. HOWEVER, FORD CORPORATION REFUSED BOTH OPTIONS AND IS IGNORING OUR CALLS. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR ENTIRE FAMILY; IF THE ENGINE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, WE COULD ALL BE KILLED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD TWICE. AS A RESULT, TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE GAVE NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS BROKE CAUSING THE CASE TO CRACK. *TC

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, THE TIRE RESET WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. *JB

THE CONSUMER COULD SEE THAT THE CRACKS WERE STARTING TO APPEAR ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC

OFF SWITCH ON CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR DOES NOT WORK. IT STOPPED WORKING IN 2004. I CAN DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY HITTING THE BRAKE BUT IT IS STILL ACTIVE AND IF I TOUCH THE 'RESUME' BUTTON BY MISTAKE, SUDDENLY I AM BACK AT CRUISING SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND BOTH TIMES I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. I SPOKE TO AN OFFICIAL IN THE FORD SAFETY DEPT. AND HE SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE CONTROL COULD BE DISENGAGED. I BELIEVE HE WAS WRONG AND SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT HERE. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS NO INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH PANEL TO SAY WHETHER THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON OR NOT. THIS ADDS TO THE RISK. *TR

TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH OF JULY DURING A TRIP TO MAINE MY PUMP SEAL ON MY TRANSMISSION BLEW AND I HAD TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN THE VAN. THE VAN WAS JUST OVER 3 YRS OLD AND THE MILEAGE WAS JUST AT 51,000 THE MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP SAID AT THIS MILEAGE THIS PROBLEM NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED, AFTER PHONE CALLS TO MY DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THEIR WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT THE VAN NEVER SHOULD HAVE NEEDED A TRANSMISSION AT THIS TIME AND THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED MY $1800.00. *AK

I WAS IN A CAR INCIDENT IN WHICH THERE WAS MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY FORD WINDSTAR AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE TRAVELING 50 MPH. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SPRAINED HIS WRIST. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NUMEROUS THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. ITEMS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY: ELECTRIC SEAT STOPPED WORKING TWICE, AND TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. ITEMS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY: BRAKES REPLACED AT 30,000+ MILES-TOLD WAS NORMAL FOR THEM TO WEAR OUT SO QUICKLY; RACK AND PINION REPLACED AT AROUND 55,000 MILES; MONTHS AFTER BRAKES REPLACED, BRAKES GRIND LOUDLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP (BRAKES CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT WAS TOLD THEY WERE OK); ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON AFTER DRIVING (NOT ILLUMINATED ON START UP, BUT COMES ON LATER); BACK DOME LIGHT NOT SECURE-FALLS OUT; DOME LIGHTS SOMETIMES COME ON WHEN BRAKING; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR MONTHS, DIDN'T HAVE IT CHECKED, BUT TURNED OFF BY ITSELF; SLIDING DOOR DRAGS-RUSTED ON VECHICLE FRAME.*AK

BACK PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR OPENS UNINTENDED AND DOES IT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON. *JB

DRIVER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW STOPPED WORKING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AT FIRST I WAS ANNOYED AT HAVING TO OPEN THE DOOR AT TOLL BOOTHS ETC, THEN IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT ITS ALSO A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM IF I AM EVER IN AN ACCIDENT. I WILL HAVE IT FIXED AT MY NEXT SERVICE SOON, BUT IF THERE ARE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER OWNERS THEN PERHAPS NHTSA AND FORD SHOULD PUT OUT A RECALL NOTICE. *AK

2001 FORD WINDSTAR - DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR UNLATCHES WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH WHILE IN MOTION AND/OR PARKED. TWO TIMES I CAME OUT TO MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND FOUND THAT MY BATTERY WAS DEAD BECAUSE THE SLIDING DOOR UNLATCHED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE ON, FOR HOW LONG I DO NOT KNOW. I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES ALREADY FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE (PROBLEM) AND THEY SAY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH THEM BUT THEY ADJUST THE DOOR AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN WITH ME. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME TO BRING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY WHEN I USE THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE BUTTON OR THE BUTTON NEAR THE DOOR ITESELF WHEN CLOSING IT.*AK

MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR VAN HAD ITS TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 47,400 MILES. THE REASON THAT IT FAILED WAS THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT AND THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND TRANSMISSION TECHNICIAN ABOUT THIS AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM COMMON TO THIS MODEL. I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD NOT GO WITH LESS THAN 48.000MILES ON THEM. *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE (ABS) WARNING LIGHT COMES ON DURING WARM SUMMER MONTHS AND ABS SYSTEM IS DISABLED. LIGHT GOES OFF STARTING IN THE FALL AND STAYS MAINLY OFF UNTIL LATE SPRING. *TR

MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR- BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND TURNED OFF. MUST PULL UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE THE LIGHTS TURN OFF. *AK

CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE ANCHORS IN THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT FOR THE LATCH SYSTEM IS CAUSING THE CSS HARNESS STRAP PLATE TO BEND WHEN REMOVING THE CSS BECAUSE THE PLATE ONLY BENDS IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK

ROOF BRACKETS ARE LOOSE. THIS IS CAUSING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS BANGING ON THE FRONT OF THE SHIELD OF THE CHILD SEAT. SUDDENLY THE ENTIRE SHIELD FELL APART WITH SPRINGS AND PARTS FLYING EVERYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE.*AK

WE HAVE A 01 FORD WINDSTAR LIMITED WITH AUTOMATIC DOORS, WITH SAFETY SENSORS. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, NOT ALWAYS OPENING AND CLOSING WITH THE BUTTONS. MY 3YR OLD DAUGHTER REACHED IN THE VAN TO GET A TOY AND THE DOOR CLOSED ON HER ARM,(WITHOUT ANYONE TOUCHING A BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR) THE DOOR EVENTUALLY OPENED. THE INJURY CONSISTED OF BROKEN SKIN AND A SEVERE BRUISE ON THE OUTER AND THE INNER SIDE OF THE ARM. THE VAN WAS STILL COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND FOUR PARTS WERE REPLACED: 1. CONTR ASY BDY S 2. SENSOR ASY - AC 3. R/CONTR & LAT A 4. ACTU ASY - BDY SD THE DOOR IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS OPENING ALL OF THE TIME. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT.

WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ENGAGED THEY WILL EITHER WORK FOR A FEW SECONDS AND QUIT OR NOT WORK AT ALL. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR TWICE, AND THE FRONT ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. BUT PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. RECALL 01V261000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK ALSO, CLUNKING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AT LOW SPEED OR WHEN TURNING LEFT. DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND LATER REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTOR. STARTER WERE ALSO REPLACED. *LA

I RAN OUT OF GAS AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, MY HUSBAND WAS IN IRAQ. SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, IT WASN'T LIKE I COULD JUST PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND GET MY VAN OUT OF THE WAY. IT WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT HAPPENED AGAIN. LUCKILY, MY HUSBAND WAS BACK AND IT WAS BY CHURCH, SO I WAS ABLE TO GET HELP RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. I AM GOING TO LOOK IN TO AN ATTORNEY ABOUT IT BECAUSE WHAT IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY VAN BROKE DOWN FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND I WOULD GET IN A WREAK. WHAT IF MY KIDS WHERE WITH ME. THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. I HAVE BOUGHT FORD VEHICLES ALL MY LIFE AND I AM TELLING YOU WHAT, I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER BUY ANOTHER ONE AFTER THIS. THAT IS SOOOO UNSAFE. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL FORD TWICE AND THEY HAVE GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND. SO I DON'T KNOW! I WILL HAVE TO TALK TO LEGAL COUNCIL I GUESS. WHO KNOWS! I JUST LOVE ALL THE THINGS US MILITARY HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND NOW THIS! *LA

I HAVE A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ABS, BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO I STARTED TO GET THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED FOR PRICING AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $450 JUST FOR THE PART. I DECLINED AND ASKED THEM TO DISABLE THE ABS SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ABS SWITCH LEAKING AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THOSE VEHICLES BUT NOT ON THE WINDSTAR. RECENTLY THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A LEAK. I HAVE BEEN ADDING BRAKE FLUID ON THE AVERAGE OF A PINT A WEEK. I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND CAME ACROSS WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO WHICH DIRECTED ME TO THIS SITE. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM COULD START A FIRE AND WILL BE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE SOON. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND TURNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. ALSO HAS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TURN SIGNAL WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *NM THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND THE DEALER REPLACED IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. *JB

THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR HAS OPENED BY ITSELF ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS SHUT PROPERLY. WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED IT. STILL HAVE PROBLEM OCCASIONALLY.