2001 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH, THE MOTOR DETACHED, FELL FROM THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED ALL THE CABLES FOR THE GEAR SHIFT. IN ADDITION, THE ABS, THE AIRBAG, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT A REAR AXLE AND THE FRONT SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 236,000.

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THE SUBFRAME FELL OUT OF MY VEHICLE CAUSING THE THROTTLE BODY TO OPEN ALL THE WAY DROPPED OUT OF REVERSE AND WENT INTO DRIVE LOST STEERING ,LOST BRAKES JAMMED VEHICLE INTO PARK TO STOP 1 FOOT FROM TELEPHONE POLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD TOOK 1 WEEK TO HERE ANYTHING FROM THEM ,WAS TOLD I COULD NOT HAVE A RENTAL OR LOANER VEHICLE WHILE THEY HAD MY CAR. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE WAS TOLD I COULD ONLY GET RENTAL CAR FOR 1 DAY FOR SUBFRAME AND 1 DAY FOR REAR AXLE RECALL , AS OF 7/14 2014 WAS TOLD I WOULD MAYBE HAVE MY VEHICLE BACK BY NEXT WEEK AFTER FORD EVALUATED MY CAR FOR REPAIRS. I DID NOT RECEIVE A PHONE CALL FROM FORD DEALER UNTIL 7/14/2014. *TR

THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS GO ON. NOW THE ABS DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN WARMER WEATHER. READING ONLY HAS SHOWN THE ECM HAS A FAULTY SOLDER JOINT THAT WEARS DOWN IN SUMMER. IT IS INTERMITTENT ISSUE, BUT LARGE SAFETY RISK. *TR

WHILE INVESTIGATING THE 50 MPH FAILURE OF THE PCM MODULE, AND THE ONGOING OFF/ON ACTION OF THE ABS MODULE, I RAN ACROSS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MISTAKE ON PAGE 43-3 OF THE FOMOCO "2001 WIRING DIAGRAMS/WINDSTAR" MANUAL (FCS-12255-01). I EXCHANGED SEVERAL EMAILS, CASE # CAS-4648613-L1X1R6 CRM:03259000003405, WITH THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER ABOUT THIS MATTER UNTIL THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT A DEALER. I SENT THE QUESTIONS TO MY DEALER ASKING FOR CORRECT INFORMATION, BUT THEY HAVEN'T ACKNOWLEDGED MY INQUIRY. WHAT I SUSPECT IS ALL WINDSTAR'S ON THE ROAD TODAY MAY BE OPERATING WITH ONLY ONE-HALF OF THE SCP (J1850 PWM) NETWORK OPERATIONAL. NOW THAT MANY OF THE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULES ARE FAILING, ARE OTHER WINDSTARS IN DANGER OF ENGINE FAILURE AT SPEED LIKE OURS? THE TWO SIMPLE QUESTIONS I ASKED FOMOCO ARE: 1) ARE YOU SURE CIRCUIT 915 (DATA BUS-) SHOULD BE GROUNDED AT THE ABS MODULE? 2) WHAT IS THE PROPER TERMINATION FOR THE FORD DATA BUS (CIRCUITS 914& 915), 120 OHMS, 650 OHMS, 3K OHMS, WHAT AND WHERE?

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 39 TOWARDS WISCONSIN DELLS WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTERS. ABOUT 15 MILES OUT OF MADISON WISCONSIN MY DAUGHTERS BEGAN SCREAMING I LOOKED BACK AND THERE WAS SMOKE EVERYWHERE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND GOT EVERYONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH MY REAR TIRES HAD COLLAPSE. I HAD TO GET TOWED INTO A FORD DEALER IN MADISON WISCONSIN. THE REAR AXLE ON THE VAN HAD SPLIT IN HALF. CALLING FORD WAS NO HELP. THEY STATED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ON THAT VEHICLE A COUPLE YEARS BACK AND THAT THE WARRANTY ON THAT RECALL HAD EXPIRED. LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY BUT IF THESE ISSUES ON THIS RECALL WHICH WAS DONE TWO YEARS AGO HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT! EVEN IF I FIX THIS PROBLEM I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRUST THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SOMEONE. THERE ARE MANY WINDSTARS THAT WERE REPAIRED AROUND THE SAME TIME BECAUSE OF RECALL THAT WILL BEGIN TO FALL APART AGAIN. PROBLEM NOT FIXED! *TR

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION I HEARD A LOUD BANG UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL! I PARKED THE CAR AND CALLED FOR A TOW. WHEN VAN WAS ON THE FLATBED I OBSERVED THE ENGINE MOUNTING HAD DETACHED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. THE ENGINE AND OTHER COMPONENTS WERE HANGING DOWN. HAD VAN TOWED HOME. THROUGH MY OWN RESEARCH I FOUND THAT MY VAN WAS PART OF RECALL NO. 11S16 FOR CORROSION RELATED FRACTURES AT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKETS AND BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS AT THE REAR OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. I WAS SHOCKED THAT I HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL BECAUSE I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED REGARDING RECALL NO 11S13 FOR REAR AXLE CORROSION RELATED CRACKING. VAN WAS TAKEN FOR INSPECTION AXLE AND WE WERE TOLD IT PASSED AND NOTHING ELSE NEEDED TO BE DONE. HAD VAN TOWED AGAIN, THIS TIME TO DEALER. DEALER SAYS SUBFRAME AND REAR AXLE NEED REPLACED AND FORD WANTS TO DO THE REPLACEMENT. AS A RESULT OF THE FRAME DETACHMENT, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDS REPLACED. THERE ARE OTHER UNKNOWN COMPONENTS THAT MAY NEED REPAIRED/REPLACED AND THEY WON'T KNOW UNTIL THEY DO THE WORK. THE OTHER REPAIRS MAY OR MAY NOT BE PAID FOR BY FORD. UNDER FORD'S OWN REMEDIES, IF BRACKETS CAN NOT REPAIR THE ORIGINAL SUBFRAME, THEN A REPURCHASE OFFER FOR THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE MADE. TO DATE, FORD HAS REFUSED THIS AS A REMEDY. INSTEAD, THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME AND AXLE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE ATTACHED TO OTHER CORRODED PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. MY FAMILY'S LIVES WERE ALREADY PUT IN DANGER ENOUGH BY THESE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED REGARDING THE SUBFRAME RECALL AND THE REAR AXLE WAS IMPROPERLY HANDLED. THE AXLE SHOULD HAVE HAD REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS ATTACHED EVEN IF IT DID PASS INSPECTION. THIS WAS NOT DONE NOR WERE WE TOLD TO BRING IT BACK IN TO BE DONE. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO BUY BACK MY VEHICLE UNDER IT'S OWN REMEDY INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED TO THE NHTSA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,011.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. CODE C1185 IS PRESENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL CRACKLING SOUND, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAD DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF OF THE MAIN ROAD WHERE THE POLICE INFORMED HER THAT HER REAR AXLE HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V195000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

THE NEEDLES ON THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, RPM GAUGE AND GAS GAUGE STARTED TO MOVE UP AND DOWN IN A CRAZY MANNER. AFTER A WHILE, IT STOPPED, BUT IT COMES BACK OCCASIONALLY. ALSO, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON AT TIMES. I HAD THE BRAKES LOOKED AT AND NOTHING APPEARS TO BE WRONG. *TR

WE HAD OUR LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT AND IT TORE OFF OUR FUEL FILLER PIPE. I IMAGINE THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THE RIM HAD SPARKED IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

WE WERE HEADED HOME ON THE FREEWAY AND TURNED ONTO OUR EXIT. MY HUSBAND PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO START SLOWING THE VAN DOWN, BUT THE PEDAL DID NOTHING. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VAN BY COASTING AND SWITCHING INTO REVERSE. HE THEN GOT OUT AND CHECKED FLUID WHICH WAS FULL AND CHECKED THE BRAKE LINES WHICH WERE FINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS OR ANYTHING THAT OUR BRAKES WERE GOING TO FAIL. I AM JUST GLAD THAT WE WERE ALREADY AT OUR EXIT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC! WE HAD OUR 5 CHILDREN IN THE VAN WITH US AT THE TIME. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND READING ABOUT THE ABS PROBLEMS IN OUR YEAR WINDSTAR AND AM HOPING FORD DECIDES TO TAKE SOME ACTION ON THE MATTER! *TR

MY 2001 WINDSTAR STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER I HAD ALL THE OTHER RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF. I TURNED THE VAN ON AND ALL MY NEEDLES WENT CRAZY DARTING BACK AND FORTH, AND MY DRIVER DOOR CENSORS AREN'T WORKING NOW. THE NEXT DAY WAS THE SAME AND MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE DASH ARE ON AND WON'T TURN OFF. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO KEEP MY INTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED OFF COMPLETELY BECAUSE AT ANY GIVEN TIME MY VANS DOOR CENSORS WILL DECIDED THAT THE DOOR ISN'T CLOSED. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDSTAR I HAVE OWNED AND AT THIS POINT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT. *TR

DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING, ON A FORD WINDSTAR WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES, THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE ABS/TC/E-BRAKE LIGHTS ALL CAME ON, PERMANENTLY. I HAD TO HAVE THE SYSTEM REPLACED, AT EXTENSIVE COST. IN ONLINE RESEARCH IT TURNS OUT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM, POTENTIALLY DUE TO LEAKING FLUID FROM THE SCDS COMPONENT. NHTSA PLEASE MAKE FORD DEAL WITH THIS! *TR

ABS WARNING LIGHT, LARGE RED BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON IN INSTRUMENT PANEL PLUS INCREASED BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM INTERMITTENT. *TR

ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL AND SPEEDOMETER EITHER ARE INTERMITTENT OR NOT WORKING AT ALL. THIS CAUSES ISSUES WITH BRAKING, VEHICLE CONTROL, DRIVER ATTENTIVENESS AND OTHER SAFETY RELATED ISSUES. *TR

REAR AXLE FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE BY DEALER. *TR

THE ABS AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS BOTH CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. AFTER HAVING THE CODES SCANNED, THERE WERE NINE CODES. C1185,C1198,C1194,C1254,C1246,C1250,C1242,C121 ANDC1210. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES NOT WORKING. I READ SEVERAL THREADS ABOUT BAD SOLDER JOINTS. *TR

HAD THE 2011 REAR AXLE RECALL PERFORMED BY FORD IN 2011. THEY INSPECTED THE REAR AXLE AND INSTALLED THE SUPPORT BRACKETS. NOW MY REAR AXLE IS CRACKED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED WHO CONFIRMED THEY HAD PERFORMED THE RECALL BUT DENIED ANY FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT FORD. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND SPOKE WITH BOTH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND HER SUPERVISOR WHO BOTH ADVISED FORD IS ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES SINCE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. I FEEL THE REPAIR WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL CRACKING OF THE AXLE AND THEY SHOULD FIX/REPLACE THE AXLE. *TT

THE BACK AXLE BROKE AND MY CAR GET OUT OF CONTROL I LOOK UP THE RECALL IN YOUR PAGE AND CALL THE FORD AND THEY CHECK MY VIN I THEY SAID THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL BECAUSE NOT ALL THAT FABRICS HAVE THAT RECALL SO I MADE THE DECISION TO MAKE THE COMPLAINT I AM WITH NO CAR, KNOWING THAT RECALL IS HERE IN THE NHTSA PAGE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING BACK TO HOME AND THE WINDSTAR GET OUT OF CONTROL AND FINALLY I STOP THE MINIVAN I WAS SCARED. *TR

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON, MOSTLY ON ALL THE TIME ON THE DASH , WILL NOT GET A STATE INSPECTION LIKE THIS.........WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SLOVE THIS FOR ME [XXX].... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE AT POSTED DRIVING SPEED LIMITS THE VEHICLES ABS, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY COME ON AFTER DRIVING BEGINS. IT HAS BEEN ALSO NOTED THAT AFTER SEVERAL BRAKE SERVICE INSPECTIONS AND REPAIRS AT MAJOR AUTO REPAIR SHOPS, SUCH AS MIDAS, CARX , AND PEP BOYS. TECHNICIANS HAVE OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEMS MAJOR COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF CORROSION AND EASILY RUSTING PARTS SUCH AS BRAKE SHOES, PADS, WHEEL CYLINDERS, BRAKE DRUMS, BRAKE LINE HOSES AND CONNECTORS. EACH OF THESE REPAIR SHOPS HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT OF MANY OF THESE VITAL COMPONENTS WOULD BE EXTREMELY COSTLY TO REPAIR AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR CREATE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION FOR THE VEHICLE'S OPERATOR AND OTHER DRIVERS IF NOT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLES BRAKES AND HARDWARE HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN THREE TIMES BY ASAE CERTIFIED /QUALIFIED MECHANICS AND THE BRAKE SYSTEMS WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY REMAIN ON DURING REGULAR OPERATION. THE REAR BRAKES ARE GRINDING AND WEARING THE BRAKE SHOES DOWN MUCH FASTER THAN THEY DID BEFORE EVEN AFTER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. CURRENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES BEFORE COMING TO A FULL STOP THE BRAKE PEDDLE MUST BE APPLIED AT A DISTANCE OF AT LEAST 30 SECONDS SOONER TO ENSURE A SAFE STOP. I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF CONCERN IN THE FAILURE OF THE FORD WINDSTAR BRAKE SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE ABS SYSTEM AND BRAKES INCLUDING ITS MAJOR COMPONENTS SHOULD BE INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR INJURIES TO THE VEHICLE'S OPERATOR AND TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. *JS

TOOK IN FOR A RECALL ON SUBFRAME PUT ON SUPPORT BRACKETS. WENT TO GET IT INSPECTED. SUBFRAME IS ROTTED OUT. I WAS TOLD ANOTHER RECALL WAS DONE FOR THOSE IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATES. FORD RECALL COMPUTER IS DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AS THE FRAME WAS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND. NO WAS WILLING TO FIX THE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, DUE TO THE RUSTED OUT FRAME. UPDATED 05/12/14

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD WINDSTAR 2001 WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CRUISE CONTROL STOP WORKING AND THE ABS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE BRAKES BECAME SOFT CAUSING ME BEING UNABLE TO STOP THE VAN. *JS

I HAVE A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR SE. ALL AT ONCE MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. A WEEK LATER THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FOR A FEE DAYS THEN QUITS. I TOOK IT TO MIDAS AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER. THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACTED STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE SIDE TO SIDE ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRACTION SENSOR AND REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION).THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

VEHICLE HAD VOLUNTARY RECALL DONE TO IT IN 2011. IT HAS NOW BROKEN IN SAME PLACE AS OTHERS HAVE EXPLAINED. RECALL IS A SHAM AND FORD IS GETTING AWAY WITH CONTINUING TO REPLACE WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR ON THE DISPLAY. IN DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH IT APPEARS TO BE BAD SENSORS AND THAT A RECALL IS PENDING. I AM FACING THE SAME ISSUES AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, BURNING FUMES STARTED TO EMIT INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE AXLE HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE , BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE, STATING THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I DIDN'T HAVE A CRASH I NOTICED THAT MY ABS BRAKE AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON AND A SHORT TIME AFTER I STARTED HEARING A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE IN THE FRONT END EVERY TIME I SLOW AN IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE SUDDEN STOPS AND AT TIMES MY SPEEDOMETER STARTS FLICKERING BACK AND FORTH AS WELL AS MY CRUISE CONTROL IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE. I HAVE LIMITED DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IN WHICH I PURCHASED DUE TO FEELING IT IS NOT IN A SAFE MANNER FOR MY CHILDREN TO BE IN. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SHOPS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS THAT TOLD ME THESE AREAS ARE COMMON TO GO OUT ON THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE AND THAT THERE IS POSSIBLE RECALL. I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY VAN WITH OUT WORRYING IF I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME TO A STOP WHEN NEEDED AS WELL AS NOT KNOWING IF I COULD POSSIBLE BREAK DOWN OR SOMETHING BREAK IN THE FRONT END WHILE I AM DRIVING AT SOMEWHAT HIGH SPEEDS. THANK YOU AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE SOON IN REGARDS TO THIS SITUATION! *TR

FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT MY VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SAFETY RECALL 11S16 . THE DEALER CONTACTED FORD BECAUSE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND BROKEN, LEAVING NOTHING TO ATTACH THE SWAY BAR TO. FORD SAYS THE BRACKET IS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE AND ADVISES THE DEALER TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE SWAY BAR HAS BROKEN OFF FROM THE FRONT SUB-FRAME PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE DEALER SAID THE SUB-FRAME IS SO RUSTED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REATTACH THE SWAY BAR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT SUB-FRAME AT A COST OF $2900. THE DEALER DEEMED MY CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AS I WON'T HAVE CONTROL OF MY CAR ON QUICK TURNS OR BE ABLE TO MAKE FAST MANEUVERS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR TO AVOID POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. ANOTHER RISK IS THAT MY ENGINE MAY FALL OUT THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR WHILE DRIVING (WHICH I SEE HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS WITH MY SAME PROBLEM), ENDANGERING MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I PLAN ON PARKING THIS CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAITING FOR FORD TO BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. *TR

MY ABS LIGHT IS ON AND HAVE HEARD IT IS FROM ECU MASTER RELAY HAS A BAD SOLDIER JOINT WHICH FAILS PREMATURELY AND CAUSES THE ABS LIGHT AND DTC C1185. IT ALSO CAUSES THE ENHANCED ABS BRAKING SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *TR

WE LEFT THE HOUSE AND WAS DRIVING AND THE VAN FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIDING BACK AND FORTH. I STOPPED AND CHECKED AND THE BACK WHEEL WAS SETTING CROOKED. I CHECKED THE LUGS AND THE WERE TIGHT. WE TURNED AROUND WENT BACK HOME. I LOOKED UNDER IT AND FOUND THE AXLE CRACKED AND BROKE. WE CALLED FORD AND THEY HAD A RECALL ON THAT BUT SAID THEY WERE NO LONGER REPAIRING THEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THERE WAS A LOUD SNAP AND GRINDING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. BOTH REAR WHEELS WERE AT AN APPROXIMATE 20 DEGREE ANGLE OFF CENTER. *TR

THE FRONT RIGHT AXEL BROKE, I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT NOR DID I RUN IT INTO A DITCH. THE FRAME HAS CRACKED, ITS WHERE THE AXLE AND THE FRAME MEET. IT'S A 2001 AND YES, IT'S AN OLD VEHICLE, BUT ITS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION I CAN AFFORD RIGHT NOW. IF I CAN TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED I WOULD. SOME HOW, I BELIEVE THEIR IS A GOD.

THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT CAUSES THE REGULAR BRAKE LIGHT AND/OR LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT TO COME ON (EVEN THOUGH TIRE PRESSURE IS FINE.) MANY TIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. MY DEALER MENTIONED THAT THE ECM MODULE IS RETURNING MANY DIFFERENT CODES WITH DIFFERENT MEANINGS, INDICATING THAT THE ECM MODULE VERY LIKELY HAS A BAD CONNECTION ON IT. THE DEALER DID NOT FIX IT YET, BUT WARNED ME THAT I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING WITHOUT ANTILOCK BRAKES MOST OF THE TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V194000 (SUSPENSION) REMEDIED ON THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AXLE BECAME CRACKED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REMEDY THE CRACKED AXLE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ONLY GUARANTEE THE BRACKET REPAIR FOR ONE YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 03/05/14*LJ

AFTER RUNNING/DRIVING MY VAN FOR ABOUT 10 MINS. THE "ABS" AND THE "BRAKE" LIGHTS SHOW UP ON MY DASHBOARD. MY BRAKES MAKE A SCREECHING NOISE WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE AND A GRINDING NOISE AS WELL. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHILE I'M DRIVING MY VAN WITH THEM IN IT. PLEASE INFORM ME OF HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

ALL GAUGES, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, SUDDENLY BECAME ERRATIC, CONFUSING DRIVER BY GIVING FALSE SENSE OF SPEED. *TR

MY VEHICLE HAS A ABS FAULT LIGHT CAUSED BY A FAULTY ECU MASTER RELAY. THIS CAUSES THE ABS AND BRAKE FAULT LIGHTS TO LIGHT ON MY DASH BOARD. THE FAULT CODE READS C1185 FROM THE ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS. THIS HAS RENDERED MY ABS SYSTEM INOPERABLE. *TR

HI I AM THE OWNER OF 2001 WINDSTAR LAST WEEK MY VAN STAR BE CRAZY WITH AL THE INSTRUMENTAL ALL THE LIGHT WAS CRAZY SMELL LIKE THE CABLE WAS BURNING THE POSITIVE BATTERY WAS VERY HOT I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE GET IN FIRE THAT IS THE SECOND TIME THAT IS HAPPEN PLEASE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUS BEFORE SOME HAVE ANY ACCIDENT AND CAR BURN IN THE ROAD. *TR

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON THEN OFF. *TR

ARRIVED AT DESTINATIONS AND STOPPED. TRIED TO LEAVE, BRAKES HAD NOT RELEASED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE.. HAD TO DRIVE HOME AGAINST THE BRAKES WHICH WERE SMOKING UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME. NEXT DAY, BRAKES WENT BACK TO NORMAL. TWO DAYS LATER, SAME OCCURRENCE. BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE, OVERHEATED, BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED HARD UP WITH ALL BRAKES APPLIED. NEST MORNING AFTER COOL DOWN, BRAKE PEDAL RESTING ON FLOOR; WOULD NOT PUMP UP; NO BRAKES. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, BRAKE AND ABS INDICATORS COME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON, I.E., 3 DROPS OF RAIN ON WINDSHIELD AND INDICATORS COME ON. FORD DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS, SAID IT WAS AN ECU PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT, SAYING IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $700 TO FIX. *TR

MY ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AS WELL AS MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T KNOW WHY MY BRAKES ARE KNEW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

COMING TO STOP SIGN PUT ON BRAKES THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, WHEN LEAVING THE STOP SIGN THE BRAKES DRAGS AND WON'T RELEASE. *TR

DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCOMFORTABLE AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH SPEED; THEREFORE, I STARTED INVESTIGATING TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. 1ST I FOUND ONE OF THE REAR SHOCKS WAS VERY BOUNCY, THE REAR TIRES WERE NOT STRAIGHT AND BOTH REAR TIRES WERE WEARING ON THE INSIDE. REPLACED BOTH REAR SHOCKS. THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THE REAR TIRES WERE STILL NOT STRAIGHT. NEXT I WENT TO MIKE NAUGHTON FORD DEALERSHIP AND TALKED WITH A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT I NEEDED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND HAVE THE REAR CAMBERS SHIMMIED SO THAT THE WHEELS WOULD BE STRAIGHT AT A ESTIMATE COST OF $200.00, THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE. LAST NIGHT (10-13-2013), I JACKED THE VEHICLE UP TO LOOK UNDER TO SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO PERFORM THE WORK MYSELF. I DECIDED THAT I WOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO FORD AND PAY THEM TO DO THE WORK. I WAS JACKING THE VEHICLE UP TO REMOVE THE JACK STANCE AND BOTH TIRES FELL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. I LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT HAPPENED AND FOUND THE AXLE HOUSING BENT/BROKEN IN HALF. IT APPEARS THAT IT HAS BEEN CRACKED/BROKEN FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE THE INITIAL BREAK WAS RUSTY. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FOLLOW-UP WITH THE FORD DEALER YET - I BELIEVE THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MIGHT BE CLOSED TODAY (COLUMBUS DAY) BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REACH ANYONE BY PHONE. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE WINDSTAR AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE AND FELT SOMETHING BREAK AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF SHE COULD SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SHE NOTICED BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE POINTING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN 2011 TO HAVE BRACKETS PLACED TO SUPPORT THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD PULLED OUT OF THE SUBFRAME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN INDEPENDENTLY TURNED IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE. THE SUB FRAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE). THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE AFFECTED PARTS WERE THE CLOCK SPRING, EXHAUST FLEX PIPE, POWER STEERING BELT AND TRANSMISSION BRACKET, WHICH HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 12/4/13*CN