2002 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

2002 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE SNAPPED IN HALF. *TR

MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT - DOWN TO BARE METAL EACH YEAR AND I KEEP ASKING THAT THEY LOOK INTO IT BEING SOMETHING OTHER THAN MY BRAKING HABITS BECAUSE IT IS ONLY ONE BRAKE. I JUST SAW ON THE NEWS THAT THE REAR AXLE'S ON MY PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL ARE BREAKING AND THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RECALL. I DRIVE THROUGH RURAL AREAS LONG DISTANCE AND I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. I WONDER IF THERE MAY BE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FAULTY AXLE AND MY BRAKE NOT FITTING RIGHT AND WEARING OUT EVERY YEAR. NOW I HAVE A STRANGE SOUND COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY VAN EITHER THE MIDDLE OR PASSENGER SIDE AND I AM AFRAID I WILL SUFFER A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED OVER 2 YEARS BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET A JOB WHILE IN COLLEGE AND GRADUATED IN A RECESSION....I HAVE NO CREDIT CARDS AND CAN'T AFFORD THE MECHANIC'S CHARGE TO INSPECT IT OR FIX IT. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON DAILY, USUALLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF TRAVEL. FORD GARAGE WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING OCCURRENCE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS NOW. I, ALSO, HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES GOING OUT AT SPEEDS UNDER 5 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN. THE GARAGE CHECKED THE BRAKES AND DID NOT FIND ANY BLEEDING OR OTHER PROBLEMS THIS WOULD HAPPEN ABOUT ONCE EVERY MONTH OR TWO AND WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLICATE FOR THE FORD DEALERSHIP. AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS TO THE FORD GARAGE THEY TOLD US THEY RECOGNIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH OUR VAN AND WOULD NO LONGER CHARGE US THE INITIAL INSPECTION FEE SINCE THEY HAD BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE FUSIBLE LINK RECALL WORK WAS DONE ON MY VAN A YEAR OR MORE AGO. THE FREQUENCY AND POTENTIAL FOR INJURY OR DEATH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FORD AND THE PROPER RECALLS SHOULD BE MADE. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2002 FORD WINDSTAR AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND STARTED HEARING NOISE. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND THE NOISE WAS GETTING LOUDER, WE PULLED OVER BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE A FLAT TIRE, BUT KNEW IT WAS MORE SERIOUS. THE REAR TIRES WERE TILTING IN TOWARD THE VAN AND THE REAR AXLE WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WE HAD IT TOWED. *TR

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A CLUNK FROM THE BACK OF THE VAN. I DID NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT THE VAN STARTED TO DRIVE LOOSE ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING OVER HOLES AND BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE VAN STARTED TO SWAY, MORE SO THAN NORMAL, WHEN CORNERING TURNS. AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE CAR STARTED TO FEEL MORE OUT OF CONTROL, SO I LOOKED UNDER THE REAR OF THE VAN AND FOUND THE AXEL WAS SEVER TO SHEAR ABOUT 60%.. I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WILL CALL OUR MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED DUE TO ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. I TOOK WINDSTAR SPORT 2002 IN FOR A SAFETY RECALL IN DEC 2009. THEY SAID THAT THEY FIXED IT AND FOR THE PAST 8 MONTHS THESE TWO LIGHTS KEEP TURNING ON AND OFF ABOUT 3 TIMES A WEEK. NOW FOR THE LAST MONTH, THE LIGHT HAVE BEEN ON CONSTANTLY. I AM CONCERNED FOR VEHICLE SETTING ON FIRE AT ANY TIME DUE TO THIS LAST RECALL AND NOW A NEW RECALL OF REAR AXLE CORROSION. I HAVE A DISABLED 5 YEAR OLD AND I AM VERY CONCERNED. I WOULD LIKE THESE ITEMS FIXED PROPERLY. OBVIOUSLY, THE LAST RECALL WAS NOT. THE THOUGHT OF MY VAN SETTING ON FIRE WITH MY CHILD IN IT DID NOT OCCUR TO THE MECHANIC MAYBE. I LEARNED OF THE LAST RECALL NOT BEING FIXED PROPERLY BY INVESTIGATING THIS NEW RECALL. I HONESTLY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY MY LIGHTS WERE STAYING ON AND FORD SAID THAT I NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE MAYBE. I JUST HAD ONE DONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH SO THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I DID OWN A 1996 WINDSTAR THAT BURST INTO FLAMES IN 2005 FEBRUARY WAY BEFORE THE RECALL CAME OUT IN 2009. I HAVE TOLD THEM 3 TIMES THAT IT HAS ALREADY SET ON FIRE AND THERE IS NO VAN LEFT BUT THEY KEEP SENDING ME NOTICES FOR IT. I WOULD LIKE MY CURRENT VEHICLE FIXED RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WOULD TAKE LONGER TO PULL MY CHILD OUT OF VEHICLE IF IT SET ON FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE IN IT. I USE MY VEHICLE DAILY TO TRANSPORT MY CHILD TO DIFFERENT THERAPIES. *TR

1)NOTHING IT APPEARS TO BE AN ENGINEERING OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. 2)A CRACKED REAR AXLE/SUPPORT BEAM. IT APPEARS TO BE OCCUR MORE REGULARLY WITH VEHICLE THAT HAVE BEEN OWNED A WHILE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 66K MILES ON IT. IT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO DEATH IF THIS OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING VEHICLE CONTROL LOSS. HERE IS A QUICK REFERENCE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/WINDSTAR/2000/DRIVETRAIN/REAR_AXLE_FAILURE.SHTML. 3)NOTHING YET. THE FIX WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE AXLE/SUPPORT BEAM. YES I STILL HAVE THE PART. *TR

RED BRAKE LIGHT AND YELLOW ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. IT SUDDENLY DECREASED IN ITS BRAKING POWER AND RESULTED IN A MINOR BUMPER TO BUMPER CRASH AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. LUCKILY NO MAJOR DAMAGE WAS DONE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED, ONLY SMALL STRETCH MARKS ON MY FRONT BUMPER. THE OTHER PERSONS CAR WAS OK AND WE WENT ON STRAIGHT BACK HOME SHAKEN AND AFRAID THE WHOLE RIDE BACK. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALREADY HAD THE COMPANY FRIENDLY (NOT CONSUMER FRIENDLY) RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE THOUGH. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTARS AND THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE ABS SYSTEM AND COULD CAUSE BRAKING DISTANCE TO DECREASE AND ADVISED ME TO HAVE IT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD!!!! THE GOVERNMENT AND ODI GOT RIGHT UP ON TOYOTAS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP AND NOT FORDS!! THIS MUST BE RECALLED AND FIXED IMMEDIATELY! *TR

SOMETIMES THE PARKING BRAKE, ABS, AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. THIS WILL SOMETIMES HAPPEN 2 OR 3 TIMES A DAY, AND SOMETIMES NOT HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. BRAKE FLUID LEVELS ARE FINE. MECHANIC FOUND CODES C1185, C1194, C1198, C1210, C1214, C1242, C1246, C1250, C1254, C1404, U1260, AND U1261. HE CLEARED THE CODES FOR ME AND 2 DAYS LATER THE LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON AGAIN. FROM INFO ONLINE, THIS COULD BE RELATED TO THE RECALL OF THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION (I HAVE NOT HAD THAT REPAIR DONE YET). *TR

ON OUR 2002 WINDSTAR VAN, EVERY NOW AND THEN IT TAKES LONGER DISTANCE FOR BRAKES TO WORK PROPERLY, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS RAINING. UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, SOME TIME AGO, WIRE HARNESS/FUSE LINK WAS REPLACED BY A FORD DEALER. WE SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OF ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND GO INTERMITTENTLY. WE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED, AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OK. BRAKES TAKING LONGER DISTANCE TO APPLY AND IT IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE, SCARY AND TO GET USED TO IT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO? *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. WIRING REPLACED AS PART OF A OCTOBER 2009 FORD RECALL. BEFORE THIS, IN WARM WEATHER, YELLOW ABS AND RED BRAKE LIGHT ON DASHBOARD BOTH COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER THE RECALL THE SAME IS HAPPENING AND MORE FREQUENTLY - EVERY DAY IN HOT WEATHER THIS SUMMER. *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. *TR

REAR AXLE CRACK FOR NO REASON. PERSON DRIVING ALMOST INVOLVED IN CRASH. ASSUMING FAULTY DESIGN IN AXLE. *TR

I DRIVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR, AND ONE DAY I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. I JACKED UP THE REAR OF THE VAN TO LOOK FOR THE NOISE AND WHAT I FOUND WAS A BIG CRACK IN MY REAR AXLE . LUCKY FOR ME I FOUND IT BEFORE IT BROKE DOING 65 ON THE HIGHWAY . I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE REAR END MYSELF . I GOT THE PART FROM A JUNK YARD THAT SAYS THERE'S ONLY 85,000 MILES ON IT , BUT WHEN WILL THAT ONE BREAK. *TR

FORD WINDSTAR 2002, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON, AND BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR I STARTED TO HEAR A GRINDING SOUND AND COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND HAD TO PULL OVER. I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AT THE TIME FORTUNATELY. IT ENDED UP BEING THAT THE REAR AXEL BROKE. THE MECHANIC INDICATED IT APPEARED TO HAVE RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THANKFULLY THIS HAPPENED 2 DAYS AFTER A RETURN FROM VACATION AT WHICH TIME WE WERE TRAVELING 70+ MPH ON THE WEST VIRGINIA TURNPIKE. *TR

2002 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE SNAPPED - 112,000 MILES. NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENT. DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN IT SNAPPED. *TR

WHILE OPERATING ON AN URBAN ARTERIAL ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, THE ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WHEN STOPPING SEEMED TO BE EXCESSIVE COMPARED TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH THE VEHICLE. WEATHER AT TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS CLEAR AND DRY WITH TEMPERATURE IN THE MID 80S. ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON UNTIL VEHICLE WAS SHUT DOWN. AT NEXT STARTUP, APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS LATER, THE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON, AND BRAKE OPERATIONS SEEMED NORMAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND SERVICED UNDER FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL NO. 09S09. HOWEVER, I AM UNAWARE OF THE SPECIFIC EXTENT OF SERVICE WORK PERFORMED BY THE DEALER ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE UNDER THAT RECALL. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR IT WAS MAKING NOISE IN THE REAR SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND MY REAR AXLE IS CRACKED IN HALF MY TIRES ARE LEANING IN I CANT DRIVE IT. ITS MY ONLY VEHICLE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON-LINE YOU WOULD THINK FORD WOULD DO SOMETHING THANK YOU *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE REAR WHEEL AXLE BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH HALF OF THE AXLE DRAGGING ON THE ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS IS AN ADDITION TO ONGOING DEFECT INVESTIGATION #PE10016. I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE REAR AXLE HOUSING "CRACKED IN HALF" AS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, BUT LUCKILY AT A LOW SPEED IN TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO ACCIDENT AND NO POT HOLES. MY TIRE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. AFTER THE TOW TRUCK CAME I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND NOTICED THE AXLE SPLIT COMPLETELY IN TWO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE WITH AN INTENSE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $1,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. *TR

SUDDEN INCREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY BUT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON. OCCASIONAL SLIGHT SMELL OF BURNING USUALLY ON HOTTER DAYS. LONGER BRAKING DISTANCE HAS ALMOST CAUSE ME TO REAR-END A CAR AND/OR STOP FOR A PEDESTRIAN IN A CROSS-WALK. ONLY BECAUSE I ALWAYS LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AWAY FROM CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND WATCH CLOSELY FOR PEDESTRIANS HAS AN ACCIDENT BEEN AVOIDED. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED BECAUSE OUR FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $800 JUST FOR ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND 8 HOURS(@$125/HR) TO INSTALL THE NEW UNIT. ALSO, I WAS TOLD A NEW SPEED CONTROL UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I AM SIMPLY NOT IN A FINANCIAL DECISION TO GET THESE ITEMS FIX. I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE ISSUES MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR A FIRE OR BOTH. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING THE KANSAS TURNPIKE WITH MY SISTER IN MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN AT NIGHT. THE VAN THEN STARTED TO BE SHIMMYING AND VIBRATING SOME, LIKE WHEN THE ROAD IS ROUGH. WE WERE TRAVELING THROUGH SOME CONSTRUCTION SO THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE ROAD CONDITIONS. BUT THE VIBRATING CONTINUED. WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND LOOKED AT THE TIRES, BUT THEY ALL LOOKED GOOD. WE CONTINUED DRIVING, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ROUGHNESS. I CONTINUED DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS TO SEE IF THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE. IT DID NOT. THE VIBRATING WAS NOT TOTALLY CONTINUOUS, EVERY FEW SECONDS OR SO IT DISAPPEARED, THEN WOULD RESTART. I KEPT DRIVING, WITH HAZARD LIGHTS, AT ABOUT 45 MPH, BECAUSE IT WAS NIGHTTIME, AND ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT SERVICE/REST STOP AND GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT MY TIRES. ONE HUBCAP WAS ASKEW, WHICH I PUT BACK ON. TO SEE IF THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE VAN'S RIDE, I DECIDED TO DRIVE A BIT IN THE PARKING LOT. I PUT THE VAN INTO REVERSE AND JUST AS I STARTED TO MOVE, THERE WAS A LOUD CLANK AND THUD. THERE WAS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG. I SAW THAT THE REAR TIRES BOTH WERE CROOKED, THE VAN, LOWER, AND THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS BROKEN INTO 2 PARTS. A POLICEMAN VERIFIED THAT THE CAR WAS BROKEN SO IT COULD STAY THERE UNTIL TOWED. IT WAS FLATBED TOWED TO A FORD SERVICE CENTER, WHERE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY, SHOCK ABSORBER ASSEMBLIES, REAR STABILIZER BAR, SPINDLES, REAR PARKING BRAKE CABLE (WHICH HAD RUSTED AND SEIZED UP) ASSEMBLIES AND INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AND NUTS AND BOLTS.. AT THE TIME THE VAN HAD LESS THAN 71,000 MILES ON IT. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT WE WEREN'T STILL TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE AXLE WENT KERPLUNK! *TR

STOPPED IN VISITOR CENTER IN GETTYSBURG,PA. PUT VAN IN REVERSE AND IT LOCKED UP. LOOKED UNDER VAN AND NOTICED REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF. HAD TO TOW IT HOME AND HAD LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP INSTALL NEW AXLE AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 FORD WINDSTAR REGULARLY, COMMUTING TO BASKETBALL CAMPS WITH MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS AND TAKING A COUPLE ONE DAY VACATIONS THAT REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL. SHE SAID THAT THERE WAS A TAPPING AND SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VAN FREQUENTLY. SHE TOOK THE VAN OUT FOR THE LAST TIME AND RETURNED SAYING THAT THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THAT THE VAN WAS SWAYING IN THE REAR. WE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS TIPPED INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND UPON INSPECTION FOUND THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND THE TWO PIECES WERE MISALIGNED. THE VAN IS OBVIOUSLY UNDRIVABLE AND WE"RE IN THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING REPAIR COSTS. UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE RETURNING FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP AND WERE PLANNING TO RETURN WITH THE VAN TO BE EVALUATE FOR TRADE WHEN WE DETERMINED THE DAMAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS, BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,800. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 02/07/11

I TOOK MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR VAN TO BOB BELL FORD IN GLEN BURNIE, MD IN MAY 2010 FOR THE RECALL #09S09. I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING ABS, BRAKE AND TRAC CONTROL LIGHTS COMING ON AND STAYING ON THRU DURATION OF RIDE. THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED THE PART (RECALL 09S09). ON JULY 16, 2010 I WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE SAME LIGHTS, ABS, BRAKE AND TRAC. CONTROL CAME ON MY DASH BOARD. I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND PARKED VAN. LATER I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO GO TO WHEN I GOT IN VAN, NO WARNING LIGHT WERE ON THE DASH BOARD. AS I DROVE PROBABLY 3 BLOCKS ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE BRAKE FLUID LOW LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE ANOTHER BLOCK AND PARKED THE VAN. I WENT INSIDE AND WHEN I CAME OUT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND THAT HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE VAN. I GOT THE VAN TO MY LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT HE THOUGHT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING, SO I HAD IT REPLACED (NOT KNOWING THAT THIS WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL #09S09). WHEN I GOT THE VAN BACK, I DROVE IT NOT 4 BLOCKS AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE SAME THREE LIGHTS CAME ON, ABS, BRAKE AND TRAC CONTROL. THE SAME LIGHTS THAT WOULD COME ON ALL OF THE TIME BEFORE I TOOK THE VAN INTO FORD FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. I CONTACTED BOB BELL FORD OF GLEN BURNIE, MD AND TOLD THEM THAT I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAD BEFORE I HAD BROUGHT THE VAN IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, WITH THE LIGHTS COMING ON AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ABS, BRAKE OR TRAC CONTROL LIGHTS COMING ON, BUT THAT I COULD BRING IT IN, BUT THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT SOUND LIGHT ANYTHING RELATED TO THE RECALL 09S09, NOW I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE, AND I WILL BE TAKING THE VAN BACK TO BOB BELL FORD TOMORROW, BUT I AM DEFINITELY STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

WE HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WE WERE AT THE DEALERSHIP TODAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE, NEW FUEL FILTER AND TIRES ROTATED. OUR VAN WAS ONE THAT WAS RECALLED FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. WE TOOK IT IN WHEN WERE NOTIFIED AND ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER THE RECALL OUR CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. LAST FRI. OUR ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN IT SUDDENLY WENT OUT. WE HAD TO HAVE A NEW AXLE PUT ON OUR VAN IN MAY,2010 DUE TO THE AXLE CRACKED. WE THOUGHT MAYBE THE LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE OF HAVING NEW BRAKES PUT ON WHEN WE INSTALLED THE NEW AXLE. WE HAD THE FORD MECHANIC CHECK THIS OUT AND HE TOLD US THAT THE ABS IS LEAKING, BUT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. IF THIS IS LEAKING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WON'T WORK BECAUSE OF IT LEAKING ISN'T RELATED TO THE RECALL? *TR

REAR AXLE IS CRACKED, WHEELS STARTED TO CAVE IN. WILL TRY TO TEMPORARILY WELD THE AXLE SINCE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE AXLE. *TR

2002 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT ABOUT RECALL REPAIR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATE HE RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED FINE UP UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND THEN STOPPED WORKING. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO STOP WORKING. THE ABS LIGHT DID ILLUMINATE, BUT THEN IT WENT OFF. ALSO, BACK IN MAY, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THE REAR AXLE HAD CRACKED. THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE AXLE AND DISCOVERED IT WAS HOLLOW AND HAD RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR VAN, WITH 65,000 MILES. A SQUEAK STARTED IN THE BACK UNDERSIDE OF THE VAN. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW A LARGE CRACK IN REAR AXLE. THERE WAS NO RUST AT ALL ON THE AXLE IT JUST CRACKED ABOUT 18 INCHES FORM THE LEFT REAR TIRE. *TR

RECALL 09S09 WAS PERFORMED ON MY 2002 WINDSTAR. THE SPEED CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING BEFORE THIS RECALL. IT WAS WORKING NOW. A DAY OR 2 LATER THE ORANGE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THE BRAKES SEEM TO WORK OK FOR A WHILE, NOW IT SEEMS THAT THE BRAKES ARE ERRATIC IN PEDAL PRESSURE AND STOPPING DISTANCE. *TR

FAILURE OF ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. FIRST NOTICED AS ABS DASHBOARD LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE JUNE 2010. WHEN CHECKED OUT BY THE (NON-FORD) SHOP THAT DOES ALL THE WORK, THEY CERTIFIED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE, BUT THE ABS ECU WAS PRODUCING MULTIPLE AND APPARENTLY RANDOM ERROR CODES. AFTER ABOUT A MONTH THIS BECAME AN ALMOST DAILY OCCURRENCE; TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD WHO REPORTED THE ECU HAD FAILED COMPLETELY (NON-OPERATIVE) AND I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE IT. FORD MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON ON THESE WINDSTARS. I DID SO AT A COST OF $1,200.00. *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE IS SUDDENLY INCREASED. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON INTERMITTENTLY. FORD RECALL 09S09 WAS PERFORMED 7/10/10 BUT LIGHT AND BRAKING ISSUE NOT RESOLVED. *TR

2002 FORD WINDSTAR LX , PROBLEMS WITH DASHBOARD INCLUDE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WHILE DRIVING. AND THEN AT TIMES THE SPEEDOMETER, AND OTHER GAUGES ON DASH BOARD STOP WORKING OR TURN RAPIDLY FROM ONE END TO OTHER AND GET STUCK AT A WRONG READING. FOR EXAMPLE I AM DRIVING AT 35 MILES PER HOUR AND MY SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 80 . *TR

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHICH STOPS THE ABS FROM WORKING PER THE FORD DEALER. A BRAKE LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ALSO COMES ON, BUT PER THE FORD DEALER THE BRAKES ARE NOT AFFECTED. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO FORD RECALL NO. 09S09. THE FORD DEALER WANTS ME TO SPEND $800 TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS REPLACEMENT SINCE LEAKING OIL FROM THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS) (FORD RECALL NO. 09S09) LANDS ON THE ABS MODULE AND CONNECTOR. *TR

ON 12/09/09 I HAD THE RECALL 09S09 SPEED CONTROL CAMPAIGN RECALL PERFORMED AT FEDUKE FORD @ 2200 VESTAL PARKWAY E. VESTAL, NY 13850 ON MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED I AM EXPERIENCING VERY FREQUENT ABS/BRAKE LIGHT INDICATORS ON THE DASH WARNING LIGHT SYSTEM. THE VAN WAS TAKEN BACK TO FEDUKE FORD FOR DIAGNOSIS ON 07/15/10. THE RESULT OF THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAULTY ECU RELAY THAT IS BUILT INTO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. SAID REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS APPROXIMATELY $842.00. WITH THE ABS /BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ON I DO NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES. THESE LIGHTS ARE ON FREQUENTLY AND THIS IS MY FAMILY VEHICLE. I HAVE DONE ONLINE RESEARCH AND HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN USE THIS VAN AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT BEING CORRECTED BY FORD SINCE THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM/DEFECT. DURING THE WEEK PRIOR TO 07-15-2010 I HAD TO STOP QUICKLY FOR BACKED UP TRAFFIC ON SR 434 AND SINCE I HAD NO ABS MY BRAKING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED AND THE OVERALL BRAKING ABILITY OF THE VAN WAS NOT WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD THE ABS SYSTEM BEEN FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR

THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE TOPPED OFF BRAKE FLUID, BUT THAT DOES NOT WORK. THE MECHANIC SAID ABS FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE IS MORE COMMON THAN NOT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 94,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE LATELY BEEN HEARING A LOUD BANGING SOUND WHENEVER I MAKE TURNS SO I BROUGHT TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR AXLE IS NEARLY CRACKED IN HALF. I CAN SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, AFRAID THAT WHEN IT SPLITS, I'M GOING TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD THE $1000 PLUS IT'S GOING TO COST ME TO REPAIR IT, AND BETTER YET, MY OTHER CAR IS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. SO I'M ALSO AFRAID I'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS TWICE. *TR

THE MORNING OF JULY 11, 2010, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ON OUR 2002 WINDSTAR SUFFERED AN INTERNAL FIRE DUE TO BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE BAD SWITCH, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF PROPER BRAKE FUNCTION AND NO READINGS FROM THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND ODOMETER (AS WELL AS MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS). THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER HAVING HAD THE BRAKE PRESSURE DEACTIVATION SWITCH RECALL PERFORMED (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 09V399000, ACTION NUMBER EA08021). THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH HAD PERFORMED THE INITIAL RECALL WORK REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE MODULE UNDER THE RECALL OR AS A WARRANTY CLAIM, STATING THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, NOR WAS IT APPARENTLY DAMAGED AT THE TIME OF THE BRAKE SWITCH REPAIR. I SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVED, OPENED AND EXAMINED THE CONTROL MODULE (8/28/2010), AND FOUND BLACKENED BRAKE FLUID PRESENT INSIDE THE MODULE AT THE CONNECTOR PINS. I ALSO FOUND EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT BURNING AROUND THE PINS AT THE CONNECTIONS TO THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS EVIDENCE INCLUDED THE BLACKENED FLUID, SEVERE DISCOLORATION, AND LIFTED TRACES, ALL OF WHICH ARE CLEARLY APPARENT IN PHOTOS OF THE MODULE INTERIOR. LUCKILY, IT APPEARS THAT AN INTERNAL TRACE BURNED THROUGH AND INTERRUPTED THE FAULT CURRENT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE BECOMING A RUNAWAY FIRE EVENT. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, AND IS SITTING IDLE. I HAVE KEPT THE FAILED CONTROL MODULE FOR EXAMINATION AS NECESSARY. *TR

WEST HER FORD OF AMHERST ADVISED US TO REPLACE THE FRONT SUB FRAME ON OUR 2002 WINDSTAR BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED DUE TO ROAD SALT. ALTHOUGH IT PASSED NYSI, THEY TOLD US IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE, SO WE SPENT $1600 TO REPLACE IT (RATHER THAN REPLACE THE VEHICLE). NOW, THEY'VE RECALLED THE REAR AXLE FROM THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM (CRACKED DUE TO ROAD SALT). *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED ABS PROBLEM. *TR

FORD PERFORMED SAFETY RECALL 09S09 IN 2009 BUT ONLY INSTALLED SAFETY WIRING HARNESS 2002. REQUESTED FORD TO REPLACE BOTH SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND ABS MODULE DUE TO THE KNOWN FAILURES INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATION, BUT FORD REFUSED AFTER A YEAR THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, NOW THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON EVERYTIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN AFTER SEVERAL MILES. BASED ON RESEARCH (HTTP://WWW.2CARPROS.COM/QUESTIONS/FORD-WINDSTAR-2003-FORD-WINDSTAR-ABS-C1185-TROUBLE-CODE), I CAN SEE THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM AND IT CAUSES BRAKING SAFETY ISSUES IN ADDITION TO FIRE PROBLEM. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND ABS CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE REQUIRED AS PART OF 09S09 RECALL. THE INSTALLATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS ONLY MINIMIZES THE OCCURRENCE OF POSSIBLE FIRE, BUT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE DEFECTIVE DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND ABS MODULE. *TR *KB

MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR'S REAR AXLE HAS CRACKED! WHILE I WAS DRIVING WE HEARD A HORRIBLE SOUND. WE GET OUT AND LOOK TO SEE THAT MY REAR TIRES WE BOWED IN. I HAD MY COUSIN WHO IS A MECHANIC TO COME OVER AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY REAR AXLE HAS CRACKED AND HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT! I'VE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT TOWED TWICE ALREADY AND I HAVE TO PAY $450.00 FOR THE PART AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR. THE JOB IS A 7-8 HOUR PROJECT! I'M FURIOUS! I'VE OWNED THIS VAN FOR 3 MONTHS! I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO WORK THIS ENTIRE WEEK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM! I CAME HOME THE DAY THAT IT HAPPENED AND LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY ITS A COMMON KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS! I GUESS FORD IS GOING TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM! *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I FELT LIKE I LOST CONTROL OF THE BACK END OF THE VAN AND THEN I HEARD METAL SCRAPPING NOISES. I STOPPED THE CAR AND FOUND THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE TILTED IN AND A BIG CRACK IN THE REAR AXLE. APPROX SPEED AT THE TIME 40 MPH. *TR