2003 Ford Windstar Air Bags & Restraints Problems

YESTERDAY ( JULY 5, 2016) WHEN MY SON ARRIVED AT HOME, PLACED THE 2003 WINDSTAR IN PARK, TURNED OFF, TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, TOOK OUT THE SEAT BELT, OPENED THE DOOR AND WHEN CLOSED THE DOOR THE FRONT AIRBAGS (DRIVER & DRIVER SIDE) DEPLOYED SUDDENLY. MY WIFE CALL THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR OUR WINDSTAR VIN NUMBER AND THEY CAN QUOTE FOR THE REPAIR. FAILURE MILLAGE APROX. 133,251 AND THE WINDSTAR WAS STATIONARY.

ON MAY 24 WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY SONS CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A TREMENDOUS RATE OF SPEED AND WITH A LOUD NOISE AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO OUR SHED. I SUSTAINED INJURIES OF 6 BROKEN RIBS, BRUISED LUNG AND CONTUSIONS TO MY CHEST. IF NOT FOR THE CAR AND SHED IN FRONT WE WOULD HAVE ENDED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL BEHIND OUR HOME. THE INSURANCE COMPANY, 21ST CENTURY, DID NOT SEND A CLAIM FORM AND IS FIGHTING PAYING FOR THIS ACCIDENT.

I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR VAN I PURCHASED. THE MILEAGE IS 081206.3. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VAN. THE DOORS ON THE SIDES AND BACK ARE VERY HARD TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT TURN OFF UNLESS YOU HIT THE BRAKES. THE SEATBELT ARE MAKING A HORRIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE AND DON'T REALLY ROLL UP RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET A LIST OF RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. TO ME THESE ARE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU *TR

DRIVING EAST BOUND AT 35 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF ME AND I HAD A DIRECT HIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME BACK AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TR

LEAVING FOR WORK, I NOTICED THAT THE ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE ON UP ON THE DASHBOARD. I DROVE TO WORK WHICH IS ONLY 8 MILES AWAY; GOING NO FASTER THAN 45 MPH. I ARRIVED AT WORK, PLACED VAN IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE VAN, TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION, TOOK OFF MY SEAT BELT, OPENED DOOR, AND THE AIRBAG BLEW UP IN MY FACE. I RAISED MY ARM AND MY RIGHT HAND GOT MOST OF THE IMPACT. WE HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE FOR 3 DAYS WITH THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THEY KEEP PASSING US BACK AND FORTH BOTH DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

I BELIEVE THE SEAT BELTS IN MY FORD WINDSTAR DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE VAN AND FORD WILL NOT LOOK INTO THE ISSUE WITHOUT CHARGING ME A FEE. THERE WAS A SEAT BELT RECALL IN THE PAST ON SOME FORD WINDSTARS BUT FORD CLAIMS IT DOES NOT AFFECT THIS MODEL. THIS ISSUE AFFECTS PRIMARILY THE MIDDLE AND REAR ROW OF MY VAN AND POSSIBLY THE FRONT SEATS AS WELL. *TR

ABS LIGHT ON AIR BAG LITTLE ON WON'T TURN OFF BRAKE LIGHT ALSO WILL COME ON AT TIME FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS STICKING LIKE DRIVING WITH BRAKE ON. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO COME TO A STOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND THE VACUUM HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

SWERVED TO AVOID COLLISION AND THE BRAKES LOCKED CAUSING CAR TO LOSE CONTROL ON THE WET ROAD. THE VAN HIT A TREE, FLIPPED ON ITS SIDE AND SMASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS FRONT END DAMAGE. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. ALSO NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING UP OVER THE PRIOR WEEKS (NOT MOVING UNTIL AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING.) *TR

THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. *TR

ADD TO SAFETY COMPLAINT 106 649 11.... THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEMS 'STARTED AFTER VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH RECALL WAS DONE' (RECALL ID # 67506) AT THE FORD DEALER IN CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA. *TR

YELLOW ABS LIGHT AND RED BRAKE LIGHT COME ON DAILY. YELLOW AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WEEKLY. TOOK TO FORD DEALER 10/1/11, FOUND CODES C1185, 1198, 1194, 1254, 1246, 1250, 1248, 1214, 1210, B1869, B1470, U1262, B1676, B1246. INTERNAL MODULE FAILURE, RECOMMEND REPLACING ECU (VERBALLY QUOTED $1,000 OVER THE PHONE). IF RED BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, I THINK IT'S THE ABS MODULE, BUT IF SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG, THIS COULD CREATE AN 'UNSAFE' VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE AND THE SEAT BELTS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO FAULTY WIRING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT INJURED HER NECK AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD TO BE LEGALLY HANDLED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LIMITED ON SMOOTH ROADWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN THE DRIVERSIDE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. NO INJURIES EXCEPT FOR A RUG BURN ON MY LEFT SHOULDER. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE COMPUTER SHOWED A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION BUT THERE WAS NO COLLISION. I WAS TOLD THE COST IS $1500 FOR REPAIR OUT OF MY POCKET. COME ON FORD. *TR

THE 2003 FORD WINDSTAR, WAS HIT ON BOTH SIDES AND THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED, THERE IS NO BUMPER, 90% OF THE FRONT END IS GONE. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH, THE FRONT AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED DAMAGING THE DRIVER SEAT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY IN MARCH 2009, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS WHICH WOULD INCLUDE NEW WIRING AND A DRIVER SEAT REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH SHE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99300.

MY HUSBAND WAS PROCEEDING IN A SOUTHBOUND DIRECTION IN OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN HE STRUCK A VEHICLE (GMC TRUCK) THAT FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THAT VEHICLE WAS MOVING WESTBOUND. THE IMPACT FIRST OCCURRED WITH THE WINDSTAR STRIKING THE TRUCK ON THE PASSENGER FRONT FENDER, WHICH THEN RESULTED IN THE WINDSTAR THEN STRIKING A CURB, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE WINDSTAR STRIKING A TELEPHONE POLE. THESE IMPACTS WERE ALL MADE FROM THE FRONT, HOWEVER NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON THE WINDSTAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE SIDE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE SEAT WAS DAMAGED. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.