2003 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON 2003 WINDSTAR. THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH (LOCATED UNDER BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER) IS LEAKING AND CAUSES THIS LIGHT TO BE ON. REPLACED SPEED CONTROL SWITCH BUT BOTH LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. RETRIEVED ABS CODE ERROR AND IT IS C1185 - RELATING TO THE ABS RELAY FAILURE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE ABS MODULE ITSELF. REPAIR OF SUCH IS VERY COSTLY (FORD QUOTED BETWEEN $800-$900; ANOTHER SHOP QUOTED $700). I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL THAT FORD SHOULD MAKE AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DESIGN FAILURE (AND VERY COSTLY!). ADDITIONAL REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE "ABS" BRAKE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM COMPUTER MODULE. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE DEFECTIVE AUTOMATED POWER LOCKS ON ALL FOUR DOORS. AN AUTHORIZED MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE DOOR LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED FOR THE ABS COMPUTER MODULE. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/30/09 *BF UPDATED 12/30/09*JB

WE HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR, THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WHEN WE DROVE, SOMETIMES IT WOULD FEEL LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING, WELL IT DID ONE DAY GOING TO WORK, THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAME APART DAMAGING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 65000 MILES ON IT WE BEGGED FORD FOR HELP BECAUSE WE THINK THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A VEHICLE THIS YOUNG WE HAVE OWNED LOTS OF VEHICLES WITH WELL OVER 150,000 MILES ON THEM. *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR ABS BRAKE FAILURE. SYSTEM HAS INTERMITTENT FAILURE, SMELL SOMETHING HOT WHEN IT HAPPENS. *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. FORD WINDSTAR 2003 HAS ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY ON DASH FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. WORSE IN THE HOT SUMMER. *TR

I HAVE A FORD WINDSTAR, 2003 AND THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE READ AND HEARD FROM NUMEROUS OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS DUE TO AN ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONING. IS THIS CURRENTLY RECALLED? THE FORD WEBSITE SAYS THAT THE 2003 WINDSTAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE ANTI-BRAKE SYSTEM AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SWITCH OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

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

MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE RESERVOIR. *TR

FORD WINDSTAR 2003. BRAKE AND ABS LIGTHS ON ALL THE TIME AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES. MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHEN WEATHER IS HOT. *TR

VEHICLE WAS SKIPPING/JERKING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE (HAPPENED RECENTLY), ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF W/O WARNING, INSIDE DOME LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING, AND FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT STOP AFTER BEING TURNED OFF, UNTIL CAR WAS CUT OFF (HAPPENED OVER 2 YEAR PERIOD). HAD A DEALER TO FIX PROBLEMS TO A TUNE OF ABOUT $2300. *TR

6 MONTHS AGO MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON SPORADICALLY. INTERIOR LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF AT DIFFERENT TIMES DAY AND NIGHT. VERY DISRUPTIVE TO DRIVING AND DANGEROUS TO OTHER DRIVERS ON ROAD. DEALER SAYS NO RECALLS ON THIS ITEM. AM HAVING INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHECK THIS OUT. ALSO AFFECTS THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WHEN SOMETIME WORKING AND SOMETIME NOT. *TR

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID (PROBLEM # 1) MELTED BRAKE DEACTIVATION SWITCH (PROBLEM # 1) BRAKE LIGHT ON AFTER BRAKE SERVICE. (WE THINK THIS BACK PRESSURE BRAKES THE DEAC SWITCH) (PROBLEM # 1) BRAKE LIGHT (RED) (PROBLEM # 1 OR PROBLEM # 2) 15 AMP FUSE #10 BLOWING OUT (PROBLEM # 1) FIRE OR SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VAN ABS ECM AREA WHILE OFF. (PROBLEM # 1) MELTED ABS ECM WIRING CONNECTOR. (PROBLEM # 1) SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STOP WORKING. (PROBLEM # 1) CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ACTIVATE OR DEACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING. (PROBLEM # 1) ABS BRAKE LIGHT (YELLOW) (PROBLEM # 2 OR PROBLEM # 1) FORD TROUBLE CODE C1185. (PROBLEM # 2 OR PROBLEM # 1) BRAKES TURN ON SQUEEL WITHOUT WARNING. (PROBLEM *TR

NO PROBLEMS WITH 2003 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 88,000 MILES. VEHICLE RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN TRANSMISSION WHINED AND QUIT. LEFT OCCUPANTS STRANDED. UPON ONLINE SEARCH, HUNDREDS OF ISSUES WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SAME PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HUB HAS BEEN REPLACED 15 TIMES AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR AND THE ABS LIGHT (AMBER COLOR) AND BRAKE LIGHT (RED COLOR) WILL JUST ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO BE SERVICED AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER MECHANIC SHOP HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND WHAT IS CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO COME ON WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE, I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHEN IT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS WENT OFF. ABOUT 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THEY CAME ON AGAIN. I ONCE AGAIN PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON TWO TIMES BEFORE THE LIGHTS WENT OFF. IT SEEMS TO BE PRETTY RANDOM AS TO WHEN THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON, BUT IT FREAKS ME OUT EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. *TR

ABS SOMETIMES WORKS AND OTHER TIMES DOES NOT. AFTER BRAKE SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP, THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. RESULT IS ABS DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK . BRAKE LIGHT ON AFTER BRAKE SERVICE. (BRAKE LIGHT (RED) 15 AMP FUSE #10 BLOWING OUT ABS BRAKE LIGHT (YELLOW). *TR

FORD VEHICLES SHOULD NOT ONLY BE RECALLED FOR REAR AXLE RUST. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A RECALL FOR RUST THAT CONSTANTLY OCCURS AROUND THE REAR WHEEL WELL PANELS. THE RUST APPEARS TO START FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR SIDE PANEL ON THE WINDSTAR. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS OCCURRING ALONG WITH THE REAR AXLE RUST. THE SLIDING SIDE DOORS HAVE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH CLOSING COMPLETELY WHEN ANY OF THE CONTROL BUTTONS WERE USED. THE DOORS WOULD REOPEN OVER AND OVER. REPEATED VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM WHICH SEEM TO INVOLVE THE PULLEY SYSTEM. *TR

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAD SIMULTANEOUSLY BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE SOMETIME IN 2008 (A 5-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE), OCCURRING WITH GREATER FREQUENCY AS TIME WENT ON. HOWEVER, SINCE ABOUT MARCH 2011 THEY NOW COME ON EVERY DAY, USUALLY WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF STARTING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR DAMAGE LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE--THE PROBLEM IS INHERENT IN THE MODULE. AFTER ABOUT THE FIRST YEAR OF INTERMITTENT FAILURE I HAD A FORD DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM; HE TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO A BAD ECM FOR THE ABS (WHICH I ALREADY SUSPECTED, HAVING DONE SOME PRIOR RESEARCH); WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT CONCERNING THE ALUMINUM HEAT SINK PLATE; HE TOLD ME IT WAS A BAD DESIGN, IT SHOULD'VE NEVER BEEN DESIGNED THAT WAY. IN MAY 2011, AFTER THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE COMING ON DAILY, I HAD SOME OTHER SERVICE WORK DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP; IN SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE I ASKED ABOUT THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS, HE TOLD ME THE ABS ECM WAS BAD, THAT MANY OF THEM GO BAD LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT'S A BAD DESIGN AND HE HAD IN FACT JUST REPLACED ONE THE WEEK BEFORE FOR A CUSTOMER--IT WAS $1,400. THESE SAME MODULES WERE USED ON EARLIER MODEL YEARS OF THE WINDSTAR, AND ALL MODEL YEARS USING THIS MODULE HAVE HAD FAILURES. WHEN THE MODULE IS NOT FUNCTIONING, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM- DOES NOT ENGAGE. WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS, THIS CAN LEAD TO UNEXPECTED WHEEL LOCK-UP AND UNCONTROLLED SLIDING, INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCES, AND GREATER RISK OF INJURY ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS, AND AS A SAFETY FEATURE IT MUST NOT FAIL--JUST LIKE SEATBELTS, AIRBAGS AND TMPS. WITH THE SYSTEM FAILING DAILY NOW, I FEAR THIS COMING WINTER THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESPOND AS EXPECTED WHEN BRAKING ON SNOW-COVERED ROADS. WITH 2 FORD EMPLOYEES TELLING ME THIS MODULE IS A BAD DESIGN, WITH THE RELATIVELY LOW PART COST FOR THE MODULE (ACTUAL COST, NOT MARKED-UP), CONSIDERING THE FACTOR OF SAFETY AT STAKE, THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL, THE SAME AS ANY SAFETY SYSTEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES FROM THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE BURNED AND THE FUSE WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN SMOKE WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. SMOKE WAS RISING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE IF THE CONTACT HAD NOT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE WIRING HARNESS; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 03/12/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB

BRAKE LIGHT (E-BRAKE) AND ABS LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS EITHER CAUSE THE ABS TO DISABLE OR NOT DEPENDING ON WHICH MECHANIC I TALK TO. TWO MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS, AND RECENTLY I WAS DENIED AN EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO THIS (NON-EMISSION RELATED) PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL WEBSITES, THIS IS SLATED AS A _VERY_ COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED... THE DEALER WANTS OVER $1000 TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM THAT IF NOT RESOLVED, RESULTS IN INTERMITTENT ABS, OR FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SUDDENLY, SMOKE EXPELLED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EXHIBITED HEAVY SMOKE AND SMALL FLAMES. THE HOOD WAS CLOSED WHICH SMOTHERED THE SMALL FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

IN FEBRUARY, 2009 I NOTED THAT THE ABS AND E-BRAKE WARNING LAMPS WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN DRIVING. COMPUTER CODE ANALYSIS REFLECTED THE NEED TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. I REPLACED THE SENSOR. THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. ALSO, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH RANDOMLY AND ARE VERY DISTRACTIVE. I HAVE TURNED OFF THE INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

I'M THE OWNER OF A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION FAIL WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING.THE VAN DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,THE STEERING WAS LOCKED,THE LIGHTS BLINKED,MY OD N BLINKER FLASHED OFF N ON.MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN. ALSO MY ABS LIGHT ABSOLUTELY WON'T GO OFF!!!!.ALSO REPLACES,BRAKES, ROTORS(WHICH WERE TOTALLY RUSTED). *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR. BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON, FLUID LEAKING OUT OF BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH. FLUID WICKING DOWN TO OTHER WIRES BLOWING FUSES. ABS CONTROL UNIT WIRES SOAKED IN FLUID. POSSIBLE FIRE. ALSO ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS STICK BOTH FAIL TO UNLOCK AND FAIL TO LOCK EVEN THOUGH THE SOLENOID IS TRIGGERED. THE ACTUAL LOCK IS STICKING ON 3 OF THE FOUR DOORS. *TR

SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD,THEN AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON. AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ABS LIGHT THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE. ALSO AT THIS TIME CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ON WOULD DEACTIVATE AND BASICALLY DO WHATEVER IT WANTED. BUT WHILE ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING THERE WAS NO SMOKE. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO A LOCAL PARTS STORE AND THEY PULLED THE CODES FOR ME. THE CODES CAME UP PO171 AND PO174. I THEN WENT TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE INTAKE GASKETS. I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACED. I DISCOVERED LATER THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON REPAIR FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT IS ALSO COMMON ON 1999 THROUGH 2002 WINDSTARS AND IS BELIEVED BY MANY AUTO EXPERTS TO BE RELATED TO A MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECT . *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD , ABS AND TRAC OFF AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON...SINCE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON , MY WIFE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT... HAD BRAKES CHECKED SAID THEY WERE FINE. TOOK IT FOR A SCAN TEST AND WOW CODES FROM C1145 TO C1410. SAID IT WAS RELATED TO ECM MODULE. VERY EXPENSIVE...2003 WINDSTAR 79,000 MILES. *TR

I DRIVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WITHIN ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES OF STARTING THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE YELLOW ABS LIGHT, AND THE RED EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT LIGHT UP ON THE DASH. THE BRAKES STILL SEEM TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. I EVEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED OUT FINE. HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON, AND WON'T GO AWAY. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT IS CONTINUALLY ON, DIAGNOSED AS ABS MODULE FAILURE. *TR

THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY. WHEN IT COMES ON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS REDUCED POWER. THIS IS CONFIRMED BY THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING, WIPERS MOVING AT SLOWER SPEED. IF I TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN RESTART, THE BATTERY LIGHT GOES OFF AND EVERYTHING FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. IF I DON'T TURN THE CAR OFF, IT WILL DIE IN A SHORT TIME. *TR

WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR IN LATE 2006 TO EARLY 2007 AND NOW WE NEED TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THE 2ND TIME THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND WITHIN AND HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF THE CAR NEEDED TOWED BACK TO OUR HOUSE WHERE IT IS SITTING NOW. ANOTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE OVERHEAD LIGHT COMES ON WHENEVER IT WANTS TO AND WE LOSE THE ELECTRIC IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WHENEVER IT WANTS TO GO. AND RECENTLY THE LOCK ON THAT SAME DOOR WILL CONTINUALLY LOCK OVER AND OVER FOR ABOUT 10 TIMES AND THEN LOCKS. *TR

I AM ENTERING THIS INFO ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER, DANIEL CULLEN OF MEADVILLE PENNSYLVANIA. DAN DOES NOT REGULARLY USE THE INTERNET. HIS 2003 MODEL YEAR FORD WINDSTAR HAS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY FALL OFF DUE TO RUST. THE CAR ONLY HAD 95,802 MILES AND WAS LESS THAN 6 YEARS OLD. THE RUSTED PART IS CALLED AN ENGINE CRADLE. OTHER INSTANCES CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEB GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS. A FORD DEALER FIXED THE CAR AT OWNER EXPENSE. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT AN AIR CONDITIONING HOSE DRIPPED ON THE RUSTED PART CONTRIBUTING TO THE FAILURE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD CORPORATE HOTLINE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP MY BROTHER FINANCIALLY OR TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. MY BROTHER WAS SCHEDULED TO DRIVE THE CAR NEXT DAY 400 MILES. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED DEATH AND INJURY COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED. PLEASE SEE TO IT THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE RECALLED ASAP. A RECALL CAN BE ACHIEVED AT REASONABLE COST: FIRST INSPECT CARS AND IF NO RUST IS PRESENT AT LEAST REROUTE THE A/C DRIP LINE. IF RUST IS PRESENT, CHANGE THE ENGINE CRADLE FOR A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS. NOTE THAT THE WEB SHOWS INCIDENTS GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS, YET STILL THESE CARS ARE OUT THERE TURNING INTO TICKING TIME BOMBS IN ONLY 5 YEARS OF USE! *TR

THE FORD WINDSTAR STOP SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. IF YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC, THIS COULD BE FATAL. *TR

IT STARTED WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTING COMING ON WHILE DRIVING ,THEN THE DASH WINDOWS ND RADIO ,BATTERY DYING AND THE OUTSIDE LIGHTING STAYING ON WHILE KEYS WERE OUT AND NOT WORKING ONCE STARTED. THEY ARE ALL HAPPENING CONSTANTLY EVEN WITH ALL THE NEW PARTS THAT THE FORD GARAGE REPLACED{BATTERY,SWITCHES,ALTERNATOR,LIGHT SOCKETS,ETC}. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LIMITED EDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE TRANSMISSION PUMP. EIGHT MONTHS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE TRANSMISSION PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR THAT I PURCHASED AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2008 FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. IN NOVEMBER, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON THE DASH. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VAN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A TRANSMISSION REPAIR AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULE IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD AND THEY HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE BRAKES STILL FUNCTION LIKE NORMAL, BUT THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX THIS SINCE THE BRAKES WILL STILL TECHNICALLY WORK, BUT AS THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD I AM SHOCKED THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DIRECTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I WAS QUOTED $1,200 FOR THE MODULE BY THE DEALERSHIP WHICH I JUST CAN NOT AFFORD TO SPEND THE MONEY ON RIGHT NOW. I WILL SEARCH ON THE NET FOR A NEW MODULE, HOPEFULLY, AT A LOWER PRICE AND REPLACE IT MYSELF. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR PRODUCTS AND THEY SHOULD BE FORCED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING RECALL NOTICE *TGW THE REAR AXLE FAILED, PRIOR TO THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. *JB

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008, MY WIFE WAS HEADING HOME FROM WORK AT MIDNIGHT WHEN THE 2003 FORD WINDSTAR SHE USED LOST ALL GEARS WITHOUT NOTICE. SHE LEFT WORK AND MADE SEVERAL STOPS AT LIGHTS AND NEVER NOTICED A PROBLEM UNTIL SHE WAS AT A STOP SIGN. WHEN SHE WENT TO EXECUTE THE TURN, THE GEARS WERE GONE. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO AN EMPTY LOT FOR A TOW IN THE MORNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REGULAR SERVICE GARAGE I USE. THE PROBLEM ENDED UP BEING A FAILED SPLINE THAT STRIPPED OUT AT 52,008 MILES. THERE WAS NEVER ANY WARNING TO INDICATE A PROBLEM FOR TO TAKE PROACTIVE AND SAFE MEASURES. THE GARAGE STATED NO PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE I WOULD HAVE DONE WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FAILURE. THE RESULT WAS $1658 REPAIR TO REPLACE THE FAILED SPLINE. I'M GLAD MY WIFE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILDREN WHEN THIS COULD HAVE FAILED, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. *TR

I KEPT GETTING AN INTERMITTENT BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT THAT RESETS WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. MY MECHANIC TROUBLESHOOT IT DOWN TO THE ECM FOR THE ABS. FAILURE OF ECM IN THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. I AM SURE THEY HAVE FIXED PLENTY OF THESE BY NOW. WHY NO RECALL ON AN OBVIOUSLY BAD PART/DESIGN? *TR

LEFT REAR AUTOMATIC CLOSING DOOR WILL BEGIN TO CLOSE, JUST BEFORE LATCHING THE DOOR WILL RE-OPEN ITSELF. *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.

I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. I TURNED THE CORNER AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, NO FORWARD OR REVERSE. I BARELY MISSED BEING HIT WHILE THE VAN COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE OWNED TWO PREVIOUS WINDSTARS THAT WERE A 1995 AND A 1998 THAT I HAD THE TRANSMISSIONS GO OUT ON BUT THERE WAS SLIPPING AND IT WAS OBVIOUS THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING. I BOUGHT ANOTHER FOUND BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST ABOUT THE ONLY THING I CAN AFFORD. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHATSOEVER THIS TIME. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE AND THE SPLINE HAD BEEN STRIPPED OFF THE TORQUE CONVERTER. HE SAID HE SEES THIS KIND OF THING ALL THE TIME WITH FORDS. THEY ARE REBUILDING IT FOR ME FOR $1800.00. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I READ ON HERE ANOTHER PERSON WITH THE SAME VAN HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. FORD NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE WHEN THEY PUT OUT CRAPPY TRANSMISSIONS THAT GO OUT WITH NO WARNING. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THIS SITUATION OCCURS ON A HIGHWAY? NOW I KNOW WHY PEOPLE REFER TO FORDS AS FOUND ON ROAD DEAD..BECAUSE THEY WILL BREAK WITH NO WARNING! *TR

BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN. LOOKED UNDER HOOD AND NOTICED A LEAK IN A SWITCH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. NOTICED EXACT SAME PROBLEM DISCUSSED ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS, I GOT MOST OF MY INFORMATION FROM HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/ *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR, THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. CAUSED BY BRAKE FLUID LEAK WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR AND SINCE OCT 2008 THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND WENT OFF DEPENDING ON THE TEMP. OUTSIDE. I LIVE IN DELAWARE AND CURRENTLY ITS ON ALL THE TIME WITH THE WARM TEMP. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND CAME ACROSS A LINK OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY A INVESTIGATION. *TR

SERVICE BRAKES,HYDRAULIC BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT HAVE BEEN ON IN MY CAR STEADY FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE FORD DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

ABS BRAKES LIGHT PROBLEM FORD WINDSTAR 20003 AIR BRAKES PROBLEM ,CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM SUSPENSION PROBLEM. *TR

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE FRONT PANEL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. WE HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WHO HAVE REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER TO NO EFFECT. IN COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS, I HAVE LEARNED THAT A LIKELY CAUSE IS LEAKAGE FROM A SWITCH ONTO A CABLE HARNESS, WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE FIRES IN VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM MUST BE DISABLED TO PRECLUDE THIS PROBLEM. *TR