NHTSA Complaint #10158872 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

THIS IS A COPY OF THE LETTER I SENT TO FORD RECENTLY. I THOUGHT I WOULD TRY BOTH PATHS TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY OTHER INFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER P.O. BOX 6248 DEARBORN, MI 48126 HELLO, I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR VIN XXXXXXXXX THAT HAS A PROBLEM. {DEALER NAME} HAS LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM TWICE AND FOUND NOTHING. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF OPERATING THE VAN. IF THE VAN IS IN DRIVE AND YOU ARE HOLDING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME (EXTRA LONG STOP LIGHTS), THE FOLLOWING WILL HAPPEN. THE ENGINE WILL INCREASE IN RPMS AND JOLT FORWARD UNTIL YOU GET ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES TO HOLD IT AT A STOP. IF YOU PUT IT IN NEUTRAL OR PARK, IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IF YOU LET UP ON THE BRAKES. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE VAN OUT OF THE SITUATION IS TO SHUT IT OFF. ONCE YOU RESTART IT, EVERYTHING IS FINE. BY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES, I MEAN YOU BETTER PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR OR YOU WILL BE MOVING! I AM NOT SURE IF MY WIFE COULD HOLD IT LONG ENOUGH TO GET IT TURNED OFF. THE FIRST EVENT HAPPENED IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT A CONGESTED INTERSECTION. I ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE SECOND EVENT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN IT JOLTED FORWARD I WAS IN THE INTERSECTION. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? MY WIFE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE THE VAN BECAUSE SHE IS SCARED OF IT. THE PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. HOPEFULLY IT WILL NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT EVENTUALLY WILL. SO I WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BEFORE IT BECOMES A BIGGER PROBLEM. THE VAN HAS ALSO HAD OTHER ELECTRICAL ABNORMALITIES. *NM