NHTSA Complaint #10187527 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DIMLY AND STAYED ON. I TOOK THE 1998 WINDSTAR TO A MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID IN THE ABS MODULE THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS SITUATION COULD CAUSE A FIRE. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY MECHANIC AND THE FORD SERVICE TECHNICIANS AT TWO FORD SERVICE CENTERS THE ABS SYSTEM VALVES WHICH CONTAINED BRAKE FLUID SAT ON TOP OF THE ABS MODULE AND WERE SOMEHOW CONNECTED. THIS DESIGN, APPARENTLY COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID GETTING INTO THE ABS MODULE. I HAVE ASKED FORD REPEATEDLY IF THE BRAKE FLUID IN THE ABS MODULE COULD CAUSE A FIRE, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM THEM. MY CONCERN WAS THAT THIS SITUATION COULD CAUSE A FIRE SHOULDN'T IT BE MADE KNOWN TO OWNERS OF THE FORD WINDSTARS OR ANY VEHICLE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ABS SYTSEM DESIGN? *AK