NHTSA Complaint #10207060 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

ON MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN, AT ABOUT 62,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE AMBER ABS LIGHT AND RED BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS A FAULTY HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT THAT WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ON THE ABS MODULE (ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS ABOUT $1,100. I HAD PREVIOUSLY RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, AND HAVE FOUND ENTIRE FORUMS OF WINDSTAR OWNERS DEDICATED TO THIS PROBLEM. USERS HAD CITED A FIRE HAZARD THAT IS CREATED BY THE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ON THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ONE OWNERS VAN HAD CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THIS ON A LONG TRIP). I ASKED ABOUT THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THIS COULD INDEED BE A FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE PULLED THE FUSES TO DE-ENERGIZE THE ABS ECU, BUT BECAUSE OF THAT, AM CURRENTLY OPERATING WITH NO ABS BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE LEAKING FLUID HAD ALSO DAMAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL CUTOFF SWITCH, SO I HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR