NHTSA Complaint #10210786 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ARE LIT ON DASH. DEALER SAYS THAT THE ABS ECU HAS FAILED AND THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WILL NOT WORK UNTIL THIS IS REPLACED. AT THE SAME SERVICE VISIT THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FIRE HAZARD CAUSED BY LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IS CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CABLE FROM THE SWITCH CONNECTS DIRECTLY TO THE ABS ECU, WHEN THEY SHOWED ME THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH BEFORE REPLACING IT I OBSERVED BRAKE FLUID RUNNING DOWN THE SWITCH CABLE TO THE ABS ECU. I FEEL THERE IS A DIRECT RELATION TO BRAKE FLUID DRAINING ON TO THE ABS ECU AND ITS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE. THIS IS A SEALED ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DOES NOT SEE IT THAT WAY OF COURSE. *TR