NHTSA Complaint #10256678 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

RESEARCHING PROBLEMS WITH MY VAN I RAN A SEARCH TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS OR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MY CURRENT PROBLEM: A LEAKING RACK AND PINION. WHILE SEARCHING I RAN ACROSS A SITE (HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/) REGARDING THE BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (2B264). I EXPERIENCED THE SYMPTOMS (WITHOUT THE FIRE) OF THE SWITCH LEAKING AND NOW HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS LIGHT STAYING ON AND THE DEALER I TOOK THE VAN TO TOLD ME THE ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE BRAKE SWITCH SHOWED SIGNS OF HEAT LIKE IT SHORTED OUT. I ASKED THE SERVICE REP AT THE TIME IF THERE WERE ANY TSB'S OR RECALLS AND I WAS TOLD NO. I REPLACED THE SWITCH AND HAVE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS BUT I NEED TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE. THE SWITCH WAS WEEPING FLUID BUT FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS NEARLY PUMPED OUT OF FLUID. THINKING ABOUT IT HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER RAN OUT OF FLUID AND THE ABS MODULE RENDERED INACTIVE FROM THE DRIPPING BRAKE FLUID THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN FIRE. *TR