NHTSA Complaint #10348557 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

SUDDEN INCREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY BUT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON. OCCASIONAL SLIGHT SMELL OF BURNING USUALLY ON HOTTER DAYS. LONGER BRAKING DISTANCE HAS ALMOST CAUSE ME TO REAR-END A CAR AND/OR STOP FOR A PEDESTRIAN IN A CROSS-WALK. ONLY BECAUSE I ALWAYS LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AWAY FROM CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND WATCH CLOSELY FOR PEDESTRIANS HAS AN ACCIDENT BEEN AVOIDED. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED BECAUSE OUR FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $800 JUST FOR ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND 8 HOURS(@$125/HR) TO INSTALL THE NEW UNIT. ALSO, I WAS TOLD A NEW SPEED CONTROL UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I AM SIMPLY NOT IN A FINANCIAL DECISION TO GET THESE ITEMS FIX. I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE ISSUES MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR A FIRE OR BOTH. *TR