NHTSA Complaint #10427831 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON INTERMITTANTLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. IT SEEMS THAT THE ABS ECU MODULE IS THE PROBLEM AS MULTIPLE ABS CODES WERE READ. NOW, TWO MONTHS LATER MY CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS. IF YOU DO THE RESEARCH ONLINE AS WELL AS IN YOUR COMPLAINT SECTION FOR 2001 WINSTAR IT IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY ON AN EARLIER RECALL BY FORD (09S09) WHICH INCLUDED A SCDS WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT ONLY CAUSED BY BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ONTO WIRING AND CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. MANY OWNERS BELIEVE THE FLUID NOT ONLY RAN DOWN THE WIRING CONTINUING TO RUN ONTO THE ABS CONNECTOR CAUSING PARTS TO SHORT OUT AND FAIL AND ALSO ONTO THE CRUISE CONTROL CONNECTOR CAUSING IT TO FAIL. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS THE REASON ALL THESE ABS MODULES ARE FAILING...IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WITH MY SAME PROBLEM ARE ON YOUR WEBSITE THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE PARTS TO REPLACE (OVER $1000) PLUS LABOR. THE ABSENCE OF THE ABS SYSTEM DOES CAUSE BRAKING PROBLEMS AND CAN CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND SKID...THIS HAPPENED TO ME...JUST MISSED HAVING A WRECK! THE CONNECTOR TO THE CRUISE IS ALSO BEING EFFECTED CAUSING IT TO FAIL AS WELL. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO AT LEAST CHECK THESE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THESE PARTS IF THEY ARE FOUND TO BE FAULTY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS IN AN ACCIDENT. THEY MAY HAVE ALREADY. *TT