2002 FORD WINDSTAR Electrical System Problems

ALARM WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FOR ABS AIRBAG AND SPEEDOMETER AND TACH FAILS. *TR

TRANSMISSION LIGHT IN DASH HAS BEEN ON FOR YEARS NOW. LOCAL DEALERS TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THEY TAKE MY MONEY AND DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. ABS LIGHT IS ON. PARTS WERE BOUGHT AND REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITH IN A YEAR LIGHT BACK ON. CRUISE CONTROL CUT OUT REPLACED TWICE. DEALER CANT FIGURE THESE PROBLEMS OUT BUT IF ENOUGH OF YOUR OWN RESEARCH IS DONE THERE ARE WAYS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. EVEN IF THE DEALER CAN'T FRONT FRAME MOUNTS ARE RUSTING SO BAD YOU CAN PULL IT APART WITH YOUR HANDS CERTIFIED SAFE FROM DEALER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH FOR SAFETY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE REAR AXLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRACTURED AXLE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE, SPEEDOMETER AND CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 204,000. KMJ

MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR HAS HAD MANY PARTS TESTED. THEY ALL SEEM TO TEST GOOD. BATTERY , ALTERNATOR TO NAME A FEW. WHEN DRIVING THE VAN HAZARDS COME ON ( WITHOUT TURNING THEM ON ) THE RADIO SHUTS OFF, THE HEAT TURNS OFF AND POWER IS LOST AS IF IT'S THE ALTERNATOR. ABS LIGHTS COME ON AND THEN THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE.. OH THEN THE VEHICLE DIES AND WON'T START , CLICKS LIKE IT'S THE ALTERNATOR OR BATTERY BUT THEY TEST FINE.. AFTER SEARCHING MANY BLOGS THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG ISSUE WITH MANY MECHANICS THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED IT'S A PAIN AND THANK GOD FOR AAA BUT REALLY SHOULD I HAVE TO USE MY AAA ALL THE TIME/ THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE SPENT 6 MONTHS IN THE FORD GARAGE IN 2010. NOW WHAT WHEN YOU BUY SOMETHING...

MY ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LAMP COMES ON PERIODICALLY FOR NO KNOWN REASON. THERE WAS A RECALL ON BRAKE LAMP SWITCH A FEW YEARS BACK AND NOW THIS CONCERN EXISTS. *TR

AFTER PURCHASING FROM A DEALER IN OCT OF 2010 THE ABS LIGHT, CHECK TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED IN MI FOR THE AXLE RECALL. WAS WITHOUT THE VEHICLE AND HAD LOANER CAR FOR 2 MONTHS. AFTER GETTING VEHICLE BACK THE LIGHTS WERE ON MORE CONSISTENTLY THE DEALERSHIP NOTED THIS BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY REASON FOUND FOR THIS. BY SUMMER OF 2011 THESE LIGHTS WERE STAYING ON ALMOST CONSTANTLY AND THIS CONTINUED FOR A YEAR, AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND SEEING THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE INVESTED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF AND STAY OFF ONLY TO HAVE THEM KEEP COMING BACK ON WE HAVE DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS THIS ISSUE IS NOT A SIMPLE FIX AND OBVIOUSLY IS HAPPENING IN HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES. OUR PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO WHERE...

BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY - DRIVING HOME MY RADIO SHUT OFF, ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, DASH LIGHTS DIMMED THEN SHUT OFF, HEAD LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING, HEATER MAY HAVE STOPPED (NOT SURE, WAS FOCUSING ON THE NEXT ROAD TO PULL OFF ON), COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF THE VAN AND WAITED. A FEW MINUTES LATER IT TURNED OVER LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. *TR

VEHICLE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONSISTENTLY SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE FROM CARHOP/ UAC. REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT ONLY TO BE TOLD ANY ELECTRICAL IS NOT UNDER THEIR WARRANTY! THIS WAS REPORTED WITHIN A WEEK OR SO OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED FOR 8500$. SINCE HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES FOR BRAKES, ( TOP OF THE LINE BRAKES, NOT CHEAP ONES) LIGHT STILL REMAINS ON AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO A SHOP. ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM STILL INOPERABLE AND ALMOST CAUSED CRASH 12-7-2012 WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP ON A LIGHTLY ICY ROAD. SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH THE CAR AS WELL. IT BLOWS BRAND NEW FUSES, RATED HIGHER THAN WHAT THE SLOT CALLS FOR, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT STAYS ON, DESPITE TAKING THE VAN TO A TIRE SPECIALIST AND THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF AIR PLACED IN EACH TIRE. ALSO THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONER HAS CAUSED THE...

MY ABS LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF AND SPEEDOMETER WOULDN'T WORK PROPERLY WHEN THE WEATHER WAS REALLY WARM,AND JUST SEPTEMBER 21ST 2012 MY CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO SWITCH OUT OF PARK,AND ON OCT.18TH 2012 MY BRAKE LIGHT STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I HAVE RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS A RECALL OUT ON FORD WINDSTAR 1998-2003 WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. BUT WHEN I CALLED FORD 10/22/12 THEY CHECK MY VIN AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON MY CAR ONLY FORD WINDSTAR VAN WITH PARTS MADE IN VIRGINIA. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR CANT BE REPAIR AT FORD EXPENSE WHEN THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THERE I S A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. *TR

WE PARKED THE VAN AT WALMART AND WHEN WE STARTED IT BACK UP THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL WE SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED 2 TIMES. IT STARTED DOING IT SPORADICALLY. WE BOUGHT THIS VAN USED, SO WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID THAT NOTHING WAS SHOWING UP AND JUST RESET THE SYSTEM. THE LIGHTS HAD STAYED OFF UNTIL SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14TH; THEY ARE NOW STARTING TO COME BACK ON SPORADICALLY. *TR

NEIGHBOR CAME BY EARLY AND TOLD ME THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. I WENT OUT TO INSPECT BUT DIDN'T SEE THEM ON. GOT IN THE CAR AN HOUR LATER AND NOTICED SMOKE AND HORRIBLE "ELECTRICAL" SMELL. I CHECKED THE ENTIRE CAR, BUT FOUND NOTHING, WHEN I WENT TO START IT, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. HAD MY FRIEND GIVE ME A JUMP, HOOKED UP CABLES AND SAT IN THE WINDSTAR FOR A MINUTE, I THEN HEARD CRACKLING AND IMMEDIATELY SMELLED SMOKE. UNDER CLOSER EXAMINATION I FOUND IT WAS THE CENTER, UPPER BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY MELTED, BULBS WERE CONTORTED. HAD THE ASSEMBLY REPLACED WITH A FORD PART FROM DEALER, THREE DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SO I REMOVED BULBS BEFORE IT COMPLETELY MELTED. THE CENTER "THIRD" BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT SHUT OFF, EVEN WHEN CAR IS OFF, 12, STRONG VOLTS TO BULB SOCKET, ON OR OFF! LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS...

BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TURN ON AT SAME TIME WITHOUT AN APPARENT CAUSE, THIS HAPPENS AFTER DRIVING VAN 5 OR LESS MINUTES AT A LOW SPEED. ONCE THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AGAIN, BOTH LIGHTS REMAIN OFF, AND AGAIN, AFTER DRIVING THE VAN FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN. *TR

ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON SOMETIMES NOW AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES THEY COME ON CONSTANTLY NOW. I SPOKE TO A FORD SERVICE ADVISOR AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME OVER $600.00 TO REPAIR AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ONLY FOR CERTAIN STATES. THIS DOES NOT SEEM FAIR TO OTHER FORD OWNERS TO HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT FORD HAS A DEFAULT ON AND SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH IN A LOT OF THESE VEHICLES. I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR AND I'M SURE MOST PEOPLE CAN NOT AFFORD. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *TR *JS

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STAY ON. *TR

APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AGO, THE #10, 15 AMP FUSE WAS BLOWN. REPLACED IT WITH AN APPROVED FUSE AND BLEW RIGHT AFTER I STARTED VAN UP. I HAD NOTICED SOME LIQUID ON GARAGE FLOOR ABOUT 2 DAYS BEFORE THE FUSE BLEW, THE "BRAKE" LIGHT ON DASHBOARD WAS LIT UP. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS VERY LOW. WHEN I ADDED FLUID, I NOTICED THERE APPEARED TO BE A LEAK OF FLUID ON THE FRONT, UNDERSIDE OF THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. I HAD A FRIEND WHO IS A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE TOLD ME THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD BE BAD, BUT LOOKED LIKE THE PRESSURE SWITCH WAS WHERE THE LEAK WAS ORIGINATING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THERE WAS A WIRE HARNESS THAT WAS SOAKED IN BRAKE FLUID AND BENEATH ANOTHER ONE WAS WET. HE ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN BOTH OF THEM AND REPLACED FUSES, BUT AFTER USING...

THE WARNING LIGHT FOR BRAKES AND ABS KEPT COMING ON AND THERE WAS NOT AN ACTUAL PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS MY VAN HAS HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASH APPEARING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ONCE I STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF THE LIGHTS WILL USUALLY DISAPPEAR BUT SOMETIMES WILL COME BACK WITHIN MINUTES OF RESTARTING CAR. THIS TENDS TO HAPPEN DURING WARMER TIMES OF YEAR VERSUS WINTER. ALSO I HAVE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES EVEN RIGHT AFTER GETTING THEM REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES?? AROUND THE SAME TIME THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I HAD RECIEVED A NOTICE FROM FORD ABOUT CRUISE CONTROL RECALL BUT WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND TOLD THEM THAT MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AND I WAS WONDERING IF IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH RECALL THEY SAID NO, THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR

I KEEP HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS: YELLOW ABS LIGHT, YELLOW TRAC OFF LIGHT, AND RED BRAKE LIGHT. PLEASE NOTE: ON APPROX JULY 17, 2012 I TOOK MY WINDSTAR TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CHECKED AND HAVE FORD RECALL 09S09 SERVICE DONE. THE QUICK-SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO CHECK THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTER EVEN AFTER TELLING THEM THREE TIMES THAT IT IS REQUIRED AS PART OF THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE ADVISOR TRAINEE, TO BRING VEHICLE BACK IF PROBLEM PERSISTS AND TAKE TO REGULAR SERVICE DEPT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO SAME FORD DEALERSHIP FOR RESOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A $92.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I AGREED TO FEE TO SEE IF THE REPAIR THEY RECOMMEND IS SAME AS REPAIR WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER RECALL, AND LEFT VAN THERE ON AUGUST 14, 2012. *TR

RIGHT AFTER I HAD THE RECALL FOR 3 DIFFERENT RECALL THE FRONT END, BRAKES, REAR AXLE COMPLETED MY ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT & TRACK OFF LIGHTS ALL LIGHT UP ON MY DASH ALL AT THE SAME TIME & STAY ON. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THIS. AFTER I TURN VAN OFF FOR AWHILE (IT NEEDS TO COOL DOWN) THEY GO OFF. I CALLED FORD SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR BRAKE RECALL OR FRONT END RECALLS IF I WANTED TO PAY THEM TO CHECK IT OUT I CAN BRING IT IN. AMAZING THAT I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY VAN UNTIL FORD STARTED FIXING THE RECALLED ITEMS. *TR

ABOUT 2 PLUS YEARS AGO, MY VAN STARTED HAVING AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, THE COMPUTER WOULD BEEP AND FLASH THE MESSAGE "CHECK TRACTION CONTROL". ALONG WITH THIS, THE ABS AND E-BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, AND ALSO THE "TRAC OFF" LIGHT. I COULD CLEAR THE MESSAGE FROM THE COMPUTER BY HITTING RESET, BUT THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON UNTIL I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. IT HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY NOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S HUMID AND HOT OUTSIDE. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STARTED TO "STICK" OR NOT MOVE. SOMETIMES, THEY GO UP TO 30-40MPH, THEN STOP WORKING. OTHER TIMES, THEY JUST DON'T MOVE AT ALL. THE PROBLEM ALSO AFFECTS THE ACCURACY OF THE ODOMETER AND GAS GAUGE. THE VEHICLE CAN BE TRAVELING AT 70MPH, BUT BE READING 40MPH, AND THEN THE ODOMETER IS MARKING MILES TRAVELED...

AT TIMES WHEN IS COL,D THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT IS OFF WHILE DRIVING, WHEN IT GETS HOT THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE ABS FAILS TO WORK. CODE C1185 ABS POWER RELAY OUTPUT CIRCUIT FAILURE. I GOT TO A STOP SIGN AND THE ROAD WAS WET AND THE VAN SKIDDED , THE ABS DID NOT WORK. NO ONE WAS HURT AND I HAVE SEEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT FORD OWNERS ARE HAVING. I DON'T KNOW IF MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR HAD ALL THE OTHER RECALLS DONE, LIKE THE BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS) AND THE REAR FRAME WELDS THAT ARE BREAKING UP ON THE CHASSIS OF MANY FORD OWNERS. I WOULD LIKE TO VERIFY WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO MY FORD WINDSTAR THAT I BOUGHT TWO MONTHS AGO. I JUST HAD THE INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS DONE ALONG WITH THE SWAY BAR LINKS...

I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO BRAKE AND THEN THE ABS LIGHT AND MAIN BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS BAD AND I ASKED THEM IF THE KNEW WHY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW. I THEN ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND THEY SAID YES BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES. *TR

THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS GO ON RANDOMLY FOR NO REASON, ALSO CRUISE CONTROL WILL STOP WORKING. *TR

AT DRIVE-THROUGH, RADIO SUDDENLY QUIT, AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. RIGHT TURN SIGNAL CAME ON, VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULSATE AND SURGE. PULLED OVER AND SHUT VAN OFF, WOULD NOT RESTART, LIGHTS AND HAZARDS BEGAN FLASHING AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. RETRIED IGNITION, LIGHTS AND HAZARDS WENT OFF, VAN COMPLETELY DIED. INFORMED TO REPLACE BATTERY, HAD BATTERY TESTED, IT WAS FINE. REPLACED BATTERY, FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS TO RESET COMPUTER AFTER BATTERY REPLACEMENT. HAD TO DRIVE VAN 10 MILES TO COMPLETE, DURING WHICH ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, HEADLIGHTS QUIT (AFTER DARK) THEN BEGAN FLASHING. TURN SIGNAL CAME ON TO SIGNAL RIGHT TURN ON ITS OWN. JUST BEFORE RETURNING HOME, HEADLIGHTS QUIT ENTIRELY, AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. PARKED VAN, LET IT IDLE, AND THE TACHOMETER SURGED FROM 500RPMS TO 3000RPMS. SEEMS TO FIT DESCRIPTIONS OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ABS AND SPEED CONTROL MODULE UNDERNEATH MASTER CYLINDER GETTING SOAKED...

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2012 AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. ACCORDING TO FORD ALL RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS VEHICLE BUT HERE IS A LIST OF THE ISSUES WITH THE VAN: ABS LIGHT COMES ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, VAN HAS NO CRUISE CONTROL AT ALL, AND LAST FRIDAY I COULD NOT PUT THE VAN IN GEAR. AFTER THE FORD DEALERSHIP "REPAIRED" THE SOLENOID FOR THE VAN NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS CURRENTLY NO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS VAN IS LESS THAN SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD AND HAVE SEEN THAT SOME OF THE RECALLS WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE SPEED CONTROL ISSUE BUT THE FORD FACTORY WILL NOT ANSWER ANY OF MY QUESTIONS. TAKE A LOOK ONLINE AND YOU WILL SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES WE ARE HAVING AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD THAT...

WE HAD OUR FORD WINDSTAR BRAKES DONE ALL THE WAY AROUND AND MY ABS AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT COME ON AND OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS SOMETIMES. FORD DEALER IN MY TOWN WONT CHECK IT OUT WITHOUT A DIAGNOSTIC FEE EVEN THOU A RECALL IS SAID TO BE ISSUED FOR THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *TR

INSIDE LIGHTS COMES ON AND FLASHES AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING, ABS AND BRAKES LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. *JS

BRAKE, ABS BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS MY DASH LIGHTS ARE ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME WENT TO 3 MECHANIC THEY ALL CHECKED MY BRAKES, ABS AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM IT GOES ON WHENEVER IT WANTS STAYS ON FOR WEEKS THEN COMES BACK ON WHILE DRIVING THIS HAS BEEN DOING FOR OVER A YEAR. I EVEN PUT STICKERS OVER THE LIGHTS THAT I CAN SEE WHILE DRIVING. I STILL THINK THERE IS A ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM IT IS VERY ANNOYING. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE . I SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINT ABOUT SAME PROBLEM MY NIECE HAS ONE DOES THE SAME THING AND MY BROTHER IN LAW IN WEST VIRGINIA HIS IS DOING IT TOO SO I REALLY THING FORD NEEDS TO CHECK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE'S VAN CATCHES FIRE OR HURT SOME ONE. *TR

EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED MY '02 WINDSTAR, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS AND BRAKES. I'VE HAD THE BRAKES FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES AND BOTH LIGHTS STILL COMES ON WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAD A BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM THE REAR. MY DVD AND STEREO BOTH SHORT- CIRCUITED ON A MONTH OR TWO AFTER THEY WERE INSTALLED. SOMETIMES IF I COME TO A LIGHT TO STOP FOR A WHILE, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN, I'LL TRY TO GIVE IT SOME GAS BUT IT BECOMES REAL HESITANT AND TAKES A WHILE TO PICK UP SPEED. THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME WOULD START TO GET FRUSTRATED WITH ME HOLDING UP TRAFFIC. ALSO, WHEN I CUT THE AC ON IT TAKES POWER AWAY FROM MY VEHICLE AND IT THREATENS TO CUT OFF, SO I DON'T TURN IT ON. I ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE TWO OXYGEN SENSORS ON IT. I BELIEVE THAT MY ABS MODULE...

BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY AND STAY ON FOR SOME TIME UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEEN CYCLED THROUGH 5 OR 6 TIMES THEN LIGHTS GO OFF FOR A WHILE THEN COMES BACK ON AGAIN. SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC OR WIRES PERMEATES THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. *TR

ABS LIGHT, TRAC ACTIVE LIGHT, ALTERNATOR, CHECK TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. *TR

THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON SOMETIMES AND STAY ON A LONG TIME. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON THE ABS BRAKES DO NOT WORK; IT REVERTS BACK TO REGULAR BRAKES. I AM TRYING TO SELL THE CAR BUT PROSPECTS DO NOT BUY BECAUSE THE LIGHT COMES ON UN-EXPECTEDLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE CYLINDER IN THE IGNITION MAY HAVE FRACTURED AND COULD NEED REPLACING. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THEY STAY ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. *TR

SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING ACCURATELY (OCCASIONALLY SPEEDOMETER WILL WORK THAN STOPS, WHICH INDICATES DEFECTIVE PART). FORD SAYS SPEEDOMETER AND GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED NOW. PRIOR TO THAT THEY SAID COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED BECAUSE OF TIRE SIZE.. CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK BUT WAS FIXED BY FORD VIA RECALL NOTICE DUE TO LEAKING SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). AS I UNDERSTAND THE DEALER WOULD ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON ALL OF THE TIME WHICH IS A RESULT ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT (RED) SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STOP WORKING CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ACTIVATE OR DEACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING ABS BRAKE LIGHT (YELLOW) FORD TROUBLE CODE C1185 PROBLEM CODES P0171, P0174, P0401 171,174,401, EGR OR SYSTEM TOO LEAN ISSUE. *KB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SOMEONE NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAD STARTED FROM WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND BURNT THROUGH MOTOR TERMINAL GUIDE. BOTH PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. IF THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUGHT EARLY EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. *KB

ABS, AND SERVICE BRAKE, COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. I AM AFRAID THAT STOPPING DISTANCE SHALL BE INCREASED, THUSLY CAUSING PERSONAL & PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY. FEAR OF BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED, WHEN DRIVING, ON A PERSONAL DAILY BASIS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

RED BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT STOPPING DISTANCE WAS FURTHER THAN NORMAL AND VAN SKIDDED ON WET ROAD. NEED TO ADJUST STOPPING DISTANCE AS IT WAS ALOT FURTHER TO COME TO A STOP. LIGHT IS AN INTERMITANT ISSUE ALONG WITH STOPPING DISTANCE. *TT

THE WINDSTAR IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND WHEN DRIVING IT THE SPEEDOMETER WILL FREAK OUT AND ENDED UP BREAKING THE NEEDLE ON THE TACOMETER AND THIS LEADS TO THE THEFT LIGHT POPPING UP WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS ACTED UP WHEN I WAS GOING OVER AND INTERSECTION AND ENDED UP STALLING THE VEHICLE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND WHILE A CAR WAS COMING FROM ONE WAY LUCKLY I GOT THE VEHICLE STARTED AND TIME AND GOT OUT OF THERE BUT AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY COULDNT EVEN FIGURE OUT WHAT COULD BE WRONG I DONT FEEL LIKE LOOSING MY LIFE. *TR

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON. RESETS AFTER CAR COOLS DOWN THEN LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE AFTER DRIVING AND TEMPERATURE INCREASES. WHEN LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASES AND BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFT. HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM SERVICED AND FLUSHED WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE OF THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON, OR THE INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCE. ALL THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION. FRONT CALIPERS AND REAR BRAKE DRUM CLYNDERS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ALL ARE WORKING CORRECTLY. WHEEL SPEED SENORS HAVE BEEN CLEANED AND CHECKED WITH A METER AND ALL FOUR ARE WORKING CORRECTLY. THE RECALLS FOR THE BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS DONE IN 2010 AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF FLUID LEAKING AT THIS TIME. SUSPECT PROBLEM WITH ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. *TT

1ST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNTIL CAR WAS TURNED OFF. LIGHTS NOW COME ON RANDOMLY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP ON AUG. 31 2002 FOR RECALL ON FRONT AND REAR AXLES. THEY INSTALLED SHACKLES ON SUSPENSION AND SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER I CAME HOME WITH VEHICLE, I NOTICED A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE R/F WHEEL AREA AND MY OVERDRIVE OFF DASH LIGHT STARTS FLASHING RANDOMLY UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF. CONCERNING THE ABS ISSUE, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE, THEN HE TOLD ME THAT THEY DID THE EXACT SAME REPAIR ON ANOTHER 02' WINDSTAR EARLIER THAT WEEK AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $700-$800 DOLLARS. COINCIDENCE???? *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THE ABS, BRAKE AND TRAC LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON. THE VAN WAS STOPPED AND WHEN RESTARTED, THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. THIS HAS REPEATED ALMOST EVERY DAY AND CONTINUES UNTIL TODAY. THERE ARE NO CODES AND THERE SEAMS TO BE NO EFFECT ON THE VAN (EXCEPT MAYBE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES NOT WORKING). *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN MY HILL, MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. NOW MY ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH MY BRAKE LIGHT. BRAKE FLUID IS PRESENT, BRAKES ARE ALMOST A YEAR OLD. FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, MY VAN AFTER IT BEING TURNED ON AND OFF (ERRANDS, SHOPPING ETC), IT DOES NOT WANT TO START. ONCE IT DOES START, AS I TURN THE WHEEL WHILE IN PARK, IT STALLS. NOW THAT MY BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON, AS I TURN THE WHEEL IT WANTS TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I AM TURNING MY VEHICLE OFF, I TURN THE KEY DOWN VERY SLOW AND ALL THE WAY DOWN, THAT SEEMED TO ONLY HELP IT RESTART A FEW TIMES. I HAD MY VEHICLE AT THE FORD DEALER FOR THE RECALL IN 2010 DEALING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ISSUES. MY OD LIGHT HAS BEEN OFF FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AS WELL. WHILE DRIVING...

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH I SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOLD THE WIFE AND KIDS I WAS PULLING OVER AND TO GET READY TO BAIL OUT OF VAN AS SOON AS I STOPPED AND TO STAY CLEAR OF IT. WHEN EVERYONE WAS OUT AND SAFE I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW A FIRE UNDER THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. GOT WATER BOTTLES FROM INSIDE VAN AND A RAG AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ON THE SWITCH BELOW THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ON THE WIRES TO A SWITCH UNDERNEATH. LATER I CLEANED THE MESS CUT THE WIRES THAT HAD CAUGHT FIRE THE ONES THAT WENT TO THE SWITCH UNDER THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND WRAPPED THEM SO THEY WOULDN'T GROUND OUT.CONTINUED ON HOME FOR ANOTHER 1 1/2 HRS. WHEN I GOT HOME I TOOK THE SWITCH THAT HAD BURNED UNDER THE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING COLUMN MADE NOISE WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THE FLUID LEVEL WAS CORRECT, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE CONTACT STATED LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE RADIO BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,785.

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COMING ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAD RECALL SERVICE ON CRUISE CONTROL AND THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE THAT SERVICE WAS DONE. TALKED WITH THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. SAID THAT THE PREVIOUS RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY WARNING LIGHTS FOR ABS AND BRAKES (BUT THEY HAVE HAD MORE ISSUES WITH THIS PROBLEM THAN THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL). IF I REMEMBER THE CORRECTLY, THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL - IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH BRAKE FLUID CONTACT AND POTENTIAL FOR FIRE, MY CRUISE WAS SHORTED OUT AND NOT WORKING - MUST HAVE BEEN FROM BRAKE FLUID. I AM THINKING THAT THIS FLAW HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS CONNECTED FROM THE BRAKE AND ABS SYSTEM TO THE WARNING LIGHTS BEING SHORTED...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BREAK FLUIDS WERE LEAKING ONTO THE WIRING HARNESS AND AS A RESULT, THEY PERFORMED THE REPAIRS SPECIFIED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

I PURCHASED A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR FROM GENOA FORD GENOA OHIO...WITH THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON...THE SALSEMAN SAID THAT WE HAVE THE CAR PRICED LOW BECAUSE IT WILL NEED BRAKES...WE PURCHASED THE BRAKES AND STILL HAD THE PROBLEM...WE THEN HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED THE NEXT DAY 3 DAYS LATER AS WE WHERE DRIVING THE VAN THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE VAN WAS NOT ABLE TO BE STARTED SO IT WAS TOWED FOR THE SECOND TIME...THE DAY BEFORE THIS WE HAD IT AT TIREMAN IN NORTHWOOD TO GET RADIATOR FLUSHED...AND NEW TIRES WHEN WE PULLED AWAY THE VAN LOST ALL POWER AND THEN THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED...SO TODAY AFTER THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED THE MECHANIC TELLS US WE NEED AN ALTERNATOR. IN THE MEAN TIME I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT RECALL #09S09 DEALS WITH ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS IN THE ABS THE SCDS THE...

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH 16,000 MILES ON IT AND IT NOW HAS 104,000. I AM CURRENT ON ALL OF THE RECALLS ISSUED BY FORD AS OF JUNE 2011. MY ABS LIGHT, AND BRAKE LIGHT HAVE BEEN COMING ON RANDOMLY THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF DRIVING DURING THE DAY FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS. I LIVE IN FLORIDA. IT IS ON ALWAYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND LESS FREQUENT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE COMPUTER UPDATED WITH THE LATEST SOFTWARE BY FORD 3 YEARS AGO WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING... DID NOTHING TO HELP. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND LOCAL MECHANIC. EACH HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND HAVE TOLD ME DIFFERENT THINGS. THE DEALER SUGGESTED I NEEDED A NEW ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. ( I DID THE RECALL SUGGESTED BY FORD AND HAVE THE NEW WIRE HARNESS...