2003 FORD WINDSTAR Electrical System Problems

MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR CONTINUES TO SMOKE AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. IT ALSO HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CONTINUE ON FLASHING AND THE DOOR LOCKS SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY EXPERIENCED ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS WEBSITES DESCRIBING THESE ISSUES. *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR ABS, CRUISE AND BRAKE ISSUE. LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME, POSSIBLE FIRE ISSUE. # CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ACTIVATE OR DEACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING. (PROBLEM # 1) # ABS BRAKE LIGHT (YELLOW) (PROBLEM # 2 OR PROBLEM # 1) # FORD TROUBLE CODE C1185. (PROBLEM # 2 OR PROBLEM # 1). *TR

SINCE WE GOT OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR NEW IN DECEMBER, 2002, WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN ISSUE WITH CONSTANTLY NEEDING TO FILL THE BRAKE FLUID. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IN FEB, 2008 OUR ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO A FIRESTONE REPAIR SHOP, THEY FIXED AND AKJUSTED THE BRAKES AND THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SENSOR AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED, JUST THE LIGHT WAS ON AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE SENSOR. AS IT WAS EXTREMELY COSTLY AND THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, WE CHOOSE NOT TO REPLACE IT. IN JUNE 2008 OUR CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. WE AGAIN TOOK IT IN AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. TWO WEEKS AGO, AUGUST, 2009, WE HAD ALL NEW BRAKES PUT ON....

2003 FORD WINDSTAR. ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. SEAMS TO BE MOSTLY WHEN WET ROADS, BUT HAS OCCURRED ON DRY DAYS ALSO. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD ABS MODULE HAD A LOT OF ERROR CODES AND THE WIRING CONNECTION LOOKED DAMP. MECHANIC PUT DIELECTRIC GREASE ON THE CONNECTION, BUT I RECEIVED NO INFO ON THE ERROR CODES. *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR ABS AND BRAKE LITE COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT TIMES. I BOUGHT THE CAR 5 MONTHS AGO, I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I GOT THE CAR. *TR

6 MONTHS AGO MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON SPORADICALLY. INTERIOR LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF AT DIFFERENT TIMES DAY AND NIGHT. VERY DISRUPTIVE TO DRIVING AND DANGEROUS TO OTHER DRIVERS ON ROAD. DEALER SAYS NO RECALLS ON THIS ITEM. AM HAVING INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHECK THIS OUT. ALSO AFFECTS THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WHEN SOMETIME WORKING AND SOMETIME NOT. *TR

WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS TO REPORT, I WAS SUDDENLY UNABLE TO PUT MY VEHICLE IN GEAR AFTER STARTING IT. THE GEAR-SHIFTER FELT SOMEWHAT LOOSE AS IF I WERE PARKED AT AN INCLINE WITHOUT PUTTING THE HAND BRAKE ON. HOWEVER, I WAS PARKED ON LEVEL GROUND. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL WHERE I WAS ABLE TO START IT AND PUT IT INTO DRIVE. WHENEVER I PLACED IT IN PARK IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET IT BACK INTO ANY OTHER GEAR HOWEVER, IT WOULD RANDOMLY GO INTO GEAR AS IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. BUT ONCE PLACED BACK INTO PARK IT WOULD GET STUCK AGAIN. NOW THERE IS ALL KINDS OF WACKY ELECTRICAL STUFF GOING ON...WINDOW SWITHCHES AREN'T FUNCTIONING, NO TAIL LIGHTS, FUEL GAGE IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE REMOTE ALARM ENTRY ONLY UNLOCKS THE DRIVERS SIDE...

ABS CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED , LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, RELAY FAILURE. SLOW STICKY BRAKES RESPONSE. *TR

BAD ABS MODULE IS A PROBLEM THAT VERY MANY WINDSTAR OWNERS HAVE. SO YOU THINK YOU HAVE ABS AND YOU DO NOT ALSO ALOT OF WINDSTARS HAVE BURNED. THIS IS A DANGER TO OWNERS. *TR

1. THERE ARE NO PARTICULAR EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS PROBLEM. 2. MY A/C STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR, O/D OFF LIGHT IS BLINKING, ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING, BRAKE/ABS LIGHTS STAY ON, LOCKS GO CRAZY RANDOMLY. 3. WE HAVE NOT CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM YET. I WAS DOING RESEARCH ON THESE PROBLEMS WHEN I FOUND A WEBSITE WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT LINKED TO THIS WEBSITE. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON, O/D INDICATOR FLASHES, SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER NOT WORKING, A/C STOPPED BLOWING COOL AIR. ALL THIS HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. I NOTICE IT BEING A CHAIN REACTION ON 2003 WINDSTAR'S. *TR

MY WIRE IN MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR NOT WORKING MY ELECTRIC DOORS DO NOT LOCK AND MY BACK CONTROL PANEL IS NOT WORKING AND I CHECKED MY FUSEBOX AND A FUSE WAS BURNED OUT SO I REPLACED IN AND IT BLEW OUT AGAIN SO SOME THING IS WRONG WITH MY WIRING AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. *TR

2009 FORD WINDSTAR. PURCHASED VAN 2 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT! AUTOMATIC DOORS POP OPEN LOUDLY OR NOT AT ALL. HAD THAT FIXED. REAR WINDOW OCCASIONALLY WORK! INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER OR STAY ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES! REAR SENSOR SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AGO THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF; BUT WHILE DRIVING THEY CAME BACK ON AGAIN. THIS NOW HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN MY MECHANIC EXAMINED IT HE SAID THAT THE MODULE WAS SHOT. WHILE I WAS DECIDING THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THE NECESSARY REPAIR I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH WINDSTARS. I HESITATE TO REPLACE THE PART ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *TR

PARKING BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COME ON AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. I'VE FOUND THIS TO BE HIGHLY FREQUENT PROBLEM ON 2001-2003 FORD WINDSTARS. ALSO READ THAT THIS COULD CAUSE FIRES AND EVEN DEATH. WE ALSO HAVE INTERNAL LIGHTS THAT FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS DANGEROUS AT NIGHT AS IT COULD STARTLE THE DRIVER. I'VE READ THIS IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE! GET THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF THE THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

WE BOUGHT A USED 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LX. WE HAVE HAD ONE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS GOING ON. ENGINE LIGHT GOING ON. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS GO ON AND STAY ON OR THE LIGHTS START FLASHING AND FLICKERING. YESTERDAY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE GONE ON AGAIN. RECENTLY THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. THIS MORNING WE WERE AT A STOP SIGN WAITING TO PULL OUT ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. MY HUSBAND STEPPED ON THE GAS. THE ENGINE ROARED BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD NOR WOULD IT MOVE BACKWARD WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. WE HAVE HAD THIS VAN AT THE GARAGE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THESE REPAIRS. EACH TIME BEING TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. EACH TIME SPENDING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR

VEHICLE WAS SKIPPING/JERKING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE (HAPPENED RECENTLY), ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF W/O WARNING, INSIDE DOME LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING, AND FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT STOP AFTER BEING TURNED OFF, UNTIL CAR WAS CUT OFF (HAPPENED OVER 2 YEAR PERIOD). HAD A DEALER TO FIX PROBLEMS TO A TUNE OF ABOUT $2300. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HUB HAS BEEN REPLACED 15 TIMES AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

ABS PROBLEM. IT OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AS SOON AS WARM WEATHER STARTS. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKOUT BY SEVERAL LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY SAY IT IS A EXISTING PROBLEM WITH THE ABS UNIT. I HAVE HAD THE SWITCH ON THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED, STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. II HAVE CONTACTED FORD WITH POOR RESULTS. THEY SAY THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. *TR

WE HAVE HAD MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH OUR '03 FORD WINDSTAR. WE HAVE HAD THE POWERSTEERING PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE IS QUIT WORKING. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH ARE ALWAYS ON. WE CAN NOT ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE OF THE A/C OR HEATER. IT IS ALWAYS COLD. THE REAR AIR SELECTOR SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. THE DOME LIGHTS FLICKER FROM TIME-TO-TIME. THE REAR SPEAKERS WORK ABOUT 1/2 THE TIME. THE BRAKES SOMETIMES MAKE A GROWLING SOUND WHEN APPLIED. THE MECHANICS CAN NOT FIND THE REASON FOR THE NOISE. THE REAR DOOR INDICATOR SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. WHEN WE SHUT THE REAR HATCH (DOOR) THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT A DOOR IS STILL AJAR.*TR

MY FORD WINDSTAR HAS HAD ALL OF IT'S BRAKES REDONE TWICE BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEM. AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE ABS LIGHTS ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL COME ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAD THE BRAKES REDONE TWICE, STILL HAPPENING COME TO FIND OUT IT IS A MALFUNCTION OF ABS UNIT ITSELF. DO I HAVE TO CONTACT MY CONSUMER ADVOCATES ON THE LOCAL NEWS TO GET A RECALL STARTED BECAUSE I AM A HAIRS BREATHE AWAY FROM DOING IT. I CAN NO LONGER PUT UP WITH THESE REPAIR BILLS AS I AM ON DISABILITY FOR A BAD HEART AND THE NEWS WILL JUST EAT THIS UP! *TR

FORD WINDSTAR BRAKE, ABS BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. OUR VAN HAS HAD THIS ISSUE TWICE NOW AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ITEM AS FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES IT PRESENTS! WE ARE LOOKING FOR NHTSA TO PRESS THEM FOR A RESOLUTION WITH SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROADS AND THE NUMBER OF EVENTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES FROM THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE BURNED AND THE FUSE WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN SMOKE WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. SMOKE WAS RISING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE IF THE CONTACT HAD NOT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE WIRING HARNESS; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 03/12/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB

THE VEHICLE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT GO ON AND OFF. DIAGNOSTIC CODE OF C1185. NO VIABLE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD REGULARLY BUT WITH NO PARTICULAR PATTERN OR REASON. LOSS OF ABS BREAKS AS A RESULT. FEARFUL OF ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO ISSUE. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A CLEARCUT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITHOUT IMPACTING OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONAL ISSUE WITH INTERIOR CABIN LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS DISTRACTING AT NIGHT AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2007. I WILL NOT PAY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN MANY OF THE SAME MODELS AND IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I'VE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY I NEED TO PAY TO HAVE...

BRAKE LIGHT (E-BRAKE) AND ABS LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS EITHER CAUSE THE ABS TO DISABLE OR NOT DEPENDING ON WHICH MECHANIC I TALK TO. TWO MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS, AND RECENTLY I WAS DENIED AN EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO THIS (NON-EMISSION RELATED) PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL WEBSITES, THIS IS SLATED AS A _VERY_ COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED... THE DEALER WANTS OVER $1000 TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM THAT IF NOT RESOLVED, RESULTS IN INTERMITTENT ABS, OR FIRE. *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR. BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON, FLUID LEAKING OUT OF BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH. FLUID WICKING DOWN TO OTHER WIRES BLOWING FUSES. ABS CONTROL UNIT WIRES SOAKED IN FLUID. POSSIBLE FIRE. ALSO ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS STICK BOTH FAIL TO UNLOCK AND FAIL TO LOCK EVEN THOUGH THE SOLENOID IS TRIGGERED. THE ACTUAL LOCK IS STICKING ON 3 OF THE FOUR DOORS. *TR

I DRIVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WITHIN ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES OF STARTING THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE YELLOW ABS LIGHT, AND THE RED EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT LIGHT UP ON THE DASH. THE BRAKES STILL SEEM TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. I EVEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED OUT FINE. HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON, AND WON'T GO AWAY. *TR

SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD,THEN AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON. AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ABS LIGHT THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE. ALSO AT THIS TIME CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ON WOULD DEACTIVATE AND BASICALLY DO WHATEVER IT WANTED. BUT WHILE ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING THERE WAS NO SMOKE. *TR

WE BOUGHT A USED WINDSTAR IN JULY OF 2007 HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COMING ON AT TIMES. *TR

MOISTURE ON ROAD, RED BRAKE LIGHT ON. YELLOW ABS LIGHT ON NO SPEEDOMETER , NO CRUISE CONTROL. VAN PULLS TO RIGHT WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. *TR

IT STARTED WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTING COMING ON WHILE DRIVING ,THEN THE DASH WINDOWS ND RADIO ,BATTERY DYING AND THE OUTSIDE LIGHTING STAYING ON WHILE KEYS WERE OUT AND NOT WORKING ONCE STARTED. THEY ARE ALL HAPPENING CONSTANTLY EVEN WITH ALL THE NEW PARTS THAT THE FORD GARAGE REPLACED{BATTERY,SWITCHES,ALTERNATOR,LIGHT SOCKETS,ETC}. *TR

I KEPT GETTING AN INTERMITTENT BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT THAT RESETS WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. MY MECHANIC TROUBLESHOOT IT DOWN TO THE ECM FOR THE ABS. FAILURE OF ECM IN THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. I AM SURE THEY HAVE FIXED PLENTY OF THESE BY NOW. WHY NO RECALL ON AN OBVIOUSLY BAD PART/DESIGN? *TR

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH THIS VEHICLE INCLUDE THE WIRES CORRODING FOR THE BRAKE/ABS LINES, THE IGNITION WIRES FAILING AND THE MORE MINOR CODES PRODUCED FOR FAULTY SENSORS IN THE DOOR AJAR SYSTEM. I AM CURRENTLY DETERMINING IF IT PAYS FOR ME TO REPLACE THE WIRING, OR JUNK THE VEHICLE. *TR

PURCHASED A USED VAN FROM LOCAL DEALER. IT HAS A DVD PLAYER ALREADY INSTALLED (NOT FACTORY INSTALLED). APPROX. 6 MONTHS LATER, I COMPLAINED TO SERVICE ASSOC. WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, THAT MY RADIO DOES NOT GET STATIONS CLEARLY. MAYBE THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTENNAE. HE SAID, "IT'S A FORD THING" IN 2005 I TOLD SAME SERVICE ASSOC. THAT THE 'DOOR IS AJAR' LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE TRUNK. HATCH LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON EVEN WHEN BACK IS CLOSED. AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. AND THE DVD PLAYER NO LONGER WORKED. HE SAID IT COULD BE THE CONTACTS, AND HE WOULD CLEAN THEM BUT THERE'S 'NO GUARANTEE". THE NEXT SERVICE CHECK, I TOLD HIM THAT THE LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER THE DOORS ARE CLOSED AND I 'M AFRAID MY BATTERY WILL GO DEAD. ALSO THAT THE POWER LOCKS NOW GO ON AND OFF WHILE...

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS STAYS ON, CRUISE CONTROL NEVER HAS WORKED, HAVE FIXED THE BRAKES AND THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. NOW I THINK THE 02 SENSOR I GUESS IT MAY BE THE OXYGEN SENSOR IS OUT ALSO I THINK IT KEEP ON BURNING UP MY ALTERNATORS, I PUT A NEW LAST YEAR AND JUST HAD TO PUT ANOTHER ONE AND I THINK IT IS ABOUT GONE ALSO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE ABS LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT. THERE IS ALSO FLUID LEAKING AND MELTED WIRES UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH HAS ONLY 63,000 MILES HAD BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN I CARRIED THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT IF I HAD ARRIVED ONE DAY EARLIER ON 8/19/08 I COULD HAVE RECEIVED AN OUT OF WARRANTY SERVICE ADJUSTMENT BUT WHEN I ARRIVED ON 8/20/08 I WAS ONE DAY TOO LATE. THE ECM IS CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT TO TURN ON ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSIS AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS $757.00 BUT WHEN I MENTIONED THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA.GOV WEBSITE THEY AUTOMATICALLY DROPPED TO $672.00. I WILL NOW BE REQUIRED TO PAY THIS AMOUNT FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR VEHICLE. FORD IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AT THE LOCAL SERVICE CENTER. *TR

BRAKE, ABS, AND OTHER LIGHTS COME ON, DRIVE DISENGAGES, VAN WILL ONLY RUN IN 2ND OR LOW GEAR UNTIL YOU TURN IT OFF THEN ON AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE VAN LOSES POWER AND DECELERATES. FUSE #1 SPARKS WHEN PUTTING IN A FUSE. BLOWS THE FUSE IMMEDIATELY. INTERIOR LIGHT THEN WILL NOT WORK. VAN IS CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT BY PHIL LONG FORD. *TR

ABS LIGHT COMING ON DUE TO HEAT ON CIRCUIT BOARD. OCCURS WHENEVER THE CAR GETS WARM, STARTED DURING SUMMER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT FUNCTION WITH THE POWER BUTTON. THE DOOR WOULD HAVE TO BE OPENED MANUALLY FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A TSB KIT WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF UPDATED

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE HEAD LAMPS SPORADICALLY COME ON AND OFF EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT STARTED. THE BRAKE LIGHTS SPORADICALLY COME ON AND OFF AS WELL EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NOT BEING APPLIED. THE AIRCONDTIONER ALSO FAILED AND ONLY COMES OUT THROUGH THE DEFROSTER VENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT A PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE AIR CONDITION WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER IT FAILED AGAIN SOON AFTER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF CURRENT DATE. (SC) UPDATED 06/16/08 *BF

I NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD COMING ON AND DISAPPEARING INTERMITTENTLY. I HAD NO IDEA THAT MY ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IS SPORADICALLY WORKING LIKE SO MANY THOUSANDS OF OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN THAT I TRANSPORT ON THE HIGHWAY TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND I HATE TO THINK OF AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD BE MADE WORSE BY THIS SITUATION. DON'T WAIT UNTIL A CHILD OR ANY OTHER PERSON LOSES THEIR LIFE OVER THIS SITUATION. PLEASE RECALL THIS MODULE AS WAS DONE ON THE FORD ESCAPE SO THAT LIVES DON'T HAVE TO BE LOST. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. MY BRAKES SQUEAL CONSTANTLY IN HOT WEATHER AND I FEAR OF A FIRE BREAKING OUT WHILE MY DOG AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF MAYBE GETTING IN TOUCH WITH OUR LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL OR ANY OTHER MEDIA...

ON ALMOST EVERY TRIP THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON THE DASH. DEALER STATED A PROBLEM CODE C1185 AND SAID THE ABS MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $800. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START OCCASIONALLY. WHEN HE WOULD FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD FUNCTION CORRECTLY. IN OTHER INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE HIM FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN USING THE REMOTE. UPDATED 07/03/08

LAST WEEK, MY PARENTS WERE DRIVING MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR HOME FROM BREAKFAST WITH FRIENDS. THE FRIENDS WERE FOLLOWING THEM HOME, WHEN THEY SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VAN. THEY IMMEDIATELY BEGAN HONKING THEIR HORN TO GET MY PARENTS TO PULL OVER. MY DAD STOPPED THE VAN THEY FRANTICLY GOT THEMSELVES AND MY 4 AND 6 YEAR OLD CHILDREN OUT OF THE VAN. WITHIN 3-4 MINUTES OF EVERYONE GETTING OUT, THE VAN WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. AND THE VAN WAS REDUCED TO JUST METAL WITH IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. WE DO NOT KNOW THE REASON THE FIRE STARTED AT THIS POINT, BUT DO KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH FORD VEHICLES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. *TR

MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT OUR VAN AFTER OWNING A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. I USED TO WORK FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAVE ONLY OWNED FORD VEHICLES MOST OF MY LIFE. THIS VAN HAS CHANGED MY MIND AND I WILL HAVE TO THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER FORD. OUR VAN HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. ON THE WAY HOME THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR WINDOW QUIT WORKING AND TOOK TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR. LIKE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THE ELECTRIC SIDE DOORS HAVE A MIND OF THERE OWN OPENING A CLOSING ON THERE OWN. THERE IS A LOUD POP EVERY TIME THE SIDE DOORS OPEN. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER NOTHING WAS DONE. THE ENGINE KEEPS REVVING UP TO THE POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO STAND ON THE BRAKES AT A RED LIGHT TO KEEP IT FROM RUNNING...

2003 FORD WINDSTAR WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET. DRIVER SMELLED SOMETHING, HEARD SOUND, AND FELT HEAT AT FEET. DRIVER IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF IGNITION AND REMOVED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER FROM VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WITHIN SECONDS AND WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. *TR

MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR IS A NIGHTMARE. IT STARTED WITH THE DOME LIGHTS FLICKERING ON AND OFF OR JUST STAYING ON. I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF BUT THE LIGHTS STILL COME ON. THEN WHEN I WOULD OPEN THE REAR WINDOWS A FUSE WOULD BLOW CAUSING ALL WINDOWS, RADIO, ETC.. TO STOP WORKING. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIME TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT THAT THEY WERE TIRED OF ME COMING IN AND TOOK A BLACK MARKER TO SHOW ME WHICH FUSE TO CHANGE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS A FIREFIGHTER WHO SAID THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE--FOR THE FUSE TO KEEP BLOWING COULD CAUSE A FIRE. AFTER THIS, I WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START OUT OF NO WHERE. AFTER TOWING IT IN AND A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS LATER I ENDED UP REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY. AS FAR AS THE DOME...

I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR SE. I HAVE HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. AFTER SEARCHING THIS VAN ON THE WEB I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 2003 WINDSTAR. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS YEARS MODELS AND FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VANS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN WORKING AT ALL. THE REAR WING WINDOWS WORK SPORADICALLY. HE ALSO STATED THAT ALL OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE FOR NO REASON. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,515. UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB UPDATED *JB