2003 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR AXLE BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V195000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS WERE ATTACHED AND THE AXLES WERE NOT REPLACED. AS A RESULT THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO COME TO A STOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND THE VACUUM HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

MY VANS BRAKES STARTED ACTING FUNNY WHEN I CAME UP TO A STOP. THE ABS SYSTEM IS ACTING AS IF THE VAN IS GOING INTO A SKID AND ACTIVATING THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. IT CAUSES IMPROPER BRAKING DISTANCE WHICH HAS ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT. AFTER OPERATING FOR AWHILE THE WARNING LIGHTS GO ON IN THE DASH FOR THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL, AT THIS POINT WHEN THE LIGHTS GO ON THE SYSTEMS ARE DISABLED. WHEN YOU SHUT OFF THE VAN IT RESETS AND THE PROBLEMS PERSIST WHEN YOU START IT BACK UP. I BELIEVE THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER BOARD CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. IT CAN POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND OR DEATH. *TR

ADD TO SAFETY COMPLAINT 106 649 11.... THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEMS 'STARTED AFTER VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH RECALL WAS DONE' (RECALL ID # 67506) AT THE FORD DEALER IN CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA. *TR

YELLOW ABS LIGHT AND RED BRAKE LIGHT COME ON DAILY. YELLOW AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WEEKLY. TOOK TO FORD DEALER 10/1/11, FOUND CODES C1185, 1198, 1194, 1254, 1246, 1250, 1248, 1214, 1210, B1869, B1470, U1262, B1676, B1246. INTERNAL MODULE FAILURE, RECOMMEND REPLACING ECU (VERBALLY QUOTED $1,000 OVER THE PHONE). IF RED BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, I THINK IT'S THE ABS MODULE, BUT IF SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG, THIS COULD CREATE AN 'UNSAFE' VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE REAR AXLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT FLIPPED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

DRIVING HOME AT ABOUT 20 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE LEFT REAR END OF THE VAN COLLAPSE ONTO THE TIRE. I LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE MONETARILY, MYSELF AND MY THREE CHILDREN WERE VERY SHAKEN UP BY THE EXPERIENCE. THANK GOD WE WERE NOT DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS ANGLE UP INTO THE WHEEL WELL. UPON INSPECTION THE REAR AXLE HOUSING HAD CRACKED AND BROKE DOWNWARD CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VAN. CONTACTED RUSS MILNE FORD SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME OTHER THAN ME BUYING A BRAND NEW REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING.NOW THE O/D OFF LIGHT IS FLASHING ON DASH. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF. I'VE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED, AND THEY ARE FINE. WE CHANGED THE MODULE, WHICH WE WERE TOLD WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE OFTEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARMER, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN DURING THE WINTER, TOO. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY, TO HAVE THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHING, AND IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. ALSO, I WOULDN'T KNOW IF THE BRAKES ACTUALLY HAD A PROBLEM. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. NO RHYME OR REASON BUT MAKE US FEEL UNSAFE. HAVE TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH ABS OR BRAKES. CAR ONLY HAS 56000 MILES ON IT NOW AND WE CAN'T TRADE IT OR SELL IT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THOUSANDS OF ENTRIES WITH SAME PROBLEM. FOUND INDIVIDUAL ON EBAY THAT HAS BUSINESS REPAIRING ECU COLD SOLDER JOINTS SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFAULT. ABS AND BRAKES FUNCTION PROPERLY BUT THOSE LIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE COMING ON. IT APPEARS TO BE A COLD SOLDER JOINT WHICH IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SINCE THE ECU SITS RIGHT UNDER MASTER CYLINDER A BRAKE FLUID LEAK LEAKING FLUID ON ECU HAS AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE.MMMFORD SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE UNIT AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. *TR