2003 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

I BELIEVE THE SEAT BELTS IN MY FORD WINDSTAR DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE VAN AND FORD WILL NOT LOOK INTO THE ISSUE WITHOUT CHARGING ME A FEE. THERE WAS A SEAT BELT RECALL IN THE PAST ON SOME FORD WINDSTARS BUT FORD CLAIMS IT DOES NOT AFFECT THIS MODEL. THIS ISSUE AFFECTS PRIMARILY THE MIDDLE AND REAR ROW OF MY VAN AND POSSIBLY THE FRONT SEATS AS WELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WAS ABNORMALLY TILTED INWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V193000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/26/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED CRACKS IN THE REAR AXLE, WERE NOT VISIBLE AND RE-ENFORCEMENT REPAIRS WERE DONE, TO THE REAR AXLE AND FRONT SUBFRAME LOWER CONTROL ARM. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED, WHILE THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. FORD WOULDN'T PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY STATED THEY HAD ALREADY FULL-FILLED THEIR OBLIGATIONS, WHEN THEY MADE THE RE-ENFORCEMENT. ALSO, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK. UPDATED 03/27/14

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. ABS LIGHT ON, ON DASHBOARD. BRAKE LIGHT ON, ON DASHBOARD. RECALL WORK WAS DONE. *TR

WHILE CLEANING THE CAR I NOTICED A CRACK ABOUT 2 FOOT WIDE IN THE REAR AXLE BEAM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, HE ACCIDENTLY ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL RESUME MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INCREASED ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS DISABLED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNCLEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

VAN RPM NEEDLE GOES HAYWIRE WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TRIES TO STALL OUT...ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO JUMP OUT OF VEHICLE. *TR

ABS LIGHT CAME ON, MECHANIC SAID THE ECU WAS SHORTED AND FORD WAS LOOKING INTO A RECALL. FORD HAS NOTHING ON THEIR WEBSITE, BUT HAVE FOUND MANY EXTERNAL SITES OFFERING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BEGAN COMING ON MY DASH. THEY WILL GO OFF PERIODICALLY, AND THEN COME BACK ON. THE FIRST DATE THIS HAPPENED WAS IN 2010. I DRIVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. I TOOK IT TO THE AUTO SHOP RIGHT AWAY AND WAS QUOTED OVER $1,000 TO FIX IT. I ASKED WHAT THE PART DOES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT MOSTLY CONTROLS THE ABS SYSTEM. I ASKED HIM WHAT I COULD DO IF I DID NOT FIX IT, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD AFFORD THAT. HE SUGGESTED TO PUMP MY BRAKES WHEN BRAKING. THE SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A FAST STOP. I HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MODEL VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND FAILED TO ENGAGE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 03/31/14*LJ UPDATED 04/01/2014 *JS