NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Ford Windstar. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
1. CITY DRIVING, FREQUENT STOPS, AND WARM WEATHER. 2. ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. ABS IS INTERMITTENT AT BEST. SOMETIMES LOSS OF BRAKING. 3. STOPPED DRIVING VEHICLE. WAIT FOR ECM/ABS MODULE TO COOL DOWN. 4. I AM NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME TO HAVE A HEAT SINK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A CRITICAL COMPONENT'S (ABS) ELECTRONIC BOARD. IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAT SINK IS EXPANDING ELECTRONIC BOARD FOR THE ECM/ABS DURING FREQUENT BRAKING AND MORE OFTEN IN WARMER MONTHS. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE ECM/ABS ELECTRONIC BOARD BREAKS, CAUSING BRAKING FAILURE AND LEADING TO...? THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR LX. IT HAS HAD THE MOST RECENT RECALL WORK COMPLETED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID NOT SEEM TO BE TOO WORRIED THAT A CRITICAL COMPONENT MAY FAIL OVER TIME. *TR
ABS LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY AND TOOK TO DEALER MECHANIC AND MECHANIC DOCUMENTED THAT " ABS LIGHT ON AND ABS ACTIVATION WHEN BRAKING ON NORMAL ROAD- WORK PERFORMED- SCAN FOR CODES AND FOUND MULTIPLE CODES RELATED TO MODULE. MUST BRING TO FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR. MODULE SOFTWARE HAS TO BE DOWNLOADED AND REPROGRAMMED BY FORD DEALER. -11/13/2009. BRAKES/ROTOR/DISC HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN 11/13/2009 AND STILL ABS LIGHT ON AND BRAKE LIGHT ALSO. TODAY, IT IS DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. AM HOPING FORD WILL RECALL THE ABS MODULE. *TR
MY ABS & BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH BOARD KEEPS COMING ON WHEN DRIVING. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. DURING AN OIL CHANGE A MECHANIC DISCOVERED FRAME CORROSION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN BECAUSE THE ENGINE CAN FALL OUT WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
BOUGHT THIS VAN USED. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE STILL OPERATES NORMALLY. AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING, THE LIGHTS GO OFF. THEY MAY NOT COME ON AGAIN FOR DAYS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN WARMER WEATHER. *TR
I OWN A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR AND HAD RECALL 09S09 PERFORMED AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP LAST NOVEMBER AND NOW MY CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. ALSO FOR THE LAST 6-8 MONTHS MY (YELLOW) ABS AND (RED) BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF ON MY DASH. MY POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE WORKS ONLY WHEN IT WANTS TO AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CAN BE ROLLED DOWN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT HAS TO ROLLED UP FROM THE DRIVER SIDE. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE REAR DOOR LOCK BUZZES EVERY TIME THE DOORS LOCK WHICH IS EVERY TIME I PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH HE LOST VEHICLE CONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE REAR AXLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2002 FORD WINDSTAR ABS AND BRAKE LAMP TURN ON INTERMITTENTLY. BOTH LIGHTS ILLUMINATE DURING SOME DRIVE CYCLES, LIGHTS WILL REMAIN ON DURING THE ENTIRE IGNITION CYCLE. FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE IS ONCE OR TWICE PER WEEK DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED - - - APPROXIMATELY $800 REPAIR BILL , HOWEVER DEALER STATES THAT IF THE HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS BREAK DURING REMOVAL TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE ABS UNIT THEN REPAIR BILL WILL BE $1500. AFTER RECEIVING THE REPAIR ESTIMATE, THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PARTS. THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD PROBABLY GET THE ABS UNIT WITHIN 1-2 DAYS BUT IF THE HYDRAULIC UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO STRIPPED OR BROKEN MOUNTING BOLTS THEN THEY COULD NOT SAY WHEN THEY COULD GET THE REPLACEMENT PART SINCE IT WAS LISTED ON THEIR SYSTEM AS "ON MAJOR BACK ORDER". IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY BREAK THE HCU BOLTS MY VEHICLE COULD BE DISABLED INDEFINITELY UNTIL REPAIR PARTS WERE OFF BACK ORDER. SO AS A CONSUMER I'M FACED WITH THE CHOICE OF DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE OR POTENTIALLY HAVING A DISABLED VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS OR MONTHS - - - NEITHER OF THESE CHOICES ARE ACCEPTABLE. RESEARCH ON THE WEB SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE UNITS. OBVIOUSLY, FAILURE OF THE ABS UNIT RAISES A SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE INCREASED RISK OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT CHOOSES TO CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMERS $1000+ REPAIR BILLS INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE SAFETY ISSUE OF DEFECTIVE ABS UNITS. *TR
2002 FORD WINDSTAR WITH "CLUNKING" NOISE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THAT THE REAR AXEL WAS CRACKED NEARLY 1/2 WAY THROUGH. MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BEFORE. THIS WAS IN OCTOBER OF 2009 (I HAVE REPAIR BILL WITH EXACT DATE AND MILEAGE IF NEEDED). THE AXEL WAS REPLACED WITH A USED AXEL AT THAT TIME. JUNE, 2010 AGAIN HAVE NOISE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION AND TAKE THE VEHICLE TO OUR MECHANIC. AGAIN, THE REAR AXEL IS CRACKED. AGAIN, OUR MECHANIC HAS LOCATED A USED AXEL WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF HAVING INSTALLED. THANKFULLY, WE FOUND THE PART FAILURE BEFORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR INJURY HAPPENED BUT TO HAVE THE SAME PART FAIL WHEN OUR MECHANIC HAD NEVER SEEN THAT TYPE OF FAILURE BEFORE SEEMS TO INDICATE A PROBLEM BEYOND NORMAL WEAR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V399000 REPAIR WAS PERFORMED WHICH DEALT WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND SINCE THAT TIME THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT HAVE BEEN COMING ON. THE CONTACT HEARD DIFFERENT INFORMATION REGARDING THE FIX FOR THE FAILURE. ONE DEALER STATED THAT THEY KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND ANOTHER DEALER STATED THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW OF THE FAILURE AND WOULD HAVE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN HE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE AND LEG AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER RESPONDED SIX MONTHS LATER STATING THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH IMPACT FOR THE AIR BAGS TO HAVE DEPLOYED AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
OUR 2002 FORD WINDSTAR WITH APPROX. 107,000 MILES HAD THE REAR AXLE BEAM BREAK IN HALF. THE WEEK BEFORE THE BREAK WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR FELT LIKE IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LUCKILY THE PART BROKE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT SLOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AFTER THE BREAK AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. I FEAR THAT IF THE BREAK HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WE WOULD HAVE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE NEVER TAKEN THIS VEHICLE OFF ROAD, USED IT TO TOW ANYTHING OR BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE AXLE BEAM. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR SEL. IN OCTOBER OF 2009 MY VAN STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT AND BECAME HARD TO CONTROL ON THE ROAD. WHEN I LOOKED AT MY VAN FROM THE BACK I COULD SEE MY BACK TIRES WERE BOWED OUTWARD. I TOOK MY VAN TO THE AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE BACK AXLE WAS CRACKED AND READY TO BUST. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER CONSUMERS WITH 2002 WINDSTARS AND I THINK IT'S A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. I HAD A LARGE REPAIR BILL AND MY BRAND NEW BACK TIRES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE BOWING OF THE TIRES AS A RESULT OF THE BUSTED AXLE. *TR
REAR AXLE BEAM ON MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR FRACTURED. NOTICED VEHICLE HANDLING WAS POOR, REAR END OF VEHICLE SWAYING WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, TIRES SQUEALING AROUND TURNS. MECHANIC FOUND AXLE BEAM HAD FRACTURED. COSTLY REPAIR, COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUS IF A LOSS OF CONTROL HAD OCCURRED. FORTUNATE TO HAVE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED. *TR
ABS LIGHTS/BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND STAY ON. DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED I AM GOING. I HAD THE SCDS RECALL DONE BUT THEY SAID THE ABS WAS OK. I DROVE DOWN THE ROAD AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AGAIN. I'VE HAD 3 MECHANICS TELL ME THEY FIXED IT AND THEY NEVER DID. FORD FIX THE ABS MODULE!!! *TR
2002 FORD WINDSTAR HAD A SUDDEN, CATASTROPHIC REAR AXLE FAILURE-A NEAR COMPLETE CRACK THROUGH THE AXLE CAUSING THE DRIVER'S REAR TIRE TO COLLAPSE INWARD, WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. THE REAR AXLE AND THE REAR TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE AXLE WAS 530.00, AND THE TIRE 100.00. THIS WAS WITH THE WORK DONE BY MY HUSBAND. THE CAR IS IN OTHERWISE GOOD RUNNING CONDITION, HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY PROFESSIONALS. THE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 MILES AND THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN LIGHTLY USED, NO HEAVY LOADS, NO TOWING, JUST BASICALLY FOOTBALL PRACTICE WITH THE KIDS. *TR
2002 BLUE FORD WINDSTAR; ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE LED TO ALMOST ACCIDENT AS I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE. TOOK TO MECHANIC, REPORTED CODE C1185; DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROL MODULE; THIS IS CLOSE TO $1000 REPAIR. *TR
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON AND BRAKES "GRINDING" EVEN AFTER REPLACED? *TR
ABS LIGHT COMES ON. HAD MECHANIC CHECK AND CANNOT FIND ANYTHING. IF I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN LIGHT GOES OFF. COMPUTER SHOWS THE FOLLOWING ERRORS:C1185 C1198 C1194 C1254 C1240 C1250 C1242 C1214 C1210 C1446. *TR
ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND DOES NOT CLEAR UNTIL THE CAR IS RESTARTED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE TECHNICIAN EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL BRAKE SWITCH FAILED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE FUSE WHICH ALLOWED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO VIEW HIS SPEED SINCE THE FIRE DAMAGED THE CONTROL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 01/29/10 *BF UPDATED 01/29/10
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING THE ABS AND SERVICE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE CABLE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE SPEED CRUISE CONTROL AND THE ABS TO FAIL. BRAKE FLUID WAS ADDED TO THE RESERVOIR BY THE CONTACT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ABS CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE ALMOST ERUPTED, FROM BREAK FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE FIREWALL IN THE CRUISE CONTROL. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 06V286000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. HE WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE HIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,558.
ABS FAILURE WINDSTAR 2002 CODE C1185. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT. I TOOK MY VAN TO A DEALER IM HAVING THE ABS MODULE REPLACE. *TR
HI, I HAVE HAD A FEW PROBLEMS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, BUT RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN NOTICING EVEN MORE PROBLEMS. THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS INCLUDE, LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID (PROBLEM # 1)BRAKE LIGHT (RED) (PROBLEM # 1 OR PROBLEM # 2)FIRE OR SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VAN ABS ECM AREA WHILE OFF. (PROBLEM # 1)SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STOP WORKING. (PROBLEM # 1)CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ACTIVATE OR DEACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING. (PROBLEM # 1)ABS BRAKE LIGHT (YELLOW) (PROBLEM # 2 OR PROBLEM # 1)BRAKES TURN ON SQUEAL WITHOUT WARNING. (PROBLEM # 2). EACH OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE A OCCURRED AT LEAST ONCE, MANY MORE THAN ONCE. MY BRAKE LIGHT GOES ON ABOUT EVERY DAY AS DOES THE ABS BRAKE. SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO REPLACE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE RECALL THIS VAN FOR IT IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE BEHIND THE WHEEL WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
JUNE 2009-BRAKES FAILED/INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON--TOOK TO MIDAS AND FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. SEPT 15TH, 2009--BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKE PEDAL WAS SPONGY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK CORRECTLY. IF I TRIED TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT WOULD DISENGAGE WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE BRAKES, THEN IT WOULD RETURN TO SPEED WITHOUT ME RESETTING. RETURNED THE CAR TO MIDAS AND THEY FOUND THE BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SWITCH WAS SHORTED OUT. IT WAS COVERED IN BRAKE FLUID. *TR
THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. IT OCCURS MOST OFTEN IN THE SUMMER IN WARM WEATHER AND WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IN COOLER WEATHER IF I GO OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE BRAKE AND ABS COME ON, JUST BY PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS MAY STAY OFF. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. ORIGINALLY IT WAS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. NOW IT SEEMS TO COME ON AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK. *TR
I GOT A LETTER RECENTLY ABOUT A RECALL ON MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL/BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE. AS I WAS LOOKING ONLINE FOR THE NAME OF THE RECALL, I REALIZED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WINDSTAR'S AXEL PROBLEMS. IN SEPTEMBER 2009 MY WINDSTAR STARTED FEELING LIKE THE BACK END WAS FISHTAILING BUT THERE WAS NO ICE.IT SOUNDED WEIRD TO. MY HUSBAND FOLLOWED ME TO THE LOCAL SEARS AUTO STORE ABOUT 4 MILES AWAY. WHEN WE ARRIVED HE SAID THAT THE TIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE AT A 45DEGREE ANGLE FACING OUTWARD. WHEN THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT, HE SAID THAT WE WERE LUCK TO BE ALIVE AND THAT THE AXLE WAS HOLDING BY A ONE INCH PIECE OF METAL. THEY SAID THEY WERE LUCKY THEY USED THE CAR LIFE INSTEAD OF THE CROSS LIFE OR IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN THE AXLE. NOT ONE OF THE MECHANICS AT THAT SEARS HAVE EVER SEEN A BROKEN AXLE BEFORE AND TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY NOT FIXABLE. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T LEGALLY LET US DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. HE DID FIX IT BUT IT COST OVER $1,000. I'M GLAD MY FAMILY IS SAFE AND WE WEREN'T DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND SAFETY ISSUES, WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS FORD PART. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR, I WENT TO PARK ON LABOR DAY THIS YEAR AND PARKED MY VAN. A FEW HOURS LATER, I WENT TO VAN AND TRIED TO USE MY REMOTE TO GET IN AND IT WOULD NOT WORK. ONCE I GOT DIRECTLY ON THE VAN I SMELLED AN ODOR THAT SMELT LIKE BURNT RUBBER THAT WAS REALLY STRONG. I GOT IN VAN WITH MY KEY AND STARTED THE VAN. IT WAS VERY HOT THAT DAY SO I WENT TO ROLL DOWN THE POWER WINDOWS AND THEY DIDN'T WORK. I THEN WENT TO TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONING AND IT DIDN'T WORK. I THEN LOOKED AT MY DASH AND REALIZED I HAD LOSS ALL POWER; NOTHING WAS WORK, ODOMETER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, RADIO, HEADLIGHTS ETC. I THOUGHT I JUST BLEW A FUSE AND STAYED AT THE PARK. WHEN I WENT HOME SEVERAL HOURS LATER I STILL SMELLED ODOR BUT TOLD MY HUSBAND I WOULD GO TO SHOP IN MORNING BEFORE WORK TO HAVE MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. THAT MORNING I WENT TO SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A FUSE AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF THEM DOING VISUAL AND COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS THEY FOUND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM CAUGHT FIRE AND STARTED BURNING INTO MY GAS LINE. THEY SAID WE WERE VERY LUCKY VAN DIDN'T TOTAL CATCH ON FIRE. THEY ENDED REPLACING THE WHOLE ABS UNIT UNDER THE VAN AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL WIRES THAT HAD BURNT AND REWIRE EVERYTHING. REPAIR IS ALMOST 900.00 DOLLARS. THEY VAN GAVE NO WARNINGS THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN. I FEEL VERY SCARRED TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS VAN, EVEN WITH REPAIR BEING DONE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN AND NEXT TIME WE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. I AM STILL PAYING ON THE VAN AND STUCK. I HOPE FORD DOES SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE. I HAVE NOT PICKED UP VAN YET AND AM CONSIDERING TELLING CAR DEALER TO PICK IT UP AT SHOP AND TAKING REPO ON MY CREDIT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE ABS LAMP, TORQUE CONVERTER LAMP AND THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 10/06/11 *BF UPDATED 10/5/11 *CN
ABS ECM FAILURE - ABS BRAKE LIGHT. *TR
THE ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON IN MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE LEFT FRONT SPEED SENSOR. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, THE LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN - INTERMITTENTLY. THEY WENT ON MORE AND MORE AS THE WEATHER GOT HOTTER, MOSTLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP TO ANALYZE THE CODES. IT HAS TOO MANY ERROR CODES TO LIST, WHICH THE MECHANIC SAYS IS AN INDICATION OF AN ECU FAILURE. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING! I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH THREE KIDS IN THIS VEHICLE, WITH NO ANTILOCK BRAKES. IT IS GOING TO BE SCARY WHEN WINTER COMES AND THE SNOW AND ICE DRIVING BEGINS. I HAVE TO DRIVE IT LIKE THIS THOUGH, BECAUSE THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR ( OVER $1,000)!!! THE ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON NOW FOR OVER 6 MONTHS STRAIGHT. *TR
MY BRAKES ARE WORKING FINE. BUT MY ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON FOR THE PAST YEAR. PRIOR TO THIS, I HAD MY OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. THERE IS NO DEFINITE MOVEMENT THAT PROCEEDS THE LIGHT COMING ON, IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN I HIT A BUMP, OR WHEN I SIMPLY DRIVE ALONG. IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE RECURRENT. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE, ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WERE RECENTLY REPLACED, THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *TR
UPON STARTUP AND WHILE DRIVING THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. THIS HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND USUALLY OCCURS AT LEAST 5 DAYS A WEEK. *TR
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR
2002 FORD WINDSTAR LEAKING BRAKE FLUID UNDER MASTER CYLINDER. *TR
THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON MY DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE NO TROUBLE W/ MY BRAKES, YET THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. I HAVE CHANGED THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER TWICE, BUT THIS KEEPS RECURRING. FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO ODI NUMBER 10278659. THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR SWITCH WAS IDENTIFIED AS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID BY MY INDEPENDANT AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE "CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR SWITCH" PART NUMBER YF1Z 9C888 AB AT A COST OF $34.56 FOR PARTS AND $22.50 FOR LABOR. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE SWITCH. AFTER THIS WAS DONE, THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTED TO WORK CONSISTENTLY AGAIN. THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES I HAVE NOTICED THEY GO ON AFTER I HIT A BUMP. ONCE THEY GO ON, THEY REMAIN ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE JOURNEY (UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF). *TR
BRAKE AND ABS BRAKE LIGHT ON TIMELESSLY, SOMETIME SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE AND STRONG SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC OR RUBBER. *TR
IN SEPTEMBER 2009 THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY WINDSTAR TOLD ME THE ABS MODULE IS BAD AND THAT I NEED A NEW ONE AND HAVE TO GO TO THE FORD DEALER DIRECTLY AND PAY AROUND $800.00 AND HAVE IT RESET BY THEIR COMPUTER. THIS HAS COST ME LOTS OF MONEY BECAUSE I ALREADY SPENT $600.00 ON REAR BRAKES BECAUSE OF NOT KNOWING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTAR.ALSO, IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN 2007, THE LOCKS ON THE VAN DON'T WORK. SOMETIMES IT LOCKS BY REMOTE AND SOMETIMES THE LOCKS ALL WORK, BUT, THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS IS A PAIN. NOW, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMING ON AND I HAVE HAD VARIOUS MECHANICS TRY TO RESET THE LIGHT AND IT WILL COME BACK ON AGAIN AND AGAIN! I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS ON THIS VAN TO HAVE IT IN SHAPE, BUT ALWAYS SOMETHING ARISES. DESPITE THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL, I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT AND USE IT ALL THE TIME, BUT WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT DONE. I WISH FORD TO FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS TYPE OF VAN HAS AND SO I WON'T HAVE TO SPEND HUNDREDS, AGAIN, OR I WILL HAVE TO GET RID OF IT, WHICH IS A SHAME BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE THE TV, EVEN THOUGH THE SCREEN GIVE ME PROBLEMS AND THE VCR NO LONGER WORKS. *TR
THE ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, A/C, AND OVERDRIVE STOPPED WORKING SO WE REPLACED FUSE #10 AND LATER THAT DAY THE BRAKE PRESSURE DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATE THAT THE SPEED SENSOR AND THE ABS MODULE FAILED. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS $900.00. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
FORD 2002 WINDSTAR. IN MAY 2009 THE ABS AND BRAKES WARNING LIKES CAME ON TWICE OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE OF DAYS. TOOK THE VAN TO OUR SHOP, BUT THE LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT. THE SHOP THOUGHT IT MIGHT JUST BE A LIGHT PROBLEM. LIGHTS REMAINED OUT UNTIL AUGUST 2009. BOTH CAM ONE INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK THE VAN TO THE SHOP AND THIS TIME IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS BAD. OVER THE PAST WEEK I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND IT TO BE A POTENTIAL FUTURE RECALL ISSUES PENDING NHTSA FINDING.*TR
2002 FORD WINDSTAR WOULD WANDER WHILE DRIVING,FOUND REAR AXLE CRACKED IN CENTER. *TR
SERVICE BRAKES ,HYDRAULIC ANTILOCK ABS WARNING LIGHTS ON AT INTERMITTENT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. *TR
WHEN DRIVING MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN ON THE HIGHWAY WE NOTICED A LOUD SLAMMING NOISE FROM THE REAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, SWERVING TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND STALLING WITH THE TAIL END STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY, AS THE TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND US WHO WAS VERY ALERT NEARLY MISSED A REAR END COLLISION WITH OUR VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WE NOTICED THE REAR AXLE BEAM WAS SPLIT IN TWO, RUSTED AND ROTTED OUT AND HANGING TO THE GROUND, A TOW TRUCK WAS NOTIFIED AND THE OPERATOR STARED IN DISBELIEF THAT THE AXLE HAD BROKEN IN HALF. THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT COULD HAVE COST US OUR LIVES. THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A SOME LIVES ARE LOST AS A RESULT OF THE FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE BEAM BREAKING WHILE OCCUPANTS AND PASSENGERS ARE RIDING IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THEY TOOK THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLE AND THE NATURE OF THE COMPLAINT ADVISING ME TO SPEAK TO A FORD SERVICE MANGER AND FOR THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES BROKEN AXLE TO BE INSPECTED BY A FORD DEALER.FORDS CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REP ADVISED ME NOT TO RETURN A CALL TO THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE INCIDENT ON FILE AND THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER WOULD FOLLOW UP ON THE COMPLAINT. UPON SPEAKING TO THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER HE ASKED A BOUT THE TYPE OF PROBLEM YEAR AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE. BEING A 2002 WINDSTAR WITH 153,000 MILES HE STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE FORD WOULD NOT ASSIST ME IN GETTING THIS SITUATION RESOLVED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE 5 HOURS LABOR CHARGE @ $100.00 PER HOUR AND THE COST OF THE AXLE BEAM WOULD BE $500.00 PLUS WHAT EVER OTHER DAMAGES INCURRED. AS THESE WOULD BE MY OUT OF POCKET COSTS PLUS A $275.00 TOW CHARGE. NEEDLESS TO SAY HOW COSTLY THIS EVENT BECAME AS WELL AS THE POSSIBLE WORST CASE SCENARIO A FATAL ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED. *TR
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT INDICATION ON DASH BOARD. BRAKE FLUID FOUND ON WIRES AT ECM. REPAIR NOT COMPLETED BY FORD DEALER AS PART OF WINDSTAR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL ' ID# 19544. FAILURE OF ECM IS DIRECT RESULT OF PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 67712 MILES. THE CAR STARTED MAKING METALLIC CREAKING NOISES FROM THE REAR END WHENEVER I MADE SHARP RIGHT HAND TURNS. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE REAR AXLE BEAM HAD A 2 INCH CRACK IN IT. I HAD TO HAVE MY MECHANIC REPLACE THE REAR AXLE. MY SEARCHES ON THE WEB REVEALED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT WITH THE WINDSTARS. *TR
I OWN A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. FOR THE LAST YEAR THE ABS LIGHT (YELLOW) AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT (RED) HAS INTERMITTENTLY BEEN LIGHTING UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON AUG 16, 2009, I NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VAN. I FOUND THE LEAK COMING FROM THE BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. AS I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR A REPLACEMENT PART, I FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING ISSUE FOR THE 2002 WINDSTAR, WHICH AS I ASSUME YOU HAVE BEEN INFORMED, HAS BEEN THE ROOT CAUSE OF SOME FIRES WITH THE WINDSTAR. IS THERE OR WILL THERE BE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE? AT THIS TIME I FEEL THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT. *TR
BRAKE WARNING & ABS LIGHTS COME ON. I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY SAID THEY WERE OK.. THE LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF AT WILL. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. I HAVE HEARD OF STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING. LIKE FIRES AND ACCELERATING. *TR