2003 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE YEAR AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CANNOT BELIEVE FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL - $3,400 LATER I AM GETTING MY VAN FIXED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS: UNDER-BODY SHIELDS) HOWEVER, THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE SUB-FRAME ALSO BE REPLACED, DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEALER 'S RECOMMENDATION TO REPLACE THE SUB-FRAME, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V385000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY). WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES BEING EMITTED FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. MODULE IS STILL DEFECTIVE, I HAVE NO ABS BRAKES AND CANNOT GET VEHICLE INSPECTED DUE TO THIS DEFECT, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO COST $1000 REPAIR. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, SEE HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO DRIVE HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO NONRESPONSIVE WHEN SHIFTING INTO ANY SELECTED GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON I94, WITHOUT WARNING, POWERTRAIN COMPLETELY FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. THANKFULLY I HAD THE ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. *JS

2003 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN TO A WORKPLACE AND PARKED FOR THE DAY. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL HOME, DRIVER STARTED VEHICLE NORMAL AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR TO MOVE FROM THE PARKING SPACE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO EITHER DRIVE (FORWARD) OR REVERSE (BACKWARD). VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE AND THEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION EXCEEDS $2500. THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHOWN NO SIGNS OF SLIPPAGE OR OTHER VISIBLE, AUDIBLE AND/OR SHIFTING ISSUES. SINCE THE INCIDENT, I HAVE DONE ONLINE RESEARCHED AND FOUND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND INCIDENTS ON THIS VEHICLE MODEL. WE HAVE ALSO HAVE REPEATED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VAN. INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF FOR NO REASON. INTERIOR LIGHTS BLINK WHILE DRIVING IN DAYTIME OR NIGHTTIME. SOMETIMES THE REAR POWER WING WINDOWS OPEN...SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT. SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF INCLUDING BRAKE AND ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS, AND OTHERS. WE ARE THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN SOMETHING SNAPPED UNDER FRONT OF THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING COMPLETELY HIT THE CURB GOT PUSHED BACK TO THE MIDDLE OF THE 4-LINE ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP VERY LUCKY. LATER FOUND OUT THAT LOWER SUBFRAME CONTROL ARM BROKE OF THE FRAME DUE TO RUST AND PULLED OUT AXLE SNAPPED SWAY BAR AND DAMAGED BALL JOINTS, TOWED IT TO A DEALER AND THEY ARE WILLING TO FIX FRAME BUT WANT ME TO PAY FOR ALL THE OTHER EXPENSE SWAY BAR, BALL JOINTS, TIRES, STEERING ARM TOTALING OVER A 1000 $. CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT FORD WOULD NOT AT LEAST REPLACE ALL NEEDED PART CONSIDERING THAT I MADE IT OUT ALIVE AND WITH OUT A CRUSH. AND ALL THIS AFTER THEY HAVE PERFORMED REAR AXLE REPAIR AND CHECKED THE FRONT AND WAS INFORMED THAT FRONT WAS SAFE A YEAR AGO .ABOUT 10,000 MILES AND A YEAR LATER I HAD THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HAS 74,000 MILES ONLY. *TR

THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. IT DOESN'T STAY ON....BUT GOES OFF TIME TO TIME. *TR

THE BRAKE, ABS, AND TRACTION OF LIGHTS COME ON. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, IT SEEMS TO RESET AND DOESN'T COME BACK ON UNTIL DRIVING FOR A WHILE. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TIME OR DRIVING CONDITION THAT SEEMS TO TRIGGER IT. IT IS COMPLETELY RANDOM. SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES, FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO LES SCWAB SAY THE BRAKES LOOK FINE. MEINIKE FINALLY RAN SOME SORT OF COMPUTERIZED DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID THE ABS MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

ABOUT MARCH OF 2012 MY 2003 FORD WIND STAR'S LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUB FRAME "ENGINE CRADLE". I TOOK MY VAN TO DEALER. THEY DID DO A REPAIR TO SUB FRAME, WHICH I DID NOT FIND SATISFACTORY, FORD CORP. HAD THEM CUT OFF WHAT WAS LEFT OF ANY DAMAGED BRACKETS AND CLAMP STEEL BRACKETS ONTO A SUB FRAME THAT IS ALREADY DAMAGED DUE TO HEAVY RUST AND CORROSION. NOW ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER "MARCH OF 2013" THE SWAY BAR MOUNT, WHICH IS PART OF THE SUB FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT. MAKING DRIVING VERY UNSAFE AND UNSTABLE. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED WHEN THE RECALL WAS DONE IN 2012. I TOOK VAN BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SENT PICTURES TO FORD CORP. FORD DID NOT APPROVE ANY REPAIRS TO SUB FRAME STATING THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF ORIGINAL RECALL. NOW HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE IF THE SUB FRAME AND SWAY BAR MOUNT ARE ALL ONE COMPONENT. IT'S ALL ONE WELDED PIECE OF STEEL. THERE IS NO FIX AT THIS TIME BUT TO REPLACE THE SUB FRAME. NOW IF THE SUB FRAME IS UNDER RECALL AND THE SWAY BAR MOUNT IS PART OF THE SUB FRAME, THEN I FEEL FORD SHOULD RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. I PLAN ON KEEPING MY FORD WIND STAR FOR A WHILE. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND REALLY NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH. FORD SHOULD COVER THIS COMPONENT OR THEY GET AWAY WITH AN UNSATISFACTORY FIX AND I STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW SUB FRAME, WHICH WAS THE WHOLE ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH. *TR

ABS/BRAKE LIGHT HAVE BEEN ON AND OFF FOR YEARS NOW.....CHANGED ALL BRAKE PADS ....AND BRAKES..STILL COME OFF AND ON SPORADICALLY. NEW TIRES..NOPE....ALL NEW BRAKE SYSTEM...NOPE....BRAKE FLUID, CHANGED AND CHECKED OVER AND OVER....NOPE....TIRED OF GOING TO GET THE CAR SERVICED AND EVERY ONE GUESSING AT IT....GOT NO MORE MONEY TO THROW AT THE LEMON OF A CAR! *TR

MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND WHEN I CUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON. IT MAY COME BACK OR NOT UNTIL LATER WHILE DRIVING. MY EMERGENCY BRAKE SEEM LOOSE. I SEE A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THE INTERNET FOR ABS AND BRAKE. IS THERE A RECALL FOR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON? *JS

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN A WHILE AND WARMED UP. AFTER SITTING AND COOLING OFF LIGHT RESETS, AND THEN REPEATS TO ON AS SOON AS DRIVEN TO WARM UP AGAIN. BRAKES ARE NEW, TIRES ARE NEW, NO OTHER APPARENT ISSUES. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A COMMON ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. (BAD SOLDER CONNECTION)? POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD? *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS AND BRAKES LIGHTS GO ON. NO CHANGE HAPPENS. THE LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. HAD FORD DIAGNOSE IT ON THEIR COMPUTERS. SAID IT IS THE ECU AND HCU. THEY ARE SENDING CODES. *TR

MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS. THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ON IS LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS INOPERABLE AND THE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT WORK EXCEPT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I TAKE MY 3 KIDS TO SCHOOL AND BACK EVERYDAY. *JS

THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. *TR

RAN THRU STOP SIGNS REPLACED ALL BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE JUST PULSED AND WOULD NOT STOP MY VAN. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME BACK ON FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER, TURNED OUT WAS ABS MODULE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY FORD WINDSTAR 2003 MINIVAN THE REAR AXLE BEAM CRACKED. THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN, AND I HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED. I WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS OF 20 MPH. A CRACKING OF THE REAR AXLE BEAM POSED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY THREAT TO MYSELF, AND FAMILY. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART IT. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

ON OUR WAY TO PITTSBURGH MONDAY DECEMBER 16, 2012 FOR A LITTLE OUTING WITH OUR 18 MONTH OLD SON FOR THE DAY JUST TO GET AWAY FROM ALLEGANY COUNTY AND WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON ROUTE 40 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VAN IS TRAVELING IN NEUTRAL AND WILL NOT GO IN ANY GEAR. WE DRIFTED THE VEHICLE TO A SIDE ROAD AND CALLED UPON MY AUNT THAT HAS AAA. SURE THAT WAS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO BUT HEY WE JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED ON 11-4-11 AND JUST RECEIVED OUR ACTUAL TAGS ON 1-3-12. WERE PRETTY LOW ON EXTRA CASH RIGHT NOW TO BE FORKING OUT 250.00+ FOR A TOW BACK TO OUR HOME TOWN. CONSIDERING GETTIN THE VAN BACK ON THE ROADS GONNA BE HALF THE PRICE OF WHAT WE PAID FOR THE HEAP TO BEGIN WITH. ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE VAN WHEN I FIRST SAW IT AT THE USED AUTO DEALERS. CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT AND HAD LOW MILES FOR THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER WASN'T THE BEST AT TAKING CARE OF THE TITLE AND TAG INFORMATION AS FAR AS FORWARDING IT TO THE MVA SO WE COULD GET OUR REAL TAGS AND TITLE TO THE VEHICLE. HAD TO CALL HIM A FEW DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS TO GET HIM ON THE BALL AND SEND THE REQUIRED INFO SO WE COULD GET OUR TAGS SINCE THE TEMPORARY WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. HE ACTED QUICKLY AND HAD THEM FOR US AT HIS SHOP ON THE 3RD OF JANUARY. NOW WHEN I DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON 2003 WINDSTARS FROM PREVIOUS OWNERS AT LEAST 80% OF THEM WRITE THE SAME MESSAGE AS WHAT IM EXPLAINING. ( TRAVELING ALONG THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING BOOM NO GEARS AT ALL.) I REALLY WISH I WOULD HAVE DONE SOME MORE RESEARCH BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS VAN CONSIDERING WAY OVER HALF OF THEM ARE JUNK. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND HOPEFULLY ACTION IS TAKEN UPON THESE FORD VANS AND SOMETHING IS DONE. THANK YOU *TR

DRIVING ON A BUSY TWO LANE ROAD, JUST CAME AROUND A SHARP CORNER WHEN THE RPMS SHOT UP AND VAN STARTED TO COAST. WAS NOT EVEN ABLE TO GET COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VAN FORWARD OR BACKWARD AFTER STOPPING. THERE WAS NO WARNING THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND IT WAS VERY SCARY BEING DISABLED ALONG A BUSY ROAD WAITING FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. CARS APPROACHING ME FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS HAD TO ALTERNATE TURNS TO GET AROUND MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

TRANSMISSION DOESN'T TURN, IT'S SEIZED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON A TRIP FROM CHICAGO TO NORTH CAROLINE, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. IT WAS AS IF I JUST PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL; I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REV WHEN I APPLIED THE GAS BUT NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED. LUCKILY, I WAS NEAR AN EXIT RAMP AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR INTO ANOTHER GEAR, BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE. WE ENDED UP GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE, WHERE THEY DETERMINED IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. LATER, AFTER PULLING THE TRANSMISSION APART, THEY DETERMINED IT WAS SPECIFICALLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH HAD FAILED. MY FAMILY AND I (INCLUDING 4 CHILDREN AND 4 DOGS) HAD TO STAY IN A HOTEL FOR 3 DAYS UNTIL THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. DURING THAT TIME, I INVESTIGATED THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE PROBLEM (VIA THE INTERNET) AND FOUND THAT IT IS COMMON IN WINDSTARS AND FREESTARS. THERE IS A RECALL IN PLACE FOR THE FREESTAR BUT NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED FOR THE WINDSTAR YET. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED ASAP!!!! I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING IN CONDITIONS THAT ALLOWED ME TO SAFELY MANEUVER MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING OR BEING INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. THE SAFETY OF MYSELF, MY CHILDREN AND THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WITH ME, A WINDSTAR OWNER, SHOULD NOT BE PUT AT RISK BECAUSE OF A KNOWN TORQUE CONVERTER DEFECT. THE WINDSTAR NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE FORD RECALL FOR TORQUED CONVERTERS IMMEDIATELY. *TR

MULTIPLE EPISODES OF THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AT THE SAME TIME..IF YOU SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART THE WARNING LIGHTS GO AWAY. STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO THRU PRESENT TIME. HAVE HAD VEHICLE SERVICED AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO RESET THE ERROR CODES WITH OUT SUCCESS SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN ITS WET. *TR

THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FREQUENTLY AT ANY TIME FOR NO REASON. MY MECHANIC SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES; HE THINKS IT IS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE MODULE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE IT CANNOT GET A STATE INSPECTION WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION AUTO CENTER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,764. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED HIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, WITH THE OTHER FORD MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE AS STATED IN THE RECALL. RECALL# 12V006000. UPDATED 03/02/12 UPDATED 06/12/12

THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. IT SOMETIMES WILL GO OFF (USUALLY WHEN THERE IS ROAD SALT ON THE ROAD. IT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER THINKING IT WAS THE BRAKES/OR THE BRAKE SENSORS. THEY SAID IT WAS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILING. IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO REPLACE. WHEN THE INDICATOR WAS OFF I TOOK THE CAR FOR EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND IT PASSED. NOW THE EMISSIONS INSPECTION IS DUE AND THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND $900.00 TO REPLACE THE PART ON AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD CAR ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE HAD NO TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. I DROVE HOME FROM WORK EARLY THIS MORNING (3:30AM.) I WENT TO LEAVE FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT NOON ON THE SAME DAY, AND NOTHING. I STARTED MY VAN, ATTEMPTED TO PUT IT IN GEAR AND NOTHING!! NO WARNING, NO NOTHING!! I HAVE NEVER TOWED WITH THIS VEHICLE (IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A HITCH,) THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF PEOPLE RIDING IN IT HAS BEEN 350 POUNDS. THERE HAS BEEN NO STRESS ON THIS ENGINE AS I DON'T LIVE IN MOUNTAINESS AREAS. I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 4 LITTLE KIDS, RECEIVING NO CHILD SUPPORT, WORKING PT, JUST ABLE TO PAY THE BILLS, AND FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE!! I HAVE ALSO HAD NUMEROUS OTHER 'PROBLEMS' BUT NOTHING SO MAJOR THE VEHICLE COULDN'T BE DRIVEN (INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHING, BLENDER DOOR ACTUATOR GOING OUT 3X IN A YEAR, ROUGH IDEAL ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD, BACK DOOR HANDLES NOT WORKING FROM INSIDE, BACK DOORS SO HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE, I CAN HARDLY DO IT, BACK WIPER WORKED ONE DAY THEN JUST STOPPED AND HASN'T WORKED SINCE, ONE BACK WINDOW OPENS AND CLOSES ONLY WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. I ALSO JUST PUT $70 IN GAS IN THIS VEHICLE! UGH!! *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE DOORS FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WERE ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE 02 OXYGEN SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

DROVE THE VAN TO WORK WITHOUT INCIDENT OR ANY IMMINENT WARNING OF VEHICLE PROBLEMS. AS SOON AS I STOPPED AND PUT THE VAN IN PARK, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND DIFFERENT SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN GETTING READY TO LEAVE WORK FOR HOME, I STARTED THE VAN AND PROCEEDED TO PLACE IT IN REVERSE AND THE VAN DIDN'T WOULDN'T MOVE REGARDLESS OF THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR POSITION. THERE WAS A LOUD WHINE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THAT A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE AFTER THE START OF THE IGNITION. THE FIRE CAUSED NO INJURIES AND BOTH THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000.

ABS & BRAKE LIGHT ARE LIT ON MY DASH, FORD HAS THIS RECALL IN THEIR WEB SITE, WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THERE ATTENTION, THEY SAID I HAD THE WRONG VIN. # AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1500.00 FOR THIS REPAIR, I THOUGHT THAT WHEN THERE IS A RECALL, THE COST WOULD BE ON FORD. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THE PROBLEM FOR I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS REPAIR, I'M HOPING THEY ARE WRONG. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE LIT ON MY DASH,FORD HAS THIS RECALL IN THEIR WEBSITE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE THEREATTENTION THEY SAID THAT MY CARS VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED, NOWHERE DOES IT STATE THAT IT IS DESIGNATED BY VIN NUMBERS, IT STATED ALL 2003 FORD WINDSTARS. FORD WANTS $1500.00 TO DO THIS REPAIR, PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM, FOR I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PAY FOR THIS. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME IN CHECKING THIS OUT FOR ME. *TR

YELLOW ABS LIGHT AND RED BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STAY ON. THIS BEGAN AFTER HAVING RECALL # 09S09 (SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION) PERFORMED AT BONDY'S FORD IN DOTHAN AL. LIGHTS WERE NOT ON WHEN LEFT DEALERSHIP...CAME ON LATER AND HAVE STAYED ON. BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO WORK AS WELL NOW AS BEFORE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. *TR

ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2011, MY WIFE WAS HEADING TO WORK. SHE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TURNED GREEN, SHE HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE RPM'S WOULD GO UP AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THIS WAS THE CASE IN ALL GEARS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SINCE TRAFFIC APPROACHING THE SIGNAL ARE DRIVING AT 50+ MPH. LUCKILY, A FEW PASSERS BY HELPED MY WIFE PUSH THE VAN INTO A LOCAL PARKING LOT. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY ARE NOW REBUILDING IT FOR ABOUT $2,000. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE VANS, I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED BY FORD. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE SOME REIMBURSEMENT FOR THESE COSTS I AM PAYING FOR REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO INDICATION (I.E.: KNOCKING SOUNDS, SLIPPING, ETC.) PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

VEHICLE VIOLENTLY BUCKLES FORWARD AND BACK WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT. THIS CONTINUES FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN THE ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON AT THE SAME TIME AND THE CAR STOPS BUCKLING. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME I USE THE VEHICLE. SO APPROXIMATELY 5-9 TIMES A DAY. THE BUCKLING IS SO BAD I'M AFRAID MY FOOT WILL SLIDE OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND I WILL ROLL INTO AN INTERSECTION. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THEODORE ROBINS FORD IN COSTA MESA (949) 642-3017 TODAY AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I ALSO FOUND THIS WEBSITE TALKING ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/. PLEASE HELP [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE DOORS FROM THE EXTERIOR SO THE PASSENGERS COULD EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED TO THE REAR LIFT GATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

THE RUBBER ON THE WIRES GOING TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX RUBBED OFF AND MELTED SHORTING OUT EVERYTHING. CASED THE SPEEDOMETER TO GO OUT TACHOMETER TO STOP WORKING ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO COME ON AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS. MAY HAVE COT ON FIRE FOR A MIN I SMELLED SMOKE BUT WENT OUT ON ITS OWN. *TR

ABS LIGHT ON AND OFF. *TR

SLOWED DOWN TO TURN LEFT ONTO SIDE ROAD, STARTED UP-HILL WENT TO SHIFT AND THEN THERE WAS NOTHING, COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE. SEEMED AS THOUGH I HAD PUT VAN INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS OVER 300 MILES FROM HOME, JUST ME AND MY 2 YR OLD. TOWED BACK HOME TO TRANSMISSION GARAGE, HAD TO HAVE REBUILT FOR APPROXIMATELY $2900. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS, WHY IS FORD NOT RECALLING??? THIS VAN SEEMS TO BE MORE TROUBLE THAN IT IS WORTH. I ALSO HAD THE REPAIR TO THE BACK AXEL DONE AFTER I DISCOVERED THAT I HAD A COMPLETE CRACK THRU IT. *TR

ABS LIGHT AND RED BRAKE LIGHT IS ON, WAS TOLD IT WILL EVENTUALLY SHUT DOWN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAD MY BRAKES DONE AT FORD DEALERSHIP AND SOON AFTER THAT THE LIGHTS APPEARED. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR SWITCH THAT NEEDED TO EVENTUALLY BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $2000.00. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT HAS OCCURRED IN A LOT OF WINDSTARS LIKE MINE AND WONDERED WHY IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED? ARE THEY WAITING FOR US TO GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE? WOULD LIKE FEEDBACK ON THIS PLEASE, ALSO MY INTERIOR LIGHTS KEEP FLASHING ON AND OFF LIKE A STROBE LIGHT...IS THIS PART OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY SENSOR SWITCH? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL THE FORD WINDSTARS LIKE THE ONE I OWN, IF FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WHY WAS I NOT CONTACTED ON THIS? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDER BUT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SAT FOR THREE HOURS BEFORE IT COULD BE MOVED. A LOCAL MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A LIST OF DEALERS IN WHICH HE COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS. THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE PARKED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED FLUID LEAKING NEAR THE FRONT DRIVE SIDE TIRE AND STATED IT WAS COMING FROM A FRACTURE IN THE FRONT AXLE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT AN AXLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.