2002 Ford Windstar complaints

BOTH BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT ARE ON DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE DURING WARMER OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES (SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL), AND IS USUALLY OFF DURING COOLER OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES (WINTER). I HAD A FORD DEALERSHIP TELL ME THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF ABOUT $600.00, AND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATING WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE AND PROBABLY DUE TO A POORLY DESIGNED CONTROL MODULE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITHIN THE PAST TWO MONTHS AND THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET MANIFOLD, SPARK PLUGS, AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. THE REPAIR COST EXCEEDED $4,000. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT IN CORRECTING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

2002 FORD WINDSTAR ABS (YELLOW) AND RED BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON REGULARLY FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE ARE HOT. HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. *TR

POOR DESIGN, PLACING ELECTRICAL CONNECTION UNDER MASTER CYLINDER, FILLED WITH BRAKE FLUID. CAUSED INSTRUMENT PANEL TO MALFUNCTION, INCLUDING NO SPEEDOMETER, AND LEFT THE ABS & BRAKES WARNING LIGHT ON STEADY. THE CONNECTER THAT GOT WET FROM THE FLUID IS CHARRED. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

FORD WINDSTAR CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH SHORTED OUT. THAT CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND SHORTED IT OUT. THE DEALER SAID IT IS A FIRE HAZARD AND OTHER FORDS HAD BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT THE FORD WINDSTAR. NOW THIS IS COSTING US 2500.00 TO GET FIXED. MY PARENTS WINDSTAR IS STARTING THE SAME THING AND MY DAD IS HANDICAP SO IF IT CATCHES FIRE THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TIME TO GET HIM OUT PLEASE RECALL THE WINDSTAR ALSO BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. THANK YOU *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR LX. JUST THIS PAST JANUARY THE LIGHTS HAVE STARTED TO TURN ON. MY ABS LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT. THERE ARE 12-13 CODES THAT SHOW UP FOR MY BRAKES WHEN DIAGNOSED ON THE COMPUTER. I HAVE NEW BRAKES ALL AROUND, NEW ROTORS, NEW DRUMS AND WHEN I GO TO STOP THE CAR SQUEALS LIKE A BUS AND GRINDS AS THOUGH I HAVE NO BRAKE PADS AT ALL. SHOP SAYS THE ONLY PLACE I CAN GO TO GET THAT FIXED IS THE DEALER WHERE IT WILL COST ME ABOUT $1500 TO FIX. WHO HAS THAT KIND OF MONEY LAYING AROUND? MY ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON BECAUSE OF SUPPOSEDLY SOME MODULE INSIDE THE ENGINE. THAT WAS ESTIMATED AT $350+ TO GET FIXED. THE MODULE SUPPOSEDLY IS THE REASON WHY WHEN THE CAR IS DIAGNOSED ON THE COMPUTER, THAT IT SHOWS I HAVE TWO BAD O2 SENSORS. ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW!!! THESE WINDSTARS ARE PURE JUNK!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS, BRAKE, AND TRACTION LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCED ERROR CODES; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT THINK THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THOSE CODES. THE DEALER DID NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.

I OWN A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR AND HAVE HAD RECENT ABS / BRAKE PROBLEMS. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE ABS BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE MODULE. UPON MORE INVESTIGATION, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS SWITCH IS ALWAYS "HOT" WHETHER THE ENGINE IS RUNNING OR NOT. THIS IS TURN COULD CAUSE A FIRE FROM THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT THIS SWITCH IN QUESTION HAS CAUSED MANY OTHER PROBLEMS AND EVEN DEATH WITH OTHER FORD MODELS. I WILL HAVE TO DISENGAGE MY CRUISE AS WELL AS MY ABS SYSTEM TO ENSURE TO FIRE. THIS WORRIES ME AS I WANT THE SAFEST FOR MY FAMILY BUT AT THIS TIME CANNOT AFFORD THE FIX. HOPEFULLY FORD WILL OWN UP AND PAY TO FIX THIS MESS THAT WAS CAUSED BY A $30 SWITCH. *TR

ORANGE ABS AND RED BRAKE LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING 02 FORD WINDSTAR LE . THIS CAN CAUSE FIRE AND DEATH ACCORDING TO ABOUT 5000 POSTS ON WEBSITE : HTTP://WWW.2CARPROS.COM/FORUM/14-VT49767.HTML?POSTDAYS=0&POSTORDER=ASC&START=130. MY VAN HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A YEAR. *TR

CLUNKING NOISE HEARD IN RIGHT REAR OF 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. INSPECTION BY OWNER FOUND CRACK IN REAR AXLE BEAM. FORD DEALER REPLACED AXLE BEAM STATING IT WAS CRACKED DUE TO IMPROPER JACKING. THEY POINTED OUT TWO "DIMPLES" IN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AXLE BEAM AS EVIDENCE OF THE IMPROPER JACKING, AND STATED THAT THE CRACK STARTED THERE. AFTER THE REAR AXLE BEAM WAS REPLACED, I INVESTIGATED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE NEW BEAM, AND FOUND THE IDENTICAL "DIMPLES" WERE PRESENT ON THE NEW BEAM. THESE "DIMPLES" ARE, I BELIEVE, CAUSED BY THE FORMING OF THE BEAM BY THE MANUFACTURER AND NOT DUE TO IMPROPER JACKING. I BELIEVE THAT THE REAR AXLE BEAM OF MY FORD WINDSTAR CRACKED BECAUSE OF AN INHERENT DEFECT CAUSED DURING THE FORMING PROCESS. *TR

BOTH THE YELLOW ABS AND RED BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. FORD DEALER CODE SCAN REVEALED A C1185 CODE: POWER RELAY FAILURE WITHIN THE HCU/ECU. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ABS AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WAS LOSING POWER, WHICH COULD POSSIBLY BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,470.

DASH BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON. THEY CAN BE RESET BY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING. NOTICED LEAKING SWITCH ON BOTTOM OF MASTER CYLINDER. WIRING DAMP WITH BRAKE FLUID. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE. *TR

THE ABS, BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS IN MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR KEEP COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. BRAKE FLUID IS NORMAL AND FRONT BRAKES WERE RECENTLY REPLACED. WARNING LIGHTS SEEM TO APPEAR WHEN STARTED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN OR AFTER DRIVING. I HAVE NOT NOTICED BRAKING PROBLEMS BUT AM WORRIED THAT THE BRAKES MAY FAIL WHEN NEEDED. FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NO KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTAR ABS SYSTEM. I HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE WINDSTAR OWNERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY VEHICLE HAS 63K MILES. *TR

2002 FORD WINDSTAR - BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON. GETTING OVERHEATED & CAUSED NEW BATTERY TO CORRODE AND CAR TO DIE. WE HAD TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. READ ABOUT FAULTY CRUISE SWITCH CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. WE CHECKED THE CRUISE LIGHT AND IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2001. IT IS THE VEHICLE OUR NEWLY PERMITTED 15 YEAR OLD SON IS DRIVING. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED? IT IS SCARY TO THINK THE BREAKS COULD GO OUT ON OUR SON OR THAT A FIRE COULD START. *TR

MY WIFE HAS A MINIVAN THAT I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED ON WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS. I PURCHASED A SET OF 4 HIGH QUALITY MICHELIN TIRES WITH 75K WARRANTY FROM SEARS AT FAIR OAKS MALL IN FAIRFAX, VA. EARLIER THIS YEAR MY WIFE HAD A BLOW OUT AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO SEARS FOR THEM TO INSPECT THE TIRE. ONCE THEY REMOVED THE TIRE THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PUNCTURE ANYWHERE ON THE TREAD OR SIDEWALL - I WAS A TIRE REPAIR TECHNICIAN BACK WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE. I ASKED THE TECHNICIAN WHY THE TIRE WOULD HAVE BLOWN IF THERE WAS NOT A PUNCTURE, HE DIDN'T HAVE AN EXPLANATION. I ASKED IF THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANT AND THEY SEEMED UNWILLING TO HELP. I ENDED UP BUYING ANOTHER TIRE FOR $150.00. THEN JUST THIS WEEKEND AS I WAS DRIVING I HEARD A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR FROM THE VALVE STEM. I TOOK THE TIRE IN TO HAVE THE VALVE STEM REPLACED AND THEY MENTIONED TO US THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON VALVE STEMS. I BELIEVE THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT WAS ALSO CAUSED BY A VALVE STEM ISSUE SINCE THERE WAS NO OTHER INDICATION OF A PUNCTURE. I'M PLANNING TO HAVE ALL OF THE VALVE STEMS REPLACED ON THE REMAINING TIRES SO THAT MY WIFE WILL NOT SUFFER A BLOW OUT WITH OUR 3 CHILDREN IN THE VAN. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A GREATER CAMPAIGN ON THIS ISSUE TO INCREASE AWARENESS AS IT COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT ALL 4 TIRES ON A VEHICLE. *TR

I PURCHASED NEW 4 TIRES FROM SEARS AUTO CENTER IN DULLES, VA ON 1/46/07 WHICH THEY INSTALLED ON OUR 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. MY WIFE, 3 YEAR DAUGHTER AND MYSELF WERE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE I81ON 4/24/08 WITH THIS FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED A FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLOW OUT. IT WAS A GOOD THING I WAS THE DRIVER AND NOT MY WIFE AS THIS COULD OF BEEN TRAGIC!! I QUICKLY PULLED IT ON THE HIGHWAYS SHOULDER AFTER TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. I REPLACED THE BLOWN TIRE WITH THE TEMPORARY SPARE. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE SEARS AUTO CENTER IN WINCHESTER, VA TOLD US THEY DID NOT CARRY THAT EXACT TIRE AND DID NOT HAVE ONE WITH THE SAME SPEED RATING AND CAN NOT LEGALLY INSTALL ONE THE DOESN'T MATCH THE REST. WE NEEDED TO GET HOME TO OUR TWO CHILDREN WHO WERE COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL, THEREFORE, WE WERE FORCED TO PURCHASE TWO NEW TIRES ALONG WITH FEES ASSOCIATED WITH DOING SO. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS TIRE BLOW OUT AND THE SEARS TECHNICIAN WAS BAFFLED AS HE SAID HE FOUND NO HOLES OR PUNCTURE IN THE BLOWN TIRE. THE TWO FRONT TIRES ARE NOW NEW AND THE TWO REAR TIRES WERE STILL IN PLACE FROM THE ORIGINAL 4 TIRE PURCHASE ON 1/6/07. ON 6/12/2008 WE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE AND THE TIRES VALVE STEM WAS HISSING FROM A SUDDEN CRACK THAT HAD FORMED. I HAD THE STEM REPLACED AT WALMART IN FRONT ROYAL, VA. ON 6/27/08 I HAD THE LAST OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE A SUDDEN VALVE STEM FAILURE CAUSING INSTANT PRESSURE LOSS. I WAS NOW SUSPECTING THE

FUSE NUMBER 10 KEEPS BLOWING AS SOON AS PUT IN. SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON. *TR

THE ABS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE, AS WELL THE CRUISE CONTROL, SPEEDOMETER KEEP FLUCTUATING ON THE 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THIS IS RELATED TO THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE LIGHTS STAY ON AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE STARTS. *TR

THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. DURING AN UNEXPECTED HEAVY STOP OF ON WARMER DAYS THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM STOPS RESPONDING AND THE WARNING LIGHT STATING THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN TURN OFF, TURNS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE STOPPED, TURNED OFF THEN RESTARTED FOR THIS TO GO AWAY. IT ALSO HAS FAILED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WITHOUT BRAKING ON HOTTER DAYS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH LEAKS ONTO HOT SURFACES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING SMOKE. *TR

ABS , TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHT GO ON PERIODICALLY. CAR NEEDS A NEW BRAIN BOX. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IF OFF IS TO RESTART THE VAN I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP TWICE NOW. THE GARAGE ( FIIVE STAR FORD) IN WARNER ROBINS TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER LAST WEEK. THAT COST ME $490.00. IT STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS. *TR

I OWN A FORD WINDSTAR AND I AM HAVING THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM AND SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM. *TR

OWN A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR AND I AM HAVING A SITUATION WHERE BOTH THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE READ OF PROBLEMS WITH THE "BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH" IN OTHER WINDSTARS AND DECIDED TO CHECK IT OUT ON MINE AFTER READING OF ENGINE FIRES OCCURRING BECAUSE OF IT. ON MINE I HAVE FOUND A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID UNDERNEATH THE MASTER CYLINDER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAD MY SON PUMP THE BRAKES WHILE I HAD THE WIRING TO THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH REMOVED AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AS THE BRAKES WERE PUMPED. I HAVE DECIDED TO REPLACE THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH BEFORE A POSSIBLE FIRE OCCURS. *TR

ABS LIGHT AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ARE CONSTANTLY COMING ON. THIS HAS ALL BEEN CHECKED AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING WRONG WITH EITHER. CRUISE STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING WITH IT ON. I HAVE NOW READ MANY REPORTS FROM CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME FORD WINSTAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CRUISE CONTROL CONCERNS ME BECAUSE OF THE RECALL OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON ONE OF THEIR TRUCKS AND THE INCIDENCE OF FIRES STARTED BECAUSE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IN THE FORD WINSTAR VANS. *TR

06/01/2008 DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND ALL OF SUDDEN MOST WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT. NO OTHER SIGNS-VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING FINE. THE SPEEDO AND MILEAGE COUNTER WERE NOT WORKING. ABS WAS LIT, O/D WAS FLASHING AND EMERG. BRAKE WAS LIT. MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE SCDS LEAKED BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE ABS MODULE. AUTO MECHANIC INDICATED THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT HAVE A FIRE. HE RECOMMENDED THAT I DO NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO A POTENTIAL FIRE THAT COULD RESULT IN THE DEFECT. MECHANIC REPLACED SCDS, ABS MODULE AND CONTROL PANEL. *TR

ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WERE LIT-ABS,EMERGENCY BRAKE, O/D, SPEEDO AND MILEAGE COUNTER COULD NOT BE READ AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY. AUTO REPAIR PERSON INDICATED THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE. MY ABS MODULE MELTED ONTO THE CONTROL PANEL (NOT SURE OF PART NAME) WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH. CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. *TR

OUR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED ON OUR 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. A DEFECTIVE SWITCH HAD LEAKED BRAKE FLUID INTO AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. WE WERE TOLD BY THE FORD DEALER THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT $1,500, WE WERE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD CATCH ON FIRE AT ANY TIME. THIS INCLUDED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE SERVICE WRITER ALSO STATED THAT HE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT FORD HAD NOT RECALLED THE WINDSTAR AS THE SAME FAILURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ON THE PICK-UPS HAD BEEN. *TR

BRAKE OIL LEAK FROM CRUISE CONTROL PRESSURE SWITCH ON MASTER CYLINDER. FIRE HAZARD. *TR

ON JUNE 8, 2008, OUR 2002 WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: ABS LIGHT WENT RED: BRAKE RED LIGHT WENT ON. SPEEDOMETER, AND TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING. ALL WILL REQUIRE REPAIR TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE, CRASH OR BREAK DOWN. *TR

THE BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (2B264) LOCATED UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER (BEHIND THE AIR FILTER) OVER TIME DEVELOPS A LEAK. THIS CAUSES A SHORT AND A FUSE TRIP, FUSE #10 IF THE ENGINE IS ON. THIS LEAK ALSO CAUSES BRAKE FLUID TO WICK DOWN TWO WIRES TO THE ABS BRAKE MODULE (2C219). THE FLUID ACCUMULATES ON THE (ALWAYS ON) POWER CONNECTORS FOR THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH ARE POWERED BY FUSES 101 AND 102 AND ARE BOTH 40 AMP. THE FLUID ATTRACTS MOISTURE, ROAD SALT AND LEADS TO A FIRE WHEN THE FLUID AND MOISTURE ACT AS CONDUCTOR BETWEEN THE HOT LEADS AND GROUND. THIS SWITCH WILL CAUSE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS, SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND ABS BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *TR

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENLY COMING ON AND GOING OFF ON MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR SEL. THIS STARTED IN MAY 2008 AT 97,000 MILES. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR THAT WE PURCHASED 2 YRS AGO, ...MORNING AFTER DELIVERY BATTERY WAS DEAD, TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID SHOULD BE FINE. OCCASIONALLY STILL DIES AND HAS TO BE CHARGED, ALTERNATOR & BATTERY CHECK OUT FINE. THE MOST DANGEROUS PROBLEM IS THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON AND ABS DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. WE CONTINUOUSLY HAVE TO ADD BRAKE FLUID (AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH) AND CAN NOT FIND ANY LEAKS ON THE GROUND. HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CAN NOT DIAGNOSE. THE DEALERSHIP HOOKED VEHICLE UP TO MACHINE TO READ CODE AND CAN NOT GET ANY READINGS FROM SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP SEEMED TO THINK THAT IT COULD BE A WIRING PROBLEM OR ABS MODULE. ABS WILL OCCASIONALLY GO OUT/WORK BUT NOT PROPERLY, ABS WILL KICK IN ON DRY ROADS NOT WET/SNOW COVERED. TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND TIRE PRESSURES ARE ALL CORRECT. HAS BEEN RESET BUT COMES BACK ON AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL GO OUT ON ITS OWN BUT THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WILL BOUNCE AROUND (IF GOING 55 WILL JUMP TO 70,80). WHEN OPENING THE REAR TAILGATE HATCH AND CLOSING,THE DASH LIGHT STAYS ON LIKE IT IS STILL OPEN AND DOME LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN DRIVING THE DOOR CHIME WILL SOUND AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND WORKS PROPERLY UNTIL GATE IS OPENED AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING THE DOOR LIGHT AND CHIME WILL COME ON LIGHTS STAY ON. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN USING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CONTROLS TO PUT WINDOWS UP/DOWN YOU HEAR LOU

2002 FORD WINDSTAR CRUISE CONTROL, ODOMETER, A/C TEMP. CONTROL STOPPED WORKING; ABS LIGHT REMAINS ON. THE VAN IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. I FOUND ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITHIN WINDSTAR OWNERS. A CONTAMINATED "BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH" IS THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IN MY OPINION FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR

MY WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO SET MY CRUISE CONTROL ON MY VAN WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND FROM MY ENGINE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND FROM TIME TO TIME IT BLINKS. THERE IS A BURNING SMELL SOMETIMES ALSO. THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I SET MY CRUISE CONTROL. IT STARTS AND RUNS BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. *TR

IT APPEARS THAT I AM HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS OTHER FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS. I HAVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATES. I HAVE NOT HAD TO REPLACE ANYTHING ON IT YET, BUT WOULD LIKE THIS LOOKED INTO FURTHER AS IT IS A PROBLEM FOR MANY FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS. *TR

OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGINS FLASHING AND OVERDRIVE SHIFTS OUT OGF GEAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON TWO CONSECUTIVE FORD WINDSTARS I'VE OWNED. A 1999 AND 2002. BOTH PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT THE 120,000 MILE MARK. IN BOTH CASES THE TRANSMISSION WAS DIAGNOSE AS NEEDING REPLACEMENT. IN BOTH CASES THE FLASHING O/D LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AFTER THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE REPLACED AT GREAT EXPENSE. THIS TIME I REPLACED THE TRANS IN THE 2002 WITH A TRANS OUT OF A 2005 WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT. NOW 2 MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT IS FLASHING AGAIN BUT THE OVERDRIVE SEEMS TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. IN THE CASE OF THE 1999 I HAD TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AFTER REPLACING THE TRANS WHICH I BELIEVED MIGHT HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE BECAUSE I DUMPED THE VEHICLE QUICKLY AFTERWARD. IN THIS CASE I'M GOING TO TRADE IN THE 2002 ON A CHRYSLER PACIFICA *TR

THE ABS LIGHT ALONG WITH THE RED BRAKE LIGHT COME ON FREQUENTLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF THESE LIGHTS ALONG WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON AND THE VAN SURGES, LURCHES AND DIES. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME, AT LIGHTS ESPECIALLY BUT EVEN WHEN DRIVING. SOMETIMES ALL TYPES OF LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE BEGIN TO FLICKER AND I HEAR A TICKING/CLICKING NOISE AS IT OCCURS. I HAVE STARTED MY ENGINE AND SEEN THE ODOMETER RUN WHAT APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF DIAGNOSTIC TEST. IF I PUSH THE TRIP RESET WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING IT CYCLES THROUGH SEVERAL WORDS AND CODES AND THE GAUGES (FUEL, SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE) MOVE ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT THEN FALL BACK TO ZERO AND THE IGNITION CLICKS RAPIDLY. JUST TODAY WHEN I WENT OUT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TO START MY VAN, MY ELECTRONICS DOOR OPENER WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD TO USE THE KEY, AND WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR THE FLASHING/ CLICKING WAS UNDERWAY. I HAVE HAD MY BRAKES REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT ISSUE RESUME BEFORE I LEFT THE MECHANIC. I HAVE HAD THE VAN HOOKED UP TO DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTERS TWICE WHICH COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED. I HAVEN'T EVEN PAID THIS VEHICLE OFF YET AND WITH THESE ISSUES I WON'T BE ABLE TO SELL IT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE. AS AN AMERICAN COMPANY, I EXPECT FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT'S PRODUCTS AND THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT AMERICAN CONSUMERS. *TR

2002 FORD WINDSTAR WITH INOPERABLE CRUISE CONTROL, ODOMETER, A/C TEMP. CONTROL, ABS LIGHT REMAINS ON AND OTHER RELATED ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. VEHICLE IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND I HAVE NO DOUBT I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM THOUSANDS OF OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS ARE WITH A CONTAMINATED "BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH". IS FORD TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND PROVIDING A FIX - WITHOUT CHARGE??? *TR

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY OR EITHER REMAINS LIT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN DECEMBER 2005. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 62,000. ALSO HEATER HAS STOPPED WORKING IN APRIL 2008. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE APRIL 2006. RPM'S SUDDENLY WILL DROP UNDER 1000 AND CAR WILL START STALLING AND BUCKING. NEED TO PUT IT IN PARK AND REV THE ENGINE. *TR

MY WIFE ASKED ME TO CHECK THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. I HAD CHECKED THE WHEELS FOR ANY LEAKAGE AND FOUND NONE. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LOW SO I STARTED TO LOOK FOR LEAK AT OTHER PLACES AND FOUND THE LEAK AT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ON THE WIRES. SO I LOOKED ON LINE AND FOUND A ARTICLE THAT CAN CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS WHY I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT. I AS HAVE LOST MY CRUISE CONTROL AND THE ARTICLE SAID THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN. I AM GOING TO CHANGE THE SWITCH AND REPLACE THE FUSE IF NEEDED. *TR

MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR VAN HAD AN INOPERABLE CRUISE CONTROL. I TRACED THE PROBLEM TO A LEAKING (BRAKE FLUID) SWITCH MOUNTED UNDER THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE LEAKING SWITCH LEAKED FLAMMABLE BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST SYSTEM BUT DID NOT CAUSED A ENGINE FIRE. I PURCHASED A MODIFIED SWITCH AND WIRE HARNESS FROM THE FORD DEALER AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD PARTS SALESMAN THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY WINDSTAR AT THAT TIME. THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT FOUND ON THE OTHER FORD VEHICLES ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, 18 APRIL 2008. I STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN HOPES I CAN BE REIMBURSED BY FORD. THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. *TR

I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT RECENT COMPLAINTS TO THE FORD WINDSTAR 2002 AND HAVE CONCERNS. I HAD MY ABS MODULE REPLACED LAST YEAR BECAUSE ALL MY IDIOT BRAKE LIGHTS WERE GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE ALSO NOT USED MY CRUISE CONTROL IN OVER TWO YEARS BECAUSE ONCE ACTIVATED IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. IT APPEARS THAT THE BRAKES ARE RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL LEAKING ON THE BRAKE LINE, BUT FORD DOES NOT SEE THE WINDSTAR AS A PROBLEM. THIS CONCERNS ME, SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN FIRES WITH THE WINDSTAR VAN. I ALSO TOOK MY CAR INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE SEAT LATCHES AND WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED. MY RECENT REPAIR WOES IS THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR IS GOING. THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY LAST FORD WINDSTAR. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2002, MAKE=FORD, MODEL=WINDSTAR). *TR

CHECK TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AS DOES ABS LIGHT. TURN OFF ENGINE AND ON & IT GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD, THEN RETURNS. MECHANIC TELLS ME $1300 TO CORRECT. VARIOUS WEB SITES REPORT THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL WINDSTARS 2002! SHOULD BE RECALLED WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS. CHECK WEB SITE WWW.2CARPROS/FORUM/38-VT49767. *TR

ABS SYSTEM AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, INTERMITTENT OVER THE LAST 9 MONTHS. *TR

MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT, EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF. THEN IT WAS EVERY TIME MY CAR WAS STARTED. I WAS TOLD MY ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR COULD BE DRIVEN, BUT MY ABS BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. I WAS TOLD BY TWO MECHANICS THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THEY HAD SEEN WITH MY VEHICLE. MY CRUISE CONTROL ALSO STICKS. I HAVE NOT USED MY CRUISE IN OVER A YEAR, BECAUSE ONCE ACTIVATED, YOU CAN NOT SHUT IT OFF. THE ONLY WAY IT RESETS IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF. THE FORD WINDSTAR IS ONE OF THE ONLY FORD VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT UPON DOING A WEB SEARCH HAVE FOUND THAT WINDSTARS HAVE STARTED ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. ALSO, I RECEIVED A RECALL ON MY MID/READ SEAT LATCHES. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED. I DRIVE A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT RECALL SINCE THE BRAKE LINE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FIRES CAUSED BY THE FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL. PLEASE ADVISE IS THE RESEARCH IS TO INCLUDE OTHER FORD MODELS. *TR

CONTINUALLY GETTING INTERMITTENT ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS, HAVE TAKEN TO FORD DEALER AND LOCAL GARAGES AND NEITHER KNEW THE PROBLEM. *TR

EMAIL CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE 2001-2003 FORD WINDSTAR, A LEAKY BRAKE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WHICH CAUSES BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK DOWN WIRES AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE COMPUTER FAILS DURING HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE IS A LARGE ALUMINUM PLATE ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ANTI-LOCK COMPUTER CIRCUIT BOARD. WHEN THE PLATE GETS HOT, THE ALUMINUM EXPANDS WHEREBY STRETCHING THE COMPUTER BOARD AND CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD A FIRE IN HIS VEHICLE, AS A RESULT OF A LEAKY BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH.

WE A FORD WINDSTAR VAN THAT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT OUR HOUSE DOWN A COMPLETE LOSS. OUR HOMEOWNERS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.WE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN AND WERE NEVER INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS. *TR