2003 Ford Windstar complaints

THE HARD SHIFTING STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. NOW WITH 160,000KM THE TRANSMISSION NOW SHUDDERS AND SHIFTS ERRATIC. I WAS TOLD BY THE TRANSMISSION SHOP IT'S THE TORQUE CONVERTER NOT WORKING RIGHT WHICH IS CAUSED BY THE A DEFECT IN THE VALVE BODY. A COMPLETE REMANUFACTURE MAKING IT BETTER THAN FORD CAN WILL RUN $2500. $1800 IF I REMOVE AND INSTALL IT MYSELF. *TR

ABS CONTROL MODULE 2003 WINDSTAR LIGHT FLASHES ON DASH SCARED OF LOOSING BRAKES. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON DASH BECAUSE MY SON-IN-LAW SAID THERE IS BRAKE FLUID LEAK TOWARD THE BACK RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. WHEN IT IS HOT WEATHER OR THE ENGINE GETS HOT THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM BEFORE. IT HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VAN. MY DEALER CLOSED FOR BUSINESS AND I NEED TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR

ABS AND E BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

DURING WARM WEATHER, THE AMBER ABS INDICATOR AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE DISPLAYED, THEY REMAIN ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. WHEN RESTARTED, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT DISPLAY IMMEDIATELY. THEY TYPICALLY RETURN WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING TIME IN WARM/HOT WEATHER. SELDOM DOES THIS OCCUR DURING COLD WEATHER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM OTHER THAN ROUTINE BRAKE PAD/ROTOR SERVICE. THE BRAKES APPEAR TO FUNCTION NORMALLY DURING THE TIMES WHEN THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, ALTHOUGH WE'VE NEVER NEEDED TO "PANIC BRAKE" DURING THESE TIMES SO WE CANNOT ATTEST TO THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE ABS SYSTEM'S FUNCTIONALITY. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE KIDS AND THE FRONT RIGHT STRUT SPRING ON OUR 2003 WINDSTAR CRACKED IN TWO. IT BROKE THE STABILIZER END LINK AND THE STRUT BEARING PLATE. THE BROKEN SPRING RUBBED THE TIRE, BUT DIDN'T PUNCTURE IT. THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS MODEL YEAR AND IT STATES THE CAUSE IS CORROSION. I AM A LICENSED AUTOBODY TECHNICIAN AND UPON REMOVAL OF THE WHEEL AND INSPECTION OF THE SPRING I WOULD SAY THE ALLOY USED IN THE SPRING IS TOO BRITTLE BECAUSE IT SHEARED CLEAN AT AN ANGLE. THERE ISN'T ANY SIGNS OF CORROSION ON THE SPRING BECAUSE IT IS COATED. WE LIVE IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO, CANADA WHERE WE SEE A LOT OF SALT IN WINTER AND I'VE WORKED ON A LOT OF RUSTY CARS AND I WOULD SAY THIS DEFINITELY NOT CLIMATE RELATED, BUT RATHER A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT IF IT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF LIFE. IT WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $300-350 TO FIX THIS MYSELF BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS IN PAIRS. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT SUDDENLY COME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ABS WILL NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN THOSE LIGHTS COME ON. *TR

THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES. THIS JUST STARTED. IS IT SERIOUS AND WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. IT IS A 2003 WINDSTAR. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON 2003 WINDSTAR. THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH (LOCATED UNDER BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER) IS LEAKING AND CAUSES THIS LIGHT TO BE ON. REPLACED SPEED CONTROL SWITCH BUT BOTH LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. RETRIEVED ABS CODE ERROR AND IT IS C1185 - RELATING TO THE ABS RELAY FAILURE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE ABS MODULE ITSELF. REPAIR OF SUCH IS VERY COSTLY (FORD QUOTED BETWEEN $800-$900; ANOTHER SHOP QUOTED $700). I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL THAT FORD SHOULD MAKE AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DESIGN FAILURE (AND VERY COSTLY!). ADDITIONAL REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AGO THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF; BUT WHILE DRIVING THEY CAME BACK ON AGAIN. THIS NOW HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN MY MECHANIC EXAMINED IT HE SAID THAT THE MODULE WAS SHOT. WHILE I WAS DECIDING THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THE NECESSARY REPAIR I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH WINDSTARS. I HESITATE TO REPLACE THE PART ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR ABS BRAKE FAILURE. SYSTEM HAS INTERMITTENT FAILURE, SMELL SOMETHING HOT WHEN IT HAPPENS. *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE ODOMETER DO NOT WORK NOW. *TR

PARKING BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COME ON AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. I'VE FOUND THIS TO BE HIGHLY FREQUENT PROBLEM ON 2001-2003 FORD WINDSTARS. ALSO READ THAT THIS COULD CAUSE FIRES AND EVEN DEATH. WE ALSO HAVE INTERNAL LIGHTS THAT FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS DANGEROUS AT NIGHT AS IT COULD STARTLE THE DRIVER. I'VE READ THIS IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE! GET THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF THE THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. STARTED HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY IN JULY 2008 BUT NOW JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY. FORD DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON 5/13/09 AND FOUND HYDRAULIC CONTROL AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS NEED TO BE REPLACED. EST COST NEARLY $1,300. *TR

WE BOUGHT A USED 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LX. WE HAVE HAD ONE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS GOING ON. ENGINE LIGHT GOING ON. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS GO ON AND STAY ON OR THE LIGHTS START FLASHING AND FLICKERING. YESTERDAY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE GONE ON AGAIN. RECENTLY THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. THIS MORNING WE WERE AT A STOP SIGN WAITING TO PULL OUT ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. MY HUSBAND STEPPED ON THE GAS. THE ENGINE ROARED BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD NOR WOULD IT MOVE BACKWARD WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. WE HAVE HAD THIS VAN AT THE GARAGE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THESE REPAIRS. EACH TIME BEING TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. EACH TIME SPENDING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR, THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WHEN WE DROVE, SOMETIMES IT WOULD FEEL LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING, WELL IT DID ONE DAY GOING TO WORK, THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAME APART DAMAGING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 65000 MILES ON IT WE BEGGED FORD FOR HELP BECAUSE WE THINK THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A VEHICLE THIS YOUNG WE HAVE OWNED LOTS OF VEHICLES WITH WELL OVER 150,000 MILES ON THEM. *TR

VEHICLE WAS SKIPPING/JERKING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE (HAPPENED RECENTLY), ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF W/O WARNING, INSIDE DOME LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING, AND FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT STOP AFTER BEING TURNED OFF, UNTIL CAR WAS CUT OFF (HAPPENED OVER 2 YEAR PERIOD). HAD A DEALER TO FIX PROBLEMS TO A TUNE OF ABOUT $2300. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME BRAKES ARE FINE. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS A WIRING PROBLEM OR BAD ABS MODULE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HUB HAS BEEN REPLACED 15 TIMES AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

MY HUSBAND WAS PROCEEDING IN A SOUTHBOUND DIRECTION IN OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN HE STRUCK A VEHICLE (GMC TRUCK) THAT FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THAT VEHICLE WAS MOVING WESTBOUND. THE IMPACT FIRST OCCURRED WITH THE WINDSTAR STRIKING THE TRUCK ON THE PASSENGER FRONT FENDER, WHICH THEN RESULTED IN THE WINDSTAR THEN STRIKING A CURB, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE WINDSTAR STRIKING A TELEPHONE POLE. THESE IMPACTS WERE ALL MADE FROM THE FRONT, HOWEVER NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON THE WINDSTAR. *TR

MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE RESERVOIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLEANED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. CURRENTLY, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

ABS PROBLEM. IT OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AS SOON AS WARM WEATHER STARTS. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKOUT BY SEVERAL LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY SAY IT IS A EXISTING PROBLEM WITH THE ABS UNIT. I HAVE HAD THE SWITCH ON THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED, STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. II HAVE CONTACTED FORD WITH POOR RESULTS. THEY SAY THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. *TR

WE HAVE HAD MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH OUR '03 FORD WINDSTAR. WE HAVE HAD THE POWERSTEERING PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE IS QUIT WORKING. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH ARE ALWAYS ON. WE CAN NOT ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE OF THE A/C OR HEATER. IT IS ALWAYS COLD. THE REAR AIR SELECTOR SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. THE DOME LIGHTS FLICKER FROM TIME-TO-TIME. THE REAR SPEAKERS WORK ABOUT 1/2 THE TIME. THE BRAKES SOMETIMES MAKE A GROWLING SOUND WHEN APPLIED. THE MECHANICS CAN NOT FIND THE REASON FOR THE NOISE. THE REAR DOOR INDICATOR SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. WHEN WE SHUT THE REAR HATCH (DOOR) THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT A DOOR IS STILL AJAR.*TR

MY FORD WINDSTAR HAS HAD ALL OF IT'S BRAKES REDONE TWICE BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEM. AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE ABS LIGHTS ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL COME ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAD THE BRAKES REDONE TWICE, STILL HAPPENING COME TO FIND OUT IT IS A MALFUNCTION OF ABS UNIT ITSELF. DO I HAVE TO CONTACT MY CONSUMER ADVOCATES ON THE LOCAL NEWS TO GET A RECALL STARTED BECAUSE I AM A HAIRS BREATHE AWAY FROM DOING IT. I CAN NO LONGER PUT UP WITH THESE REPAIR BILLS AS I AM ON DISABILITY FOR A BAD HEART AND THE NEWS WILL JUST EAT THIS UP! *TR

NO PROBLEMS WITH 2003 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 88,000 MILES. VEHICLE RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN TRANSMISSION WHINED AND QUIT. LEFT OCCUPANTS STRANDED. UPON ONLINE SEARCH, HUNDREDS OF ISSUES WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SAME PART. *TR

FORD WINDSTAR BRAKE, ABS BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. OUR VAN HAS HAD THIS ISSUE TWICE NOW AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ITEM AS FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES IT PRESENTS! WE ARE LOOKING FOR NHTSA TO PRESS THEM FOR A RESOLUTION WITH SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROADS AND THE NUMBER OF EVENTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES FROM THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE BURNED AND THE FUSE WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN SMOKE WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. SMOKE WAS RISING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE IF THE CONTACT HAD NOT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE WIRING HARNESS; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 03/12/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB

THE VEHICLE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT GO ON AND OFF. DIAGNOSTIC CODE OF C1185. NO VIABLE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD REGULARLY BUT WITH NO PARTICULAR PATTERN OR REASON. LOSS OF ABS BREAKS AS A RESULT. FEARFUL OF ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO ISSUE. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A CLEARCUT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITHOUT IMPACTING OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONAL ISSUE WITH INTERIOR CABIN LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS DISTRACTING AT NIGHT AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2007. I WILL NOT PAY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN MANY OF THE SAME MODELS AND IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I'VE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY I NEED TO PAY TO HAVE A MODULAR REPLACED. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT (E-BRAKE) AND ABS LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS EITHER CAUSE THE ABS TO DISABLE OR NOT DEPENDING ON WHICH MECHANIC I TALK TO. TWO MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS, AND RECENTLY I WAS DENIED AN EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO THIS (NON-EMISSION RELATED) PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL WEBSITES, THIS IS SLATED AS A _VERY_ COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED... THE DEALER WANTS OVER $1000 TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM THAT IF NOT RESOLVED, RESULTS IN INTERMITTENT ABS, OR FIRE. *TR

I AM ENTERING THIS INFO ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER, DANIEL CULLEN OF MEADVILLE PENNSYLVANIA. DAN DOES NOT REGULARLY USE THE INTERNET. HIS 2003 MODEL YEAR FORD WINDSTAR HAS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY FALL OFF DUE TO RUST. THE CAR ONLY HAD 95,802 MILES AND WAS LESS THAN 6 YEARS OLD. THE RUSTED PART IS CALLED AN ENGINE CRADLE. OTHER INSTANCES CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEB GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS. A FORD DEALER FIXED THE CAR AT OWNER EXPENSE. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT AN AIR CONDITIONING HOSE DRIPPED ON THE RUSTED PART CONTRIBUTING TO THE FAILURE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD CORPORATE HOTLINE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP MY BROTHER FINANCIALLY OR TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. MY BROTHER WAS SCHEDULED TO DRIVE THE CAR NEXT DAY 400 MILES. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED DEATH AND INJURY COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED. PLEASE SEE TO IT THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE RECALLED ASAP. A RECALL CAN BE ACHIEVED AT REASONABLE COST: FIRST INSPECT CARS AND IF NO RUST IS PRESENT AT LEAST REROUTE THE A/C DRIP LINE. IF RUST IS PRESENT, CHANGE THE ENGINE CRADLE FOR A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS. NOTE THAT THE WEB SHOWS INCIDENTS GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS, YET STILL THESE CARS ARE OUT THERE TURNING INTO TICKING TIME BOMBS IN ONLY 5 YEARS OF USE! *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR. BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON, FLUID LEAKING OUT OF BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH. FLUID WICKING DOWN TO OTHER WIRES BLOWING FUSES. ABS CONTROL UNIT WIRES SOAKED IN FLUID. POSSIBLE FIRE. ALSO ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS STICK BOTH FAIL TO UNLOCK AND FAIL TO LOCK EVEN THOUGH THE SOLENOID IS TRIGGERED. THE ACTUAL LOCK IS STICKING ON 3 OF THE FOUR DOORS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,396. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO A LOCAL PARTS STORE AND THEY PULLED THE CODES FOR ME. THE CODES CAME UP PO171 AND PO174. I THEN WENT TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE INTAKE GASKETS. I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACED. I DISCOVERED LATER THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON REPAIR FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT IS ALSO COMMON ON 1999 THROUGH 2002 WINDSTARS AND IS BELIEVED BY MANY AUTO EXPERTS TO BE RELATED TO A MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECT . *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO CHILD PROOF LOCKS; HOWEVER, THE DOOR WOULD ONLY OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. ONCE THE WINDOW WAS OPENED, IT WAS UNABLE TO BE CLOSED. THE VIN WAS VERIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO BE ENTERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 03/23/09.

I DRIVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WITHIN ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES OF STARTING THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE YELLOW ABS LIGHT, AND THE RED EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT LIGHT UP ON THE DASH. THE BRAKES STILL SEEM TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. I EVEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED OUT FINE. HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON, AND WON'T GO AWAY. *TR

WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR IN LATE 2006 TO EARLY 2007 AND NOW WE NEED TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THE 2ND TIME THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND WITHIN AND HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF THE CAR NEEDED TOWED BACK TO OUR HOUSE WHERE IT IS SITTING NOW. ANOTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE OVERHEAD LIGHT COMES ON WHENEVER IT WANTS TO AND WE LOSE THE ELECTRIC IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WHENEVER IT WANTS TO GO. AND RECENTLY THE LOCK ON THAT SAME DOOR WILL CONTINUALLY LOCK OVER AND OVER FOR ABOUT 10 TIMES AND THEN LOCKS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR VAN I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 3 YEARS AND THE ABS LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF ON MY DASH. I RAN A SYSTEM CHECK AND IT IS NOT READING THE ERROR I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE REALLY IS A DEFECT AND IF FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS . *TR

SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD,THEN AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON. AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ABS LIGHT THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE. ALSO AT THIS TIME CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ON WOULD DEACTIVATE AND BASICALLY DO WHATEVER IT WANTED. BUT WHILE ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING THERE WAS NO SMOKE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR THAT I PURCHASED AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2008 FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. IN NOVEMBER, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON THE DASH. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VAN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A TRANSMISSION REPAIR AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULE IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD AND THEY HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE BRAKES STILL FUNCTION LIKE NORMAL, BUT THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX THIS SINCE THE BRAKES WILL STILL TECHNICALLY WORK, BUT AS THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD I AM SHOCKED THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DIRECTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I WAS QUOTED $1,200 FOR THE MODULE BY THE DEALERSHIP WHICH I JUST CAN NOT AFFORD TO SPEND THE MONEY ON RIGHT NOW. I WILL SEARCH ON THE NET FOR A NEW MODULE, HOPEFULLY, AT A LOWER PRICE AND REPLACE IT MYSELF. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR PRODUCTS AND THEY SHOULD BE FORCED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF STARTING THE VAN AN DRIVING OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CONSOLE LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THERE WAS A WISP OF SMOKE FROM WITHIN THE DASHBOARD AREA, THOUGH I DIDN'T WITNESS ANY FLAMES. THE CONSOLE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. I SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED THE BATTERY IN CASE IT WAS WEAK, BUT SINCE THAT TIME THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IF THEY DO COME ON, SOMETIMES I CAN MAKE THEM TURN OFF BY TURNING THE VAN OFF AND RESTARTING IT. *TR

WE BOUGHT A USED WINDSTAR IN JULY OF 2007 HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COMING ON AT TIMES. *TR

MOISTURE ON ROAD, RED BRAKE LIGHT ON. YELLOW ABS LIGHT ON NO SPEEDOMETER , NO CRUISE CONTROL. VAN PULLS TO RIGHT WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. *TR

THE FORD WINDSTAR STOP SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. IF YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC, THIS COULD BE FATAL. *TR

IT STARTED WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTING COMING ON WHILE DRIVING ,THEN THE DASH WINDOWS ND RADIO ,BATTERY DYING AND THE OUTSIDE LIGHTING STAYING ON WHILE KEYS WERE OUT AND NOT WORKING ONCE STARTED. THEY ARE ALL HAPPENING CONSTANTLY EVEN WITH ALL THE NEW PARTS THAT THE FORD GARAGE REPLACED{BATTERY,SWITCHES,ALTERNATOR,LIGHT SOCKETS,ETC}. *TR

ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008, MY WIFE WAS HEADING HOME FROM WORK AT MIDNIGHT WHEN THE 2003 FORD WINDSTAR SHE USED LOST ALL GEARS WITHOUT NOTICE. SHE LEFT WORK AND MADE SEVERAL STOPS AT LIGHTS AND NEVER NOTICED A PROBLEM UNTIL SHE WAS AT A STOP SIGN. WHEN SHE WENT TO EXECUTE THE TURN, THE GEARS WERE GONE. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO AN EMPTY LOT FOR A TOW IN THE MORNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REGULAR SERVICE GARAGE I USE. THE PROBLEM ENDED UP BEING A FAILED SPLINE THAT STRIPPED OUT AT 52,008 MILES. THERE WAS NEVER ANY WARNING TO INDICATE A PROBLEM FOR TO TAKE PROACTIVE AND SAFE MEASURES. THE GARAGE STATED NO PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE I WOULD HAVE DONE WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FAILURE. THE RESULT WAS $1658 REPAIR TO REPLACE THE FAILED SPLINE. I'M GLAD MY WIFE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILDREN WHEN THIS COULD HAVE FAILED, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. *TR

I KEPT GETTING AN INTERMITTENT BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT THAT RESETS WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. MY MECHANIC TROUBLESHOOT IT DOWN TO THE ECM FOR THE ABS. FAILURE OF ECM IN THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. I AM SURE THEY HAVE FIXED PLENTY OF THESE BY NOW. WHY NO RECALL ON AN OBVIOUSLY BAD PART/DESIGN? *TR

2003 FORD WINDSTAR BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY. NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, I.E, DOORS NOT UNLOCKING, LOCKING FOR NO REASON. BLEND DOOR STICKING, NOT ALLOWING FOR HEAT OR DEFROSTING. *TR

IN MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR VAN FOR THE LAST 20 30 THOUSAND MILES THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY. HAD IT CHECKED AT REPAIR SHOP. THEY COULD NOT DETECT OR SIMULATE PROBLEM. QUOTED $800.00 - $1200.00 TO REPLACE SWITCHES/WIRES AS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. IN CHECKING WITH COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT, THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, LEADING TO ENGINE FIRES. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE ISSUE BEFORE MORE VEHICLES CATCH FIRE, AND SECONDLY BEFORE THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE PAY OVER $1000 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS A DEFECTIVE SYSTEM IN THE CAR. *TR