2003 FORD Windstar

The rear axle broke causing the rear driver\'s side tire to collapse. This was part of an earlier recall and the brackets that were installed did not prevent the failure of the rear axle.

Broken axle

I\'m yet another Windstar owner who took my vehicle in for the original rear axle recall in 2010 (10S13), where Ford deemed my axle safe, but installed support brackets at the stress points.

I also re-visited Ford for the secondary recall on this same issue, due to some of the repairs/brackets not being installed properly. I was told that the rear axle was fine.

Two months later (July 3, 2017), the axle fractured completely at 45MPH, which caused me to veer into oncoming traffic (luckily there was not an accident).

Ford will not offer any assistance with this issue – since I\'ve completed the original recall procedure, they consider the recall and repair to be complete.
Patently, the repair was ineffective, since my axle (and from what I\'ve seen elsewhere) still failed.

This is the official response from Ford regarding my request for assistance:

\"Gary,
You are currently outside of all warranty coverage for your concern. Being that the expriation date for this incentive has passed, we will have to agree with the decision the dealer has provided about coverage. There is no additional coverage we will be able to provide. I would recommend that you continue to work with your dealer regarding the repair. I will add these notes to your previous case.
Lauren
Ford Service Team\"

I\'ve had to repair the axle myself, since Ford would not. This issue is absolutely life-threatening and should be addressed properly, with all remaining Windstars receiving a fully replaced axle, and not a bracket/Band-Aid solution.

Axle had brackets installed by Ford of Mansfield Those brackets were inspected by Ford of Mansfield and were declared to have been installed as per Ford instruction. The axle break is obvious evidence that the brackets were not installed properly of were inadequate. Thus I believe it is more of a dealer problem. At the time I was told that the bracket fix was good I was also offered a replacement axle for $300. My poistion was that if the fix is OK, why spend $300 so I declined.

I am the owner of a 2003 Ford Windstar that I purchased on 6/29/2016, VIN#2FMDA52403BA75677. The vehicle currently has approximately 116,000 miles. I recently found out that Ford issued a recall for the rear axle (RECALL#15S27). This recall was to inspect reinforcement brackets that were done under a previous recall (RECALL#10S13).

After I found out about the recall I looked under my vehicle and noticed a crack on the left middle of the axle stemming into the left reinforcement bracket. On Wednesday, May 03, 2017 I took dropped my vehicle off at Ace Ford, 487 Mantua Ave, Woodbury, NJ 08096. Brian Bolopue, a service representative from Ace Ford called me later to inform me of the findings. He said after inspection, the reinforcement brackets were installed correctly. He claimed he had contacted Fords internal service center and send them pictures of the crack in the axel. He then informed me that there was nothing Ford or Ace Ford could do and said, Any further repairs will be the responsibility of the vehicle owner.

Going into this I was almost certain Ford would replace the rear axle at no charge, because after all, there has been 3 recalls for the same issue and obviously there is a crack in my rear axle which is a huge safety issue. I picked up my vehicle and called Ace Ford back and spoke with the service manager Steve Wingate. He claimed he was aware of the situation and nothing more could be done unless I chose to pay the repair costs. I also mentioned to Steve that his representative did not inform me that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and should leave the premises (even though its on the service invoice, I still should be notified verbally as I didnt read the paperwork until I got home). He said he would have a talk with Brian the representative and the call ended.

After that I decided to call Ford customer service directly at (866) 436-7332 as per the recall notice. After being on hold for 10 minutes I finally got to talk to someone who I thought would be able to help me. He said he would look into the situation and call Ace Ford while he put my on hold. When he came back to the phone he said the same thing that Ace Ford said, there is nothing more we can do.

I dont understand how there is nothing that can be done when the reinforcement brackets obviously were not installed correctly since there is a crack in my rear axle stemming into the bracket. This should be replaced at no charge to the owner as there was already at least one death documented due to the rear axle breaking and countless other incidents where families have been driving down the road and the rear axle snapped.

I also found out that there was an incentive program that expired on October 31, 2016 (Customer Satisfaction Program#15N02), that Ford would replace the rear axle for $300. Obviously, I was never notified of this from the time I bought the vehicle in July 2016 until now or I definitely would have had the axle replaced at $300, even though it should be replaced at no charge! I asked all three of the people I talked to above if they could extend the incentive expiration for me and they said again, there was nothing they can do.

Please help me reach out to Ford in getting this matter resolved. Any help would be greatly appreciated by not only me, but my family as well!

Rear axle broke , Ford said they would honor they towed it out there then the mechanic hit on my daughter asked for her number when denied he made several calls try in to stop the recall from being fixed even after promised spoke to manager and still confirmed they would honor the mechanic was not happy insisted on getting this throw out finally after the nav and forth of yes and no they denied lying and saying it was already previously fixed by previous owner no I just received a letter march 2017 when they denied me saying uncompleted recall and they still want me too what is going on should i tap to another Ford not to mention no offer made forvreduced price like on to web page they try charget 1400 dollars USA, not 300 but lettervsays should be free this is unacceptable I know I\\\'m being screwed and no-one at for is allowing me to see a managerv

My rear axle cracked on the way home from work. Almost lost control but was able to pull over.

Rear axle broke while driving on highway leaving car and driver stranded on bridge. Driver was very lucky not to be hurt. Car had previous recalls performed by Ford on Sept 4, 2012 as recall numbers 10S13 and 11S16, both done at same time. However axle still broke on Dec 2, 2016. Dealer indicates axle can not be replaced under recall because recall expired on Dec 31, 2015. Ford customer service gave same reply. Ford dealer in Glenn Burnie, Md. is replacing axle at an estimated $1,300.00. Problem is, the new axle will probably be the same part as the original and still poses the threat of breaking again. These cars should be recalled as several deaths have already occurred.

Bought the car used, found a huge crack in the rear axle.

I called my local Bill Brown Ford dealer at 32222 Plymouth Rd Livonia MI 48150….(734)421-7000 to schedule an appointment. I received a recall letter in Sept 2016 to recall 10s13 the rear brackets recall…. I took my vehicle back in Nov 17 2015 to have that done. Now here\'s the complaint the dealer refused to see my vehicle because he kept saying he already did the recall. How did u do this recall on the recall when I just received the letter in Sept 2016. Upon checking my receipt it is believed that they falsified what was done.

The rear axle on our 2003 Ford Windstar cracked while my daughter was driving it. Thank goodness it did not result in an accident and she was able to pull into a nearby lot. We purchased this vehicle new and it has been rusting from the inside out and now the axle. We did have the \"brackets\" placed on the vehicle, however, it appears they did not work! Ford needs to take care of this issue with its customers and needs to understand a vehicle purchase is a difficult expense for most individuals. Not only do most of us expect the vehicle to last, but we do not expect to be in danger because of negligence and cost-cutting measures that save them money, while screwing the consumer financially. This is completely unacceptable and I can only hope for the sake of all the consumers that have been affected by this negligence, there is serious consideration given to the litigation of this issue on behalf of hard-working people.

This is the 2nd. time that the Front spring has broke!! The 1st. time my daughter was taking my 3 little grandkids to school when it broke on the left front side!! She had it repaired by someone who wasn’t a Ford mechanic ! Now it happened on the right side after just getting off the Freeway & parking in front of my house & when we were getting the grandkids out of the van there was a small boom & smoke from under the van, we quickly got the kids out & away from the van !!! My husband a retired & Disabled Mech. looked @ it & the spring had broke & hit the tire, because there was NO guard to protect the tire !!!!!!!!! We had it to get it towed !!! We & our daughter CANNOT afford to get it fixed, because we are Disabled & on a fixed income & my daughter is a Single Mom of 3 & CAN NOT afford it either !!! And I called ford motor co. & got rude people & the run around & I have called them like 4 to 6 times & they gave me a case # CAS_7800043. I have called some many agencies & they all say they are getting so many of the same problem, but Ford will NOT back their workmanship!!!! PLEASE HELP us because now I have been taking my daughter to work & dropping the grandkids off @ daycare, but now school is starting & I have to drop my daughter off @ work @ 6am, then drop the 3yearold off @ daycare & the 6 & 8 year olds off @ school then pick them all up & I’m Disabled & my Drs. said that it would be too much for me to do & put Too much stress on my Heart !!! SO PLEASE Help !!!!!

THIS 2003 FORD WINDSTAR IS WHAT YOU CALL THE FLINTSTONES MYSTERY VAN..DONT DARE LEAVE THE SIDE DOOR OPEN TOO LONG..WAIT ALL MY GAUGES ARE ERRATICLY HYPER MOVING..OH GEEZ..NOT TO MENTION THREE BATTERIES AND THREE ALTANATORS..YOU GOTTA SLAP THE DASH ABOVE THE STEERING TO ADJUST IT..SERIOUSLY WHAT AUTO MAKER WOULD MAKE A VAN LIKE THIS..I CALL THAT LAZY TO PRODUCT CHECKED AND QUALITY CONTROL..IVE HAD THIS VAN ALWAYS WORRIED HOW FAR TO THE NEXT MILE..FORD YOU KNOW WE PUT CHILDREN IN THESE VANS YOU BUILT AND MY KNOWLEDGE ITS A UNSAFE VAN PERIOD..AND DONT FORGET THE ELDERLY..WHAT CAN YOU FIX IN MY VAN..OH I KNOW THERES NOTHING WE CAN DO..JUST LIKE YOUR DETROIT OFFICE TOLD ME

Transmission jerks when shifting. Driver side seat belt module defective. Will not shut of dash airbag light. Power slide doors do not work properly. Often return to open without closing. Paint is fading significantly. CD player would not play. Jammed, it appears. Front brake rotors defective and were replaced. Airbag light stays on. Said attributed to defective drivers side seat belt module Would not repair. Wanted $200 Can not believe this much is happening all at one time. Ford needs to pay attention to critical issues like defective ABS module that I also have.

We bought our Windstar in 2006. Within the year we had to have the transmission replaced with the extended warranty we added to our loan. That transmission also failed we again had it replaced at the cost of $2960.06 on 4-20-09. Seemed to do ok for the next couple of years and then on 2-04-11 it failed again. Our mechanic said this was due to water in our transmission. Jasper Transmission replaced it both times in 09 and 11 as it was under warranty. Upon further investigating both the trans co and mechanic found that there was a service bulletin on 2003 Ford Windstars for the vent tube which has been allowing water to enter into the transmissions and causing them to fail. I have personally contacted Ford about this within the last couple of months. They refuse to fix this problem saying there is no recall on this issue as it is not a safety issue and there is only a service bulletin in which they are not required to fix the issue. The local Ford Dealer has said that they will fix the vent tube for $180, however this is not getting our transmission replaced. As you can see we have had 3 transmissions put into this vehicle and are having to replace it a 4th time. I have contacted at least 3 complaint lines including the NHTSA and still have not heard anything. I would like to get this issue resolved as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Natalie Miller

Total transmission failure at 65000 miles with no warning signs. The vehicle ran perfectly until one day the transmission would not engage.

Trasnsmission failure without warning. I was traveling on highway at 70mph and tranmission completely disengaged without warning. V

Without warning, my van stopped moving. The engine continued to run, but I could not go forward or reverse. In my panic, I realized there was a service garage a little down the road. I went to them and they towed it and replaced the transmission. Ford said that because it wasn’t “reviewed by a Ford dealership they didn’t have the opportunity to inspect the vehicle and determine what was wrong.” Any work done else where was now my financial responsibilty. The mechanic was more than willing to talk to someone from Ford. But that didn’t matter to them. He also said it should never have happened to vehicle with only 50,000+ miles.

Vehicle stalls for no apparent reason. Usually happens when air conditioning is on in the front & back (ie. in hot weather). Electrical light goes on.

This van has been service faithfully and will taken care of. Driving on interstate the van shifted out of gear and would not go at all. Had to be towed in. Will not buy any more American made autos.

This is per our phone conversation of December 29th. In November 2002, 6 weeks after taking delivery of our Ford Windstar Sport van, we were driving on the highway when the right passenger window exploded. Shattered into millions of pieces with a loud explosion, and glass blew into the van. Dealership fixed window. They concluded that a stone hit the window. Extreme trauma caused to small children and passengers of vehicle at time of explosion. Regardless, this past December 27th, we were travelling approximately 10 mph while in a 90 degree left turn (11:00 p.m., no cars around) the rear window exploded. This time there were pieces of charred, burnt glass mixed in with the millions of tiny ones like before. The rear defog has been activated 40 minutes earlier when we got in the vehicle. It was a warm night, not hot, not cold. Considering we live in Oakville, the home of the Ford plant of Canada, many people here work for Ford. The rear defog is supposed to turn off when it reaches a certain temperature. Before taking the vehicle to the dealership, I kept some of the burnt glass. Dealership is now saying a stone must have hit us AGAIN. They have simply replaced the glass in the rear and are trying to give us the vehicle back. I am refusing to take it. Ford Canada seems disintered in the fact that there may be a wiring problem, and deemed the vehicle safe…over the phone. I have small children that ride in the car, and we got such a ‘superior’ vehicle simply to ensure the safety of our children. I want Ford or the dealership to replace the vehicle since I have lost total security and confidence in it. Wondering if you have ever heard of anything similar. I realize I have a huge battle on my hands, and any information you have for me would be greatly appreciated.

There is a problem with Electrical-headlights came on as vechile started,dash indicator lights stayed on. Now the headlights are off and speedometer and indicator lights do not work. Disconnected and hooked battery back up and horn blew. No communication to instrument cluster. Dealer thought he had problem fixed. $200 only to get home and have the same problems. Took back to dealer and thought the cluster panel would have to be replaced at $500. It has been a month and the car is still at the dealers waiting for a part from Ford. Called Ford only to be told the cluster panel was on back order which indicates to me that Ford has had to replace a lot of these panels and they have no idea when it would be available.

Purchased vehicle 10/17pm with 50 miles registered on odometer. Driving the car home from King’s Ford, the engine light came on and the shifting was rough upon starting and stopping the car. The overdrive light was also flashing on and off. 10/18 AM, the Windstar was taken back to King’s Ford service where 2 diagnostic checks showed transmission trouble.

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRING OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN WE WERE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE IMPACT WAS ON THE PASSAGE SIDE BACK WHEEL AND CAUSED OUR MINIVAN TO ROLL OVER. 1. THE PASSAGE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOYED, CAUSING ME SUGNIFICANT ELBOW INJURIES2. THE LATCHES THAT CONNECT THE REAR SEATS TO THE FLOOR RELEASED AND THE MIDDLE ROW SEATS WERE FLYING INTO THE VEHICLE.

Head gasket problem. Windstar is a 1995 model, has 61,000 miles on it. Ford will not cover the repairs, saying we are past the 7 years limit, though by 30 days. The car is well below the 100,000 mile coverage. It is going to cost me $1,400 to get it fixed.

Transmission would shift hard into first and second gears. Eventually was taking off and transmission acted as if in neutral and connot shift into gears 1 & 2 and acts as neutral in others gears.

The problem of unexplained acceleration continues to plague this vehicle, for the five years I’ve owned it. The idle control valve has been replaced three times, and the fourth replacement is due now. I can be driving in a 35 mph zone and this mini van is going 30 to 35 mph with my foot off the gas pedal. As I’m very concerned about a sudden bolt I put the emergency brake on before putting it in ‘park’ gear. Sometimes the engine will go up to 2000 RPM’s. I really don’t know what to do with this car; suppose I will try contacting Ford and prepare myself for alot of ‘it’s the consumer’s fault’ excuses.

The paint is peeling on the roof and above the sliding doors.

My daughter was driving my Windstar when the front wheels went in both directions, the sub-frame that holds the lower control arm broke ,it appears that the metal is too thin, I have photos as proff , I am getting estimates from several places, Ford dealer(Napleton Ford Liberttyville , IL) says just to replace the sub-frame will cost $1200. plus they cannot give me an accurate estamite with out seeing the car, but I have a limited budget. having worked in cars for 35+ years this looks like a factory defect to me. Napleton Ford said the have one that will be scraped because the damage repairs will be more than the viechele

I bought a used 2003 Ford Windstar with no warranty, after checking Consumer Reports for reliability problems (none were reported). After three months of owning it, the vehicle starting showing automatic transmission problems. It would: 1) give a hard "kick" when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear; 2) a lesser "kick" when going from 2nd to 3rd; 3) the o/d would not stay on; 4) it would over-rev when climbing hills (even small hills), and 5) on smooth pavement, it would make sounds like driving over corduroy roads. I took it to the mechanic who has worked on my cars for years — he is a Ford certified master mechanic who opened his own repair facility several years ago. When he hooked his diagnostic computer up, it couldn’t get a reading. So he went online and contacted Ford several times, but never got a reply. Then he checked Edmunds, and got a string of many owner complaints. He tried changing the selenoids and other devices within the tranny, but wasn’t able to get the problem(s) resolved. He kept doggedly working, however, to solve the problems. Then I happened to ask a friend who works (not as a mechanic) at a Ford dealer if he could find out what to do. His answer was, "You didn’t hear this from me, but that year model has a large number of transmission problems." I reported this to my mechanic, who started calling his old contacts within Ford. One of them told him, "Ford engineers made a huge mistake. All Windstars from 2000 through 2009 have transmission problems." When asked why Ford had not issued a recall, his friend said, "Because we don’t know how to fix it." As of now, we have spent over $1,500 with no success. Can you please look into this?

I bought a new 2003 Ford Windstar Van. Within the warrenty time I had paint bubbling and rusting within the bottom of the doors. It was repainted twice. Unfortunately the warrenty expired , and I continued to get more rust on the van. I have had bubbling of the paint up around the fender on the driver rear wheel and lower passenger rear fender. I have been very disappointed in my purchase. I have been informed of a Ford technical service bulletin that shows a major paint defect on many 2000-20005 Ford vehicles regarding bubbling and blistering under the paint due to iron contamination of the aluminum panel. I would greatly appreciate your support and direction in how to correct this problem.

Consumer 2003 windstar interior light blinks on and off while driving and sometimes will stay. *ts the consumer was told a part called a gem module could replaced. *jb

I was in an accident on monday, april 5th while driving down the expressway at 60 mph when a 3x5 metal structure flew off a flat bed and struck my front and front end of my vehicle. (4000k worth of damage) and my airbad only deployed a small amount not all the way.*ak

Was on the street driving, lights started flashing on dashboard van shut off in the middle of the street battery, alternator, blew out, was driving again van was ilde up really bad and while my feet was on the brakes it started moving on its own and ran into someone else vehicle, and also van was on the road started running bad broke down on a busy street once i was pushed to a safe location all my fluids were on the ground and the van was smoking really bad and lights on dashboard were flashing.

I was driving on a city street going about 30 miles an hour the van filled with smoke when i came to a stop i looked under the car and the back axle was broke i had it towed to the ford dealership and they said it would cost $3200 to fix it they said it didn’t fall under the recall they had for the back axle breaking

My back axle its rusted and its cracked.the mechanic mention this is very dangerous if it breaks while driving.while the mechanic replaced my fuel pump he noticed this issue.

The rear axle or metal brackets on my vehicle snapped while i braked for another vehicle approaching. i had the metal on my axle welded to fix the problem temporarily that is because it is currently broke again. i believe there is a recall for this specific problem.

I own a ford windstar '03. starting in may 2007, at about 45,600 miles, my brake light and abs light are illuminated. the code read by the mechanic from the computer is c1185. nearly every time i use the car since, the lights come on within a few minutes of turning on the ignition. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that after the vehicle has been driven 1 to 10 miles, the brake and abs lights illuminate and remain lit until the vehicle is shut off. the dealer has not been notified and the vehicle has not been repaired. the speed was unknown. the current mileage was 46,000 and failure mileage was 45,000. updated 12/12/07 *bf updated 12/12/07 *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while the vehicle was at the dealer for inspection per nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension), the technician diagnosed that the rear axle was corroded and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not completely repaired at the time of the complaint. the vehicle was previously repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 12v194000 (suspension). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 109,000.

2003 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to rear axle reinforcement brackets recall notice repair issues. *smd the consumer stated the dealer performed a visual check of the vehicle, but nothing was replaced. *jb

2003 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to rear axle reinforcement brackets recall notice repair issues. *smd the consumer was informed the brackets were installed correctly. however, there was a crack in the axle. *jb

Takata recall, received safety recall notice 15s27 from ford motor company, stating that rear axle reinforcement brackets may have been installed improperly and may result in complete rear axle fracture and an increased risk of crash. i have taken my windstar in for the inspection and they are telling me the rear axle does need replaced but it will cost me $300, my concern with this is if it is a "safety recall" why should i have to pay out of my pocket.

2003 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to dealership refuses to repair axle recall notice until consumer pays for a new $300 axle replacement. *smd the consumer stated the dealer installed the brackets at no charge. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while in park, the steering wheel seized. as a result, the contact was unable to steer the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine cradle had corroded and needed to be replaced. the mechanic also stated that the cradle was previously glued. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 121,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 20 mph, the power steering failed. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to a local garage and the mechanic stated that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the contact was seeking reimbursement for out of pocket expenses. the failure mileage was 130,000.

Abs and brake alarm lights illuminate on the dashboard after a few minutes of driving and stay on until the engine is shut off. this has been happening for several months. i suspect this indicates a problem that disables the abs braking system. diagnostic scanner shows at least 12 stored faults in the abs system which cannot be erased.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the rear axle on the vehicle was defective. the dealer stated that the vehicle had already been repaired per a previous recall regarding the rear axle. the contact inquired about reimbursement eligibility for the repairs. the nhtsa campaign number and failure mileage were not provided.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving various speeds, the vehicle began to swerve uncontrollably. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was confirmed that the axle fractured and needed to be repaired. the vehicle was not repaired. prior to the failure, the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the vehicle was taken to be inspected; however, the technician stated that the axle did not need to be repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while the vehicle was at the dealer being repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the technician diagnosed that the rear track bar was corroded and needed to be replaced before the repair could be completed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 140,000.

When driving the abs light and red brake light come on together. my van has 77,483 actual miles on it! i had a brake check at local ford dealer and they reported 80% brake lining still on,

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 65 mph, the vehicle independently veered to the left. the contact was able to stop the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the subframe was corroded and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 129,000.

My local bill brown ford at 32222 plymouth rd livonia mi 48150 (734)421-7000 falsified that they replaced a recall on my vehicle. while driving u can hear a noise coming from the rear.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while the vehicle was stationary, the bolts on the bracket of the rear axle became loose. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the failure mileage was 131,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the rear axle was fractured, even though the reinforcement brackets were on correctly. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the failure mileage was 220,000. updated 01/11/2017*ct *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 25 mph, the rear driver side axle fractured. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle beam was fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 146,000.

Vehicle was in motion at 45mph when the rear axle fractured completely, causing me to veer into oncoming traffic (luckily there was no accident). vehicle had previously been in for initial rear axle recall in 2010 (10s13), where support brackets were placed on existing axle. revisited the dealer for the secondary recall in 2017, and was once again assured that the axle was good. axle broke two months later (07/03/17). ford will offer no assistance and considers my recall complete since they put brackets on the axle. this defect is life-threatening. ford's "bracket" solution does not work - there are many others like me who have had the axles fail after this 'repair'. the only solution is to replace all of the axles completely. put simply - as these vehicales continue to age and the axles rust further, this defect will eventually result in deaths.

Abs and brake warning lights come on simutainously and the abs system fails to operate.. this is an intermittant problem.. when the vehicle is turned off, the system resets. it happens when the vehicle is under motion and can be under any conditions...

While driving at night on the interstate or any other road, the headlights suddenly went off for about 10 seconds. i heard a clicking sound under the left side of the dash like the sound of a relay engaging. this happened several times. i had the battery replaced and it was ok for about 2-3 weeks then started again. driving during the day w/no lights on the a/c blower motor suddenly stopped working and then re-started. this also happened several times. i heard the clicking under the dash at that time too. i took the van to the ford dealer. they kept it for 5 days and found nothing. i was at church and came out to leave. i started the van and the wipers came on by themselves on intermittent and would not shut off no matter what i did. i turned the van off when i got home and the next time i started it the wipers were off. i was driving down the road with the a/c on and the blower motor suddenly stopped working again and also the radio, power windows, and power locks. again i heard the relay clicking sound. it stayed off for about 10 minutes and came on long enough to open the windows (it was 92 degrees outside). a couple of minutes later it went off again and stayed off for the rest of the day and most of the next. when i noticed a storm coming, i went out and started the van. thank god the a/c, radio, windows, and locks were working at that time so that i could shut the windows. i drove it to work the next day and all was working. i left the van with my boss (he's a mechanic) so that he can take a look at it. my rear axle was replaced under recall about 16 months ago. i'm frustrated with this problem. i bought the van used in july of 2015. it has meticulous service records and has been great up until this year. ford really needs to do something about this.

On 20jun2017, the rear axle broke. as part of a ford recall, the axle had reinforcement brackets installed by (graham) ford of mansfield. those brackets were inspected by (graham) ford of mansfield in 2015 and were declared to have been installed as per ford motor company instructions and, as a consumer, i believe i had the right to assume that therefore the axle was safe. the axle break is obvious evidence that the brackets were either not installed properly or were inadequate. thus i believe that the problem is more with the dealer not being competent to recognize the dangerous corrosion that had happened. of course, in ohio, where the law requires that vehicles be sold through dealers, the dealer acts as an agent for the manufacturer. in 2015, at the time of the inspection, i was told that the bracket fix was good but then i was also offered a replacement axle for a total cost to me of $300. my position was that either the axle was good and safe or it was not good and not safe and in that case a replacement axle should have been installed. so why should i spend $300 for an axle that was safe so i declined. in retrospect, the fix obviously was not safe.

Anti-lock braking system control module failure at 102,000 miles. appears to be a continuing trend with various ford models, and repair is expensive; approximately $2,000. if abs control module is failing, abs no longer works. doubt accuracy of abs warning light to provide adequate warning.

I am the owner of a 03 ford windstar that i purchased on june 2016. it has 116,000 miles. i recently found out that ford issued a recall for the rear axle #15s27. this recall was to inspect reinforcement brackets that were done under a previous recall #10s13. after i found out about the recall i looked under my vehicle and noticed a crack on the left middle of the axle stemming into the left “reinforcement bracket”. on wednesday, may 03, 2017 i took dropped my vehicle off at ace ford, woodbury, nj 08096. a service representative from ace ford called me later to inform me of the findings. he said after inspection, the reinforcement brackets were installed correctly. he claimed he had contacted ford’s internal service center and send them pictures of the crack in the axel. he then informed me that there was nothing ford or ace ford could do and said, “any further repairs will be the responsibility of the vehicle owner”. going into this i was almost certain ford would replace the rear axle at no charge, because after all, there has been 3 recalls for the same issue and obviously there is a crack in my rear axle which is a huge safety issue. i picked up my vehicle and called ace ford back and spoke with the service manager. he claimed he was aware of the situation and nothing more could be done unless i chose to pay the repair costs. i also mentioned to him that his representative did not inform me that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and should leave the premises (even though it’s on the service invoice, i still should be notified verbally as i didn’t read the paperwork until i got home). after that i decided to call ford customer service directly as per the recall notice. he said he would look into the situation and call ace ford while he put my on hold. when he came back to the phone he said the same thing that ace ford said, “there is nothing more we can do”.

Transmission just started slipping out of nowhere , stopped for a red light put in nuetral light turns green and i put it into drive and start to roll the van wouldnt budge looked out the window and leaking alot of transmission fluid . parked it in nearby parking lot added tranny fluid still not drivable and wont move in any gear.

2003 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to reimbursement for vehicle repair. *ld the consumer stated the safety recall 15s27 was improperly completed. the axle cracked, the installed bracket and axle completely rusted through. the failure happened while the vehicle was being driven. *js

The passenger side sub frame has rusted through. the dealer had done the recall repair and still right in the spot of the repair the sub frame cracked and split. ford says there is nothing they can do even though this is a known issue and their repair didn't resolve the issue.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving, the rear axle failed. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the bracket fractured and caused the rear axle to fail. the vehicle was serviced per nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 130,000. the vin was not available.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving various speeds and while stationary, the hazard lights flashed and would not turn off. the contact stated that the turn signals could not be used due to the involuntary flashing of the hazard lights. in addition, the abs and brake warning indicators illuminated without warning. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failures. the failure mileage was 90,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 15 mph, the contact heard a scraping sound from underneath the vehicle and the rear passenger tire blew out. the contact noticed that the rear axle had fractured, which caused the tires to fail. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or mechanic. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension), but the vehicle had not been serviced. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Replaced water pump had started for about 10 minutes shut off tried to start it the next day avert nothing no clicking or humming or anything all the dashboard lights came on even i tried to start it and threw headlights are really bright but however they do not come on when i try and start my van there is a very faint clicking noise coming from the fuse box inside the van. when i realized my water pump wad about to go out because it was trickling from the waterpump so i bring it home after dropping my sister off pull in my driveway shut it off bring my things inside hip back out with my fiance and it had done leaked every bit of antifreeze out of it and it's been sitting since july 10 2017 only started once for 10 minutes shut it off ance tried to start it again an nothing it wouldn't even start with a jump

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving in reverse, both rear tires collapsed into the frame of the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the morristown ford dealer (located at 1112 w morris blvd, morristown, tn 37813) where it was diagnosed that the brackets were improperly installed. another technician inspected the vehicle and stated that the brackets were installed correctly. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the diagnostic and repair fees. the contact was informed to take the vehicle off their property because the vin was not included in a recall. the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the manufacturer stated that there was an open recall on the bracket that was improperly installed. the manufacturer sent an email to the morris dealer regarding the bracket failure. the approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

While driving the abs and brake warning lights come on at the same time

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving various speeds, the rear axle fractured. as a result of the axle failure, the rear driver side tire failed. the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was confirmed that the rear axle fractured. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 180,000. updated 11/01/16*lj

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while the vehicle was undergoing routine maintenance, the technician informed the contact that the rear axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension); however, the vin was not included. the failure mileage was 116,949. updated 11/29/16*lj *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while the vehicle was parked, it idled at an accelerated rate. in addition, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle accelerated independently. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the tp sensor and multiple other parts needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken back to a dealer who was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 48,000.

My abs lights and traction control warning lights come on and abs system seems to be engaged when no braking is happening. when brakes are engaged the braking seems to take a lot longer. abs module has defective solder joints causing many system failures. failure happens when stationary.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the front passenger wheel separated from the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 11v030000 (structure). the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the failure was included in the recall; however, the dealer refused to perform the repair due to the manufacturer's refusal to perform the repair. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 119,863. updated 10/18/16*lj *tr

Abs light. took my 2003 windstar with only 74,000 miles on it to an auto parts store to get codes as to explain the redundant abs light. there were at least 12 codes all pointing back to the abs module. this issue with the abs has been on going for 2+ years.

I was driving at hwy speed and rpm's went up and car slowed down.stopped and tried shifting gears no luck/movement.had car towed.transmission wiped out second time in 14 months.ford needs to step up.

Abs and brake light remain on constantly.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic for a routine inspection and it was noticed that the rear axle had extensive rust and corrosion. the part needed to be replaced. the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign numbers: 15v608000 (suspension), 12v195000 (suspension), 12v194000 (suspension), and 10v385000 (suspension). the manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no solution. the failure mileage was not available.

Wife driving down street when she hit a bump in the road and the rear axle broke.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure. parts distribution disconnect.

Ford had a recall real axel and they don't want to fix it

When i was pulling out of a parking lot onto a busy highway i could smell rubber burnig and i heard and felt a big loud bang,.then there was smoke all around van.it was the rear axle/ sub-frame fracture and yes there were recalls and work was done by ford dealer thank god me and my children were not hurt or killed this was very scary..

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 65 mph, a clunking noise was heard and the contact lost control of the vehicle. the failure occurred without warning. the contact pulled over to the side of the road. the vehicle was towed to a tire shop where it was diagnosed that the rear axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. the contact received a recall notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension), but the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 140,000.

I was informed of a recall to the rear axle on my 2003 ford windstar, i took the van into the dealer and had the inspection done as well as the brackets installed. ( 15s27). the van was then parked for approx 5 months after the procedure was done as i was given a company vehicle. i was then let go from my job and began to drive the old trusty van that we have around. 2 weeks into driving it on a regular basis i began to smell an odor of burning rubber. nursed the van home and began to attempt to diagnose the problem. changed the wheel bearing on the drivers rear as i thought that was the problem. got it all back together and found out i still had the same problem. had aaa tow the vehicle to the dealer where they informed me that now my axle was broken, and by the way the recall was now over and i would be required to pay 1150.00 for a new one. this vehicle was never correctly inspected to identify this problem, it was just shuffled through and now nobody will stand up and make the repair. i have been cheated by the system. i do not believe this is fair nor do i believe it was ever done correctly. *tr

While the 2003 ford windstar van was being operated and in motion, the vehicle's steering became uncontrollable and subsequently inoperable, leading to a breakdown in the roadway.

Rear axle cracked. unable to drive without risking it breaking in half.

The rear axle on my vehicle cracked and caused my tires to rub against my vehicle, damaging brand new tires. when bringing the vehicle to the shop, was told that a patch had previously been made on the vehicle, but it was done badly and did not hold. ford would do nothing to right this and denied that there was a recall on the vehicle. i was driving to school while this occurred on city streets. *tr

The abs and parking brake light come on after driving. the only way to clear the lights is to turn off the vehicle and turn this back on. the lights will eventually come back. the concern is are the brakes actually having an issue. system has been given an overhaul: pads, rotors, new master cylinder, brake fluid bleed and refill, and the issue persists. no none fixes from mechanic.

Driving home from work when my rear axle cracked. almost lost control of the vehicle but was able to pull over.

I own a 2003 ford windstar lx. it was at the mechanic for some repairs and he pointed out the issue with my rear axle being cracked and corroded. which its very dangerous to keep driving like this. *ln*jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving 55 mph, the vehicle failed to respond with the accelerator pedal depressed. the contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent dealer to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the torque convertor, filter, and the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not informed of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 172,000.

Purchased used 2003 ford windstar..in 2005 ..with 30,000 miles ..now has 107,000 miles...around town driving...got recalls..brought vehicle in to dealer for rear axle fix.inspected twice..after ......brackets installed to stabilize axle were initially installed told if axle was bad , ford would replace..did not replace. benteler axle whole problem from start.weak metal subject to fatigue .brackets were a band-aid.actually may have made problem worse.......axle snapped while driving ast low speed..and while turning........

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle a clunking noise was present coming from under the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered that the sub frame had cracked and separated due to rust and corrosion. the vehicle had previously been repaired under a related recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 236,000. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 35 mph, the driver heard a squeaking noise. the vehicle was pulled over and the driver noticed that the rear axle was cracked without warning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who advised that there was a recall. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the axle did not crack "in the right place" and was not covered by the recall. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stood by the dealer's decision. the failure was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 35 mph, the rear axle cracked without warning. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 217,000.

In sept 2016, i received a recall notice in the mail from ford to re-inspect a previous recall repair for my rear axle from 2012. it stated that repairs would be made free of charge if defects were found in the repairs. it also stated that if i chose to do so, even if the repairs "passed", i could replace the axle for $300. since i worked in ky from feb through oct, i scheduled the inspection after returning home in nov, but did not actually get an appointment until dec 6th. as a result of the recall inspection on dec 6th, the dealer stated that the repairs were made correctly, but there were cracks in the axle. they stated it would cost $1,100 to repair if i chose. since i was not told it was a safety hazard and was presented to me as "optional", i did not repair. when i went to inspect the van for annual pa inspection on jan 5th, i was informed that it would not pass because of the cracked axle. they showed me the axle, and it is cracked the entire length on both sides. i went to speak with the nazareth ford customer service staff on jan 6th, and they told me there is nothing they can do and i should call ford directly. i called ford directly on jan 6th and they told me they can't do anything because the "allowable timeframe" ending oct 31st has passed. another call to the nazareth ford service manager on jan 6th yielded no progress. i can't believe that ford can get away with creating a safety hazard like this, not reveal how serious the situation is, and expecting a consumer to drop what they are doing to deal with a "fire sale" approach to repair in a 2 month window. they are the people with the faulty part, the faulty repair, and the misleading "successful" inspection, not the consumer. my axle was fine until they put their repair brackets on. i bought this vehicle brand new, and it has been garage kept. this vehicle has 107,200 miles on it.

Takata recall uncontrollable driving with steering rear end fishtailing. *tr

Our engine cradle recently broke and needs to be replaced. we just found out this falls under recall number 15v608 (ford recall # 15s27). we would like this to be resolved at little or no cost to us, but we are unsure how to start the process with a recall.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving over bumps in the road, a clunking noise was present coming from the rear of the vehicle. the cause of the failure was not diagnosed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was previously repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the failure mileage was 144,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 5 mph and making a right turn, the rear axle suddenly fractured. the cause of the failure was not diagnosed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was previously repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension). during the repair, brackets were installed to prevent the failure from recurring. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 120,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 35 mph, the abs, engine, and brake warning indicators illuminated. the failures recurred numerous times. the dealer diagnosed that the abs failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while attempting to turn into the driveway, the contact heard a clunking noise and a snap. the vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic who stated that the subframe fractured and the tie rod snapped. the vehicle was not drivable. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was invalid. the approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

2003 ford windstar rear axle broke while driving on highway leaving car and driver stranded on bridge. driver was very lucky not to be hurt. car had previous recalls performed by ford on sept 4, 2012 as recall numbers 10s13 and 11s16, both done at same time. however these recalls were not effective as axle still broke on or about dec 2, 2016. dealer indicates axle can not be replaced under recall because recall expired on dec 31, 2015. ford customer service gave same reply. ford dealer in glenn burnie, md. is replacing axle at an estimated $1,300.00. problem is, the new axle will probably be the same part as the original and still poses the threat of breaking again. these cars should be recalled as several deaths have already occurred. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while the vehicle was being driven, a burning rubber odor and loud noise were present. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle fractured. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was not eligible for repair per nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension) because the brackets were not installed properly in 2011. the failure mileage was 130,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph, an abnormal sound was heard coming from the passenger’s side rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to taylor ford located at 13500 telegraph rd, taylor, mi 48180, to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the suspension bracket was rusted and fractured from the axle. the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but, provided no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

I contacted this agency previously regarding the failure of the rear axle in detail. this note is sent to further explain the failure of ford, garlitch ford, and the nhtsa to properly assure me that the vehicle was repaired adequately. it was not. i removed the useless brackets garlitch ford installed under your and ford's direction, and the recall 10s13 was not performed properly. i have the evidence. i'd like to know what is the point in a recall when absolutely nobody will stand behind it? we may as well just ignore them all in that case. so to explain the problem, per the instructions for the recall the technician was supposed to remove all undercoat/paint/e-coat from areas specified to the base metal in order to inspect the axle for cracks. this was not done. original e-coat is clearly visible in the photos. so the inspection of the axle was not done properly. i cant say i am surprised. then, since the axle passed the improperly performed inspection, they installed the atrociously "designed" brackets to the axle. again, the instructions say to remove all paint, undercoating, or e-coat from the axle to bare metal, as the epoxy or adhesive or whatever it is will not adhere to anything but bare metal. this was not done either, obviously. i did not take this in for recall 15s27 as there was no point. the only concern of that recall was to make sure the spacing from the axle weld to the bracket was within specification, and it was. autonation ford of tustin confirmed that. however, this recall does not tell anyone if the original recall was done properly and if these were actually supposed to add structural strength to the axle they could not have in my case and would have contributed to its ultimate failure given that they were not properly attached. step up and get ford to cover this failure. ford is blaming the "independently owned" dealer. what a joke.

Although my van has been through all recall repairs/inspections as i pulled into my local gas station today my rear axle broke.*dt vehicle was towed to closest dealership (dave knapp ford lincoln) where it was determined that the vehicle had passed inspection during the recall. as vehicle was being towed consumer noticed that the left bracket appeared to be placed incorrectly. *dl

My axel cracked on left side, noise alerted me to the danger. career mechanic, never seen a rusted out or cracked rear axle. i also worked out of my home on cars running my own shop for decades. again i have never changed a cracked rear axle. the first recall was in my opinion only a poor attempt at postponing the inevitable axel failure to a later date. not a normal failure for a supposed name brand leading automotive maker. ford’s latest ad on tv said something like they care about their customers at the end of the ad, what a joke, false advertising or should my claim for $1,420.28 be paid and show they care? the original axel was in my opinion a bit thin and i read that the metal was not the best on a few web sites. also filling the hollow areas for the axle assembly with foam only retained water and accelerated rusting which of course only weakens a bad axel design. the new design rear axle is definitely heavier, no foam and has no open areas to hold water. the new design seems to have addressed all the original axle’s design flaws. which shows ford did know there were design flaws. jannell ford of hanover mass (781-982-4500) contacted ford with my shock that axel would not be replaced under warranty even after seeing the supporting pictures; ford would not repair the axel on second recall even though severely cracked! they said the first recall brackets were installed correctly. jannell ford service management agreed that our van was in pristine shape, rust free and well cared for. please see remainder of my letter in download files. thank you!

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact called on behalf of the driver. the contact stated that while the driver was driving approximately 45 mph, an odor of burning rubber was present. after stopping the vehicle it was discovered that the rear passenger side wheel and tire was rubbing against the wheel well. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the passenger side rear axle had failed. the mechanic also indicated that the failure had occurred on a previously repaired recall nhtsa campaign number: 12v193000 (power train). the local dealer krapohl ford & lincoln (1415 e pickard rd, mt pleasant, mi 48858) was notified of the failure. the manufacturer was not yet contacted. the failure mileage was 110,000.

It has an electrical problem. needs wiring harness, needs front and real axle replacement. dangerous. alarm goes off at random. won't hold charge. steering wheel bearings are shot. *tr

I was driving down the road on a city street at 35 mph and the rear axle broke on the driver side underneath the recall bracket installed by ford. recall 10s13 was performed on this vehicle in 2008 or 2009. the brackets were installed as specified by ford and obviously were inadequate to fix or prevent the problem from the original recall. ford should never have been allowed to get away with this poorly designed and executed repair to the axle. the vehicle was recently at a ford dealer that verified that the brackets were installed correctly per 15s27 and ford denied covering any of the repair cost. i have background study as a structural engineer (i'm a licensed civil engineer) and i used to work in an automotive parts and machine shop. given my experience, if you refer to 10s13 there is a location on the axle referred to as a "tooling hole" on page 18 that should have been used if ford ever intended these repair brackets to do anything useful. i cant imagine any engineer designed these things and disregarded the obvious, tying the load to this hole. i have the vehicle back and i've used this hole on both sides to pull the axle back together and make it at least movable until the new part arrives, so not only does it make sense structurally, but it works physically as well. why the nhtsa would allow ford to call this a fix and make these vehicles acceptable to drive is beyond me. the axle also has a horizontal crack in the middle, its been there since the brackets were installed. i do not believe ford has been honest or useful in taking care of this problem on these vehicles, and it appears the nhtsa is backing them on it. curious how a recall for a cracking problem is not resolved but its not their responsibility? i would say at this point in time, there was no point in any of the recall work as nothing was fixed. failure is identical to pre-recall. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated the vehicle was previously included in a recall regarding the cradle sub frame assembly, for which the vehicle was repaired. the contact stated that shortly after the recall repair, while idle and during acceleration that the vehicle would vibrate. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and after examining the vehicle, the mechanic became aware that the rear axle and sub frame was rusted which caused the traction contrail to fail. the contact contacted other certified mechanics who confirmed the sub frame and rear axel housing assembly needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

The rear axle on my father-in-law's minivan snapped in half, even though the brackets for the first recall were installed and the brackets were then inspected and signed off on during the second recall. both recalls were signed off as completed and safe but while driving 45 mph, with four small children in the car, the axle snapped in half. we've reached out to both ford directly and the dealerships and no one will assist. clearly the brackets were not an acceptable fix for this highly dangerous issue. four children could have been hurt or even killed due to ford's negligence to properly address this issue. ford failed to properly correct the issue with the first recall and apparently didn't correct it with the second either.

The rear axle has cracked in the middle and i cannot drive it now. this was inspected twice under ford recall. the first time they put brackets on the front lower control arms, and the rear axle. the second time they recalled it back to reinspect the work that had been done since they had many that were not properly inspected the first time. so , this is twice they had it inspected, and failed to see it was defective. thus putting my life and that if my family at risk for death. thanks ford! after the 2nd inspection, they said it was safe, but offered to replace the axle if i wanted to pay about $500 on my own. that was suspicious in itself.

Driving in town and rear axle busted in half next to ford's so called bracket fix.

When traveling 15 mph on brick road i pressed brakes to stop then loud noise and car still rolled forward - scary and unsafe. this has happened twice under different conditions - the abs light is on in my vehicle

The park and brake light keeps coming on, looked up and it said the abs system is not working like it should. this happens when i'm driving in city , highways, not moving.

I was driving on the interstate at about 60 mph changing lanes to the right i could hear tires squealing and the van felt like it was going to roll over to the left. i regained control, then i heard some creaking metal noise, then i heard a rubbing noise and saw a lot of smoke coming from the rear. i was able to pull over and inspect, what i found was the rear axle was broken and driver side tire rubbing inside the wheel well. i was very fortunate to have somewhere to pull over, otherwise to continue driving could rupture the tire and/or i would be left stranded in highway speed traffic.

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 ford windstar. while attempting to park the vehicle, white smoke emerged from the engine compartment. the contact exited the vehicle and then it became engulfed in flames. a police report was filed. the fire department extinguished the fire. there were no injuries. the vehicle was towed to an impound lot. there were no injuries. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the fire department deemed the vehicle destroyed. the approximate failure mileage was 182,000.

Vehicle in motion with family 70-75mph on interstate. rear left tire began rubbing the inside wheel well. pulled off from interstate to a nearby exit. jacked van in a parking lot to see rear left subframe (axle) had fractured. bracket installed by ford per rear subframe/axle recall had failed - missing fasteners - rusted away. luckily family is alive, but vehicle was towed and presently in garage. will ford repair it or buy it back?

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving at an unknown speed, the contact heard a pop sound and the rear driver's side tire went flat. the vehicle was towed back to the contact's home. an independent mechanic diagnosed that the rear axle was bending inwards due to rust or corrosion, which caused the tire to shred and deflate. the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the vehicle was taken to germain ford of beavercreek (2356 heller dr, beavercreek, oh 45434, (937) 429-1300) where they stated that the rear axle was installed correctly; however, the recall stated otherwise. the dealer refused to honor the recall with a free repair. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 178,000.

While driving, i made a left-hand turn, and the rear axle cracked in half on the right-hand side.

My 2003 ford windstar rear axle had reinforcement brackets installed for the recall 10s13. my rear axle beam still fractured under the bracket while i was driving. after paying over $300 in towing and service fees ford told me there is nothing they can do. i was driving with my husband and 4 children in the van. we are lucky it happened on a back road and going slow.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension) by gordie boucher ford of thiensville (121 n main st, thiensville, wi 53092), but the failure recurred. while driving various speeds, the wheels bent and rubbed against the frame. consumer stated vehicle's rear axle was recalled to the rear axle failure. ford added brackets to axle to prevent failure. after brackets were added another recall was initiated to check repair was done properly. the dealer diagnosed the vehicle, but did not find a failure. the contact received another recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension), but the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 150,000. *bf consumer stated within 2 years rear axle rusted thru and broke, this caused lack of control after the tire bent in rubbing on the vehicles body causing it to go flat, ruining the tire which needed to be replaced.*jb

Axle broke under bracket that was put on by ford for the axle recall. i was pulling out of a parking lot with my husband and 4 kids in the van when all of a sudden there was a load noise and the tire was rubbing the wheel well. i immediately pulled over, looked under the rear end and could see the brake. had my van towed to my house. called ford on monday morning and towed van to dealership. $300 between tow bill's and a ford service charge just to have ford tell me they won't do anything to fix my van and make this right.

Rear axle broke under bracket that was put on by ford for the axle recall. i was pulling out of a parking lot with my husband and 4 kids in the van when all of a sudden there was a load noise and the tire was rubbing the wheel well. i immediately pulled over, looked under the rear end and could see the brake. had my van towed to my house. called ford on monday morning and towed van to dealership. $300 between tow bill's and a ford service charge just to have ford tell me they won't do anything to fix my van and make this right.

Rear axle broke under bracket that was put on by ford for the axle recall. i was pulling out of a parking lot with my husband and 4 kids in the van when all of a sudden there was a load noise and the tire was rubbing the wheel well. i immediately pulled over, looked under the rear end and could see the brake. had my van towed to my house. called ford on monday morning and towed van to dealership. $300 between tow bill's and a ford service charge just to have ford tell me they won't do anything to fix my van and make this right.

Rear axle broke under bracket that was put on by ford for the axle recall. i was pulling out of a parking lot with my husband and 4 kids in the van when all of a sudden there was a load noise and the tire was rubbing the wheel well. i immediately pulled over, looked under the rear end and could see the brake. had my van towed to my house. called ford on monday morning and towed van to dealership. $300 between tow bill's and a ford service charge just to have ford tell me they won't do anything to fix my van and make this right.

Rear axle broke under the bracket ford put on the axle for the axle recall. i was pulling out of a parking lot with my husband, 4 kids and myself when all of a sudden i heard a loud noise and my tire rubbing the wheel well. pulled over immediately and looked under the rear end of my van and i could see the brake. had it towed home. called ford and towed my van to the dealership. paid $300 between towing bill's and a service charge just to hear ford tell me they won't do anything to help me and make this right.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact took the vehicle to a aaa repair facility for inspection. the mechanic placed the vehicle on a lift and found rust and corrosion on the axles and subframe. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and found the same rust and corrosion. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension) was referenced. the failure mileage was 147,131.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 60 mph, a clunking type noise was present coming from the subframe and the vehicle became unstable. upon inspection, it was discovered that the front passenger side subframe mounts separated due to rusting. the cause of the rust was not determined. the vehicle was previously repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 11v030000 (structure); however, the failure continued. toycen ford (1000 chippewa crossing blvd, chippewa falls, wi) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. the failure mileage was 220,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 60 mph, the contact lost control of the vehicle and it swerved off the road. the rear two wheels wobbled and shifted the tires out of place. the contact was finally able to stop the vehicle when it came to a halt on the shoulder. the vehicle was towed to the contact's home. the contact checked the rear of the vehicle and noticed that the rear axle was worn. the dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 110,000. the vin was unknown.

While driving experienced loss of control and rear wheel canted inward and rubbing on wheel well. rear axle was completely cracked in half on one side and 3/4 on the other side. this is 2 yrs after the ford recall that was supposed to prevent this from happening.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while the vehicle was undergoing routine maintenance, the mechanic discovered that the rear axle was cracked and needed to be replaced. the failure occurred due to corrosion. the vehicle was taken to olathe ford(205 s fir st, olathe, ks) where it was confirmed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 138,000. *bf *jb

Started having wiper issues (intermittent did not work) randomly for a couple weeks, then headlights went out on highway at night with no other cars, first for a couple seconds off then on then off for good after a few more seconds. after another 10 min or so they went back on and stayed on. also wipers did not work, or radio, windows and door locks. another time during heavy rain in daytime the system failed again, wipers went off. this was on busy highway. luckily they went on again after 10s and i was able to see and pull over. very scary. happened off and on again. turned out forward control module was bad. dealer replaced one i got from junkyard, no more problem.

I have the familiar 9 c codes for the abs control module with the cold solder joints that effects the abs function. there is a 23 page 2carspro.com forum with individuals sharing this exact same issue defect on their windstar vehicles. the warning lights illuminate under normal driving conditions.

My rear wheel hub assembly, where it attaches to the axle beam reinforcing flange cracked while i was turning left from a stop light. i found out that there was a recall for the rear axle reinforcement brackets, so i took my van to a ford dealership in knox, indiana (best ford). after a few days, they said that ford would not cover the damage done to the rear axle. they said that it was previously repaired, however, i see on this website that a recall for my vehicle is incomplete and that ford had an additional recall for the same issue.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the subframe on the rear passenger sliding door was rusted and became stuck when attempting to be opened. the contact had to lift up the door and put it back on the door track so that it could close. the vehicle was taken to fair oaks ford lincoln (1351 e ogden ave, naperville, il, (630) 357-7100) where it was diagnosed that the door had a rusted hole through the frame. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 12,595.

I purchased this windstar in july 2012. my wife and kids use it as a daily driver. we also use the minivan for long trips. in july 2018, one month before the failure, we took the minivan to cape cod and boston. we had 6 passengers in the car. the following week we drove down to ocean city, md again with the 6 people. when the axle cracked, i was pulling into the driveway about 5 miles per hour. what would have happened if the axle broke on those trips at highway speeds and 6 people in the car?? please see pdf attachment

I have a 2003 ford windstar that was repaired under the rear axle recall a couple years ago, today on my drive to work the rear axle broke right underneath the area that ford repaired by placing a brace and bracket over, my car is now sitting along the side of the road, from what i have found out i am not the first person that has had the axle break after ford fixed it.

The rear wheel on the driver's side collapsed on the body, breaking off from the axle. i was traveling between 30-35 miles an hour when it occurred. i was able to stop the car on the side of the road.

I was driving along highway at 60 mph and the rear axle broke causing the rear wheel to come away from vehicle and the rear end of the van the swerve violently. the only thing that prevented the wheel from coming completely off was the fender. the fact that i was on a curve meant i could have gone off into the ravine and died. ford had a recall to reinforce the axle with a bracket, which was done. also there was a follow up recall because these brackets might cause the axle to crack and fracture, which mine did. fore will inspect the axle for cracks but not replace it if there are cracks, or in my case a complete brake. recall #'s 10s13 and 15s27.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 60 mph, the rear of the vehicle suddenly began to wobble and vibrate. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear passenger side axle was cracked. the contact was informed that the failure occurred even though a support bracket had been installed per a previous unknown nhtsa recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer and local dealer (buckeye ford in london, ohio) were notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 156,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 65 mph, the tire pressure gauge warning indicator illuminated. the contact continued to drive to an unknown tire store and noticed that the rear passenger tire was leaning towards the center of the vehicle, and the rear axle was fractured. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. the contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to the dealer (autonation ford, 23775 center ridge road, westlake, ohio 44145) to be repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the dealer found no failure with the axle and stated that it was ok to drive the vehicle. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

This is due to a recall. the rear axle and subframe snapped and ford is not honoring fixing it even though it happened at the repair site of recall.

While driving my vehicle i noticed a rubbing sound. i inspected the tires and saw that the right reartop of tire was leaning in towards the van. i took the van to the shop and was told that the cradle was defective and i would need a new one.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 50 mph, the rear axle fractured and the contact smelled smoke. suddenly, the contact realized the rear of the vehicle was smoking. the contact pulled the vehicle over, exited the vehicle, and noticed that the rear axle was collapsed. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that a new rear axle needed to be installed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer and dealer were not notified. the failure mileage was 120,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 40 mph down a hill, the brake pedal was applied, but was stiff and failed to respond. also, while attempting to make a right turn, the steering pulled towards the left. the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. the local dealer was not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified and opened case number: cas14205849. the failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that the subframe had rusted and a hole was present located behind the front driver side wheel. the hole was approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. also, the instrument cluster would randomly stop operating. the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. the local dealer (dick brantmeier ford in sheboycan, wi) was notified along with the manufacturer, but no assistance was offered. the failure mileage was 150,000.

Top of rear right tire tilted inward causing it to rub wheel well. while driving on city streets van fishtales. smell of burning rubber while driving. with further investigation, i found tire to be damaged by the rubbing, and a large crack almost through structural cross member/axle. took photos of damage.

The rear axle broke, which there was a recall for. the recall added support brackets to the rear axle. my van had the support brackets installed. however the rear axle broke directly under the support brackets. the dealer told me the recall was still open and to have it towed. i got it towed to the dealer only for them to tell me that the it isn't covered by the recall because the brackets were installed. now it is costing me $900 to get it fixed when ford clearly admitted to the rear axle problem.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate over 20 mph. the vehicle was towed to matthews currie ford (130 n tamiami trail, nokomis, fl 34275, 800-248-2378) where the contact was informed that the rear axle was fractured and the torque bar was rusted off the frame. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 168,000.

Was on the street driving, lights started flashing on dashboard van shut off in the middle of the street battery, alternator, blew out, was driving again van was ilde up really bad and while my feet was on the brakes it started moving on its own and ran into someone else vehicle, and also van was on the road started running bad broke down on a busy street once i was pushed to a safe location all my fluids were on the ground and the van was smoking really bad and lights on dashboard were flashing.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving various speeds, the brakes failed without warning and the abs indicator illuminated. a dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not diagnosed. the contact, an independent mechanic, replaced the brake pads, but the failure recurred. the failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

Transmission problem. the transmission was replaced 4 times within 60k mile interval while following the 30k transmission fluid flush. a flashing o/d light comes on and the transmission will die out of nowhere and the past few times it has been on the highway going 75 mph with no warning, smoke, lights, etc. i had the transmission start smoking from the engine bay even though the fluid was changed. now there is a massive transmission fluid leak. there have been thousands of owners who report a bad design of the ford windstar 2003 transmission and it needs to be recalled. the ford freestar was recalled for the transmission issue, but the windstar wasn't. why not? both models use the same transmission. it is a safety issue and ford is not willing to acknowledge the issue with the vehicle and recall the vehicle to fix the transmission problem.

While highway driving, the speedometer, gas gauge, temperature gauge and instrument lighting became erratic and failed. a short time later the situation normalized. several months prior the tachometer malfunctioned and became inoperable.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 55 mph, the rear axle fractured without warning. the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. the contact called crest ford flat rock (22675 gibraltar rd, flat rock, mi 48134) and was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the issue, but did not assist. the failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

I just purchased the van for my wife & when i was having a garage install tires on it the tech noticed that while the rear axle did have the ineffective axle clamps on it from a dealer the axle was rusting on the driver's side & actually has rusted a hole in it. the other problem is the front subframe/engine cradle that is rusting out where it bolts to the body. i contacted a local dealer & also ford in dearborn, mi & they both said there was nothing they could or would do to make the van safe for my wife to drive. there are some body type noises from the front end when turning also probably from the subframe movement.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 2 mph, transmission fluid leaked from the vehicle onto the ground. the vehicle was diagnosed at carriage ford dealer located in clarksville, indiana where it was determined that there was a fractured transmission casing in the vehicle. the dealer under nhtsa campaign number: 11v030000 (structure) and 10v385000 (suspension) previously repaired the vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided the contact with case number: cas-13693189. the failure mileage was 175,000. the vin was not available.

Abs and brake light come on shortly after starting the van and driving it. been like this for years. looks like a very common problem that should be recalled and addressed.

Hello i was driving my 2003 ford windstar minivan. i purchased around march 2016 i was taking my kids to school when the rear axel broke. i looked under and it looks like ford put enforcement brackets on it but it is broke at one of the brackets . thankfully i was able to keep control of my vehicle. 20 minutes later i would've been on the freeway. one man has already lost his life from the same thing with this vehicle. i have a lady from ford offering to give me any information she has because it is not right and there is things she has that i cannot find. i looked up my year on the vehicle and what was wrong and realized there are thousands of people with the same problem. not only that there has been three recalls since 2010 for the same thing. ford put brackets on to fix the first problem instead of just fixing the problem. that explains my brackets. ford realized the brackets wasn't working so in 2015 offered to replace them for 300 dollars. even though it was there fault. but that expired in dec 2015. i purchased the car around february march 2016. the problem is if its happening with so many windstar's why not fix the problem in the beginning instead of patching it and taking the easy way out. i'm sure the mans family and kids that lost there loved ones wish this would've been taken care of the right way. i was on the phone all day thursday with ford there not offering to help at all. there telling me it will be over 1,000 dollars to fix it. so we almost lost our lives someone could've died thankfully were okay. we have no vehicle the stress of getting kids to school and work and what we are going to do. i have 5 children plus 2 i have taken legal custody of from children services there is no way i can pay that. all because ford didn't want to fix it right and just replace it the first time around. how does a safety recall ever expire.

Approximately two months ago i noticed fluid leaking under the vehicle i looked at it and thought it was oil i checked the oil it was fine, a friend mentioned rack and pinion so i looked there and that's where the leaking came from. i took the vehicle to a garage for professional opinion was told it would cost approximately$1.200 to repair, he also found a bad motor mount. i don't have that kind of money at this time to invest into the needed repairs. please contact me about any recalls that relate to this problem.thank you

Abs and break lights is on after driver 3 min

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 25 mph, there was a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed that the rear axle detached. the vehicle was towed to a towing garage where it was diagnosed that the axle was detached in half and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact called seymour ford (2601 seymour rd, jackson, mi 49201, phone number: (517) 787-9500) where it was diagnosed that the rear axle reinforcement bracket failed and would contact ford customer service to get an approval for the repair. the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the manufacturer informed the contact that the recall was past due and would not repair the vehicle. the approximate failure mileage was 220,000.

Rear axle beam is so badly cracked it bent the ball joint for 1 tire so bad it ate the tire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the contact became aware that the rear driver's side tire was rubbing on the inside wheel well. the contact stated that the driver's side rear axle had fractured. the vehicle was taken to davis ford located at: 2111 n main st, canton, il 61520, (309) 647-1111, to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension) however, the recall time frame had been exceeded. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and provided the case number: ca-13064170. the approximate failure mileage was 155,000.

I replaced the control arms about 25,000 miles ago and they are shocked already and i only drive on the road no offroad and that will be the third set we put in to this van since we had it at 108,000 miles brand new parts were put in if you guys don't do anything of a free replacement on it my wife and i will never buy another ford again you could hear the ball joint on at one in the go

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 8 mph, the contact heard a loud noise and the odor of burning rubber was present. also, the contact lost steering ability. the vehicle came to a complete stop. the contact exited the vehicle and noticed that the rear wheels were not lined up and the axle had fractured in the area where brackets had been installed by bay valley ford in saginaw michigan approximately 1 and 1/2 years ago. the vehicle was towed to hagan's ford in bay city, michigan where it was determined that it was normal wear and tear of the axle. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 250,000.

Vehicle did not pass maine inspection test due to subrame rust. ford windstar1999-2003 was an recall for that problem issue by nhsta but my vehicle is not on the list.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving various speeds, there was a noise underneath the vehicle. in addition, the steering wheel became loose and the contact had to steer the vehicle in excess to keep it in position. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the cradle fractured due to corrosion and the rack and pinion was protruding through the fractured site. the mechanic stated that the cradle needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 273,000.

I was backing down the driveway when my ford windstar 2003 engine started revving and i had to put both feet on the breaks to stop the car from running out of control. after i put both feet on the brakes to release the engine from revving did it stop. it happened again on the same day and it took all my strength to stop the ford windstar 2003 model. it could have done a lot of damage either to another car or a person. it is very dangerous and this problem has to be corrected or put on a recall basis before other people who might have the problem, can either get it fixed or taken off the road.

My speedometer will not work at all, go up and down or get stuck, indicating the wrong speed, while in motion, also at a stop, it will pop up, happens on city street and on highway. i have researched this and there are multiple complaints about issue with ford windstar minivans. to me this is an extreme safety issue as i find it distracting, have no idea how fast i'm going. i was driving through a school zone today and while i was not driving fast, i could not say for certain that i was within the speed limit. i'm continuously looking at my speedometer, taking my foot off the gas to see if it will drop, but i can't trust that the speed reading before was correct. i can be driving and it will pop right up to indicated 100mph, when i'm driving in my neighborhood. i get alerts and signal alarms for "low brake fluid", "check advancetrack", my airbag warning light is on intermittently, and my rear back up sensors don't work either. i have also had problems with the drivers side sliding door not staying shut when parked, i have had this feature disabled for safety reasons. it will start to close, reopen, start again, close partially and then reopen again, even if the door is locked it will do this. these are all ongoing problems, i don't know if they are tied together. i have had the vehicle looked at for problems and have been told that codes come up under diagnostics but when the actual parts they are warning about like the abs, low brake fluid are fine. i have had the car at a ford dealership multiple times for the door issue and were told they could not figure what was causing the issue.

Rear axle broke in half while driving,( backing up in driveway) my 2003 ford windstar

Yesterday ( july 5, 2016) when my son arrived at home, placed the 2003 windstar in park, turned off, took the key out of the ignition, took out the seat belt, opened the door and when closed the door the front airbags (driver & driver side) deployed suddenly. my wife call the dealer and the dealer said that there is no recall for our windstar vin number and they can quote for the repair. failure millage aprox. 133,251 and the windstar was stationary.

On may 24 while backing out of the driveway i was a passenger in my sons car when it suddenly accelerated at a tremendous rate of speed and with a loud noise and crashed into the vehicle in front, which was pushed into our shed. i sustained injuries of 6 broken ribs, bruised lung and contusions to my chest. if not for the car and shed in front we would have ended at the bottom of the hill behind our home. the insurance company, 21st century, did not send a claim form and is fighting paying for this accident.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the rear axle was fractured. the contact noted that due to the failure the vehicle could not be operated without risking further damage. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 183,000. parts distribution disconnect.

The rear axle on our 2003 ford windstar cracked while my daughter was driving it. thank goodness it did not result in an accident and she was able to pull into a nearby lot. we purchased this vehicle new and it has been rusting from the inside out and now the axle. we did have the recall "brackets" placed on the vehicle, however, it appears they did not work! ford needs to take care of this issue with its customers and needs to understand a vehicle purchase is a difficult expense for most individuals. not only do most of us expect the vehicle to last, but we do not expect to be in danger because of negligence and cost-cutting measures that save them money, while screwing the consumer financially. this is completely unacceptable and i can only hope for the sake of all the consumers that have been affected by this negligence, there is serious consideration given to the litigation of this issue on behalf of hard-working people.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving out of the driveway, there was a loud squeaking noise. the contact stopped the vehicle and noticed that there were black tires marks on the road and that the rear driver side brakes seized. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician could not determine the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 78,568.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 35 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear axles were fractured. the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the brackets were properly installed and the rear axles needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 189,000.

The ford dealer just serviced two safety recalls, i.e. the engine subframe fracture and rear axle on the week on 3/7/2016. i immediately feel the car sway slightly at high speed. i thought it might be alignment issue, so didn't pay too much attention. on 3/29/16, the car sway badly especially when i brake, then i realize something serious wrong. i took a look of subframe and found out one mounting screw is missing, and a sway bar nut is missing and leaving the bolt hanging there. i brought the car back to dealer to get it repaired next day. then on 4/3/16, my car caught on fire by itself while driving on highway.

Abs and brake light comes on after a few minutes and stays on.

The speed meter gauges goes crazy

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 mph, the vehicle jerked and stalled without warning. the vehicle was able to restart however, the rear tires were leaned in and the rear brackets fractured. the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the brackets were installed properly from nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was unknown.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear passenger side tire was abnormally shifted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 161,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. when the contact parked the vehicle, an abnormal noise was heard. upon returning to the vehicle, the contact noticed that the wheel was tilted inward. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the vehicle failure mileage was 198,000.

This is a recall from ford motor company regarding deteriation of the rear axle. i first learned of it in early december 2015. took into my local dealer on december 11 and was informed that it qualified for the recall. now they keep telling me that they can't get the parts. how long does a company have after they are aware of a dangerous condition to get it fixed. i haven.t driven it since they told me it was unsafe, but what good is it to me if i can't drive it?

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while coming to a stop, the brakes did not respond and the anti-brake system and brake warning lights illuminated. the contact pulled to the side of the road to switch off and restart the vehicle. the failure recurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the front and rear brakes were replaced, but the failure recurred. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

2003 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to vehicle rear axle fracture recall notice replacement parts failure. *smd *cn

Our windstar was recalled 3 times under ford's safety recall # 15s27/nhtsa recall # 15v-608 for the rear axle. the first recall was to check for cracks and if none found, the axle was painted. the second recall was to check again for cracks and if none found, the ford dealership attached 2 brackets that were not painted. the first two recalls were free. then the third recall came to again to check for cracks and this time they found 2 cracks in our axle and it had to be replaced. the dealership, park ford in mahopac, ny 10541, per ford corporate, charged me $300 plus $25.13 for tax. they call the charge a "discounted replacement". i have experienced many recalls in my life time and this is the first time that i have been charged for a recall for a defective part. how is this possible? are you aware that ford is charging owners for this recall? is this legal for ford to do? fyi i also complained to ford's customer service and was told via email that i had to pay to replace the axle. this was a defective axle and not my fault. the vehicle only had 84,520 miles

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the engine cooling indicator became trapped in the speedometer and gear shifter area, causing the gear shifter not to engage in park. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 50,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 mph, the contact noticed a burnt rubber odor and then an unknown rear tire blew out. the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle, tire line, and the rear tire needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 220,000.

The traction control turns on and off with switch in off position. on a clear dry day the system will turn on while driving straight . the car must be in motion for this to happen. the car does this very often. we can't find anything wrong. sometimes you might hear a hum. it happens on all types of pavement and both day and night.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension); however, the rear axle fractured not long after the recall remedy was performed. afterwards, the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension), but the remedy was not yet available. the manufacturer was notified of the failures. the approximate failure mileage was 199,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs warning light illuminated intermittently. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician informed that brake fluid needed to be added in the vehicle. the technician added brake fluid to the vehicle but the failure persisted. the vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that brake fluid still needed to be added to the vehicle. the brake fluid was added to the vehicle but the failure persisted. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was unknown.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while taking the vehicle for a routine check, the mechanic informed the contact that the axle was fractured in two places on the driver and passenger sides. the contact was informed that the brackets were placed on a faulty axle. the mechanic advised the contact not to drive the vehicle for long lengths of time. the mechanic diagnosed that the axle needed to be replaced. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). once the repair part and cost was decided, the contact would be informed and a repair would be made. the contact had not received notification and the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 125,000. updated 04/21/2016*lj updated 05/14/18*jb *tr

My abs and brake lights on the dashboard come on and off at different times. sometimes they stay for a while (days) and then go off for (days). also, i have been having problems with the gauge arms on the dashboard all of sudden will go back and forth in a quick motion. then sometimes stick in one position and then back to normal and then sometimes not move at all for a while.

Letter from congressman ryan on behalf of constituent re ford motor company issues. *smd the consumer stated in may, the spring on the driver's side broke and punctured the tire. three months later, the passenger front spring broke. *jb updated 11/30/15.*jb

I just bought this car one week ago with 96000 miles on it. because i previously got a 1995 windstar with ax4s transmission, running over 190000 miles without any transmission issues. i then bought the 2003 car with relatively low mileage and hope it would last the similar length. this 2003 car is with 4f50n transmission. both ax4s and 4f50n transmission are similar in design and dimensions but they perform totally different. every time during the first week of driving the 2003 car, there were always a harsh reverse when the engine was warm after driving a few miles. i had to pump the gas to reach a high rpm just to gain a little reverse action. that makes me temporarily to park the car with the front facing the driving lane at shopping plaza. but i could still carry out the reverse action on the driveway during the morning while the engine is cold. it may not be the mechanical problem but the hydraulic issue inside the transmission.there must be something wrong with some not-up-to-the-spec internal transmission components that are temperature sensitive with warm transmission fluid, thus affecting the normal operation of certain components for their intended performance. i will bring the car for the mechanic check up soon. ford designs, buys parts from suppliers, manufactures, fabricates, sell, and service this car. ford should bear the responsibility to address this problem and initiate some actions such as notices, warnings, or recall to correct the problem and give consumers the confidence in their product.

My wife was driving the car in the country and heard noises when going over bumps. when she smelled something burning she stopped. discovered the rear axle had split where it had been beefed up with brackets after ford's 10s13 recall. ford is saying we have to pay $300 to make repairs on an issue that appears to us to be a design/manufacturing flaw, for which there has been 3 recalls issued (if i understand it correctly). i don't understand why we should have to pay?

Received recall notice for the rear axle, had 2 (two) ford dealers look at the axle. first dealer noted cracks, offered to replace axle for $700. first dealer did not enter recall/inspection into ford database, no record. second dealer performed inspection, said axle was "good to go". i inspected axle myself, evident that there is no adhesive under the bracket where the crack propagates. we rely on the automotive dealers to make and keep our vehicles safe. now, we cannot trust the dealers to perform the recalls as they should. this is not a safe vehicle.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while at the dealer having the vehicle serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension), the technician discovered that the axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 132,000....updated 02/08/16 *bf *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while the vehicle was being serviced for nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000(suspension), the technician informed the contact that the rear axle corroded and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired due to the axle replacement not being included in the recall. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. the contact was informed that the recall only covered the bracket and only the ends of the axle were covered under the recall. the failure mileage was 141,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that there was a failure in which the rear axle prematurely cracked without warning. the dealer repaired the vehicle according to nhtsa campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension), but it did not remedy the failure. the contact received a second notification for nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the dealer stated that the contact needed to pay for the rear axle repair after inspecting the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired yet. the contact stated that the manufacturer's remedy was not sufficient and did not approve the dealer's repair for the second recall. the contact was waiting on a response from the manufacturer to ensure the dealer provided a permanent remedy for the condition of the vehicle. the failure mileage was not available. parts distribution disconnect.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the front wheels vibrated violently. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. the technician diagnosed that the front axle fractured and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 147,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while at the local dealer for a recall repair, the technician diagnosed that the rear axle was corroded and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 187,000. update 01/15/16 ma *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. the contact was informed that the front subframe was severely corroded. the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be inspected because it was unsafe to use a lift to inspect underneath the vehicle. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 11v030000 (structure). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was able to restart. the brake and overdrive indicators illuminated. the contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 144,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 35 mph, the rear of the vehicle swayed to the left and right. upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear passenger side axle fractured and the tire leaned inwards into the wheel well. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension). the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 164,000. the vin was unavailable.

I was driving down the road . in muncie indiana . the rear end on the right side went down all most caused me to wreck . found o ut that day when i got it to the auto garage that the rear end had rusted threw . at 66,000 miles . how can a company put out crap like this that might have coast me my life ? it would have if i was not a semi driver when i was working . and new how to handle a van in case of a problem like this u have me to thank that no one was killed . i think ford needs to fix this problem for me .

While driving vehicle it started making a loud noise. i stopped and parked the car. upon my inspection the driver rear tire was leaning out on an angle.a mechanic inspected it and noticed the rear axle was broken. there was no noise or problems prior to this time. the rear axle had to be replaced.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 20 mph, the rear axle suddenly fractured. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the dealer stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension); however, the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 134,000.

This is in regards to the rear axle cracking. during my recent state vehicle inspection, the rear axle was found to be cracked. the rear axle was reinforced per recall notice in 2011, but where the reinforcement is at, is where axle is cracked. ford will not cover the replacement of the axle due to the recall already being performed and is outside the 12 months/12,000 mile warranty. the reinforcement that they provided does not fix the issue, it only pushes the issue out. i have seen many other people having this exact issue happening.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 1 mph, the transmission was shifted into reverse and the rear axle completely fractured into two pieces. the vehicle was towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing. the technician stated that the rear axle fractured. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

2003 ford windstar transmission completely failed at 87343 miles. i have seen thousands of reports on 2003 ford windstar transmissions failing under 70k miles. transmissions should be recalled.

Went to pull out of parking space. none of the gears worked. ended up having vehicle towed. thankful my husband wasn't on the way to work going 60-65 mph. contacted ford and was told too bad since it wasn't diagnosed by one of their dealers shops but by a mechanic we've been using for years. i'm wondering why the freestar was recalled for this issue and not the windstar. this should not be happening at 63k miles.

This vehicle was mine and given to my daughter in law for their family. she put it into reverse to leave her driveway and there was no response. neither the drive or reverse was working...nothing worked. it was towed to a local garage to determine what the problem was and the report was...transmission!! it was double checked by a ford dealer and the outcome indicated that it was the transmission torque converter specifically. doing a bit of research, it was discovered that this is not uncommon for this vehicle...why???? it seems to me that for a family vehicle by a domestic name brand such as ford, that the family should be able to get more than 96000 miles out of their vehicle!! the cost factor for repairs is in the $1500 to $2000 range and the laughable part is that there is no recall!!!!! hello, what kind of product noted for a particular problem is not recalled to fix the issue for hard working families who trust ford to make a good product? ford...you need a recall here!!! or some kind of reduced or prorated way to fix this for way less money than the above stated. i'd like a response to this complaint please with your excuses lined up neatly for me to follow. i feel horrible having given her the car and this happens. she and our son are hard pressed to pay for this kind of repair. how can ford stand by and allow this kind of thing to happen?.....updated 10/20/15 *bf ...updated 09/20/16 *bf updated 11/16/2017*cn

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving at various speeds and making a right turn, a loud noise emitted from the rear driver side wheel. the contact observed that the rear driver side wheel was bent in towards the vehicle. the failure recurred continuously. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. the technician diagnosed that the rear axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v193000 (power train), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The abs light comes on. then the vehicle is fine for days then it comes on again for no reason. this problem has been infrequent and has only recently before more of a issue. usually the problem goes away and does not come back for weeks. i went to the local advance auto so they could pull the code and identify which wheel was sending the code so i could narrow it down and replace parts as necessary. the codes pulled are followed. c1185, c1198, c1194, c1254,c1246, c1250, c1242, c1214 & c1210. that's right 9 abs codes came out. the 1st on is the problem c1185, the rest are failures at each wheels inlet outlet valves. when searching the c1185 issue i found 100's of complaints online for this issue and many dealership horror stories. too many back yard hacks tell people to disconnect this or that, or pull the ecm only to have that not fix the issue and others telling how they were able to resolder the abs module connections and fix the issue. the one common problem that caused issues was having a dealership brake job done and then the abs systems fails the next day or following week. i have to say that i did not notice this issue after doing the brakes, but i did have them done prior to the abs system failures starting.

The gauges in the vehicle keeps going nuts. moving from one side to the other,tachometer, speedometer, gas, temperature, battery. the tachometer gauge hit the transmission selector and now that is pushed over to 1. it appears there a many fords that have this problem but ford refuses to fix the problem. the fix is well over $400 just for the instrument cluster. also they refuse to fix the power steering whining noise that all fords have. if this is a well known problem then how come the ntsa don't make them fix the problems.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 10 mph, an abnormal noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. the contact pulled over and discovered that the rear tire was leaning inward. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was unknown.

Rear axle is cracked and has to be replaced. ford recall in 2011 for issues with the rear axle - dealer installed additional support brackets in lieu of replacing the axle with a new axle of current design. if they would have done the replacement with the current axle design and not added a temporary fix to prolong the life of a defective axle, today i would not be responsible for the financial replacement. i am very fortunate to have noticed an issue and brought this to the attention of my dealer who discovered the crack. i do have a concern though with the ford dealer - they know about the axle issues, failures and recall. they recently inspected the vehicle, replaced various parts, etc. at a cost of $2,800 including brakes, drums, etc. they saw the condition of the axle - they had to know if was due to fail sooner than later - very concerning. ford is not taking responsibility for their design flaw and lack luster recall which amounted to adding some brackets to cause the axle to break in a certain area to reduce the possibility of a complete failure / fatal accident.

The abs light comes on occasionly. brakes continue to work. i am told it gives a 1185 code meaning a bad module.

Rear axil broke while driving down the road. it looks like it rusted through

I have a 2003 windstar and the brake light and abs light come on at the same time quite often. it will not go off untill you turn off the van and restart and even then they often stay on.

Abs light is on during hot day

Abs indicator keeps turning on and off randomly at increasing intervals and is now staying on more often. the speedometer's needle in the dashboard also fails to register the speed that the car is going and moves wildly back and forth.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the entire axle was severally corroded and cracked. the dealer was made aware of the failure and explained that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 155,675.

My abs light and breaks turn on once i drive for a mile on the road and it stay on till i shut the engine off for the following day for work. i already replace my brakes, rebuild my transmission and replace all spark plugs and cords, also change my engine oil on time pretty much a take care of my one and only vehicle i have. i have enough with the fords.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the gauges on the instrument panel worked erratically and the lights on the instrument panel and the headlights illuminated intermittently. the dealer diagnosed that the wiring harness for the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 81,415.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. after the vehicle was started, the abs warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 130,000.

Abs and brake light will not go off

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while approaching a stop, the driver depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle failed to stop. as a result, the driver had to engage the emergency brake in order to stop the vehicle. the brakes, abs, engine, and door ajar warning lights previously illuminated intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the abs electrical module needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 110,190.

"abs" and "brake" indicator lights within dashboard turn on intermittently.

Abs and brake lights keep coming on. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving at various speeds, the transmission failed. the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

After driving the can for about ten minutes the abs light and brake light came on . since july 2013 it has been happening almost everyday. just winter time it doesn't happen as often as in summer. after checking the car i get code c1185 c1198 c1194 c1254 c1246 c1250 c1242 c12214

I was warned by a fellow driver that i had no brake lights. the tail lights work. all bulb filaments are intact. interior fuses #'s 10 & 11 associated with the brake lights according to the owner's manual are intact. i replaced the brake pedal switch. still i have no brake lights. *tr

I learned of a front axle recall and when i called the dealership to schedule repairs, they informed me of a rear axle recall, so "repairs" were made to both front and rear axles at the same time. however, this morning on my way to work (luckily traveling at 25 mph vs 75 on the interstate last night) the rear axle broke midway between where the bracket, which was supposed to reinforce the axle, was attached. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated issue and they discovered that the rear frame exhibited cracks. in 2011, the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension); however, at the time of the repair the contact had not experienced a failure. the vehicle was not repaired for most recent failure. the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure mileage was 231,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated there was a four inch crack in the rear axle of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 140,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control); however, the recall repairs were not done completely. the dealer fused the wiring harness, but only inspected the abs control module and did not replace it as listed in the recall notification. as a result, the module was leaking. the manufacturer refused to replace the part under the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 192,000.

I have a 2003 ford windstar with 154,000 miles on it. in mid may 2014 the abs and brake warning lights started to come together at random. braking seems to be normal while lights are on. when vehicle is restarted, the lights stay out. sometimes they will stay out for a week or more then suddenly come back on again. *tr

I purchased this vehicle this morning, 4/29/15. i took it for a test drive last night, no problems. this morning when i left the house to get the title transferred and vehicle registered, the brake light came on. when i got to my destination and turned it off, then turned it back on, the light remained on, and the abs light came one. neither will go off. i had a 1998 windstar that i sold due to age but loved. i am not happy to have this issue the first day i own its replacement. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the contact heard a noise from the rear of the vehicle. upon further inspection, the contact stated that the passenger side tire had fractured from the frame of the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear axle assembly, tire, rim and brakes needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 135,000.

Brake light and abs light came on. brakes continued to work correctly. since then every time it gets warm the lights come on and stay on until i turn ignition off. *tr

While driving i heard a loud crack noise and seen smoke in rear view mirror. when i got out tire was tilted completely in the rear. come to find out my rear axel completely cracked while i was driving! called ford they said the recall was fixed in 2011 and there was another recall fixed in 2013. since it was already " fixed" they will not cover the work. i now have to pay 600 to get this fixed out of pocket and there is no reason the axel should have broke in half like it did! very upsetting to know i could've had my children in the car with me and this could have definitely caused an accident !! i know this problem was not fixed correctly in the first place it was just a bandaid for ford! *tr

Vehicle on lift for oil change when mechanic noted that the sub-frame was rotted through on the driver side just above and in front of the wheel. he also noted that a repair bracket had been installed as part of the recall on the part of the frame behind the wheel. he said he would not drive the car too much longer without getting it repaired. he advised that i should take the vehicle to the dealer and advise ford which i did. ford declined to offer any assistance since it was beyond the recall warranty period. the reinforcement bracket was obviously not sufficient to repair the corrosion damage to the complete sub-frame. *tr

Ford windstar 2003 brake light and abs light on consistently for the last 3 to 4 years. braking distance suddenly increased. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 65 mph, the brakes failed without warning and caused the contact to crash the vehicle into a deer. the failure recurred on several occasions. the contact stated that the abs and brake warning indicators were continuously illuminated. the contact did not specify if a police report was filed or if any injuries were sustained. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 102,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 50 mph, the cruise control failed to disengage when the brake pedal was depressed. as a result, the contact had to turn off the cruise control manually. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000. updated 6/8/15*cn

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. after the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension), the failure listed in the recall recurred. the contact mentioned that the dealer only sprayed a rust proof coating on the vehicle although, the recall stated that the dealer was to place a bracket to reinforce the axle or replace the axle. the manufacturer verified that the dealer implemented the recall remedy properly. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was unknown. updated 6/3/15*cn updated 10/4/2017*cn

Dash abs, brake light on, speedometer, rpm gage jumps back and forward, cruise control accelerates, passenger window and rear side window doesn't work. *tr

After looking up all of the service reports on this vehicle, i am beginning to recognize that ford has some explaining to do. we have a large amount of service reports on our vehicle alone that our dealership is not reporting. we have paid more for service repairs than we did paying for the vehicle. our ac/heat just clicks w/o working, power windows front and rear do not work, power door locks, leaking roofs, leaking doors, abs lights on, engine lights on, traction control light on, engine sputters even after two complete old fashioned tune-ups, cowl broken, front and rear axles severely cracked, sub-frame cracked, rear wiper does not work properly, brakes need constant repairs, electrical shorts everywhere, head lights, fog lights, brake lights all need constant replacements, alternator was replaced 6 times in one day because they were all faulty, brake switch under brake pedal needs constant replacement, constant wheel alignments, wheel sensors missing or broken, power seat broke and the dealership told us that it was petty to have it fixed even with a height difference between drivers, control modules replaced, multiple expensive sensor failures, spark plugs with wires replaced at least twice, starter replaced, parking brake needs to be watched for slippage because it can't hold on hills, interior lights blink in a pattern while driving, can't haul it's own tailgate, battery replaced multiple times by dealership, power mirror switch broke, many more expensive repairs have been done at our cost, p0302, p0305, p0316, c1235, c1185, c1198, c1194, c1254, c1246, c1250, c1242, c1214, c1210, c1103, c1410, c1404, b1318. we were told by many service departments a while back that these codes were not important. they cleared the codes every time. their response to these codes were to clear them every single time. we only have one vehicle and this is it. i am a mom w/children. *tr

Purchased new in 2003. this vehicle has electrical problems and yet we are being told that we have to eat the financial bills instead of ford. from sensors failing, to interior lights flashing at us, and the vehicle sputtering while we drive down the road. ford knows that the 1999- 2003 windstar have serious safety and electrical failures, yet they do not want to correct the problem at their cost. ford would rather pass on their problems onto the consumer and at the consumer's cost. 2013 at our cost of $1,000.00+ we replaced the coil assembly pack, egr system with brackets, oxygen sensors, spark plugs, and wires. now we are replacing them again. the abs system, the traction control, and the cruise control all interwoven and all failed in 2009 and we were told that it is not important by the dealerships. we placed our obd scanner on our vehicle and this is what we pulled. p0302, p0305, p0316, c1235, c1185, c1198, c1194, c1254, c1246, c1250, c1242, c1214, c1210, c1103, c1410, c1404, b1318. we were told by many "service departments" a while back that these codes were not important. they cleared the codes every time. their response to these codes were to clear them every time. why are we having to replace the coil assembly packs, wires, egr system with brackets, oxygen sensors,and plugs so often, when we are being told that these platinum plugs and wires should last 150k? we honestly believe that ford should have recalled this vehicle years ago. ford should compensate us for our troubles, instead they increased our financial burden, and ford should have placed us into a safer vehicle all at their cost. this is our only vehicle. when it fails, we have to pay thousands to get it repaired at our cost. ford should take on the financial responsibility when they know that this vehicle has these issues. major repairs= 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, and now 2015. *tr

I'm having problems with a 2003 ford windstar van i purchased. the mileage is 081206.3. the abs and brake lights are on and the sliding doors on both the driver and passenger will not open from the inside of the van. the doors on the sides and back are very hard to open from the outside as well. the cruise control will not turn off unless you hit the brakes. the seatbelt are making a horrible squeaking noise and don't really roll up right. i'd like to find out how to get a list of recalls for this vehicle. to me these are major safety concerns that need to be addressed. thank you *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving 25 mph, a loud crack emitted from the rear of the vehicle. after inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear axle was fractured. the vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension); however, the recall remedy failed to prevent the defect. the manufacturer and dealer were made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 92,000.

Rear axle recall was inspected in 2/17/2011 by the dealer and was noted no cracks and just put some brackets. today 3/23/2015 went for a state inspection to the same dealer and failed due to crack in the rear axle(that was once recalled). now dealer/ford states that the recall was once managed, and no longer responsible for further issues... if an item was recalled, it should be fixed without cost. please address this with ford. thank you *tr

Took my windstar to my mechanic for inspection. rear axle cracked.. contacted ford,since in 2011 rear axle "patches"(their terminology) were installed after recall ford had me tow vehicle to a local dealer. dealer attempted to have ford reopen recall they refused after many calls they said they were not going to repair. because. by national highway regulations they did all they were required to do. i pointed out that this is an ongoing problem and has they have documented --in the snow states since patches installed. we have had 2 major hurricanes with 3 consecutive severe winters. i am very frustrated and hope something can be done. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 30 mph, there was a loud noise present and the contact suddenly lost control of the vehicle. the contact merged over to an emergency lane and performed a brief inspection of the vehicle. the contact noticed that the rear axle was fractured. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the technician stated that the rear axle needed to be replaced. the vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign numbers: 12v194000 (suspension) and 12v195000(suspension); however, the failure persisted. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

2003 ford windstar rear axle failure after local ford dealership installed brackets . in august of 2013, while making a right hand turn off of a 45 mph road, my axle snapped in half on the drivers side. on 4.19.2011 my 2004 ford windstar. had recall, 10s13, performed which only resulted in bracing brackets being installed. the axle has since completely failed and the vehicle can no longer be driven. ford customer relations has explained that due to the brackets being installed in 2011 they are no longer responsible for any other action related to the recall. these brackets installed did not repair the issue and the axle has now completely failed. there is no doubt that this incident would have been life threatening had the failure occurred at highway speeds. *tr

The frame cracked on the rear frame underneath the bracket that was put on for the recall repair. the bracket didn't hold. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the exterior lights, turn signal lights, odometer and sliding doors failed without warning. also, the contact mentioned that the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that the total intergraded power module failed. in addition, the contact stated that the anti-theft system failed. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 200,000.

Abs brake light will turn on and off at random times. also, brake (e-brake) light comes on, interior lights occasionally flash, all running lights and headlights have gone out (really bad when driving down highway at night), and loss of all electrical (radio, lights, heater fan, dash illumination, headlights, running lights, etc... all go out at same time). alternator and several batteries have been replaced. electric windows will occasionally stop working as well. obviously the huge issue here is the fact that the abs system may be disabled, dash warning lights randomly come on and off, and all electrical shuts off, with losing headlights and running lights being the biggest issue! *tr

Sidewall split on bridgestone insignia se 200, size 215x70r15, dot # wbm3 e20 0210. mileage on tire 39k, still good tread depth. i still have tire if any agency would like to inspect. didn't take it back to bridgestone b/c from what i have read, they would do nothing about it. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford winstar. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 mph, the vehicles rear axle snapped causing him to lose control of the vehicle. the contact mentioned that the engine stalled and all warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the vehicles axles were rotted. the vehicle was repaired but failure persisted. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 141,000.

I have random occurrences of the abs and brake lights turning on my 2003 ford windstar since i purchased it around 2009. they are often off when i first start the car, but then turn on while i am driving. the two lights always turn on simultaneously. though only the abs is disabled when this problem occurs, it turns on the brake light and hence masks any other brake problems that may occur. i recently (october 2014) had a leak in the brake system and it almost went unnoticed because it was being masked by the abs problem. because the cost of the repair is very high (1/3 of the cost of the vehicle), and based on reports on the internet, there are probably many people accustomed to driving around with brake lights on because of this problem. if the problem only turned on the abs light it would be significantly less dangerous. also, given how many people are experiencing this problem, it would appear to be a defect in the design of the abs module. back in 2011, my mechanic told me "pulled 8 abs codes dealing with a possible faulty abs control unit." unfortunately he did not record what the codes were. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, there was a pothole on the road, which was driven over. the contact noticed that the rear drivers side wheel fractured and was detached from the axle. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear axle fractured. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v193000 (power train) however, the recall remedy failed to repair the vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 137,000. updated 4/15/15*cn

Abs and emergency brake light come on while driving at any known speed. usually occurs after the vehicles has warmed up. the lights will go out after the car has cooled down and is restarted. but will usually come back on after some extended use. there are no known fixes by the everyday user. *tr

The abs and brake light come on intermediately. when i turn the car off and back on, it is off, but then out of nowhere, they come back on and it seems it is a soldering issue with some module. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 2-3 mph, the front passenger side wheel detached from the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wheel detached from the shaft and needed to be replaced. the independent mechanic made the contact aware of a manufacturer’s recall for the sub frame. the vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was confirmed that the sub frame needed to be replaced. the contact stated that the dealer refused to repair the sub frame due to safety hazards during the repairs. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was unknown.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear axle was corroded. additionally, the abs, brakes and the check engine warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a dealer. the technician diagnosed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the contact was aware of nhtsa campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension). the failure mileage was 165,000. djr

My spouse was driving our 2003 ford windstar home from church and while turning right onto our street the transmission failed, no longer powering the vehicle. she coasted to a stop in front of our home. i had the vehicle towed to a local transmission repair shop and was told by the mechanic that this is a very common problem in ford windstars and that he has had to prematurely replace many of these transmissions. we were very lucky during this incident. it could have easily happened on the interstate highway and caused a severe crash, injuries or death. ford customer relations informed me they had no recall actions underway for this problem on my vehicle, but to save any receipts in case there was a future reimbursement/recall effort. *tr

The abs and brake light would come on and off. it finally just stayed on. then the cruise control stopped working. i replaced the master cylinder brake sensor and harness with a different upgraded parts obtained from ford. it corrected the problem, but now the problem has returned. the abs and brake light comes on all the time.the new brake sensor seems to be dry and free of brake fluid. the local ford dealer says there is no recall problem and it will cost me another $100.00 to have them look at it again. *tr

Steering column locked up while traveling 50mph. *tr

My vans brakes started acting funny when i came up to a stop. the abs system is acting as if the van is going into a skid and activating the anti lock brake system. it causes improper braking distance which has almost led to an accident. after operating for awhile the warning lights go on in the dash for the abs and traction control, at this point when the lights go on the systems are disabled. when you shut off the van it resets and the problems persist when you start it back up. i believe there is problem with the computer board causing this problem. it can possibly lead to an accident and or death. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the rear axle became fractured. the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension). the contact mentioned that the reinforcement brackets were attached and the axles were not replaced. as a result the rear axle fractured. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was unknown.

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

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

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs warning light illuminated. in addition, the contact stated that the brake pedal required excessive force in order to come to a stop on several occasions. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the brake pads and the vacuum hose needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 80,000.

Driving home at about 20 mph and suddenly the left rear end of the van collapse onto the tire. i loss control of the vehicle monetarily, myself and my three children were very shaken up by the experience. thank god we were not driving on the freeway or this could have been a very bad accident. the left rear tire was angle up into the wheel well. upon inspection the rear axle housing had cracked and broke downward causing loss of control of the van. contacted russ milne ford service dept. and was told there was nothing they could do for me other than me buying a brand new rear axle assembly. *tr

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 mph, the rear axle on the driver side fractured. as a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and it flipped multiple times. the air bags failed to deploy. a police report was filed and no injuries were reported. the vehicle was destroyed. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the failure mileage was 158,000.

Abs and brake light come on intermittently. no rhyme or reason but make us feel unsafe. have taken in for service several times and they can find nothing wrong with abs or brakes. car only has 56000 miles on it now and we can't trade it or sell it because of the problem. internet research shows thousands of entries with same problem. found individual on ebay that has business repairing ecu cold solder joints so this is definitely a factory default. abs and brakes function properly but those lights should not be coming on. it appears to be a cold solder joint which is clearly a manufacturing defect. since the ecu sits right under master cylinder a brake fluid leak leaking fluid on ecu has and could cause a fire.mmmford should replace the defective unit at no charge to the customer. *tr

Abs and brake lights come on within five minutes of driving.now the o/d off light is flashing on dash. *tr

While driving down the road the abs and brake light come on and stay on, and the interior lights come on and go off. i've had the brakes checked, and they are fine. we changed the module, which we were told was the problem, but it didn't solve the problem. the problem occurs more often when the weather is warmer, but it does happen during the winter, too. it is very distracting while driving at night, especially, to have the lights on the dash and the interior lights flashing, and it could be dangerous. also, i wouldn't know if the brakes actually had a problem. *tr

Per recall 10v385000 / pe10016 my 2003 windstar was repaired with the axle patch in 2011. on 11/07/14 my local ford dealership (dave knapp ford) found that the recall fix did not prevent the axle from cracking. on 11/10/14 photo's of the crack were sent to ford and they denied coverage. i attempted to resolve this issue with ford on 11/11/14 case# [xxx] and was told that ford would not replace the axle. per the pe10016 investigation it state's, "to correct the safety defect", " owners who have vehicles with cracked axles will either be offered a repair or alternative transportation until parts become available". i had the recall repair done and the axle still cracked and now i am being told that ford will not cover it. the crack is directly below the factory recall patched area. the crack is sufficient enough that the left rear tire can not be aligned correctly. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Abs dash light came on and stays on, no abs working. abs light and dtc c1185. *tr

On this date, i was driving my vehicle at speed when the sub frame failed. this caused the steering to drop out, leaving me with no control of the vehicle. i narrowly missed an 18 wheeler doing a turn and got stopped. ford had my vehicle for over 2 weeks, and didn't provide a rental vehicle for 10 days. ford refused to cover the steering mechanism, even though it plainly says on they're website that would be a consequence of sub frame failure. i have made over 30 phone calls to the dealer and ford motor company's customer service hotline, and now the dealer is telling me my vehicle is fixed, but i have to pay for the parts put on, and a repair i did not pre-authorize.i am a disabled veteran, and i want someone to explain to me how a vehicle that was perfectible drivable before this happened is now being held hostage by a dealer until i come up with $140, because the mfgr part failed and almost caused me to be killed. the ford case number is [xxx] .thanks for your time and attention information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Driving down road all of a sudden wheels start screamin get it home and both back wheels are leaning in at top and out at bottom so i get wheels off and its jacked up and the dagon axel is cracked and this is even after the supposed rear axel recall and it being fixed it freakin broke ne ways not sure what to do. *tr

Abs lights come on intermittently and now are on all the time. this vehicle later was involved in a crash due to cruise control switch leaking out most of brake fluid. ford replaced the switch and fixed the brakes but wants $2000 plus to replace the abs/hcu. *tr

I was on a 65 mph highway and had to stop for a stoplight. when the light turned green, i put my foot on the gas and nothing happened. i put in 2 then 1 and then reverse and nothing happened. i had put my hazard lights on as i was afraid of being at a green light and getting rear ended with the other car going at least 65 mph. i proceeded to shut the van off, turn it back on and put it in drive and it jerked forward, but i could tell the transmission was slipping and the o/d light started flashing on and off and the check transmission light came on. i had to continue to shut the vehicle off and turn it back on to get it to a safe place where i finally had to be towed home. i had my 14 year old daughter with me and had we been hit from behind, we both could have died. *tr

I have a 2003 windstar ford mini van. about 2 1/2 years ago they put a patch fix on the rear axle that was so when the axle breaks instead of the wheels separating it holds it together. well recently i was on my way to a major highway i thought my brakes locked up, but in actuality the patch fix broke and so did my axle. so a big thankyou for almost killing my 2 children in the back seat, does ford motors care? no they don't! because when i called the dealership they said ford is aware of this ongoing problem with numerous complaints and will not fix it again. but i can buy another part for $800.00. if they are aware of the problem and the patch was not a safe fix then why bother at all! i feel this company should put their children in the back seat and then maybe they would actually care to find a safe fix. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs and the brakes light illuminated. the failure recurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the technician replaced the brake pads and shoes. the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the abs module needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was unavailable. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was unavailable.

A few days after buying the van the abs light started coming on, it goes on and off. my interior lights have flashed on and off, my passenger window no longer works! and the gear shifter is loose and sometimes hard to get into park. *tr

Dancing gauge needles. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond as the brake and abs warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic. the technician was unable to diagnose the problem and the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 98,000.

April, noticed that cruise control not working 100% of time - not engaging and not disengaging!! opted not to use it anymore. july, abs and brake light on and didn't shut off while in home garage. shut van off, restarted it, lights off. august, lights seem to be coming on with more frequency. doesn't seem to be speed related. september, abs and brake light coming on more frequently. seems to reset (for short time) after shut van off. october, had brake system checked. disc rotor - r&r; control arm w/ ball joint - lower - front suspension; rear brakes serviced; brake fluid flush. thought that would have "fixed" everything however less than 10 days later, the abs and brake lights are coming on again while driving. turn van off, turn back on - lights reset - until next time i drive it!! after reading through, realize that the two might be related. safety is a must!! *tr

The abs and brake light comes on and stays on. *tr

While driving, the abs and brake warning lights on the dash came on, and stayed on until the engine was restarted. the lights are off until driving a short distance, when they will both come on at the same time. my mechanic claims that all sensors are good, and that the abs control unit is defective. when the vehicle is cold, it takes longer for the lights to come on. *tr

The abs light stays on no matter what i do. *tr

Was making a left hand turn from a dead stop when engine without warning cut out during the turn. all of the dash board alert lights (brake, abs) comes on and off all the time. took the vehicle to 3 dealer ships and could not find anything wrong. vehicle still cuts out and almost causes an accident each time. can't seem to get anyone that can resolve this matter. now the dashboard and interior lights won't either. *tr

The rear axle on my 2003 windstar cracked and split about 10 inches from where it attaches to the wheel on the drivers side of the van. while looking into how much it would cost to fix, i discovered that there was a recall for that exact problem. i called my local ford dealer and they said it would have to be looked at and could take about a week. i had it towed in and waited for a response. a week went by and when i called, the receptionist told me they would let me know as soon as possible. i waited a few more days and called again but this time i ended up speaking to the service manager. he said the van had actually been "repaired" once before through a previous owner/recall and that the original servicing dealership did not perform the work properly. the first time it was fixed, they somehow reinforced the axle but apparently did not put the "reinforcement" in the right place. that being the case, he said that the current damage now defaulted back to the dealer where it was originally serviced. he also said that the front of the van was rusted underneath but i do not see anything excessive and i am not convinced that this is unusual for a 12 year old vehicle. this is not a high mileage vehicle and it is in really nice condition otherwise. considering the fact that this is an documented defect, i simply want it fixed properly and quickly. *tr

My brake warning and abs lights are on i shut the car off and they are off i drive later they come back on , my brakes work fine the fluid is full. *tr

Abs and dark brake lights come on while driving then reset themselves when vehicle is turned off, then come on again while driving once vehicle warms up. *tr

Driving east bound at 35 mph when a vehicle turned in front of me and i had a direct hit on the right side of his vehicle. i hit the steering wheel with my chest. the seat belt did not hold me back and neither air bag deployed. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while the vehicle was being serviced, the mechanic discovered that the rear axle was fractured and the subframe lower control arm was corroded. the mechanic stated that the rear axle and subframe lower control arm needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension) and nhtsa campaign number: 12v194000 (suspension). the failure mileage was 120,000.

The 2003 ford windstar has a 'brake light' and a 'abs light'. when driving the car the abs and brake lights will both come on (but the car's brakes are not impacted). after a few minutes the two lights will go out. from what i have read on-line this is a fault in some module. the brakes themselves are not at issue but it provides false warning lights. a web site that tracks ford windstar issues says: "the (mostly unservicable) ecu master relay has a bad soldier joint which fails prematurely and causes the abs light and dtc c1185. it also causes the enhanced abs braking system to become inoperable. if your abs light is on. report the problem at nhtsa - safercar.gov. use the category brakes, the more reports the better a chance of continued action." so, i am reporting this flaw. *tr

Braking distance suddenly increased. abs failed to activate. abs light comes on intermittently. *tr

The abs light and brake light are on constantly. brakes (rotors, pads and calipers) have been replaced. *tr

I was driving to the store and the speedometer needles went crazy and the abs / brake lights went on. after a couple of minutes the needles went back to normal and the abs/ brake lights stayed on. we changes the sensors that go to all 4 tires and the lights remain on. *tr

A dash indicator light came on that said, "check your traction control." at the same time the abs and the brake light came on. *tr

The abs and brake light began to come on intermittently, followed soon afterwards by the power right passenger window failing to go and down, followed by the transmission o/d off light flashing. these would occur until the engine was shut down, then most of the time the symptoms would go away, always to return. when the o/d off light would come on, the transmission would fail to perform at speed and we would have to reduce our speed to under 50 mph in order to not rev the engine above 3500 rpm. when this light is on, you cannot get to 60 mph without redlining the engine. i have had dealers and mechanics look at this a number of times with no resolution. *tr

Heard a loud crack noise from my driveway where the vehicle was parked, found the left front struts coil spring to be broken in three pieces. i was fortunate not to be driving the vehicle at the time due to the fact the sprint would have penetrated the left front tire. i replaced the entire left front strut with a complete new strut that meets oem specifications. i was a bit leary about driving the vehicle the next day to take my wife to work, i visually inspected the right front strut coil spring and saw nothing visibly wrong with it. i was shocked to find out the right front strut spring broke while i was pulling forward later today at 151,725 miles. the broken piece is now pressing against the tire. i will now have to replace the right front strut with a new unit that meets oem specifications. i'm worried about other drivers having this issue if one breaks while driving at any speed and having the broken coil spring puncture their tire. *tr

The red brake light keeps coming on, as well as the yellow abs light. the lights typically come on after driving the car for a few minutes. this as been an ongoing issue for some time and have had brakes serviced numerous times. *tr

The anti lock brakes and traction control shut off randomly. we can drive for miles and nothing happens. and other days the car barely starts moving, and the system shuts down. *tr

2003 ford windstar trouble codes c1185, c1198, c1194, c1254, c1246, c1250, c1243, c1212, c1210; abs and brake light comes on intermittently don't know if my abs is working when this happens. *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 last year 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.suspect the abs computer is defective. *tr

Abs and brake lights illuminate and stay illuminated. investigation shows a failure to the ecu unit causing the abs on my vehicle to be inoperable. when i have to aggressively brake my ford windstar it produces a skid instead of a controlled stop. *tr

Abs and emergency brake lights come on and off intermittently. middle seat won't go back up and the door locks don't work half the time. *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

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs warning light illuminated intermittently. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 193,000.

Brake light & abs light went on. *tr

The rear axle cracked and brocked in the midle made the back driver side tire to hit the back of the fender and i was unable to drive the car there was a recall but ford insisted in saying that there wasnt any thing they can do about that. *tr

I have a 2003 ford windstar... parking brake and abs lights on the dashboard will light up after driving it for about 5 minutes or so... these lights are on while i drive... but when i turn the car off and start up again they stay off, until in 5 or so minutes they come on again and stay on while i'm driving till next time i shut the car off. is at it's worse when the weather is hot. this disengages the abs brakes i depend on especially with winter weather approaching. my complaint is that ford dealers said this is not a recall item and i believe this should be since there seems to be a lot of folks with this same issue. thank you. *tr

My abs and brake lights are on and i have heard this is due to defective parts. please keep me informed. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that water was entering into the transmission. while at a stop light, the vehicle failed to accelerate and the rpms increased. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who rebuilt the transmission. the vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 125,000.

Abs light comes on as soon as the vehicle goes in forward motion and stays on through entire driving cycle. the other brake warning lamp also illuminates intermittently while driving. more frequently in damp/wet weather. *tr

Abs light comes on. *tr

This vehicle was serviced approx. 2.5 years ago for a recall on the rear axle. at that time i was advised of no concerns of a compromised axle. they reassured me that they placed brackets on the axle should there be a problem in the future. thank goodness the axle fractured while traveling on a quiet country road. we drove over a low point in the road (not a pot hole) and that is when the axle let go along with the brackets that were placed to support the axle! this axle should have been replaced at the time of the recall!! i am very thankful that the axle didn't let go while i was with my family on the highway. the outcome certainly would have been much different and quite possibly tragic! i am very disappointed with ford in how they handled this matter. they stated they would not be held responsible for a recall past 12 months of the service date. they would not take responsibility for the mishandling of this recall!!!

The speedometer does not work on my windstar. it works on some days but others gets stuck or all the needles in the dashboard go back and forth really fast. it has caused one of the needles (for rpm's) to break in order for me to put the windstar into park.

Abs brake lights keeps coming on. mechanic has fixed it once but it continues to happen causing the abs brakes not to work

Transmission failure, van will not shift into any gear, forward, reverse, 2,1.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. whie the vehicle was in reverse, the rear axle fractured. the contact discovered that the rear axle and bracket were corroded, causing the failure. the contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired according to nhtsa campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension). the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 147,000.

2003 ford windstar driving at speed of 40mph my abs and brake light indicator light up. garage did a code reset but the abs and the brake did not go away, garage unpluged the battery and pluged it back and the abs and the brake light disppeared.

The abs light has been one for quite some time many months, maybe a year. the brake light intermittently been on or gone off, but has been on for some time - the last 6-8 months. we have a known brake oil leak, as we have seen the puddles and frequently refill it. this is very similar to the ford recall 09s09 but our vin # is not presently included. on 8/21 the all of the internal gauges "went wonky" and then stopped indicating anything (speedometer at 0, even though i was driving down the highway at 50-60 mph. this "wonky issue" has been present since the spring of 2014. also, the cruise control has not worked for a few months (about the same time we first noticed the "wonky gauges" which used to always accompany a rapid acceleration) since the last week, the gauges are "going wonky" on their own, even when i don't rapidly accelerate. we have read online about a brake oil leak affecting the scds and our issues seem very similar to those described in a recall! to recap, the "wonky gauges" have been an issue since feb/march but was only observed when depressing the gas pedal. now, since a much more severe episode on 8/21/2014 the gauges are acting up even at slower speeds, the gauges are "going out" and not registering anything at all for 10-15 minute stretches. a/c, radio, clock, windows, turn signals stop working. and abs/brake lights are illuminated. thank you for your consideration!

The abs light is on all the time, the brake light is on most of the time. also the instrument cluster jumps erratically and the right brake light does not work. *tr

Parking brake and abs lights on the dashboard will light up after driving it for about 5 minutes. obd ii code reads eec test pulled codes c1185-c1194-c1198-c1210-c1214-c1242-c1246-c1250-c1254. if codes are cleared c1185 now returns immediately. *tr

Abs light keep comming on. *tr

Brake light and abs lights are on, brakes are fine, fluid level is fine, but light is on. abs now not working. speedometer does not go above 40 mph until driven at least 3 miles, this is also causing the cruise control to not work smoothly. transmission is not shifting into overdrive, transmission is clean and working. all of these issues began within a few weeks of each other. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the rear axle was corroded and fractured. the contact mentioned that the vehicle had been previously repaired under recall nhtsa campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension). the dealer was contacted and advised the contact to bring the vehicle in for further inspection. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that the prior recall had expired. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 223,000.

Van started making a loud metal banging noise while on vacation. took to a local shop where i was shown that the subframe ( where the ac water leaks down) was completely rotted thru and broken, makeing the van unsafe to drive/ the van already had brackets on the subframe and rear axle installed by ford just weeks earlier, but this was not repaired or addressed.

The abs warning light came on. the brakes still seemed to work ok. after taking the vehicle to the ford dealer, we were advised that the abs was not working and in the event of a quick stop being necessary, we should pump the brakes to prevent the tires from skidding. repair of the vehicle was going to exceed $1200.00. *tr

My abs lights all come on and off randomly. this has occured for months. and is not more frequent. i went to my gargage and nothing is wrong with the brake lines. i saw other complaint online of this for this vehicle and that there will be a recall on this situation. i am hoping to get this resolved.

Both my abs and brake "dummy" lights are on. will go off for small amount of time after vehicle restarted, pop back on after a few minutes. *tr

The interior lights in this vehicle flicker on and off at random when driving. it does it during the day and at night. at night is the worst. sometimes it won't do it for a long time and there is times where it does it constantly. shutting off the engine and restarting corrects it but only some of the time. i have been seeing complaints on many different web sites about this problem and i have seen no tsb issued from ford about this issue. *tr

Abs and brake lights on dash come on after they warm up. this use to happen only in the summer months. now it happens all year round.. it only takes a few miles before the lights come on. *tr

The brake and abs lights keep coming on. sometimes they will go off, but you can be driving and they will randomly come on. *tr

Abs and brake warning lights on ip on - fluids checked as full - lights on with most driving - occasional will be on then go off for subsequent drives. no loss of brake feel or stopping ability. brakes checked okay at last tire rotation service by conoco station. *tr

Abs light came on, followed by the brake light. this problem began as an intermittent problem and has progressed to a continuous problem. car currently has over 170000 miles. the dealer has given multiple opinions on the issue to include: abs module defect, abs sensor defect. *tr

Rpm needle went all the way to right while driving and can't get it to go back wondering if ths will cause problems while driving

Parking brake light and abs light remain on while operating--soft brakes--unreliable abs took in to dealership and they diagnosed concern as "found abs ecu causing light to come on". *tr

My abs light keeps coming on and sometimes my van don't want to stop. the brakes give out but all brake pads seem to be ok. light comes on about 60mph. my van the last few days has been having very bad electrical issues that causes my van to die as well. *tr

Abs brake lights come on intermittent. first time noticed was on vacation and coming to a stop at a toll booth and both lights come on. has happened several times since. ford dealership wont do anything about it. i see there has been a recall on this. how about another recall? *tr

Abs and brake lights on dash signaling problems intermittently. does vehicle have electrical problem or module failure. *tr

Abs light and check brake light came on and stayed on. *js

Intermittent abs and brake warning lights. brakes have been fully serviced, fluid replaced, system bled. abs not functional when lights are lit. *js

When driving up hills the "od off" transmission light will begin to flash and though i depress the button on the shifter the light will not stop flashing. only way to make it stop is when i turn he car off and then turn the vehicle back on. *tr

Brake light and abs light are both lit at all times after driving for a short period of time. mechanic says that abs system will not work. *tr

The abs and brake lights continue to come on at random times. the vehicle has been services for this issue already but the problem persists. *tr

Parking brake and abs warning lights usually (but not always) illuminate. it happens less often in the cold. when illuminated, the abs system is not functional. *tr

The abs and brake warning lamps are intermittently coming on. i had the system checked by two different certified auto repair shops and both responded that there were several codes creating the problem. they also mentioned the only solution is to replace the abs control module. after doing research on my own, i concluded that this is a common problem with the majority of 2003 ford windstar owners. i believe the abs modules are not manufacture correctly creating this problem. i also believe this is something that ford needs to address on the 2003 windstar. *tr

Anti skid system failed during a heavy rain. almost hit a vehicle in front of me who's brakes stopped him in time from a major collision. have not fixed the problem since because it is the major hub of the abs braking system that failed. *tr

Abs light came on over a year ago. code showing is c1185. speedometer, tachometer, don't always work. *js

The brake light and the abs light comes on when not engaged. at the same time the doors unlock (when driving) with "rear passage door unlock" appears. the doors try to lock and unlock. also happens when stopping and going over bumps in the road. took to the mechanic and he is unable to explain what is happening. very unsafe. did not know about this reporting site. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, one of the axles fractured. the contact mentioned that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v194000 (suspension). the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 133,000.

Abs light along with brake indicator light is on. multiple defect codes for abs module shown on scanner. brakes not fully stopping vehicle when depressed. bought vehicle in may 2014. cruise control acting funny. *tr

Abs (yellow light) and brake ( red light) stay on. brakes seem to work fine. *tr

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 purchased the car used in 2006. it worked fine for about a year. the brakes had worn out and the abs light and the brake light was on. after replacing the brakes, the lights came on and off randomly on different days. the mechanics could not duplicate the problem. now the lights come on steady after i drive awhile and stay on until i shut the vehicle off. i have had 4 brake jobs since, but that has not fixed the problem. i was told that the problem was probably the abs module as that was a common problem with windstar's. i am afraid to drive the car more than a half mile as the abs brakes do not work when the lights are on. *tr

Abs, brake warning lamps lit, speedometer doesn't show the operating speed. *tr

We were on vacation going thru mountains in w va when the abs light and brake light came on. we pulled into a ford dealer in statesville, nc. they could not determine what the problem was as it was not occurring all the time. the brake and abs lights would go out for a period of time and come back on. recently we took the van into a midas repair shop. they thought it was the wheel sensor and replaced it. when the problem came back the next day they thought it was a bad bearing on the front drivers side and we replaced it. today the light is back on and after taking it into the repair shop again they are now telling us it is the abs control module. we have dealt with this issue for the past 2 years. lights going out for a period of time only to come back on. today we called the local ford dealer to see if their was a possible recall on this issue. we have read about others having these same issues. we were told that their was no recall at this time. *tr

Abs light. *tr

Abs and brake light keep coming on and staying on until i turn my van off. then it might not come on for a few days or it might come on constantly. *tr

Abs light and brakes light along with engine light and tire light all came on out of the blue. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated while having an inspection performed, the technician notified her there was a crack in the axle wheel. the vehicle was previously repaired under recall 10v385000 (suspension). the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 128,000 and the current mileage was 129,151.

The interior lights flickering all the time. i keep the interior lights off so they don't flicker. *tr

As i was driving on the highway the 'check advance track' light came on. the light has been coming on and for couple of weeks now. check with a mechanic and was told might be a abs sensor. *tr

Abs and brake light illuminate indicating an abs failure. lights turn on anywhere from immediately to 15 minutes upon starting vehicle. vehicle has been assessed by mechanic, mechanic stated that component replacement would cost approximately 1000.00. abs parts are faulty. *tr

The abs/brake light keeps coming on. *tr

The abs light and brake light come on during the spring and summer months not in the fall and winter months. *tr

Dashboard indicated failure of anti-lock braking system. code reader reports c1185 and cannot be cleared. abs system completely inoperative. repairs would require replacement of anti lock brake controller/computer. *tr

Abs light and brake light comes on and interior lights flash and all gauges going crazy and run all the time causing my battery to die everyday. its a new battery and now its drained. *tr

The abs warning light will randomly come on and stay on until the vehicle is turned off. this happens occasionally, but not every time the vehicle is driven. it happens all different speeds, not just one speed zone. i am reporting this because i found out it is becoming a common issue for many people with this type of vehice. *tr

My wife driving to work thursday 40 mph and rear axle broke. left rear tire forced against wheel well causing significant smoke and tire damage. passing car flag my wife down and got her to pull over. when i checked it out later in the day found that rear axle was broke and not drivable. cost to fix at my total expense 1030.00 plus tax plus new tire. recall was performed in 2011 at kistler ford to install some kind of rear axle supports and also something done to reinforce front subframe. axle in back looks like it broke inside the reinforcements on or near the left side. kistler ford service manager stated he has seen this happen a few times after recall repair and ford not willing to take care of additional issues after the recall. that does not seem acceptable to me. seems their recall repair not sufficient. kistler ford service manager nor myself a(54yr old) have ever heard of axles failing under normal circumstances ever. this should never happen. this will kill and injure additional people. what if my wife driving 70mph down the highway when this happened? we were planning on taking my family of 5 to the smokey mountains end of this month. this could have been a terrible disaster. we bought this car new in 2003 keeping it well maintained with intention of passing it down to our 20,19 and 16 year old. there are reports of accidents and at least 1 death as the result of this defect. something needs to be done. i also recommended they examine the front subframe since there may be issues with that repair from reports seen on the internet. do not want to fix the rear and have that go bad also. sounds like they need to take these vehicles off the road. i have some pictures of the rear axle. *tr

I had prior brake issues. took my van to be inspected and had complete rear brakes replaced and front brakes were still ok, not needing replacement. after about 20 miles on my way out of town on my new brakes, the abs and brake lights came on. got back in town and took it back to where i got the new brakes. they said the brakes were fine, just not seated yet, so they ran a scan. my van threw the code c1185 (abs control module circuit relay) and i was told i needed to have an electrical diagnosis done. *tr

There was a recall on rear axles of ford windstars. i noticed my rear axle was cracked, so i called the ford motor company and was told my van was not included in the recall. i was told to take my van to the local dealer and see if they could make a special exemption and have my rear axle replaced. ford motor company said no, they would not fox my rear axle with 3 cracks in it, it wasn't covered in the recall. the local dealer did not want to release my van for me to drive because it was very serious and dangerous. this is the only way to get myself and my 2 young children to school, work, ballgames, etc.. the recall was for vans originally sold or currently registered in certain states that use road salt. my state (tn) does use salt. one of the states listed was virginia. i live 5 mins from the va state line and have family that live there, so we do travel in va often. also, the previous state on my title is va! i believe ford should issue a mass recall on the rear axle from all the complaints i have read. i was told to keep my receipts when i have it fixed in case they issue a recall i may be reimbursed. i do not have the funds to have this fixed but it is my only way to get where i need to be. i do believe ford motor company is in the wrong and something should be done. *tr

The abs light comes on randomly. the shop told be the computer is reporting faulty abs codes. i will have to ask for the specific code. *tr

Abs & brake light intermittently come on. brake fluid level is normal. brake pads & shoes are good. no other problems with hydraulic system. no brake fluid leaks. *tr

Abs, brake light stays on for no reason. spent several hundred dollars having it diagnosed. replace many parts. no resolution. drives often with a miss especially during acceleration. *tr

Abs and brake light stays on and all gauges won't stop going crazy. making by battery die. *js

On my 2003 windstar i have been having problems with the abs for quite some time don't know the exact time that it first happened its been a few years. the abs lights come on and shut off periodically. as of today the check engine light came on and the abs and brake lights came on. and the cigarette lighter fuse keeps blowing i went to get the codes read and the fuse was blown so i changed it and it blew right away again so put in one more so the codes could be read. it came up with 18 codes from just one day they are c1145, c1234, c1185, c1198, c1194, c1254, c1246, c1250,c1242, c1214, c1210, c1446 ,u1262, b1318 all having to do with the abs they could tell me exactlly what was going on and told me to google it. also codes p0171, p0174. *js

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

Abs light on air bag little on won't turn off brake light also will come on at time feels like something is sticking like driving with brake on. *js

It was a cold night -35 f, when i was in canada. when i started the car the next morning, my emergency flashers came on. i pushed the emergency flasher button to turn them off but it didn't work. i continued to push the button but it didn't turn them off. there is no fuse to shut them off. they are still flashing. this problem has virtually killed my battery. now i have to disconnect my battery so it won't die, if i don't use the car for an more than a day or two. i went to a mechanic to replace the signal light / emergency flasher unit. he said that he couldn't fix it because when he disconnected it, the emergency flashers on the dash were still flashing. so he charged me for labor only and returned the part, at no cost to me. he said he saw another case like this on google (think it was wisconsin). the same thing happened after a cold night. worse of all, he said that the entire instrument cluster had to be replaced to fix it. this cost was around $1,200.00. this vehicle is only worth about $1,500 and is only 11 years old. i believe that this defect should be covered by ford. it doesn't seem to happen much but it basically makes me have to drive with my emergency flashers on all the time, unless i pull out 2 bulbs in the rear and a total of 3 fuses (in the car and under the hood). this latter situation, ultimately, leaves me with no signal lights. i use hand signals. i think they are still allowed by law. *tr

The rear axle assy. cracked and the tires where tipping in toward the body. took it to preston, in burton, ohio and they said the recall had been done on 04/30/2011. it was exactly 2 years to the day that it cracked right beside the bracket on the passenger side. preston said it was out of warranty for fixing it and it will cost ust to fix it. we don't think it should be our responsibility since it was exactly 2 years to the day that it was fixed with the recall. if it was done correctly the first time and check the way it should have been then why did it break. my son is a mechanic and he said that it probably had a hair line crack in it when the did the recall fix and they didn't see it. the dealership is giving us a hard time about fixing it, because we don't have 1600.00 to do it and they won;t work with is to make payments or anything so far. we really think that ford should have to pay for it or at least offer to pay for the rear axle. i would appreciate hearing from you on this matter asap. thank you *tr

Abs and brake light would go on and off intermittently beginning around 55000 miles. the mechanic told me fords were known for this, but should not present a problem. back wheels started smoking and leaking fluid at 76000. this contaminated the wheel wells and brake pads. the abs/brake light also stay on consistently now. repaired the problem and ran a diagnostic on the abs. mechanic told me i had a faulty abs module that the dealer would have to repair. have not done that yet, looking to see if there has been a recall on this problem. apparently ford has not addressed this issue. i have this van to transport my disabled son, now concerned that our safety is at risk. *tr

My transmission had to be replaced; i do not drive the vehicle a great deal, tho the car is aged, the upkeep is great on the car. i have tried to keep up with the recalls on this car, is there a recall on the car's trans.? *tr

The brake light has been coming on, the check engine light has been on for some time, and the vehicle is currently leaking what appears to be brake fluid. *tr

The "repair" they made did not hold up.this is the 2nd time it has almost killed us. waiting on a reply from legal counsel at ford. it is definitely totaled with the damage. i guess enough people haven't died yet to do a mass recall. even if you had the recall done, it obviously doesn't work. how many families traveling 70 mph down the highway with this faulty vehicle need to die? thanks ford for making our cars death traps. ford windstar. i hope many see this post and start demanding their cars be replaced before they kill someone.the sub frame was replaced and they even used the old hardware to save money. my brand new sub frame is held together with my rusty old bolts. i fear for the next accident hopefully my children won't be in the car this time. so no we are in round three of this death trap of a van. the customer service representative asked me. "what would you like ford to do?" i want a car that is not continually falling apart. i wanted a buy back option in the beginning. i feel that a significant percentage above blue book is required at dealer price levels. i kept the van after the first repairs because i could not afford another vehicle and i could not bring myself to sleep at night worrying about the person and their family i sold it to. i see no reason why the buy back option should not be available to me and others out there with these repairs that are faulty. i guess enough people haven't died for the corporate people to lose sleep and bring back the vehicles that can kill others because of manufacturer defects. please share the images on facebook and with family and friends that you love. this will kill someone if it hasn't already. *tr

I stopped at a stop sign and upon pressing the gas the van lurched forward a bit then i lost all the gears. had to push it off the road with 4 children seated inside. it's like it's stuck in neutral, no gears at all. had it towed and currently waiting on mechanics diagnosis. very unsafe!! we could have been injured or worse. something needs to be done about this!!! i see page after page about this happening to people. same problem same model & year of windstar. shame on ford motor company. *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly began to hesitate and decelerated before the engine stalled. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 163,717.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that when driving with the cruise control activated, the vehicle would independently accelerate without warning. the failure persisted until it had become a permanent occurrence and would present itself even when the cruise control function was not being used. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacture informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in any active recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 151,000.

The abs and trac off lights have come on simultaneously and will not reset. the traction control switch does not work. *tt

While in 75mph speed limit upon entering into a 70mph limit i pushed cst on cruise panel steering wheel. i not only slowed but my van continued to slow while heavier traffic was skirting and trying not to run me over. it was at less than 40mph i was able to get on the emergency lane. would not respond to drive, 1st, 2nd, reverse gears. engine sounded like in neutral, going nowhere, when foot applied to accelerator. no warning given; no transmission problems or noise beforehand. stranded 400 mi from home, towed to sterling ford dealership in opelousas, la with van left there and no notion of when firm diagnosis, torque converter was the first suggestion, pulling transmission pump and much more costly was second. was told by preus ford they "thought" there had been recall regarding this problem. don't know. *tr

In the middle of driving red brake lights and abs lights came on. keep coming on and shutting off. *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal noise was present from the front of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the front lower control arm rear attaching bracket was fractured due to rust and corrosion. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. the failure mileage was 80,000.

Leaving for work, i noticed that the abs and airbag lights were on up on the dashboard. i drove to work which is only 8 miles away; going no faster than 45 mph. i arrived at work, placed van in park, turned off the van, took key out of ignition, took off my seat belt, opened door, and the airbag blew up in my face. i raised my arm and my right hand got most of the impact. we have been on the phone for 3 days with the dealer and ford motor company. they keep passing us back and forth both denying any responsibility.

Abs light come on after vehicle warm up also brake light come on at the same time. going to garage tomorrow to check on recalls and to see is the is a serious problems on windstars. from what i been reading on the internet it seem to be a major problem for windstar owners. *tr

The brake and abs light came on the day after i bought the 2003 windstar. i had to do some research to figure out that it needed a little bit of work because the previous owner lied about why they wanted to sell the van. they said nothing was wrong with it and it ran great. well now there are some major issues with the windstar. shortly after the brake and abs light came on the engine light came on. now i am trying to come up with the money to fix this problem. *tr

We bought this car today and intermittently the abs and brake lights will come on and won't turn off until we turn off the car. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while stopped at a red light, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power and would not accelerate when the contact depressed the accelerator pedal. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the torque converter output shaft had failed. the torque converter was replaced by the mechanic and the defect was remedied. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 100,000. updated 5/27/14*cn *tr

Failed ford sub frame recall noise in front end going over bumps took in for service. i was told front sub frame was rusting apart. ford windstar had sub frame recall 3 years ago large brackets placed around sub frame(in michigan). called ford dealer(in florida wear vehicle resides) and they agreed to inspect and said they thought the other dealer may have place bracket around a rotten sub frame. dealer also said ford would not replace the sub frame and i would have to pay $3000.00 for that repair. my windstar has been in florida since the recall was performed in michigan so it has not been in t.he "salt belt" how is it possible that the sub frame went from being safe to its current unsafe condition if the recall was done properly?

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension) and recently discovered that the rear axle was fractured. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was confirmed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage and vin was not available.

The abs brake light will not go off. *tr

Ford came out and tool my car to [xxx] cunningham to fix my call on a safety recall dated 2/28/2014 then refuse to fix my car state ford refuse to pay home for the recall repair he said i have to pay out of pocket. all repair are free of charge my car still at the shop at the shop because the front wheel cause by the power train axle assembly nhtsa 12v193000 and 11v030000 11s16 and 10s13 3/11/2014. can i get a copy of these recall mail to me thanks my car is still at [xxx] for 3 weeks now please help no renter was given to me as part of the recall. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

The brake light comes on at speeds 35mph-40mph for no reason and stays on until vehicle stops and computer reboots. the brakes have been replaced and and brake control module replaced. everything possible has been done according to what the tester says may be wrong. it did not pass a state inspection for this and nothing can be found wrong with the van to cause the light to come on like this. this appears to be a non-fixable, but costly problem due to the fact that everything has been tried that might be causing it. in the end a repair shop charges a substantial amount to reset the computer and send you on your way. it is my opinion that the company needs to do a recall, if they know what causes it, and correct the problem once and for all.

Abs and brake lights are on. premature abs failure no fix but to replace pump and control unit. *tr

The abs light, advanced trac control indicator light, and dash lights are flashing on and off intermittently for several seconds. alarms beep and the engine loses power. this has occurred multiple times over the past several weeks. then coming onto the freeway this morning it occurred again and the engine shut off. it would not restart. after almost getting hit by another vehicle as a result of the engine shutting off, i was able to pull over and turned off the key. tried to start the van several times and after a few tries it started and i was able to get off highway without getting hit. this is a recurring problem many 03 windstar van owners are experiencing. called ford and they said it is not a documented problem with them. i have read hundreds of comments from other owners experiencing these same problems. ford dealerships have repaired/replaced various components to correct this problem but it keeps recurring. something needs to be done. it is a design thing. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the front axle fractured and resulted in the detachment of the front driver's side wheel. the vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. there was a recall related to the defect under nhtsa campaign id number 12v194000 (suspension). the dealer was contacted but refused to repair the vehicle for an unknown reason. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was unavailable. updated 04/22/14 ma

The abs and brake lights come on. the brakes have been checked and our mechanic informed us they are fine. the indicator lights come on once the car has warmed up or it is rainy or hot outside. this problem has been going on for approximately 3-4 years.

Abs brake light goes on after driving a few minutes and abs brakes don't work. light is not on upon next start. *tr

Abs and brake dash lights come on at anytime....driving,stopped at red light,turn engine on..going over a bump in the road...etc,etc,etc. *tr

While driving my 2003 ford windstar model sel, i'm encountering a problem with the braking system/abs, as well as, my cluster gauge going haywire doing what it wants on and off on its own. the braking system is starting to become more frequent. i've gone to ford for this particular problem and a few others. ford looked at my car and told me the rear axel had cracked and they repaired the axel on recall. i informed them about the abs breaking system. i've been to two separate dealers in staten island, ny. one dealer told me it looks like i have an electrical problem not sure if it's related to cluster gauge/braking system. they told me i had a problem with the right rear window motor as well, which ford fixed supposedly. as far as the braking system goes they told me they took it for a ride and did not see anything wrong with my vehicle. i told them about the cluster gauge doing what it wants, the abs working/not working. having a hard time stopping car, as well as, telling both ford dealers about my wife having no choice but to pull off the highway because she was having this particular brake problem. i told them the only way she was to stop the vehicle was to crash into these big green metal commercial garbage containers at approximately 10 miles per hour. i showed them the damage to the front of my vehicle as well as telling them my wife had hurt her neck, i was told from both ford dealers that we don't see a problem we can't fix a problem and i am now reading on the web that there seems to be a problem with these cars up to 2003 with everything i have explained up til now. if anybody has any input or contact info for me to call to help me, i would deeply appreciate any help you can provide before one or all of my family members become injured or god forbid fatalities. *tr

Ran thru stop signs replaced all brakes and the brake peddle just pulsed and would not stop my van. *tr

Braking distance suddenly increased. abs light on, on dashboard. brake light on, on dashboard. recall work was done. *tr

I believe the seat belts in my ford windstar do not retract properly. i believe this to be a defect with the van and ford will not look into the issue without charging me a fee. there was a seat belt recall in the past on some ford windstars but ford claims it does not affect this model. this issue affects primarily the middle and rear row of my van and possibly the front seats as well. *tr

While cleaning the car i noticed a crack about 2 foot wide in the rear axle beam. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle exhibited an abnormal noise. the contact noticed that the rear drivers side wheel was abnormally tilted inward. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 12v193000 (power train). the approximate failure and current mileage was unknown. updated 03/26/14*lj the consumer stated cracks in the rear axle, were not visible and re-enforcement repairs were done, to the rear axle and front subframe lower control arm. however, the repair failed, while the consumers husband was driving. ford wouldn't pay for the repairs. they stated they had already full-filled their obligations, when they made the re-enforcement. also, the anti-lock brakes did not work. updated 03/27/14

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while at a traffic stop, he accidently engaged the cruise control resume mechanism. the vehicle suddenly increased acceleration and the engine was turned off. after restarting the vehicle was driven to the residence. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated there was a recall related to the defect. the cruise control cable was disabled. the nhtsa campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control) however, the vin was not included. the vehicle was not been repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 143,000.

Abs light and code c1185 came on. a relay failure for abs brakes. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact reversing from a driveway, the transmission failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection but the diagnosis was unclear. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the vin was unavailable. the approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

Van rpm needle goes haywire with foot on the brake and tries to stall out...engine feels like it is trying to jump out of vehicle. *tr

Abs light came on, mechanic said the ecu was shorted and ford was looking into a recall. ford has nothing on their website, but have found many external sites offering the same problem. *tr

Abs and brake lights began coming on my dash. they will go off periodically, and then come back on. the first date this happened was in 2010. i drive a 2003 ford windstar. i took it to the auto shop right away and was quoted over $1,000 to fix it. i asked what the part does and was told that it mostly controls the abs system. i asked him what i could do if i did not fix it, because there was no way i could afford that. he suggested to pump my brakes when braking. the system is dangerous when trying to make a fast stop. i have been hearing that it has happened to other vehicles of this same model vehicle. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs light remained illuminated and failed to engage in a timely manner. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test and they were unable to locate a failure code. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 80,000. the current mileage was 113,000. updated 03/31/14*lj updated 04/01/2014 *js

As the drivers of ford windstars we all got treated unfair ford wont even help its current ford windstar drivers ive met alot windstar owners and they are agitated,, first off only had this since last year and after the last 6 months of this it has been a terrible van to drive, first changing the alternator 3 x's and the battery 4's really would get a person violent, whatever happened to customer service beyond the mile of service as ford always talks, dont get me wrong the van can go miles til empty, also, the back windows the driver side doesnt open, it gets hot back there, oh wait the ac dont work in the rear either, dont go to far on a hot ride 4 hours away, youll be sweating within the 10 miles youll be drenched, when you open a car or van , big rig,limo, bus, the lights come on , not this mean pup, if you drop money, better wait til morning youll be searching all nite, it doesnt matter who the current driver the vehicle is you should proceed to bring them in for adjustments, there cost, oh wait you just put $500 in in it, here we go again, another $200, by the time it hits 6 months you just spent money you needed for groceries, oh wait $5.00 is all you got, now you gotta beg for food, and dont have no money to do squat, ford i hope this reaches you, so you see i cant tolereate a non honest company, i should have bought that honda or that acura, pure smooth running cars right there, quality built is there name and i stand behind them, ford you get 1 star, honda 10 stars...a driver of the unwinning 2003 ford windstar se, ford you got that buyback program still, she really needs a new home, a home worth big bucks to dump into her, anyone reading this outhere, if you here of any help for this sick 2003 ford windstar se, ford is it about time you , demote and let a new car maker come to town,

Abs system warning light on continuously. *tr

I went to put the ford in gear and it would not go into gear any gear, i see there is a lot of complaints on the matter. there should be a recall on this transmission before someone gets hurt or worse. *tr

Mini van steering started making clunking noise while turning. then i notice steering wheel is not straight when car is driving straight and something was wrong with alignment. automechanic told me passenger side sub-frame rotted out and minivan is unsafe to drive. i investigated potential recall of windstar minivans - i am very upset that this could have caused me to crash on the highway. only a very thin piece of metal remains holding the frame in place. minivan is undrivable and need to replace subframe. *tr

The seedometer, odometer & cruise control did not work & abs pump ran continuously. abs & brake light stayed on. this only happened when the outside temp. was around 80-85 deg.f & lights shut off once the engine cooled. dianosis was defective brake control mod. pulled fuse 101 to keep pump from running. in 2012 the lights remained on with fuse in and the speedo & odo would go out intermitantly. nov. 2013, lost speedo & odo all together

Abs module frequently sends warning with multiple trouble codes. my understanding is that the abs system is not functional when this occurs. *tr

Anti-lock brake system became inoperable according to code c1185 abs light and brake light illuminated on instrument panel. *tr

The abs and brake lights have been on for quite sometime, it would not pass emissions. a few weeks ago i almost got in an accident, due to the fact, i could not stop the van!! i have a young child and this is unacceptable ford!! never again will i purchase a ford. *tr

Abs light on and off. *tr

The vehicle stops in the middle of traffic. it wil stall out when stopped. the car will not restart. it is not anything that pertains to a tune up or oil change or transmission fluid. the radiator got low a;little but that was not the problem. there was a recall on 2003 ford windstar limited ecdition but mine was not in this recall. i feel that my car should be fixed because it his a sagety hazard. plus th front wheel bearsings are bad, which causes my tires to go bald. ford will not fix the life threating situation.

Rear axle cracked . ford said there was a recall on my axle , now ford says they recall is over . i don't understand how ford can get away with this. *tr

The issue with my vehicle is with its subframe. the front driver's side portion of it is rusting out. i took it in on 11/4/13 to a licensed vehicle service place for a regular oil change, only to have the mechanic tell me the subframe is rusting out. after learning this news (and viewing the subframe myself to observe the condition), i took it into a ford dealership to have it further inspected. the second inspection was on 11/7/13. at the local ford dealership, they also inspected the rear axle (which was part of a ford recall in the past). the dealership could see where an attempt to apply some type of coating to it another time did not change the fact that there was now a six-inch crack running down the center of the axle. a service consultant from the dealership took many pictures to send to ford. i did not drive my vehicle home that day. a ford rep came in the next day, and one of the things he was to do was to inspect my vehicle. from what i was told, and from what the initial ford service consultant said, was that it was a unanimous recommendation to ford to replace the subframe. ford, however, refused, even after many attempts to have the "why" question answered, and they would not provide an answer. before our ownership of the vehicle, when the initial subframe recall existed, the vehicle's subframe apparently was not corroding profusely in 2011. brackets were installed, and the problem was considered "fixed." less than a year and a half into our ownership of the vehicle, the subframe is rotting, and ford will do nothing to repair it as she told me today (11/12/13) in my conversation with stephanie from ford (1-800-392-ford). though they have the pictures somewhere in their system, they have considered the case closed. our family vehicle can not be safely used for the family. please hold ford accountable for the safety of their vehicles.

The brake light and the abs light came on as i was driving down the highway. i tested the brakes and they still worked. pulled over and checked them out on the side of the highway. worked ok continued on my trip. have since had numerous times this his occurred. have found out this happens when the car has been driven and has reached normal operating temps. have been told by mechanics that the abs module is bad! i have not had it repaired yet. lights are annoying though. *tr

My 2003 ford windstar was taken in for the rear axle recall and was repaired. the axle has cracked again we took it to the dealer who said that they contacted ford about the problem and were told they would not repair or replace the axle the van only has 47000 miles on it we would like to have it repaired or replaced at ford expense. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection and the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 133,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs warning light illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or diagnosis. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 111,000.

Purchased a 2003 ford windstar on 10/14/13,drove vehicle to south carolina from new jersey on 10/15/13,about halfway there noticed a loud clunking while braking, or turning vehicle left or right.had vehicle looked at by mechanic on 10/24/13.it was diagnosed as having a completely rotted subframe and motor mounts.i looked into recalls on the vehicle and found one for the subframe ,number 11s16.i called ford motor corporation on oct30,and 31st about the recall.i was told it was repaired back in apr18,2011.repairs done were an inspection of subframe,and all looked well.subframe was never replaced ,now 2 years later,ford has wiped it's hands clean of the recall saying it was satisfied on apr18,2011,by a mechanic claiming the subframe looked ok at the time.how does a faulty part that could cause a major accident,become ok because it looked good at the time of inspection?i am appalled and dishearten that a major corporation such as ford would take the easy way out and say it's not responsible for a part that they recalled initially,and now say that because it was inspected,it now is fine.i thought a recall was in place for public safety,and if so,how does it expire? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving 65 mph, the abs light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that front rotors needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 116,234.

Abs light on. *tr

I'm driving down the road and the abs light and brake light comes on. it doesn't go off until i turn off ignition. when i start the engine again the lights are off but usually within 10 miles down the road the abs light and brake light come on again. every once in a while the lights won't come on but the next time i drive the vehicle they will come on again. *tr

The "abs" and "brake" lights come on, and sometimes go off and mostly come back on again and i loose the four wheel braking protection and the car skids. *tr

Abs light and red e. brake lights come on at same time. indicating brake module has faulted. seems many owners have experienced this same issue at early stages of ownership. *tr

I have a 2003 ford windstar that has been owned by my family since it left the line. i was notified of a recall to the control arms in 2011 and took my vehicle to the dealer. in june 2012 i was driving home from work and had just turned on my street when i heard a loud bang and my car would barely more. when it happened i thought that my engine had hit the ground. i luckily was one house away from home( i had just gotten off the expressway traveling 70 miles an hour.) as i limped my way into the drive way i thought that maybe i had a flat the way that my car was driving. however when i got out of the car my entire drivers side of the car was less than an inch from the ground. after having it towed to a shop i was told that my strut (spring) had jumped off the mount. i was told there was nothing wrong with the strut (spring) but that it had jumped the mount. needless to say when ford was contacted i was told that they were not responsible. this is very wrong given there was extentsive damage done to the control arm and it pulled the tie-rod end out of the passenger side. there were no issues with the front end and i feel that the brackets that were installed due to the recall may have shifted the strut and caused the damage. but ford would not have anything to do with the matter .

Brake light and abs light and traction control light all came on and are staying most of the time. *tr

Ecu master relay has a bad soldier joint which failed causing the abs & brake lights to come on the instrument cluster. most often, i will get a few miles down the road when they come on. the stay on the entire time while in operation. occasionally, it will not come on right away right after shutting the engine off. *tr

We drove to the store and realized that our rear tires were tilted. we were looking at it and a guy that worked at the garage next door climbed under and told us what it was. he said that the rear axle was broken, he also said that there had been a recall on the vehicle. i contacted our local ford dealer and the person i spoke to told me that i was covered by the recall and that they would send out a tow truck and the would fix it. the tow truck came and a few hours later the ford dealer called and said that i was not covered and the i would have to pay for the tow and i would have to tow it off of their lot. this happened after he already told me that i was covered. i eventually had to get a loan to pay for it and i couldn't even afford a new axle i had to get someone to weld it back together and now every couple of months it breaks again. i am now on my third fix. i was doing research on this on the internet and i found something that said that puerto rico was now covered in that recall. i was told that it was just cold weather states. i live in cleveland, ohio. just because my car was not made here doesn't mean that i shouldn't be covered. i have already had the control arm recall kit put on and now i found out that there was another recall on the electrical equipment all of my abs lights and break lights are on. i really need this to be fixed please change the recalls to include other vehicles too. *tr

Abs and brake light come on intermittently, abs system does not work when light is on.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that all of the gauges on the instrument cluster malfunctioned. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 156,000 and the current mileage was 162,000.

Brake light and abs light stays on. i have been dealing with this problem for over 3 years. i have replaced the abs module once at a high cost $.tired of ford run around. *tr

My abs light keeps coming on. took car to the shop and they have done multiple diagnostics and after $500+ dollars light still keeps coming on. *tr

Abs & brake light on all the time and the systems don't work when light is on therefore they aren't never working and my odometer quit working and my other gauges go crazy like it's an electrical problem gone crazy. i don't know what gauges actually work and which ones don't cause they seem to go crazy and read different all the time. but, my abs & brake light stay on all the time no matter what. *tr

Brake light and abs light come on intermittently while driving has codes c1185,c1198,c1194,c1254,c1246,c1250,c1242,c1214,c1210 these was pulled from associate from advance auto

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while reversing at unknown speeds, he heard an abnormal noise. upon inspection, it was found that the rear axle was fractured and the front sub frame was completely rusted. the contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign id numbers: 11v030000 (structure) and 12v195000 (suspension). the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failures were confirmed. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was 160,000.

The abs light keeps coming on. i am also having a problem with the torque converter. i started my vehicle, put it in drive and it did not go anywhere. i heard that several people are having a problem with the torque converter and i need to find out if there is a recall on it. *tr

Abs and brake light is on. loss of abs and hard braking. *tr

Abs/airbag, tire gauge lights on - ebcm module failure. *tr

I was driving home from whitefish montana which is about 20 miles from my home when the van just stopped, it kept running but would not move so i shut the van off and it wouldn't start unless it was jumped, so we jumped it all the way home. we ended up replacing the battery and the alternator the van ran good for one day and than my o/d light started flashing and the van was running really rough and would not shift our of first causing me to only go 35 mph in a 70 mph, not fun at all. got it home and looked up some information on line and they told me to check the #19 fuse in the fuse box under the hood and sure enough the fuse was blown so i drove it around the block and it blew again. so we put in a 20 amp fuse and i made it home but this morning i went out to go to work and it started and it drove but than just stopped there was nothing there, i turned the ignition off and tried to restart it and nothing, no noise no nothing so i had to push the van to my house, just imagine what could of happened if i would of been in heavy traffic and my van did this. i love fords but this is ridiculous i can not afford to fix all these issues that continue to arise what next a fire under the hood. please someone help me with this. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that she started the vehicle and the abs warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the brake lines needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 80,000.

Abs and brake warning light come on instrument panel intermittently. abs diagnostic trouble codes are as follows: c1234; c1235; c1236; c1185; u1260; c1446 auto mechanic states that is common problem with ford abs control module (brake ecu). ford bulletin on c1185 code states faulty solder connections cause printed circuit board failure. dealer wants approximately $2000 to complete repair.

The abs and engine lights have been on my 2003 ford windstar for years. however, they were electrical misfires and did not affect the operation of the vehicle. it does now seem that the abs is failing. the car brakes normally at low speeds. however, over 30 mph it now seems that the brakes lock up and the car pulls to the right. i do not feel that the car is safe to drive, as it screeched and locked up when i was stopping at a red light. *tr

Abs brake comes on and off while driving. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the rear driver's side axle was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure mileage was 110,000. the vin was not available.

The abs and brake lights come on while driving the van and stay on while driving. *tr

Speedometer & odometer stopped working. abs light on (which has been happening intermittently for several months). *tr

The rear drivers side automatic sliding door does not always shut all the way. it also does not usually open without pulling the lock at the same time as trying to open it. *tr

The abs and brake lights stay on occasionally. this happens at least 4 or 5 times a month. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, she noticed a strong gasoline odor. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. the technician stated that the fuel line was fractured and would have to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 200,000. *tr

Bought the 2003 windstar in 04/26/ 2004 it was a certified program car from a dealer and had mileage of 013335 we have had several problems with it. first the rear doors will close and then reopen the dealer replaced the sensors in the doors still have that problem, second the ball joints need replaced, third the passenger window would not roll up or down intermittently, fourth lift gate door ajar light keeps coming on you get out and shut it and it still is on next time you open and close maybe a day or two later it will go off, fifth the abs and brake lights on dash come on and sixth the passenger door ajar light comes on and won't go off. the side doors and the window was noticed before the warranty went out so we bought the extended warranty. *tr

I was starting to get a clunking noise from the rear end of my 2003 windstar minivan which continued to become worse. i took the van into a reputable shop to have it checked. i witnessed the inspection and it was difficult to figure out what was wrong but it was discovered that corrosion caused cracks in the axel and it needed to be replaced. there was a recall on the axel but when i contacted ford (both a dealer a ford recall information line) i was told my it was not valid for my. the recall was for issued for states that use salt and i when i bought the van i lived in ohio but moved to miami florida in miami 2007 ( now in central fl) no road salt but still a salt environment. there repair was $663.00 and i believe that this recall should extend to all vans that have this type of risk with a refund due from ford. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated while the vehicle was turned on and unoccupied the vehicle rolled away and crashed into another vehicle. a pedestrian attempted to stop the vehicle but ended up being pinned between the two vehicles. the pedestrian sustained injuries to the arm. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be replicated. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was 70,000.

Rear axle completely snapped in two. also, the van has the abs and brake lights are on took in for a code read and nothing. the electrical acts very strange music and lights fade in and out and the cruise control is very jerky. *tr

My abs light is on and wont go off. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs and brake warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. the mechanic stated that the abs module would have to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000. *tr

Brake light and abs come on and go off repeatedly . we have replaced the alternator and battery .the brakes seem to operate ok under normal braking conditions and can find no other problems but my carries our children around in this thing .what the info i have gathered there seems to be some kind of defect with the ford ecu that needs to be addressed before someone gets killed from faulty abs not working . *tr

Abs and brake light both on. got serviced with new sensors and brakes problem fixed for two days. returned to mechanic,could not find out problem ( spent $300). recently took to pepboys for complete check(spent $180). came out code c1185. referred me to take to ford for fix. called in to see how much repair would be quoted part at $800 plus service. i don't know how to get this fixed now. since ford does not want to take responsibility for this faulty part, ford should at least have some deal where you can pay in payments or reduce the price by 1/2 since it is a common problem that is not due to normal wear and tear such as new brakes, sensors, rotors, etc. seriously the part is expensive it's not like we can all afford to just say oh ok it's only about a thousand to fix! help us out here! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that after having the vehicle serviced under nhtsa campaign i.d. number 12v195000 (suspension), the vehicle started to display electrical failures. the contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer or a mechanic for diagnostics. the contact called the manufacturer and the manufacturer recommended taking the vehicle to the dealer. the failure mileage was 115,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that upon inspection, it was found that the rear axle was fractured. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the failure mileage was approximately 199,000.

Ford safety recall 11s16 was to reinforce or replace rear axle to ensure vehicle safety. ford installed brackets that were either ineffective, improperly installed, or axle was already cracked when installed. when owner was informed of possible cracks in rear axle april 2013 ford was immediately notified and fords response is that there are no factory warranties or programs in effect to assist with this issue. this vehicle currently has 110200 miles on it. it has been driven 12,000 miles since the recall. at the time of the safety recall 11s16 repairs the owner had requested that ford replace the axle instead of installing brackets, and was willing to contribute towards the additional repair costs. ford refused to replace the axle, installing the brackets instead. subsequently, ford repairs were ineffective and resulted in cracks in the rear axle. as of this date, ford has taken the position that the repairs to the vehicle are the responsibility of the owner. the owner disagrees and is requesting that ford be required to live up to their agreement under the safety recall 11s16, to ensure that the rear axle of said vehicle meets or exceeds safety requirements. *tr

The abs warning light is on, intermittently. when on, the rear brakes can easily lock up if i slam on the brake pedal. braking distance is increased, and with less control. this seems to be a common problem: http://www.fordwindstarrecall.info/#brokensoldier described as problem # 2 on this site. i also had problem number 1 described on the above website where the "brake pressure differential deactivation switch" developed a leak. for some, as the website suggests, this has caused a fire. i fixed mine, myself, at my own expense, before a fire occurred. both of these issues are design / manufacture defects, not normal wear and tear. *tr

The abs and emergency brake light came on driving home, the next morning i went out and started the car and was drive out of drive way and the car would not stop. ...had to turn off ignition.good thing it happened here in the driveway and not on the road. *tr

We have not been properly informed about all of the recalls or other issues with our vehicle. the vehicle does have a lot of problems from the electrical, structure, engine lights are always throwing codes needing a lot of sensor replacements at our cost, the rpms seem to run fast sitting at a light(we have to turn off the engine and then restart), and the engine seems to run hot, brakes, cruise control(cannot use), traction control(cannot use), interior light are always flickering, passenger windows(cannot use) and door locks(cannot use), both rear windows(cannot use), leaks from roof, rear door and sliding doors, the cruise control, brake and traction control lights stay on while driving(we were told by a dealership that we can still drive the vehicle, but we won't have anti-lock brakes.), the ac is always having trouble staying charged, the ac/heat control switches have malfunctioned(it has to be set away from the cold and the speed to 3/4 speed to work right), the battery keeps losing charge, the brake tail lights stay on draining the battery and had to get repaired by us because the dealership could not locate the problem, driver seat has malfunctioned(cannot use per dealership's request), cruise control and traction control does not work, suspension seems to have a lot of squeaks and popping sounds, alternator and starter had to be replaced several times, the coil packs need constant replacements, all spark plugs and wires had to be replaced before their time, cannot use the rear wiper because it goes down onto the paint and starts wiping the paint and not the rear window, constantly replacing exterior lights all around, the engine constantly cuts out, we told the dealership for several years that there was an antifreeze smell and they could not locate it until 5-28-13, replaced bad front and rear axles on 5/28/13 and many others. 12k-18k to repair everything. *tr

There is something obviously wrong with our ford windstar's electrical system. upon unlocking the car with the remote, only the rear hatch will unlock. all of the other doors try to unlock, but there is not enough power to push the lock all the way up. after replacing the battery, the problem still persisted. this is not only a very obnoxious problem because each of the doors must be unlocked by hand, but this could also be a sign of other problems with the electrical system. in an emergency with children in the car, i need to be able to unlock the doors as quickly as possible. *tr

The abs, traction control, and brake warning lights will come on all at the same time after driving for only a few minutes. once these lights come on, the abs and traction controls are completely inoperable, and in bad weather this could lead to a crash. the warning lights illuminate faster when it is warmer outside. i believe that at $2800 to repair, this is a serious problem and should most certainly be a recall, especially in a family vehicle where children could be in danger. *tr

I saw there's a recall on the ford windstar abs system? (i have 2003) in 2010, i complained to my ford dealership that the abs and brake lights on the dash were flashing on and off, that it happens all the time. on that ticket they wrote, "no action", meaning they did nothing and said nothing about how to fix it. i just got back from ford dealership yesterday where i'd complained again about the same issue because now it's been 3 years of flashing lights... and they said "oh, you need a whole new abs system, that part is $2800.00 and that does not include labor!!! really? too bad my warranty is now expired. would have been nice to get that done when i complained the first time and had that expensive warranty in place. is this in fact a recall or do i have to pay for a new abs system? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar . the contact stated that the anti-lock braking system warning light illuminated as the anti-lock brakes engaged independently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic, who retrieved error code cll85, indicating that there was a failure with the speed control deactivation switch. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure was reported to manufacturer. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number 09v399000 (vehicle speed control: speed control deactivation switch, overheating), however the vin was not included in the recall campaign. the failure mileage was 100,000. the current mileage was 120,000. updated 07/23/13*lj

Our van was fine until it was having a hard time shifting. we took the van into a transmission specialist and had to replace the transmission due to water. and also had the water to the radiator completely bypass the transmission. everything was fine until months later it was having a hard time shifting. somehow a lot of water had gotten in there. there's no way it's from the radiator since like i said it bypasses the tranny and has a different cooling thing?? now he thinks it's from the a/c. so now it's in the shop again and i already spent $300 for a complete flush. now i might have to do it again. plus he's going to make a shield for the a/c. this is crazy. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving various speeds, both the abs and brake warning indicators illuminated intermittently. the failure occurred only in warm temperatures without pressure being applied to the brake pedal. the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

Abs and brake light comes on after 5 minutes, when the car is turned off it resets but the comes on again 5 minutes or so after driving. cruise control not working. *tr

Van abs brake light and abs light comes on at the same time. i took the van to local dealer who informed me that this is a common problem with these windstars. he said that it would cost a lot of money to fix. *tr if this is a common problem and a safety issue why hasn't odi.nhtsa make ford call a recall. minivans are a family vehicle is it safe to continue driving my family in it while this keeps happening?

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the axle fractured while driving 50 mph. the vehicle was previously serviced under nhtsa campaign id number: 10v385000 (suspension). the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure and current mileage was 139,000. *tr

Battery was dead all of a sudden... jumped it and all the lights started flickering... dome light dash lights... windshield wipers came on and they were turned off... driving down the road everything shut down until the gas was pressed and then it all came back on... called several places and no one can tell me what is wrong.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs light illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic. the mechanic stated that the abs system had malfunctioned. the mechanic did not detail what needed to be replaced. the contact called the manufacturer who advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. the failure mileage was 170,000. the vin was not available.

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

Bought used vehicle from dealer and noticed the abs/brake light was constantly on. it was "fixed" before completing the purchase. lasted for a few days before lights came back on and stayed on. was told it not a big deal, so i didnt worry about it. was not experiencing any other issues until 1.5 years later when i turned the defrost fan on and it stalled the motor as i was traveling. the next weekend my husband wanted to look at it and after the van idled for a few minutes, turned on the defrost and it did not stall, called it a fluke until we popped the hood and had smoke coming out! *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

Abs light will go on and off when the weather gets warm. stays off in cold weather. *tr

Abs sensor light comes on, even after brakes serviced. *tr

Abs ecu seemingly has failed as the "brake" and "abs" lights come on soon after starting every time the windstar is turned on. this was originally an intermittent problem, but is now continual. the only fix for these two lights is to repair the abs ecu. *tr

The yellow abs light and red brake light come on intermittently. this first occurred last summer. did not occur with much regularity over the winter. now within the last 3 weeks it happens almost any time the van is driven. the brakes were inspected along with the wheel speed sensors. these items are not the cause of the two dash lights coming on. it appears the problem is the abs ebcm ecu ecm computer. *tr

Abs light wont turn off. *tr

Pot hole was hit and consequently, the engine had to be replaced. damaged the engine. *tr

We stopped at a restaurant to have lunch. came out to leave. started the van and put it into reverse to leave parking place and it wouldn't move at all. called our dealer and was told it sounded like the torque converter. that was exactly the problem. there was no warning at all. it just stopped working. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that fifteen months after having the vehicle serviced under nhtsa campaign id number: 10v385000 (suspension), the axle fractured. the vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileage was 160,328.

Like many other people, i have had problems with abs and brake lights. mine constantly come on all the time. even when i had my brakes done, they still came on. also my car like to idle high and my check engine light has been on forever. it never goes off, and i have had work done so there is no reason for it to be on. now i am having problems with my od light blinking. i was on my way home from work, and the light starting blinking. all the sudden my car wouldn't move. i had to turn the car off and then back on to make it home. it was pretty scary and i have read my complaints and know that i am not the only one with this problem. ford seriously needs to do something about these issues. i just had my transmission rebuilt last year. right now, i would not recommend a ford to anyone. i have read a lot of complaints and have seen some people had some pretty serious accidents because of these problems. when do you recall something?? after people have been hurt. crazy!! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, it was found that the rear axle was corroded and fractured. the contact also mentioned that the abs and brake warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was inspected by a private mechanic who stated that the electronic control module had failed. the contact also stated that the interior lights erroneously illuminated intermittently while the vehicle was in motion. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). the approximate failure and current mileage was 149,000.

The abs light has come on intermittently and the abs braking system does not work. when the vehicle is started, it takes about 2 minutes and then the lights come on. has been doing this for approximately 6 years but ford has refused to cover since it was out of warranty. *tr

Abs light on constantly brake warning light on intermittently. *tr

After driving for around 5 minutes brake and abs lights come on. *tr

Abs comes on. *tr

I was driving roughly 40mph and the engine revved up and then wouldn't accelerate. i was able to coast to a side road for safety. i tried to shift the car into gear to drive and the car didn't register the shifts. i took the car to a shop and was told it is a common problem, torque converter, in these cars. after searching online i have found that the problem is indeed common, and should be recalled. *tr

Vehicle hesitates or stutters,vibrates rough sound .......................... at approx 40-60 mph dealership did repair, did not fix problem, still happening one month later they tell me it is the transmission, and advise me to just drive it that way! when i push for more answers they say transmission torque inverter and cost to repair 2200-2800.00 , on top of the 5000.00 i paid that did not fix the problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the transmission failed. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where the contact was advised that the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 76,000. updated 05/01/13 *bf the consumer stated the transmission has since failed again.

Both the emergency brake light and anti-lock braking light on instrument panel were illuminated within 5 minutes of having started the car. after approximately 10 minutes, all electrical appliances failed, including directionals, brake lights, etc. the engine continued to run, however it struggled on uphill climbs. *tr

I purchased a 2003 ford windstar used in october of 2012. it had 114,000 miles on it well from day one i have had a problem. the rpm, speed and gas on the dash go crazy. it says i am doing 20 mph when i know i am going faster than that. the rpm will go and up and down. i was driving to work and the brake light and trac off light came on. i tapped the break and it went away. 5 miles later i was making a right turn and the car just stopped moving. could not go reverse or in drive. i had the car towed and was told it was the transmission yet i had no signs that it was the transmission. i was told the other issues were an electrical problem and would cost me any where from $700.00-1500.00 plus up to $2500.00 to fix the transmission. started doing research and found that these are very common problems with the windstar. also i have problems with my lock on the driver side door. sometimes it will not lock and other times will not open. you have to climb through the van to unlock it. they need to recall this especially the electrical problems...this is unsafe! i will never buy another ford.... *tr

Abs light stays on. car idles high all the time, speedometer and all other dashboard control go haywire for no reason. i have to pound on the dashboard to make it stop. this had been going on for a long time. carmd device states abs sensor need and various other thing. i have spend a lot of money to no avail. seat belt attached to sliding door on the right side which is to cross over to the passenger on the second row never worked. i purchased this as a used vehicle six years ago i do like this mini van but with all of the major problems i really don't think i will be able to afford this vehicle much longer. please help me it you can. i live in an area where a vehicle is mandatory and i am on a fixed income. i just want to be safe on the road. please help. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the rear axle developed a crack. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician confirmed the failure and advised that the axle needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but refused to provide any assistance since the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 12v195000 (suspension). the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 130,000. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact was driving approximately 30 mph when the transmission failed to operate without warning. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnosis where the contact was informed that the torque converter was faulty and required replacement. the vehicle was not repaired. there was a recall associated with the 2004 ford windstar model years but not the 2003 models (nhtsa campaign id number:12v006000-power train). the manufacturer was notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

After going about 4 miles after starting up van, abs light comes on, occasionally the red brake light will come on too, speedometer goes crazy (up and down) and inside lights flicker at random. seems to be some sort of electrical issue and/or brake issues. *tr

Abs light will not turn off. also the check engine light blinks on and off and the car will not take any gas. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while the vehicle was being inspected, the technician noticed that the rear axle was fractured. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the rear axle had failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 91,453.

My abs/brake lights have been coming on while driving. lean codes p0171 and p0174 are showing. also electrical system, mainly locks have become inconsistent. when using remote to open locks, sometimes a door lock will not open on driver or passenger side. also, interior lights sometimes don't shut off when supposed too. *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

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

While driving the brake light, abs light and tracks control light all came on and it smelled like something was hot. like wiring burning. *tr

Abs light came on and won't go off. mechanic can't figure it out. last month the brake light came on and now it won't go off either. i did some research and discovered this is a fairly common problem, leading to a potential fire. *tr

The dashboard abs light and brake light illuminate. this happens off and on over the past several years. sometimes you will drive for 5 to 10 minutes and then the lights come on and sometimes they come on immediately after you start the car. when the lights are on, the abs systems does not work. the problem has persisted so long that my dashboard brake light must be burned out because it longer illuminates, even when you turn the ignition key forward and all dash lights are supposed to illuminate. dealership repairs were over 500. i believe this is unethical when this is a safety issue and judging from complaints online, there appear to be many people with the same problem. *tr

Torque converter failure with out any warning. upon minimal research there are hundreds of other people that have had the same problem and several that have had this issue happen more then once on same vehicle.at various mileages. and the cost of repair if you dont get killed in a crash is very exspensive exceeding 1200.00 .i have owned this van since 2009 and have had this in 3 times for recalls.wiring,axle,subframe, the 2004 free star is a post windstar model and there has been a recall issued on that model involving the torque converter.and wondering why the recall for the windstar has not been enforced as of yet. it takes a death before action. what a sad state of affairs. these are dangerous vechicles and should be lawfully repurchased by ford motor company. and removed from the nations highways. before death not after. *tr

There was a safety recall initiated by ford for corrosion of the engine cradle - 2003 ford windstar structure: frame and members:underbody shields nhtsa campaign #11v030000. ford repaired the left side only, leaving the right side rusted and now several significant rust holes have appeared on the right side. ford disclaims any responsibility saying that they made the repair properly but i claim they made the repair inadequately. bad metal is bad metal and regardless of the fact that the holes were discovered over a year later is inapplicable as good metal does not rust through to the point of creating a safety hazard. if the engine cradle fails, the engine will fall from the vehicle, potentially while moving. gas will spew across the road and a fireball will ignite. other drivers will either hit the engine, swerve to miss it and hit other vehicles, and/or get caught in the inferno which will cause significant damage, human harm and needless deaths. ford initiated this safety recall because there was this safety issue and the issue remains. safety was not improved by simply repairing one side of the engine cradle allowing the other side to corrode to the point of sizeable rust holes being created in a short period of time following the initial inadequate repair. once a safety recall is initiated, it is in the best interests of the public to ensure that the repair is properly and completely made and therefore that the safety issue is fully resolved.

Abs and brake light appears randomly especially when the weather is warmer. so during the winter months the lights are not normally on. most of the time they appear after the car starts driving. *tr

Brake and abs warning lights come on after several miles. repair shop says, computer indicates abs controller failure, but once codes have been cleared, computer no longer indicated problem. however, a few days later, brake and abs warning lights come on again, and computer again indicates abs controller failure. and on and on. *tr

The battery light comes on occasionally. when it comes on, the electrical system has reduced power. this is confirmed by the headlights dimming, wipers moving at slower speed. if i turn the ignition off and then restart, the battery light goes off and everything functions normally. if i don't turn the car off, it will die in a short time. *tr

Brake and abs dash lights are on intermittently. *tr

The abs brake light keeps coming on. it doesn't stay on....but goes off time to time. *tr

The abs light has come on and the abs braking system has become inoperable. *tr

Abs light on. codes c1185. *tr

The abs and the brake lights come on randomly, mainly when the vehicle is hot or the temp is hotter outside. if you turn the vehicle off and back on the lights go out for a while. *tr

The abs and brake lights came on. took it to the dealer and they stated that the abs module was defective. tested abs on wet and snowy roads, and the abs engaged appropriately. warning lights continue to come on about 5 minutes after starting vehicle. told by dealer that abs module needs replacing. i have not replaced due to high cost, $800+. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the rear axle exhibited two large fractures. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number 12v195000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly) however, the vin was not included in the recall campaign. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 141,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while having the vehicle inspected, it was found that the rear axle was cracked. the manufacturer was contacted about the issue and informed the contact that repairs would not be completed due to the fact that the vehicle was previously serviced under nhtsa campaign id number 12v193000 (power train:axle assembly). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 181,096 and the current mileage was unavailable.

The abs light and brake lights will come at the same time and both will go off at the same time. while these lights are on i will have issues while trying to break. i have trouble with the front wheel in wet weather wanting to skid when stopping and it will spin when taking off. i have had $500 of work on the front brakes and $450 of work on the back brakes and the mechanics don't understand why i still have issues when stopping. i have a 2003 ford windstar. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 35 mph, the interior lighting began flashing erroneously. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 126,720.

I was driving down the road and all of a sudden i had to acceleration or reverse or anything. it was like i was out of gear. i drifted over to the side of the road and called a tow. i needed a new transmission. that was feb. 2011 i just had the same incident happen again to me dec. 2012- transmission needs rebuilt again! mileage is 82000 are you kidding! 2 transmissions in less than 2 years! the torque converter both times! *tr

Emergency brake light comes on. when i tried to stop my car would not and almost went into someone's house...the abs light came on also! attempted to get the problem fixed after $1024 later, the abs light is off but brake light. continues to come on and squeal. ford dealer insists nothing wrong with brakes! *tr

Was going down the highway and the vehicle started to decrease in speed, pressed gas pedal to increase speed, b ut only the rpm's went up and nothing else. had to coast to a safe area to get off the road, was stranded 6 miles front he nearest town and was about 20 degrees outside. there was no warning or anything else showing any type of problem before transmission went out. *tr

I drive approximately 50-100 miles a day. i just pulled into the library and when i went to leave, the car backed out, but than would not move forward. i tried every gear and the rpm just revved. there was no prior slippage or indication the transmission was going. spoke to the mechanic and its the same problem the ford freestar and mercury monterey experienced. i just saw they got their recall why not the windstar since so many people are experiencing this and it can result in an accident or fatality. i had my daughter with me. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 50 mph the vehicle began to decelerate and would not accelerate when the pedal was engaged. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician stated the torque converter had to be replaced because the splines were worn. the vehicle was repaired. approximately two years after the vehicle was repaired the failure recurred. the vehicle was not repaired for the recent failure. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. updated 01/02/2013*lj upadted 1/7/2013 *js

Abs light is on. brake light is on intermittently. so far brake function is normal. had mechanic perform diagnostic check on system. 12 codes appeared related to the brake abs control. was told that problem is with the abs module. this issue would worsen and could cause massive brake failure. i have spoken with other owners of windstars and have heard of similar problems. this defect is not isolated to 2003 models. i know of other owners who drive 1998 2000 2001 windstars and are having the same issues. *tr

Swerved to avoid collision and the brakes locked causing car to lose control on the wet road. the van hit a tree, flipped on its side and smashed into a light pole. the airbags did not deploy even though there was front end damage. the abs and brake lights were illuminated prior to the crash. also noticed the speedometer started acting up over the prior weeks (not moving until after a few minutes of driving.) *tr

Abs and brake light on - vehicle was in for another recall and ford noted that light was on - wanted to charge for inspection of reason light stays on - they also verified that brakes were good.. *tr

Mechanics at big mike naughton aurora denver ford, inc, and private mechanic discovered rust and cracks through out rear axle. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 65mph, the vehicle lost power and shut off. the contact merged to the shoulder of the road and was unable to restart the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnose that the transmission had to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 150,000.

The abs system, that was supposed to be fixed with the switch recall, still doesn't work. intermittently i have the abs/brake warning lights on this van. it has happened under various conditions. i have replaced master and rear wheel cylinders, brake drums and still have intermittent abs. *tr

When leaving my house on a trip out of town, i drove my windstar down the street to the intersection leaving my street. as i pulled out into traffic the transmission broke, disengaged and would no longer propel the windstar forward. the mechanic who towed the vehicle said the transmission was gone and he had seen countless numbers of windstars with the same problem. *tr

The abs light came on and continues to come on after 2 to 3 minutes of driving. the brake hardware is in excellent condition. *tr

Abs and brake lights were on...now the abs light comes on randomly. also stalls after turning on. *tr

Abs has intermittent failure, the warning light turns on and off. it is difficult to drive in snow and ice conditions as the vehicle braking becomes unpredictable. *tr

Both my abs and brake lights come on when driving. then shut off then back on. a lot of windstars on the road does the same thing. *tr

This vehicle has had abs control unit problems since it was three years old in 2006. the condition being described is not to be confused with a previous windstar recall involving a leaking brake fluid pressure switch (nhtsa action #ea08021). the first occurrence was in the spring of 2006 (one month or a few thousand miles after warranty expiration) when i was about 200 miles from home on a trip driving up interstate 91 in ma in the rain. glanced down at dash display and saw both the brake system warning and abs system warning lights on. i stopped to check the brake fluid. when the car was turned off and restarted, the warning lights turned off. that was 6 years ago and the problem continued to progress to an extremely predictable pattern. in warm weather, (over 40 degrees f), the abs system will not function and the warning lights are on. when winter comes, the warning lights go away and the abs works normally. i was told by dealer that it would be a $700 repair. since the system worked in the winter (when i need the abs the most) and had spent a lot of money on several other engineering defects of this car, i have lived with the problem. it was mostly an annoyance. having done some research though, i have found that there are many other windstars with identical symptoms and they center on a defect of the abs module design. after the module has been cycled thermally for hundreds of times in service (heating, cooling, heating, cooling, etc.) there are solder connections on the pcb that are no longer reliable and become intermittently connected. it basically is an electrical or mechanical engineering 101 topic known as tce (thermal coefficient of expansion) mismatch. my concern now is that the failure is progressively getting worse and extending further in to the cold weather period. any design issue with a brake system or component is a serious safety issue. *tr

My abs light keeps coming on, my mechanic said that my abs braking system could be inoperable with the light on. i feel that this is another failing part that ford needs to issue a recall for. *tr

Abs light and brake light come on after driving car several miles for unknown reason. dealer says it could be a $1500 to $2500 fix if abs control module is bad. *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

Abs brakes dashboard light and check engine light is always on. dealer has reset many times with no success. *tr

Abs warning light comes on intermittently. abs system does not work. brake warning light usually comes on simultaneously. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 20 mph over a road bump, the vehicle exhibited an abnormal noise. the contact later noticed that the axle was fractured and rusted. the vehicle was towed to a mechanic for inspection where they stated that the axle was rusted and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and they stated that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 12v193000 (power train:axle assembly). the failure mileage was 56,000.

Brake light comes on and failure of braking system. *tr

Abs and brake light comes on and off, drivers side window and rear drivers side wing does not operate properly, radio changes stations on its own, engine serge when in ideal, interior lights come on by themselves, noise in rear when in reverse. *tr

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 and brake lights came on, lights go off if car is turned off for a minute. sporadic problem that doesn't follow a pattern. *tr

Abs control module is bad. *tr

The abs, traction, and brake light come on intermittently. *tr

Abs and brake warning lights came on after driving approximately 3 miles and stayed on. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the sub-frame exhibited a hole due to rust and corrosion. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where the contact was advised that there was a hole in the sub-frame. the dealer was notified of the failure who then advised that there were no recalls for the sub-frame. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure who filed a complaint for the contact. the failure mileage was 139,379.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar lx. the contact stated that while traveling 50 mph, both the abs and brake warning lights illuminated intermittently. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop. the repair shop confirmed that the brake modulator needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 93,000 and the current mileage was 95,000.

Abs/brake lights turn on intermittently. there seems to be any correlation to any particular driving condition, speed, force of braking, etc. ford dealership diagnosed the problem as an abs module failure. they also state that failure to rectify the issue would result in probable failure of the brake system in general at any given time. the quote for the repair is anywhere up to $1,000.00. ford motor company offered zero assistance/advice in the matter. consequently, the driver's side window no longer functions. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar se. the contact stated that while traveling 60 mph, the vehicle became resistant to acceleration attempts. the vehicle was towed to a private mechanic and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 118,000.

The abs and other brake light stays lit constantly. i just had the car inspected and there is nothing wrong with the brakes. i have read that this is a huge problem with this model van, and has caused engine fires. i would appreciate it if you would look further into recalling this vehicle. *tr

Abs brake lights came on. problem has been intermittent but went from sometimes to now being on most times. abs modules are not cheap and the feedback i have received indicates this is a wide spread problem with ford windstars. *tr

The electrical system, computer, causes the dome lights to go on and off. the electric window to sometimes not work, the abs light to come on and off, the brake light to come on and off. *tr

Abs light on constantly despite repairs. *tr

Torque converter failure for the second time. first incident at 97,000 miles then again at 120,000 miles. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the vehicle exhibited a sudden loss of power without warning. the vehicle would accelerate in either reverse or drive. the vehicle was towed to a dealer who recommended that the entire transmission be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the contact was informed of a recall similar to the failure under nhtsa campaign id number: 12v006000 (power train:automatic transmission:torque converter) however, the contact was advised by the manufacturer that the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were 140,000.

Abs and brake lamps intermittently come on. abs is disabled when the lamps are on. this problem occurs frequently. the lamps come on when you start the van and stay lit, but sometimes for weeks the lamps do not come on at all and the abs works. i would estimate the lamps are on 60-70% of the time. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while traveling 45 mph, an abnormal grinding noise emitted from the vehicle and the vehicle decreased acceleration independently. the check engine warning light illuminated during the failure. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who confirmed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileages were 98,000.

While driving abs and brake light comes on 5 minutes after driving sometime not at all and now lights never go off have new brake pads and shoes took to dealer for scds recall they did not check or discuss abs light or brake light i asked but they did not acknowledge lights or clear codes. *tr

Interior lights went on and were flashing while driving at night. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while parked the traction control, abs, and emergency brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to two different independent mechanics for diagnostic testing who were unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

My abs light and brake light will not go off there is an electrical problem that prevents the lights from going out and the use of lights inside my vehicle. the open door light is always on causing me to fear for my childrens saftey not knowing if the breaks will work or if my doors are secure. *tr

My van has had the abs/brake light on which my mechanic detects is possibly due to the modulator. *tr

Abs and brake light comes on all the time and goes back out all the time. the right rear brake light blows out about every two weeks to two months, have replaced about 20 times since buying vehicle. neighbor has a 2003 windstar with same problem. horn failed, connection problem, works off and on. attempted to get replacement part but was informed not available. *tr

The abs and brake light comes on and stays on until vehicle is turned off. *tr

Abs warning lights continue to come on even after repair. *tr

Abs and brake light comes on after driving it a few miles and stays on. *tr

My anti lock brakes stopped working. the cars abs and brake warning lights come on and go off the past year. *tr

Everything was fine until recently abs an brake light would pop on and stay on until you turn vehicle off when you started the vehicle the lights would be off until you were driving for about 30 minutes an they would pop on and now they stay on prior owner had same issue with vehicle an had it checked brake brakes were fine and abs were supposedly fine but yet lights are on which infacts disables the abs totally. *tr

Abs and brakes lights came on. abs inoperable. stopping distance greatly increased. *tr

Lights turn on and of inside the car. the abs light and the brake light on and off. windows stop working get stuck. *tr

When i apply my brakes the abs brake light keeps coming on. to reset this light i have to pull over turn off the engine wait a few seconds and restart. this is becoming more and more of a problem. this seems to be happening all the time. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the anti-lock braking system warning light illuminated while sitting idle at a traffic stop. the vehicle was shut off and allowed to reset. the failure was no longer present once the vehicle was started. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose or locate a failure within the vehicle. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 122,000. updated 11/29/12

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs and the brake warning lights illuminated sporadically. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis however the failure was not located. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 89,100.

Abs light and brake light stays on while driving. *tr

Abs light and brake light stay on. have new brakes. interior lights keep flashing on and off when driving battery light stays on. i have had battery tested. *tr

The abs warning light, trac off warning light, brake warning light all come on intermittently at various speeds. this has happened daily since first noticing it 3 or 4 years ago. reported to dealer and dealer diagnosed as fault abs electronic control module with internal fault. service technician didn't think this was a safety issue unless operating in slippery road conditions. researching the issue on line revealed volumes of others who report similar problems. this is a $2000-$2500 repair. it appears ford is aware of the defect and has been for some time and is making money off this repair instead of just recalling the vehicle to fix the repair. if the abs goes out in slippery road conditions i think the safety risks are significant that ford should bear the responsibility for the costs incurred for this repair. *tr

My abs and brake light keep coming on. i have had several items done to fix problem including tune up, cleaning of contacts. i am now told that the abs circuit controller may be bad. this is a $1,500 job that just may fix the problem. i have already spent about $600. judging from the hits i get on the internet this is not an isolated problem. *tr

Abs light and brake light on dash stays on majority of the time, transmission went out without warning in the driveway with no power, and there is a noticeable change at times in the cruise speed control while driving revving up the engine. had the transmission replaced as a result. there appears to be rust and crack in the axle. *tr

The abs light and the parking light comes on about 5 minutes after the car is started. *tr

Abs malfunctioned - caused damage. *tr

My abs light brake light turned on,im able to reset but after less than 5 min. of vehicle warm up the abs/brake light is back on again. *tr

The abs light and brake light intermittently comes on while driving. *tr

I am the owner of a 2003 ford windstar and as of now there is not a recall out on this vehicle. but there is indeed a recall on the 2004 ford freestar which has the exact same components and drivetrain. ford has recalled 205,896 2004-2005 freestars due to the torque converter output shaft fail. the same issue is with my vehicle... i have had the worst service threw ford in the follow up with this issue. i have been inspected and many transmission mechanics verify this issue and states the following model of my van has been recalled. if this is so why hasn't my vehicle been recalled.. this is a huge issue , if my wife was driving my 3 children is this vehicle when this part failed it would have been much worse! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id numbers: 12v193000 (power train:axle assembly) and nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields ). the vehicle was taken to the dealer and was repaired under both recalls. later while the contact was driving 50 mph, the vehicle began shaking abnormally. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where they advised that they needed to replace the front axle. the contact had not experienced the failure prior to the recall repairs. the manufacturer was contacted and stated that they would further investigate the failure. the failure mileage was 143,000 and the current mileage was 148,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the driver was driving 45 mph when the abs and brake lights illuminated on the instrument panel. the failure recurred whenever the vehicle was operated. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 150,000. the vin was unavailable.

First of all there is a short located by the steering wheel around the air bag. i thought it was the battery so i changed it and a couple of days later my van would not start. i took it to the ford dealer and they couldn't find the problem, so i took it to an old man that just did electrical problems on automobiles. he said it was a bad wire in the steering column and he said to repair it would cost a lot of money, so he bypassed some wires and i have not had any problems since, but when you open the driver side door, the door chimes, like when you leave the keys in the ignition. he only charged me $75. also i would be driving and the interior lights would turn on and off by themselves. this has been happening for a long time. also the abs warning lights have been on for a while and my mechanic said it is a bad abs steering box. to replace it would cost around $1000. i have had also the head gasket replaced because the ford dealer could not find what was wrong with it while it was still under warranty. it was idling very rough while stopped at a light, also when in parked. it cost me about $600 to replace it. i took it to pep boys and they found out what was wrong with it. i also had the fuel pump replaced, because it kept shutting off while at the grocery stores and had it towed by aaa 3 times in about a year. bottom line, i will never buy another ford vehicle while i am alive. they are good for the first couple of years, then they start failing. so sad, because i have been a ford guy for over 35 years. *tr

I was driving along on the freeway about 65 mph and i hit a small bump and the abs warning light came on and since then it won't shut off. *tr

My 2003 ford windstar has the abs and brake light on i feel this is a danger for my family to be in this car with the known incidents that have happened! please help get this problem solved! *tr

Dashboard warning lights for both abs and brakes illuminated. *tr

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.

My brake light and abs light stays on .. i had my brakes serviced.. and they are fine.. the light won't go off. *tr

I purchased my car on june 1, 2012. shortly after, the brake abs light, brake light, tire pressure light, and engine light came on. on july 9, 2012 i took the vehicle to maroone ford in fort lauderdale to perform necessary repairs per the recall. maroone ford dealership performed the recall repairs and informed me that the vehicle engine lights and tire pressure lights were issues not related to the recall. during the period from july 9, 2012 to july 12, 2012 the abs light and brake light did not turn on. on july 13, 2012 the abs light and brake light turned on. i called maroone ford and i was told to bring in the vehicle to the dealership. on july 14, 2012 i took the vehicle to the dealership. *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

Abs and brake light will come on and off. and battery and alternator keeps going bad. *tr

The abs and brake warning light intermittently come on while driving. this is an indication the abs system is not working. i took to the ford dealer and the repair would be at my expense. there have been safety warnings issued, but no recall as of yet. *tr

Both abs brake and emergency brake lights came on. this continues to happen when the outside air temperature is above around 60 degrees or when the vehicle is driven for more that 30 minutes. after the lights come on the abs brakes no longer work. *tr

Warning lights in dash come on and go off, abs and brake light stay on, cruise control don't work every time. *tr

Abs and brake lights are illuminated on the dash board. vehicle repair shop can not find out why lights are on. *tr

The abs light luminates and stays lit after the vehicle has warmed up. *tr

Starting this year (2012), you can not get an inspection sticker in new hampshire if the abs light is on. approximately 3 years ago the brake and abs light would periodically light up on the dashboard. shortly after the lights appeared, the brakes would make a horrible squealing and grinding noise. i took it into the mechanic and he said there was nothing wrong with the brakes. about 6 months later, the brake and abs light was permanently on. in late march of 2012 i brought the van in for new front brakes but he was unable to shut off the brake and abs lights. after the brakes were installed the squealing and grinding noise became permanent. when i took it back to the mechanic he said the brakes were fine. so i took it to another mechanic in june of 2012 and he replaced the rear brakes along with rear drums, oscillators, wheel cylinder and brake fluid. this mechanic was able to shut off the brake and abs light, (he said the code was c1185-abs) which was a good thing because he said nh now required the abs brakes to be working in order to receive an inspection sticker. however it only lasted about 2 days and the lights came back on along with the squealing and grinding noises. in july of 2012 i took the van back to the mechanic that did the rear brakes to get my new hampshire inspection sticker. he looked at the brakes again but could not find anything wrong with them. he connected it to the computer and it came up with the same code (c1185-abs) but he was unable to clear it. therefore, legally i was not able to get my nh state inspection sticker. he did recommend a new abs pump but i have not done that yet. *tr

After reaching speeds of 30 mph the abs and brake warning lights come on. will reset after car turns off only to apear again. braking does not seem to be affected. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving in reverse, the transmission failed without warning and the contact was unable to accelerate. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that the torque converter needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 124,000. updated 08/28/12*lj updated 09/05/2012 *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact attempted to start the ignition repeatedly however, the engine failed to operate. and the battery required a jump start. the failure recurred numerous times on separate occasions. the vehicle had not been diagnosed. there was a technical service bulletin pertaining to the defect under nhtsa item number: 636000(electrical system:battery). the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Abs system failure resulting in increased stopping distance. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the transmission failed. the contact was driving 55 mph when the failure occurred. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the transmission had not been inspected. the failure and current mileages were 61,000.

Abs light is on.*jb

My instrument panel keeps going crazy. the rpm needle is now pointing down into the dash. the speedometer usually is not working correctly, it will say that i am doing 20 mph, when i am doing more like 45-50. the gas gauge sometimes says that it is on empty, when i have a full tank of gas. sometimes the needles work, sometimes they don't (with the exception of the rpm needle...it hasn't moved from that buried in the dash spot for a couple of months now), sometimes the speedometer needle goes all the way to the right and then gets buried in the dash also, so far though, each time, it has came back...even though it rarely registers even close to the correct speed. the repair for this is going to be about $700 is what i was told. i do not have that kind of money, and i am constantly praying that my 17 year old daughter who has to drive it sometimes, does not get into an accident because she is going too fast, and has no clue how fast she is actually going, or one of us may get a speeding ticket. i have looked at websites and seen that a lot of people are having these problems, so ford should do the right thing and make a recall, before someone is seriously injured or even killed!!! also, not sure if it is related or not, but the abs light stays on. *tr

Brake fluid is leaking from somewhere near the master brake cylinder. it probably has something to do with the brake pressure differential deactivation switch. *js

The (mostly unservicable) ecu master relay has a bad soldier joint which fails prematurely and causes the abs light and dtc c1185. it also causes the enhanced abs braking system to become inoperable. *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields). the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for recall repairs to the front passenger side sub frame and the rear axle. the vehicle was repaired however, the sub frame failed a few months later. the contact went to have an alignment performed on the vehicle and was advised that she needed to take the vehicle to the dealer because the sub frame was rusted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised that there was a hole in the sub frame and the vehicle was no longer safe to drive. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 75,000.

The abs and brake warning lights appear on the dash. they will sometimes go off, but always come back. there is a problem with the abs module underneath the car. this part needs to be recalled as everyone i talk to that has or has had a windstar has had the same problem. also, ford wants 1000s of dollars for the part and labor. it should be a free recall since they put faulty parts in their vehicles. *tr

Braking distance suddenly increased. anti-lock brake system is only intermittently functional. defective abs ecm. well known issue per the ford dealer. after a few minutes of driving, the abs becomes non-functioning. this happens 90+% of the times that the vehicle is driven. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving downhill at approximately 25 mph, there was a complete loss of the transmission power with a rapid increase in engine rpms. the contact was able to maneuver safely to the side of the road. the vehicle was towed to the residence and diagnosed by a certified mechanic who advised the contact that the transmission would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the dealer advised there was not a recall related to the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 137,000.

The vehicle has a issue with the anti-lock braking system. the abs electronic control module is defective and as such the anti-lock braking function is inoperative. this can cause increased braking distances and /or loss of vehicle control during slippery road conditions. apparently this is a widespread problem that affects ford windstars from around 1999 to 2003. the problem is caused by defects in the abs electronic control module, which is a kelsey-hayes 430. this module is also used by other manufactures such as audi and fiat and causes similar problems in those vehicles. the module failures are caused by bad soldering joints inside the module. *tt

Braking distance suddenly increased due to a faulty abs computer module. the aluminum plate on the module expands during heat causing the abs brakes to work only part of the time. this is very dangerous and ford should do a recall to fix the situation. my abs brake light is always on along with my emergency brake light. *tr

I was driving on the mass turnpike with my daughter and two of her friends, when the car started to race and the speed started to decrease, not knowing what to do because the break down lane had dropped i slowed into the lane furthest to the right, for slow moving trucks and had the vehicle come to a complete stop and put it into park and shut it off, (my hazard lights were on), tried to start it back up and put it into drive, but when i did it wouldn't move and slowly started to move backwards, tried to put it in 1st, 2nd and neutral and samething happened, so had to call 911 and have a wrecker tow it back to west springfield, had to pay $207 dollars for tow back there and $80 to tow it to the garage that it is currently at now and new transmission is going to cost about $2000. this was a very unsafe and stressful situation for me and three children, ages 9,7, and 6. thank god we didn't get in an accident and get killed. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact started her vehicle and while it had power it would not accelerate or shift into reverse. the vehicle was diagnosed by a local who stated the transmission needed to be replaced. the contact stated the failure was a manufacturers defect. the manufacturer was notified and referred her to nhtsa to file a complaint. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 86,000. ...updated 04/25/13 *bf

Brought the car to a repair facility today to diagnose a recurring front end noise today and was shown by mechanic that both front coil springs are severely rusted and were sheared/broken and have been for quite some time, possibly as long as a year. he said that we were very fortunate that the springs hadn't slipped and pierced a tire; especially on the highway. another serious concern is that the ford dealership to which we normally bring the vehicle for service had and had failed to notice the broken springs in when most recently they replaced more front-end parts, some links, 3.5 months ago that was part of a series of related repair work in the effort to stop the ongoing front-end clunking noise. after the noise failed to go away and after this latest repair by ford service, we decided to get a second opinion from different auto repair facility. this latest mechanic, not a ford facility, said that broken coil springs appear to be a common problem for the ford taurus and mini-vans. *tr

My dealership just confirmed that the front (passenger) side engine mount that is part of the subframe has corrosion to the extent that there are two perforations completely through the engine mount. i was told that the recall for the subframe has closed and that there is no recourse for getting financial assistance with this. however, the service manager ([xxx]) also admitted that the extent of corrosion and perforation did not occur in one year ( i had the original recall service done in may of 2011). therefore, i question why they did not bring this to attention of the recall and include the repair accordingly. this is a safety issue and i would appreciate any help you can give me. the dealership where i had the service performed is roy o'brien ford in st. claire shores mi and their phone number is 586-776-7600. 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 car was driving down the road. no warning, the car would not engage. the engine would rev but the transmission was not working. once on the side of the road, there was no forward or reverse. nothing happened prior, the car was working fine. there are many complaints on this car on the internet. ford needs to do something to remedy the problem. we are so thankful nothing worse happened, there were children in the car. *tr

Transmission doesn't turn, it's seized. *tr

Abs module does not work, and shows a constant alarm light. cost to repair is $2k door locks failed and have to be opened manually. cost to repair is $500/lock power steering unit constantly noisy, hard to steer vehicle. no repair cost known. door open light constantly on. no repair cost known. interior lights do not come on when doors are opened. no repair cost known. *js

Abs and brake dashboard lights warning that abs system is inoperative, speed control system also inoperative. break pressure deactivation switch leaking oil. this leaking oil has traveled down abs wiring harness all the way to the abs controller. unsafe condition. ford dealership has refused to repair this dangerous condition as a manufacturing/design defect and stated there currently is no recall issued for this very serious problem!! *tt

I have had multiple problems with my 2003 windstar sel to include complete failure of the vacuum system where brakes, power steering didn't work had to have towed. the dealership could not fix and did not have a recall. hoses in this system kept coming off. interior lights kept flashing on without any being turned on. also the "passenger door is open" light stays on. along with abs/brake light stays on. i have taken my van in to have brakes checked. there was no problem with brakes. i have maintenance done on regular basis. problems started with 50,000 miles. i am a single woman and need reliable transportation which this van is not. when is ford going to recall for electrical problems? dealership is of no help, only want to charge for something they can't fix. i took to dealership when front passenger window didn't open. dealership stated that it needed a new motor. i knew better as this had happen before. took home and after a little bump in the road window started working again. part of the crappy workmanship ford used to put together. also dealership stated there was no recall for the problem with vacuum system which i was told was a design problem. ford needs to address all the problems associated with this model. i wonder how many others have this same problem? *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

Transmission went out in our 2003 ford windstar. looks like many others have had this issue. people at auto store and auto repair shop said ford windstar is known in the industry to have transmission problems. if so, there should be a recall. *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the gear shifter could not be moved into reverse or drive. the transmission was replaced twice because the failure was recurring. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer but the contact was advised that there were no failures found within the vehicle. several days later, the vehicle stalled without warning while the contact was attempting a turn at 5 mph. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the dealer advised that the failure could have been caused by the torque converter but the transmission would need to be removed in order to identify the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 75,000 and the current mileage was 144,000.

Driving on highway, my 2003 ford windstar had a 100% transmission failure. the car was running, but would not go forward or reverse. i did previously report transmission issues (slipping) to ford on more than one occation. ford was unable to locate or identify an issue with my transmission. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) *tt

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 structure: frame and members: underbody shields repair was performed, but the failure was not corrected. the front subframe developed a new crack due to corrosion, and the rear passenger side subframe was severely corroded within the suspension attachment which developed a crack and a hole. the vehicle did not pass stated inspection and was deemed unsafe to drive. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 107,694 and the current mileage was 129,399.

Pulled out of parking space at work and drove to the garage entrance, stopped at the stop sign. pressed the accelerator and engine rpm just revved up, no fwd or reverse, van rolled backwards into the garage. towed it home, was told i need a new transmission. had no warning lights or codes. good thing no one was behind me!. dealership said they have no info on this, but can rebuild it for around $1,000.00. *tt

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign id number: 12v195000 (suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly). the rear axle later became cracked and separated from the vehicle (which was replaced under the recall) due to corrosion. the manufacturer was contacted but denied any assistance with the repair. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 66,081 and the current mileage was 86,000.

Brake lights came on suddenly when driving, cruise control stop working, svc engine light sometimes flash, was repaired in the past by dealer on 12/09/03 ( recall 09s09) for the same reason, right now i don't have a code but seems to be the same problem. *tr

The abs brake system does not function as designed by ford. the issue is caused by heat in the abs (anti-lock brake system) ecm (electronic control module) (2c219) module causing expansion of a large aluminum plate (heat sink) in the ecm which is attached to the ecm main circuit board at all points. the expansion occurs when the unit gets warm especially in the summer months and causes intermittent electrical connection in the unit because the fragile board is being stretched and malformed. the code most commonly scanned is code c1185. there is a yellow abs brake light lite on the dash. when this light is on, the system has failed and the abs does not work. *tr

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.

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.

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

My ford winstar has had abs problems off and on for a year now, no 1 can fix it. i have spent around $1000.00 trying to fix this issue. now my odometer & speedometer isn't working. i have been told that this is a problem with windstars and it is a combo of the 3 not working together. *js

My transmission failed today in heavy traffic no warning, very scary. i googled for know problems only to find out i am not alone, it appears there are more than few hundred owners of 2003 wind stars with the same dangerous failures. how come this is not a recall, when you are traveling 60 mph center lane and your transmission quits no warning. it was just the blessing of god i got out of that situation without being seriously injured and i found out about it tonight for the first time. ford knows about it and has not even tried to make the public aware that this has and could happen without warning placing owners in what could be a life threatening situation. *tr

Braking distance suddenly increased. abs does not operate as designed. abs and brake lights come on simultaneously and stay on for extended periods. obd codes include c1185, c1198, c1194, c1254, c1246, c1250, c1242, c1214, c1210. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph, all of the lights illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle stalled and the steering wheel also seized. the contact was unable to maneuver to the shoulder so the vehicle was stopped in the middle of the road. the contact was able to restart the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for a diagnostic test. the dealer stated that the electrical system was defective and needed to be replaced. the dealer replaced some unknown electrical components, but it did not remedy the failure. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. the failure mileage was 99,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving 25 mph, the sub frame fractured and the axle disconnected, causing the transmission to fail. the vehicle was merged onto the shoulder and was not driveable. the vehicle was towed home and then to the dealer. the dealer stated that they would replace the sub frame and rear axle, but not the transmission. the manufacturer was notified and stated the same thing. no further assistance was offered. the failure mileage was 109,000.

Abs and emergency brake light on and off when i turn car on and off did not know what it was. took to mechanic lights when off before he could check. scds was replaced in feb 2010. going to new ford dealer to check. haldeman ford in hamilton nj installed scds and they were the worst dealership ever. read info from prior complaints. possible fire,ect. was nervous so now taking it back and having subframe recall inspection. *tr

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

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.

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

Speedometer lights come on while driving and don't go away. now the car wont start from what was told to me because of electrical problems. rear driver light doesn't work but can signal,left rear passenger lights wont signal. *tr

Service brakes,hydraulic braking distance suddenly increased the abs and brake light have been on in my car steady for as long as i have owned the car. the ford dealer was unable to resolve this issue. *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

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.

The abs and brake light have been on in my car intermittently for almost as long as i have owned the car. the ford dealer was unable to find any problems even though the light remains on. i have had to replace 3 sets of wheel bearings in the car and now the power steering unit is about to go out and the rack is leaking. the vehicle only has 78,000 miles on it. i work at home so i do not drive to work so the mileage is low for a vehicle this age. the vehicle is also rusting and i keep it parked in my garage unless it is being driven. the passenger side window only rolls down occasionally. in conclusion: i have been driving for 41 years and i have never replaced wheel bearings or power steering in any vehicle, let alone 3 sets of wheel bearings and a power steering unit. the costs of these repairs will total over 2000 dollars with no resolve of the brake issue or window problem. *js

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.

I own a 2003 ford windstar van, we use this vehicle everyday bringing kids to school and for wife to drive to work, we had taken the van to a wedding on the 20th of august about 20 miles away. my wife drove the vehicle like always. the next day she went to take the kids out for an ice cream and for whatever reason the transmission stop working, no reverse ,forward completely not working. there was no signs of a problem ,i have never had a miss shift or a slippage. i researched this on the web and it is not an uncommon problem. i have had the transmission replaced i hope there can be a resolve to this problem. *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

After having the 2011 rear axle and subframe recall done my transmission failed with no warning signs what's so ever . . . . shortly after spending two thousand on having the transmission rebuilt in august my brake light came on and my abs starting kicking in when i apply my breaks and when my abs light comes on my brakes are fine and my van doesn't come up on the abs recall . . . . . . ford needs to get their act together and fix these vans. *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

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

Sudden failure of transmission while driving at low speed, taking left turn up a small incline in the road. car would not move with engine power either forward or reverse. felt like it was in neutral in all shifter drive and reverse positions. towed to repair shop, vehicle required complete rebuilt transmission costing over $3000. *kb

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

Car stopped running,after stopping would not restart with switch on,turned off ign switch and turned back on and it restarted. i inquired at the ford dealer and they said they never heard of this problem. since that this has happened 100's of times including a number of times on a roundabout where the loss of pwer steering is especially scaring. i have adjusted to this problem by putting the car in neutral,turning off the ignition and then on and starting the engine again, normally this is an inconvenience but on a 2 lane roundabout it is a danger. *tt

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

The abs and brake lights come on at the same time yet the abs is working and so are the brakes. when i turn off the engine and restart the car, the lights go off. they occasionally came back on throughout the summer, but has not happened so far this fall/winter.i only put 7,500 miles a year on the van, so the problem might occur more frequently if i drove it more. i had it in to the dealer for other reasons and since the lights were not on, they didn't have a problem to investigate. *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

Recently issued recall of 2004 ford co. minivans for input shaft failure, all ford windstars including 2003 models have the same issue. freestar van is nothing but a name change for the same poor unsafe vehicle. along with the many safety issues, owners should be compensated for the repairs made on substandard vehicle. including the frame issues, brakes issue, electrical and engine quality. *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 they were traveling 70 mph when the transmission failed. the contact allowed the vehicle to cruise off the roadway. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was told that the torque converter failed. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 83,727 and the current mileage was 92,200. updated 02/22/12*lj updated 05/03/12

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the abs lamp, traction control and brake warning lamps were illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 103,000.

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

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that after receiving notification of a manufacturer's recall for the motor brackets, the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs. months after the recall repairs while the contact was driving approximately 5 mph, the engine began shifting abnormally. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they advised the contact that two motor mounts were fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the mechanic advised the contact that the failure may have been caused by the previous recall repairs. the failure mileage was approximately 186,000. the vin was unavailable. updated 02/09/12*lj updated 04/18/12

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.

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

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.

Interior lights come on randomly and blink while driving. sometimes they stay on after turning off the vehicle draining the battery. the door ajar stays on when the door is closed. all contacts cleaned and it still does this. driving with a flashing light in the vehicle is distracting and could cause an accident, this seems to be a problem in all ford windstars and should be investigated. *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.

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

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

I have a 2003 windstar and my abs and brake lights have been on for about a year years now. *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.

Braking distance suddenly increased. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving 80 mph the vehicle stalled without any warnings. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure but stated that it might be a problem in the factory wiring. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 99,000 and the current mileage was 104,000.

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

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the entire electrical system failed. the windshield wipers did not operate, the interior lights shut on and off while driving at night, the power windows would not open or close, and the power doors worked intermittently. the contact stated that there were several instances when children became locked inside of the vehicle. in addition, the instrument panel was inoperable. the dealer replaced the windshield wiper motor however, did not evaluate the vehicle for the other failures. the manufacturer had not been notified nor was the vehicle repaired. the current mileage was 105,000 and the approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

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

The middle seat door locks fail randomly. when they fail, it is impossible to open doors. must click locks open and close approx ten times to make the ‘door open’ operate. we had it repaired in apr 2010. they worked for about a month and the problem is still present. the additional lighting package lights flicker on and off randomly. that was repaired at same time and worked for about a month also. we had the system checked and paid about $800 for service from a ford dealership, gurnee ford, 18834 west grand avenue in gurnee illinois 60031, receipt dated april 15, 2010. this is a dangerous problem. the doors need to open and the flickering lights come on and are a great distraction esp at night.

Abs light and brake light come on intermittent. *tr

2003 ford windstar 71,000 miles - bought new for $35,000 in december 2003, i purchased a new 2003 ford windstar. i am the only driver of this van, to and from work and a few road trips. in the beginning a few things went wrong but i wasn't too concerned at the time. since then, here is a list of things that has gone wrong with this van: 1. no heat - blender actuator 2. driver's side window wouldn't roll up or down (fixed) 3. passenger side window and back windows do not work 4. interior lights go on and off 5. gasket replaced on engine because car was dying when i came to a stop. ($450) 6. rear window defroster doesn't work 7. rusting out by back tires 8. transmission failure $2,800. fluid from the radiator got into the transmission fluid! (now how did that happen other than being defective) 9. 2 safety recalls i am lucky i haven't been killed in this vehicle! the transmission failed with no warning! you would think when i had my car serviced they would have noticed that my transmission fluid did not look right. i am so frustrated with this van that i have worked hard and struggled to pay for, but i did it. my entire family has always stuck by ford and i have always defended them. i can't afford another vehicle right now so i had to dig deep to pay for these repairs. i have done quite a bit of research on this vehicle and i cannot believe there hasn't been a recall on the transmission. now i am stuck with driving a $35,000 van that i don't feel safe driving! [xxx] copy to: nhtsa (national highway traffic safety administration) missouri attorney general (consumer protection) 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. the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing numerous failures with the abs, brake light illumination, slow gear shifting and power windows and door lock failures. the manufacturer was contacted and advised that there were no recalls for the vehicle. the manufacturer denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 101,000 and the current mileage was 104,000.

The door locks don't work right, and the gauges suddenly went sporatic. the rpm gauge needle went so hard, it is stuck to the dash. not usable. it does this regularly now. (the gauges and locks).

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the external and internal lights, windshield wipers and door locks would licker on and off sporadically. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the body control module was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 152,000 and the current mileage was 153,083.

Traction control and brake warning lights come on when outside temperature is above 80 degrees. suspect ecm failure due to bad design. safety issue! *tr

While driving, i felt the van was not shifting, so i went to the dealer i bought it from. they said there was nothing wrong with the transmission. the problem still existed. i took it back to dealer-again, nothing wrong with transmission but they did do a transmission tune up. when i picked it up, i drove into town. i was driving on the highway and had to stop on a red light. on green, i pressed my gas pedal but the car would not move. in a desperate effort, i shut the engine off and waited a few minutes. i was able to move again, but for only about a quarter mile to have to do the same repeatedly until i got to a safer spot. finally, i ended up leaving my van parked at a shopping center and called a cab home. this is not the only problem i have been going through with my ford windstar van. the interior lights flash on and off while i am driving, and my air conditioning doesn't work, even when i had free on put in it. i do not have the money for another car, nor do i have the money for a new transmission, along with having it put in. i live in a town where there are no buses and can only get a ride from a taxi. i don't have $10 one way for this! i need to get to work, and cannot afford to lose my job. all because of a malfunctioning vehicle that is causing same problems for many others out there. ford should be recalling these vehicles! *kb

I have a 2003 ford windstar. the brake and abs lights are on almost all the time. in cold weather the lights don't come on until the engine is warmed up. i had a ford dealer run a diagnostic on the vehicle and they said the abs brake module and hydraulic control unit must be replaced. the cost for parts only is $1645. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated the vehicle would not shift into drive or reverse. the contact was stopped at a light and when attempting to accelerate, the engine rpms increased excessively but the vehicle would not accelerate. the contact tried putting the vehicle in reverse but to no avail. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 82,000.

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.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the automatic doors would open and close without anyone operating the control buttons. the dealer was notified of the failure and advised that there were no recalls for the failure. the manufacturer was notified and confirmed that there were no recalls and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 119,000.

I recently bought a 2003 ford windstar mini van in flordia from someone on craigslist in that use to live in virginia. no longer than 2 weeks after i bought the van the engine light, abs, and brake light came on and the van was jerking very hard when the gears were changing. i took the van to a ford dealership and paid $90 for a diagnosis test. the dealership informed me i had to replace the full body throttle which i paid $230 for. 2 weeks after i replaced the full body throttle the engine, abs, and brake light came back on and the jerking continued. i was not informed by the dealership that there was a recall on the ford windstar mini van 99-03. *tr

I was parked outside my home.i went out to my van to go pick up dinner and to my distress, the van wouldn't reverse or go forward. after some investigation from online source and auto mechanics, this is an ongoing problem with ford's transmissions. no warning of a problem.in the past weeks,my interior lights would come on while im driving. this van is a hazard. you really need to investigate this please. *tr

Abs light is on as well as check engine light.car is idling rough. checked with numerous car repair places with no success. also, van is pulling to the right even after i changed tires and did alignment check ! *tr

The brake and abs lights came on. when i stepped on the brake, the van started bucking and was unsafe to drive. the abs electronic ecu module and brake rotors needed replacement, at a total cost of $881.69, including parts, tax and labor. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated the vehicle was recently repaired under the nhtsa campaign id number 11v030000 (structure: frame and members: underbody shields. the remedy repair consisted of attaching a bracket to the rear subframe. after the repair was performed, the vehicle began to vibrate excessively and the bracket protruded into the transmission and caused a hole. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the defect and they were unable to provide further assistance pertaining to the repair. the approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that none of the windows or doors opened with the key remote. the windows do not open but the doors can be opened manually. the dealer inspected the vehicle but could not determine what caused the failure to occur. the failure mileage was 100,000.

Wow, my 2003 ford windstar only has 119,ooo miles and i cant believe all the issues! the abs system and emergency brake lights costantly stay on, mechanic said high dollar part. also check engine light will not go off. car hops and jumps, replaced coils and all oxygen sensors and still throwing many codes. dont even feel safe in this family vechile. i beg ford to recall these issues!! *tr

There is some kind of malfunction in the 2003 ford windstars. the windows will stop working all at once or at random times. the lights will stop working and then start again. the radio will stop working and start again. these are all on random fuses. ford says they can not fix the problem if they do not experience it. the problems will last for a few minutes or up to days at a time. the cruise control also will not engage at times. these are all getting power as the cruise control will tell you it is ready to engage and when you try to engage it , it says its been deactivated. the radio will eject or load cd but will not come on. we have not found a solution yet but feel this can be a problem if the lights go out at the wrong time. even the windows not opening can be a problem. if a bee or something else gets stuck in the van you can not always stop to get it out. as my husband and daughter are very allergic to them it is a danger not being able to open them. in looking up solutions i have noticed a great many other people with the same problem. *tr

Intermittent failure of abs module causing red brake light and orange abs light to come on and loss of abs function. this seams to happen more often in hot weather. sometimes the abs can be "turned back on" by shutting off the vehicle and restarting. also rear power sliding doors have intermittent problem to where they will not fully unlock. door will partially open, then get stuck, so that you have to manually push the rear of the door shut in order to attempt to get the door to properly open. worried that doors will not open in case of accident. *tr

2003 ford windstar. consumer states problem with vehicle transmission *tgw the consumer stated water would get inside the transmission at times and the reverse gear is failing. *jb

The abs and brake lights had simultaneously been coming on intermittently since sometime in 2008 (a 5-year-old vehicle), occurring with greater frequency as time went on. however, since about march 2011 they now come on every day, usually within 2 minutes of starting the vehicle. there were no accidents or damage leading up to this failure--the problem is inherent in the module. after about the first year of intermittent failure i had a ford dealership technician diagnose the problem; he told me it was due to a bad ecm for the abs (which i already suspected, having done some prior research); we had a conversation about it concerning the aluminum heat sink plate; he told me it was a bad design, it should've never been designed that way. in may 2011, after the warning lights were coming on daily, i had some other service work done at a ford dealership; in speaking with the service representative i asked about the abs and brake lights, he told me the abs ecm was bad, that many of them go bad like that because it's a bad design and he had in fact just replaced one the week before for a customer--it was $1,400. these same modules were used on earlier model years of the windstar, and all model years using this module have had failures. when the module is not functioning, the anti-lock brake system- does not engage. when the system fails, this can lead to unexpected wheel lock-up and uncontrolled sliding, increased braking distances, and greater risk of injury accident. the vehicle is equipped with abs, and as a safety feature it must not fail--just like seatbelts, airbags and tmps. with the system failing daily now, i fear this coming winter the vehicle will not respond as expected when braking on snow-covered roads. with 2 ford employees telling me this module is a bad design, with the relatively low part cost for the module (actual cost, not marked-up), considering the factor of safety at stake, this should be repaired under a recall, the same as any safety system. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the entire electrical system failed and none of the electrical components were operable. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer or a mechanic for diagnosis or repairs. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 46,000.

2003 ford windstar, inspected for rear axle corrosion recall, passed and parts added in mar 2011. at the same time the rear axle was fixed the vehicle was inspected for front subframe recall and passed. aug 18-2011 the passenger side lower control arm broke while driving at approx 20mph. no letter was ever received from ford to add parts to front subframe (confirmed by a phonecall to ford canada) how did they pass this as it failed 1500 kms later. not feeling safe to drive it again (ford is going to fix it!) *tr

Faulty abs sensor in 2003 ford windstar. both the abs and brake lights on the dashboard starting coming on this past summer. i had it checked at firestone, automasters and the ford dealership. i was told they were all getting a c1185 error code and that the sensor needed to be replaced before they could figure out the problem. the cost at the dealership was $495 for the sensor and another $500 to install. while checking another recall from ford, i stumbled upon a website [http://www.fordwindstarrecall.info/#problem2] that mentioned that others have had the same problem and that the problem could start a vehicle fire. it suggested two solutions: 1) replace the ecm unit and wait for it to happen again at your expense, so save your receipts. always buy ford parts if there is a chance you will be reimbursed. also a ford dealership may be the way to go here. 2) deactivate the ecm high power by removing fuses 101 and 102 so that the abs is always off and not intermittent. and wait for ford to listen to us through your report to the nhtsa.gov. i am sending this to add to anyone else who has brought this issue to your attention in the hopes it can be repaired properly and that ford covers some, if not all the costs. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated the front right wheel fractured when attempting to make a left turn. the dealer nor manufacturer were notified of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the current and failure mileage was 74,000. updated 10/03/11 *bf updated 3/28/12 *cn

My abs and brake light are always on when i drive my car: ford windstar 2003 *tt

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the anti lock brake light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact also stated that all of the gauges on the instrument panel would intermittently display inaccurate readings. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the failure was a factory defect. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 150,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the brakes would fail sporadically without warning. the failure recurred several times. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was not made aware of the problem and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 125,000 and the current mileage was 140,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 20 mph, the abs light illuminated and of the insrument panel gauges began to fluctuate erratically. the contact stated that the abs light remained consistently illuminated. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnostics. the vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed for the failure. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Our 2003 ford minivan passed front subframe inspection and "cleaning" on 3/14/2011 when vehicle was in for rear axle recall repairs. it was taken back to the dealership for front subframe recall on 7/11/2011 and recall repairs were made. in addition, other repairs were sold to us after a thorough inspection by mechanic. nine days later, while driving on the highway, a clunk noise was heard from the front of the vehicle. on 8/1/11, the dealership mechanic found a broken right sway bar due to excessive rust at the subframe attachment. service manager was told by ford that this failure is unrelated to the recall issue and that subframe replacement would not be provided by ford. we then had the mini van put up on a lift at an independent garage where repair of subframe was observed and pictures were taken of the subframe which was literally separated into sheets of rust under the repair brackets. any force to put bolts into the repair brackets could easily have hastened the corroded sway bar failure. we were told the mini van is safe to drive even without repair, however, we have no confidence in that and live in an area where there are lots of small children, joggers and pedestrians. we greatly fear that any further failure in the front end could result in serious injury or death to someone. vehicle has 84,000 miles. ford denies any assistance or responsibility for our issue.

Transmission failure. driving in reverse out of my driveway..no warning lights or noise...transmission stopped. car will now not move. cannot shift into drive or reverse...huge expense that we do not have the money for..very unhappy with this ford mini-van.

Traveling 65 miles an hour on i-96 eastbound , outside of the detroit area. sudden loss of all powertrain function. able to come to a complete stop on the right shoulder. engine runs fine, and will go into park.

I have taken my van into the ford dealer more than twice for the brakes making real bad noises when i first drive it for the day. ford dealer says it is brake dust and is normal for that year of van .the noise is real bad and i'm worried that it may cause a problem down the road.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the transmission failed while driving. no indicator lights illuminated on the instrument panel and the transmission did not knock or slip prior to the failure. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. the failure and current mileages were 43,337.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle stalled and the tacometer began to display a high reading. the vehicle would not restart and was towed to an authorized dealer, who stated that the failure was due to the transmission. the dealer also stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. the manufacture was notified, but offered no assistance and stated that there were no recalls related to the failure. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 46,988. updated 10/27/11*bf updated 3/27/12 *cn

Abs/brake lights are coming on constantly....losing power....front/passenger side windows will not work, lights go on and off..... *tt

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the driver's side window air bags deployed without any impact to the vehicle and the seat belts locked. the vehicle was inspected by a dealer, who stated that the failure was due to faulty wiring. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was notified, but offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were approximately 50,000.

The yellow abs light is on all the time and my speedometer is jumping around erratically. the vehicle also surges when the cruise control is on. this only started happening after the vehicle was in for repair of the rear axle and front sub-frame recalls. *tr

Ford recall no. 09s09 - 49 cfr part 573-defect we were not informed of recall. -- per down-loaded pdf letter from ford motor company today, this recall obligation expired on 12/8/2009. question: is ford obligated and required to pay for repairs in near future (july 19, 2011) to correct defect?

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the antilock braking system (abs) warning light was illuminated. the abs would activate on the front driver side tire when braking intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the where the failure was located at the electronic control module. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 112,000.

Braking distance suddenly increased. it occurs 75% of the time the vehicle is driven. when driving the vehicle the abs, brakes and traction lights illuminate. its intermittent when this occurs, but occurs often. occurs more often when temperatures are hot. recall 09s09 was completed and problem started happening around time of repair. *tr

Braking distance suddenly increased. it occurs 75% of the time the vehicle is driven. when driving the vehicle the abs, brakes and traction lights illuminate. its intermittent when this occurs, but occurs often. occurs more often when temperatures are hot. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact was driving approximately 35 mph and approaching a traffic stop signal when the accelerator pedal was depressed and the engine exhibited an abnormally rapid increase in engine rpms. the transmission failed to respond and the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. the contact planned to have the vehicle diagnosed by a certified mechanic. the manufacturer was made aware of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

Abs light and brake light come on and off. *tr

While driving on the highway in delaware with my family the van i suddenly loss acceleration. thank god i was able to get over to the side of the road but this has to be a safety concern. without notice lose acceleration and now no gears work. 2003 ford windstar. after searching on line there a lot of people who had the same thing happen to them. this van has been a major problem with the axle breaking while driving and that was recalled. how can this not be recalled as it almost the same result. accident. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the cruise control, anti-lock braking system and the speedometer malfunctioned. the cruise control could only be deactivated by tapping the brakes and not by engaging the switch. in addition, the abs warning light was illuminated and the speedometer gauge was defective. the contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer for further inspection or repairs. the contact believed the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 104,874.

2003 ford windstar yellow abs light and red brake lights in dash stay on . took vehicle to ford dealership from which i purchased it and was told i need a abs controller and no recall was ever issued related to this problem. *kb