Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 230 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 230, in the owner's own words
ABS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, AFTER 5 MINUTES OF OPERATION LIGHT WILL COME ON, THEN STAY ON, BUT AFTER SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND START AGAIN LIGHT IS FFF AND COMES BACK ON AFTER FEW MINUTES OF TRAVEL. *TR
HAD CHANGED BRAKE PADS A WEEK EARLIER. DRIVING 55MPH AND THE CAR CRASHED DOWN ON IT'S AXLE AS THE TIRE AND WHEEL PASSED BY US GOING DOWN HIGHWAY, IN 37 NORTH. STUDS HAD ALL BROKEN OFF. THE DISC BRAKE IS RUINED FROM SKIDDING ON IT. TRAFFIC WAS MODERATELY HEAVY. WE SKIDDED TO A STOP ON A BRIDGE AND FEEL LUCKY NOT TO HAVE CRASHED INTO ANYONE. *TR
FORD WINDSTAR BRAKE, ABS BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS REAR AXLE CRACKS! *TR
THE BRAKE & ABS LIGHTS WERE COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY THEN THE BRAKES STARTED SQUEAKING AND EVENTUALLY STARTED AT LEAST SCRUBBING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. ALSO, WHEN YOU PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, IT FELT SOFT. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR AND THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKES ARE SCRUBBING. AND, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFT, AGAIN. MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE BRAKES ON 12/28/09 AND WE HAD TO HAVE THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE AND SPINDLE REPLACED ON 01/13/10. WE HAD THE RECALL NO. 09S09 WORK PERFORMED AT RICHARD HANEY FORD IN CARROLLTON, GEORGIA ON 12/17/09. NEW FRONT BRAKES WERE ALSO PUT ON BY MECHANICS ON 12/12/08 & 09/17/07.
1996 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER REQUESTS A REFUND FOR MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS AS A RESULT OF THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN A RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A BRAKE FLUID LEAK WHICH DAMAGED THE ABS MODULE, CLOSKSPRING AND CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL NOT TO WORK. THE CONSUMER STATED IN MID-LATE DECEMBER SHE AND HER HUSBAND BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF AT RANDOM. BRAKING WAS SOMETIMES INTERRUPTED BY A SHUDDERING WHICH DELAYED THE ACTION OF THE BRAKE AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, AS IF THE ABS DID NOT WANT THE BRAKE TO ENGAGE. THIS HAPPENED DURING NORMAL BRAKING AS WELL AS A QUICK PRESS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IN EITHER CASE THE BRAKING WAS PROLONGED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM WITH A KIT AND SHE WAS REASSURED THE BRAKE LEAK WAS FIXED AND THERE SHOULD BE NO MORE PROBLEMS AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ACTION OF THE BRAKES. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE CONSUMER AND HER HUSBAND EXPERIENCED THE SHUDDERING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND DECIDED TO PURCHASE AN ABS MODULE FROM AN ONLINE DEALER. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO AGREED TO INSTALL THE PART. THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABS LIGHT AND SHUDDERING HAS BEEN RESOLVED. WHEN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE, HE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE RECEIPTS FROM THE REPAIR, BUT WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THE YEARS COVERED FOR A REFUND OF PREVIOUS REPAIRS. *JB
THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING. I CAN STOP AND SHUT THE VAN OFF AND IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT. 1996 FORD WINDSTAR 82,400 MILES. *TR
COMPLETE BRAKE LOSS WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. LUCK HAD IT WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WITH A CONCRETE STOP. THE METAL BRAKE LINE LOCATED ABOVE THE GAS TANK RUSTED COMPLETELY. WHILE THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES LOOK FINE, IT'S THE AREA OF THE BRAKE LINE THAT PASSES OVER THE GAS TANK THAT IS RUSTED. BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE GAS TANK, THE LINE ARE HIDDEN FROM NORMAL VIEW OF AN INSPECTION UNLESS THE GAS TANK IS LOWERED. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION OR HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. I AM KEEPING THIS AS A REMINDER HOW CLOSE MY FAMILY CAME TO DEATH. *TR
ABS LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A PROBLEM ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, REPLACED PARTS ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, ABS LIGHT STILL STAYS ON. NO OTHER REASONS FOUND FOR LIGHT TO BE ON. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED. *JB CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. I HAVE PAID $89 3 TIMES TO HAVE 'DIAGNOSTICS' RUN WHICH SHOW NO REASON FOR THE LIGHT TO BE ON, YET IT CONTINUES TO STAY ON WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW MY CAR TO PASS STATE INSPECTION.
BRAKE FAILURE LINES ROTTED COMPLETLY THROUGH. *AK
ABS LIGHT ON, BRAKE LIGHT ON, BRAKES FAILED DUE TO BROKEN BRAKE LINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. ON 2 DIFFERENT BRAKE LINES. WE REPLACED BOTH BRAKE LINES. *JB
I HAVE A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR THAT HAS DEVELOPED A LEAK IN ITS BRAKE LINE. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO FIND A BRAKE LINE FOR THE CAR AND I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM FROM FORD. I CONTACTED FORD AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY STATED TO ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A FORD DEALER FOR THE RECALL IN 2002. THEY THEN TOLD ME TO CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALER AND FIND OUT IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED BY FORD. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IF THE CAR WAS ALREADY RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID FOR BY ME. I LOOKED AT THE BRAKE LINE AND IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IT WAS EVER REPLACED. THE RECALL # IS 02V101000 . *NM
MY VEHICLE HAS A BRAKE LINE THAT BLEW. THE LINE THAT BLEW IS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FROM FORD. (RECALL # 02S36). ON THE PHONE FORD SAYS THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED IN 2002 AND THEREFORE DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS OUTLINED IN THE RECALL. *NM
I DISCOVERED BURNT WIRING NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER ON MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, PARADISE FORD IN COCOA FLORIDA, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SENSOR/SWITCH, THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MASTER CYLINDER, HAD MALFUNTIONED AND SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE WIRE AND CONNECTOR TO BURN UNTIL THE WIRE WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE SENSOR/SWITCH. *JB
DT: CONSUMER HAS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL 02S36 REPAIRS. THE BRAKE LINE WAS INSPECTED ON JULY 21, 2003 AS STATED IN RECALL. THE BRAKE LINE WAS CONSIDERED NOT A PROBLEM THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ON AUGUST 14, 2005 THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING ON CITY ROAD. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE RECALL WAS CONSIDERED CLOSED BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY PERFORMED INSPECTION. HE FELT THAT RECALL REPAIR DID NOT FIX PROBLEM DUE TO PROBLEM RECURRING . HE THOUGHT BRAKE LINE MAY HAVE RUPTURED DUE TO RUBBING AND RUST.*AK
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. TWO YEARS AGO AROUND JUNE 7 2003 WHILE DRIVING THE VAN ALL WEEKEND, WHEN THEY GOT OUT OF THE VAN AND WALKED INTO A STORE, WERE NOT INTO THE STORE FOR 10 MINUTES AND SOMEONE SAID THAT THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. HAD PROBLEMS WITH ABS LIGHT COMING ON, AND THEY TRIED TO HAVE THIS FIXED. WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THIS FIXED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY COVERED IT. SHE BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS FROM THE DEACTIVATION OF CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. *AK
THE VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED ON THEIR OWN. *NM THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT WHICH MAY BE DUE TO THE BRAKE LINES. REFER TO RECALL#02V101000. *SC THE SWAY BAR RATTLED, THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. *JB
THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES NOT ENGAGING WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON ICE OR SNOW. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED.*AK *TC
THIS MORNING, I WAS PREPARING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD COMPLETELY LOST MY BRAKES AND BRAKE FLUID WAS SPILLING ONTO THE DRIVEWAY.*AK UPON INVESTIGATING THE LEAK, MY NEIGHBOR AND I WERE ABLE TO LOCATE A CRACK IN THE RIGHT FRONT HARD LINE. THERE WAS OBVIOUS SIGNS OF CORROSION ON ALL OF THE HARD BRAKE LINES. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINES AND WAS UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL I REVIEWED THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE. I AM NOT SURE WHETHER TO CONTACT FORD DIRECTLY OR SPEAK WITH AN ATTORNEY FIRST. I SHUDDER TO THINK OF WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE ON A FAMILY TRIP RATHER THAN IN MY DRIVEWAY.
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO CHURCH WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY TWO KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE CENTER. THE BRAKE MONITOR SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE FRONT PORTION OF THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE THE ENTIRE LINE ON HIS VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS NEARLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE DEFECT WITH THE BRAKES. NO RECALLS FOUND. *JB A LEAKING BRAKE LINE WAS FOUND. *SC
THIS IS A SECOND OR FOLLOW-UP FOR MY EARLIER COMPLAINT FILED ON THE DAY OF TEH INCIDENT. I JUST FOUND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WANTED TO APPEND THIS TO MY COMPLAINT.*AK FIRST COMPLAINT WAS ABOUT THE TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING IN MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 4 WHEEL DISCS AND ABS. WITH A DUAL BRAKING SYSTEM THE RUPTURE OF A BRAKE LINE SHOULD NOT CAUSE TOTAL BRAKE LOSS BUT THIS FAILURE DID CAUSE JUST THAT. IF THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS NOT ON SOME PEDAL WAS EVIDENT. ONCE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS ON THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SINCE THE RUPTURED BRAKE LINE WAS IN THE REAR AND THE FRONT BRAKES STILL HAD FLUID AND DO MOST OF THE BRAKING I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO RETAIN SOME STOPPING CAPABILITY. I PURCHASED THE 4 WHEEL DISC SYSTEM TO GAIN A SAFER AND MORE SECURE VEHICLE. IF THE ADDITONAL OF ABS 4 WHEEL BRAKING RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF THE DUAL MASTER CYLINDER FUNCTION , WHICH IS MORE CRITICAL, I THINK THIS OPTION IS LESS SAFE. THE NEW INFORMATION IS THE FACT THAT OTHER FORD WINDSTARS HAVE A RECALL FOR IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BRAKE LINES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO RUST THROUGH AND RUPTURE. FORD TELLS ME THAT MY VIN IS NOT IN THAT GROUP. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS CORRECT BUT THE SUMPTOMS SOUND IDENTICAL. ALL THE OTHER BRAKE LINES IN MY CAR WERE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE SAVE FOR THE ONE TO THE REAR BRAKES WHICH RUPTURED AND CAUSED THE LOSS OF THE FLUID IN THE REAR SYSTEM. THE FRONT SYSTEM RETAINED FLUID BUT DID NOT PRESSURIZE THE BRAKES. I ASSUEM THIS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ABS BUT I CAN NOT BE SURE IF THAT IS THE ACTUAL CAUSE. FORD INDCIATES THAT MY NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINE IS NOT THE SAME AS THE EXISTING RECALL. I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU INVESTIGATE IF THE BRAKE LINE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTAR PRODUCT IS LARGER THAT ORIGINALLY THOUGHT. MY CAR ALSO IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE MASTER CYLINDER SIGNAGE UPDATED ON A RECALL. FORD INDICATES MY WAS DONE BUT I DO NOT SEE ANY OF THE EXPECTED MARKINGS. PERHAPS THESE WERE APPLIED AND HAVE FALLEN OFF OR I COULD BE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE.
MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ABS 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON THE NY CROSS ISLAND HIGHWAY. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. DESPITE HAVING DUAL ZONE BRAKES AND BRAKE FLUID REMAINING IN THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM I HAD ZERO BRAKING. I WOULD THINK THAT PAYING EXTRA FOR 4 WHEEL DISK ABS BRAKES WOULD NOT BE AT THE COST OF LOSING THE VALUE OF THE DUAL MASTER CYLINDER. I EXPECTED IMPROVED BRAKING WITH THE ABS 4 WHEEL DISK OPTION. THE LOSS OF ANY BRAKING MOTE THAN OFF-SETS THE HEAT DISCIPATATION AND ABS FEATURES. SHOULD HAVING ABS AND DISC BRAKES MAKE A CAR LESS SAFE? THE CAR WITH ONLY 58,500 MILES ON IT HAD A METAL BRAKE HOSE RUST OUT. THIS LINE WENT TO THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES AND THE FAILURE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR ABOVE THE SPARE WHEEL. OTHER BRAKE LINES STILL APPEAR RTO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS ONE FAILED AT THIS DATE. THE REAL REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS THAT I WAS SURPRISED BY THE TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. I THINK THIS MAY BE A DESIGN FAILURE. SHOULDN'T THE FRONT BRAKES STILL HAVE WORKED? INDEED WITH THE IGNITION AND SYSTEM OFF SOME PEDAL WAS ENCOUNTERED BUT WITH THE POWER ON THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO PEDAL. THE INDICATOR LIGHTS DID INDICATE A BRAKING PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN REPORTED TO FORD AND TO SEVERAL DEALERS AS THE ABS/TRACTION CONTORL OFTEN AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES. DESPITE MORE THAT 20 ATTEMTPS TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED AT MULTIPLE DEALERS THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS IS ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF BENEFITS IN WHAT SHOULD BE A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT. HOWEVER, THIS REPORT IS NOT ABOUT THE RECURRING TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE. THIS IS ONLY TO SURFACE THE FACT THAT BRAKING FORCE IS TOTALLY LOST WHEN A BRAKE LINE FOR THE REAR BRAKES FAILS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND APPROACHING A RED LIGHT CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR FLUID LEAKED. THE BRAKE LINE THAT LED TO THE FIREWALL WAS DEFECTIVE. PREVIOUSLY, RECALL 02V101000 CONCERNING BRAKE LINES WAS ISSUED. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT FORD PERFORMED RECALL REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE BRAKE FAILURE RECURRED. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *JB
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .