1997 Ford Windstar Brakes Problems

MY WINDSTAR GL WOULDN'T START. I REPLACED THE RANGE SELECTOR SWITCH. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE I FORGOT THE RECONNECT THE BRAKE PRESSURE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED TO GET THE CODE CLEARED BUT NO-ONE COULD ACCESS THE CODE. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL NOTICE ON THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM AND HAD THEM LOOK INTO WHY THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TOLD THE ABS MODULE HAD QUIT AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MODULE IS $1500.00 AND $300.00 TO INSTALL. THAT'S MORE THAN THE VAN IS WORTH. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT MANY OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS ALSO QUIT AND THE DEALER REP. TELLS ME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO GOES THROUGH THIS MODULE. WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE IT SEEMS RATHER IRRESPONSIBLE FOR FORD TO DO NOTHING MORE THAN INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK AS A SAFETY MEASURE. I AM LOOKING INTO BUYING A USED MODULE TO REPAIR THE CRUISE AND ABS. THE FAILURE IS TOTAL. NEITHER THE CRUISE CONTROL OR THE ABS SYSTEM WORKS AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349332

Incident

Nov 10, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABNORMALLY LOW. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE TIRES TO DEFLATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V199000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 6/4/09 *CN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AND BRAKE LINES SNAPPING. UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10265274

Incident

Apr 9, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON SAME TIME. NOTICE BRAKE FLUID LEAK. REFILL BRAKE FLUID OFTEN. SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE SWAYS ERRATICALLY FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. CRUISE CONTROL INOPERABLE FOR 2 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10260265

Incident

Feb 5, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

NOTICED THAT I WAS LEAKING SOME BRAKE FLUID FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ON MY 1997 FORD WINDSTAR BUT VERY LITTLE AT THAT. ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. RAISED THE HOOD BUT THE SMOKE HAD QUIT. GOT BACK HOME AND NOTICED THIS AGAIN WHEN I WAS STOPPED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AGAIN AND FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS SMOKING AND VERY HOT. WENT TO THE FORD DEALER TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND THERE WAS NOT . INSTALLED THE REPLACEMENT PART WITH PLUG ADAPTOR AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH SMOKING AND THE CRUISE STARTED WORKING AGAIN. NOTICED ON THE NET THIS SAME PART THAT IS IN MY WINDSTAR IS ALSO IN OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. WHY IS THIS? THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUGHT FIRE AND BEEN A TOTAL LOSS TO THE VAN AND IF IT HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE THE HOUSE ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227200

Incident

May 7, 2008

Mileage

191,000 mi

ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKING ENGAGES DURING NORMAL DRY BRAKING. THIS CAUSES A LESSENING IN BRAKING JUST BEFORE A COMPLETE STOP. COULD CAUSE A COLLISION BY NOT STOPPING CAR WITHIN THE DISTANCE EXPECTED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10088085

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

I BOUGHT THIS 1997 FORD WINDSTAR IN MARCH OF 2003. THE VERY NEXT DAY I RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDENT CAR DEALER DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THEY RESET THE LIGHT. WITHIN A WEEK IT WAS ON AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS A FLUXATION IN THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND IT WAS MAKING THE LIGHT COME ON. THEY RESET IT. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER IT IS LOSING COOLANT SOMEWHERE AND RUNNING ROUGH, THEY CHECK IT AND NOW IT NEEDS 2 OUT OF 4 OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED IM TOLD. THEY PAY FOR IT IF THEY TRULY FIXED IT BECAUSE ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS LATER I AM HAVINT THE SAME PROBLEMS SO THEY REPLACE THE OTHER 2 OXYGEN SENSORS, BUT CANNOT EXPLAIN THE COOLANT LOSS. EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SO I DECIDED TO GO TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER EVEN THOUGH I TRY TO AVOID DEALERS BECAUSE OF PRICES AND THEY CHARGE ME $58 TO TELL ME I NEED A HEAD GASKET, MY ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING, TIMING COVER IS LEAKING, BALL BEARING IS SHOT AND MY ANTIFREEZE LOOKS LIKE MUD. THIS IS ALL WROTE ON A SERVICE ESTIMATE I ASKED THEM FOR. IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1700 + TAX FOR THEM TO FIX. I HAVE READ THAT FORD KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE 95 WINDSTARS AND THE HEAD GASKETS AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OR MONEY TOWARDS A NEW CAR SO I FEEL THEY KNOW ALL WINDSTARS WITH THIS 3.8L ENGINE ARE FAULTY NOT JUST THE 95'S. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME TOUGH LUCK BASICALLY. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEAD GASKETS IN ALL 3.8L WINDSTARS AND I WANT MY VAN FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10070667

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

87,000 mi

HAVE A 97 FORD WINDSTAR ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD A TIRE BLOW COMPLETELY HERE TO FIND OUT THAT THE COIL SPRING ON DRIVERS FRONT BROKE AND WENT INTO TIRE, THEN TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL 2 YEARS AGO ON IT BUT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF IT AND ALSO A FEW WEEKS AGO, VAN ALL OF A SUDDEN KEPT GETTING REAL HOT WITH ROLLING WHITE SMOKE JUST TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS ON THESE WINDSTARS BUT YET STILL WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, THIS IS NOT RIGHT, I FEEL WE WERE CHEATED, NOW HAVE A VAN THAT SITS AND STILL OWE $10,000 ON BECAUSE I'M A FAMILY MAN OF SIX AND CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF THESE MAJOR REPAIRS, I'M AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT OF HAPPENED IF THIS WOULD OF BLEW WITH ALL MY FAMILY IN IT ON A HIGHWAY, IS THIS HOW THE FORD COMPANY TREATS THEIR CONSUMERS BY LYING AND DECIEVING THEM.

NHTSA ID

10007578

Incident

Feb 14, 2003

Mileage

88,890 mi

ABS BRAKING LIGHT SYSTEM APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. ALSO THERE IS COOLANT MIXED IN WITH OIL INSIDE OF ENGINE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8017553

Incident

Aug 27, 2002

RIGHT REAR BRAKE WOULD LOCK UP AFTER BEING PARKED. WOULD BREAK LOOSE AFTER BEING DRAGGED ON DRY PAVEMENT FOR ABOUT 20 FEET. ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON SPORADICALLY. HAD FORD DEALER REPLACE REAR BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ID

765575

Incident

Dec 20, 2001

MY ANTI LOCK LIGHT STAYS ON BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR STAYS ON AFTER I COME TO A HAULT FOR THE FIRST TIME OUT FOR THE DAY. BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE BRAKE DRUMS CRUSHING MY BRAKE PAD I HAD TO REPLACE ONE AT A TIME.BUT THE IN ONE MONTH MY REAR RIM CRACKS LEAKING AIR THEN FRONT RIM DOES SAME THING IN SAME MONTH DEALER SAY WE CA SCEDUEL YOU AN APPOINTMENT AT YOUR COST. THANKS YOU FORD FOR A FINE RESPONSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

762105

TRACKING SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. AND BRAKES ARE NOT OPERABLE. LIGHT ON THE INSIDE COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003695

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE DRUM CRACKED BUT WAS NOT NOTICED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED, THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO ALL COMPONENTS WITHIN THE DRUM. IT SEEMS VERY UNUSUAL THAT THIS HAPPENED, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE LOW MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS ONE OF NUMEROUS FAILURES THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAD THE DRIVER FRONT COIL SPRING BREAK, BUT IT WAS EVENTUALLY RECALLED. BASED ON THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE IN YOUR DATABASE, I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE, AND NOT RELIABLE. FORD HAS HAD MANY RECALLS FOR VARIOUS VEHICLES IN THE PAST 2 TO 3 MONTHS.*AK

NHTSA ID

755295

Incident

Nov 2, 2001

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AT 78,000 MILES. CAR HAS FAILED 4 TIMES. REPEATED TRIPS TO SERVICE CENTER, TUNE-UP TWICE, NEW BATTERY, NEW FUEL PUMP. APPROX. $1500 PAID SO FAR, CAR CONTINUES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. FORD MOTOR CO.

NHTSA ID

753758

Incident

Oct 20, 2001

WE BELIEVE THE SHEER NUMBER OF DEFECT ON THIS CAR IS UNBELIEVABLE. WE PURCHASED IT USED FROM MY PARENTS. TOTAL COST OF NON "WEAR AND TEAR" REPAIRS IS AROUND $5000. THIS IS OVER 25% OF THE VEHICLES ORIGINAL VALUE, AND OVER 50% OF THE VALUE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. WHILE NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, WE BELIEVE FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A BAD PRODUCT. *AK

NHTSA ID

753194

BRAKE PADS TWICE AND THE BRAKE ROTORS ONCE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ABS LIGHT AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT IN THE DASH BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF. CURRENTLY, THEY ARE STAYING ON IN VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

883922

Incident

Nov 1, 1997

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT ENGAGE WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

881786

RIGHT SIDE BRAKES MAKE INTERMITTENT RUMBLING NOISE, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. NLM

NHTSA ID

551908

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

550358

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ALONG WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STAY LIT WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING USED. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT THE DOOR AJAR BUZZER TENDS TO KEEP SOUNDING WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A HINDRANCE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

716533

Incident

Jul 1, 1999

ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. MJS

NHTSA ID

549038

FRONT BRAKES ARE SOFT.

NHTSA ID

609535

Incident

Oct 23, 1998

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

843534

Incident

Jun 15, 1999

FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 980318985A28 PARKING BRAKE WON'T RELEASE

NHTSA ID

703689

Incident

Sep 15, 1998

BRAKE PADS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

607250

Incident

Dec 1, 1997

NORM CONDITIONS 20 MPH STOP ABS ENGAGED,DELAYED STOP. NEAR ACCIDENT. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM, NOT REPEATABLE. ONE YEAR LATER PROBLEM RECURRED, AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER TO REPLACE LEFT WHEEL SENSOR. SEEMS THAT IF THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER DOESN'T THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM, THE TECHNICIANS CANNOT FIND IT. SENSORS COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED EARLIER AS A PRECAUTION. OTHER PROBLEM- DRIVING 55 ON HIGHWAY AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED UNCOMMANDED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED SINCE EARLIER INCIDENT WITH THE DEALER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. SENSOR IN GEAR SELECTOR WAS BAD. HOPEFULLY, NO UNDUE WEAR AND TEAR ON TRANSMISSION RESULTED FROM THE HIGHWAY DOWNSHIFT.

NHTSA ID

702197

Incident

Dec 8, 1997