1998 Ford Windstar Brakes Problems

ABS DASHBOARD LIGHT STAYS ON VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING WHILE IN MOTION VIBRATION IS PROPORTIONAL TO SPEED

NHTSA ID

11073153

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

I CAME TO A STOP SIGN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT HITTING THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE CAR FINALLY ROLLED TO A STOP WITH THE HELP OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND ON A DUAL LANE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10910847

Incident

Sep 21, 2016

Mileage

125,000 mi

ABS LIGHT IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651585

Incident

Oct 29, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

ABS IS INOPERABLE VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610266

Incident

Jul 7, 2014

THE ABS LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN IT WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE VAN WAS TURNED OFF. NOW THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I TURN THE VAN ON & DOESN'T GO OFF UNTIL I TURN THE KEY OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595050

Incident

Mar 24, 2014

Mileage

136,514 mi

ABS LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN WHEN I REACH SPEEDS OF 70MPH ONLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532361

Incident

Oct 8, 2012

BRAKE FLUID ALL LEAKS OUT WEAR HOLE IN BRAKE FLUID TUBE TO REAR BRAKES BETWEEN FRAME AND GAS TANK. CAUSING VIRTUALLY NO BRAKING POWER. DRIVERS SIDE NEAR REAR WHEEL. WOULD REQUIRE 200.00+ TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10493718

Incident

Jan 21, 2013

Mileage

233,456 mi

I WENT TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN DEC 09 RECEIVED INSPECTION ON RECALL # O9S09 AND 09SO9H ONLY. NOW HERE IN FEB. 2012 THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION,RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHEEL MAKES ALTO OF NOISE POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING STRANGE NOISE IS HEARD WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS,FORD SAID MY VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL SERVICE IT IS DUE . I BELIEVE THEY ARE WRONG ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS THE RECALLS REPORTED ARE MY PROBLEMS I HAVE PAPER WORK PROVIDING THEY ONLY RAN TEST ON RECALL #O9S09 AND 09S09H MY CAR IS IN SERIOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS HERE IN ILLINOIS.UNDER THE ORIGINAL OWNER FORD STATED THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FURTHER REPAIR. FORD DEALERSHIP ROBERTS MOTORS 4350 ALBY ALTON IL 62002. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449558

Incident

Dec 3, 2009

THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF A PREVIOUS RECALL. ALL THE FORD DEALER DID WAS INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK IN THE SCDS CIRCUIT TO THE ABS BRAKE UNIT. SINCE THAT TIME, THE ABS BRAKES HAVE BECOME INOPERABLE AND WILL START PULSATING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS CAUSES DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. WE REQUEST THAT FORD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SCDS SWITCH, WHICH THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441434

Incident

Sep 28, 2011

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OF THE SUB FRAME WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SUB FRAME FAILURE AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE SUB FRAME WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE TIE RODS, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL CYLINDERS, BRAKE ADJUSTERS, SPRING KIT, DRUMS, ROTORS, SHOES, AND PADS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL LEVEL STOPPED WORKING FOR THE LEFT SIDE. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THEN PULSATED BACK UP, AND THEN THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 02/01/12

NHTSA ID

10439715

Incident

Dec 7, 2011

Mileage

114,000 mi

"ABS" AND "TRAC OFF" LIGHTS COME ON CONSISTENTLY DURING WARM-WEATHER MONTHS AT SPEEDS OVER 60MPH. THIS MEANS ABS BREAKING IS DISABLED UNTIL CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. FORD DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. ISSUE COMMON PER THE BELOW LINK (SEE PROBLEM #2 SECTION). HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436763

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONCE HE TURNED ON THE HEATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,816.

NHTSA ID

10435608

Incident

Oct 31, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS WARNING LAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE WHEEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE PUMP MODULATOR VALVE WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,822.

NHTSA ID

10397943

Incident

Apr 18, 2011

Mileage

58,822 mi

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED, ABS LIGHT AND RED BRAKE LIGHT BOTH ON ALL THE TIME. TRAC OFF FLASHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10383912

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

245,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN OVERDRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MAIN CONTROL VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE; IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT LATER BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AS THEY LOCKED UP WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THEM TO AVOID A DEER. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE WOODS AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS TONE RING SEAL HAD CRACKED; IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE TONE RING AND SENSOR. MONTHS LATER, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO GRAB. THE ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE SWITCH ASSIST IN ALL DOORS WAS REPLACED IN 2005. IN 2011, THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH ON THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR AND CHECKED THE LATCHES ON THE DOORS BECAUSE THE DOOR LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED ALL THE SENSOR ASSISTS FOR THE DOORS. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10379940

Incident

Aug 28, 1998

Mileage

4,400 mi

1998 FORD WINDSTAR HAS RUSTED ENGINE SUBFRAME, WHICH, IF LETS GO WOULD CAUSE SIDE AXLE AND FRONT TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM VAN AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL,LOSS OF BRAKING, AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE VAN WAS ON RAMP FOR OIL CHANGE . RECEIVED RECALL ON REAR AXLE CRACKING AND RECALL WAS DONE TODAY BY FORD. BROUGHT SUBFRAME PROBLEM TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AND THEY STATED THAT FORD WAS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE FORD HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS TIME. THE SERVICE STATION OWNER WHICH DID MY OIL CHANGE EXPRESSED AN OPINION THAT HE FELT THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTING WAS INDEED MUCH MORE OF A CONCERN THAN THE CRACKING OF THE REAR AXLE WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED BY FORD. AT PRESENT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY WINDSTAR WITH THIS STRUCTURAL DEFECT AND I FEEL FORD SHOULD REMEDY THIS DEFECT IN THE SAME MANNER THAT THEY DID WITH THE CRACKING REAR AXLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10375091

Incident

Nov 15, 2010

Mileage

81,250 mi

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON, AND NO SPEED CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360673

Incident

Oct 1, 2010

Mileage

165,000 mi

RECALL 09S09 1998 FORD WINDSTAR- HAVING TROUBLE WITH SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER AND ABS BRAKES. HAD WIRED HARNESS INSTALLED BY FORD DEALERSHIP. I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY DIDN'T DO A PROPER INSPECTION AS PERTAINING TO ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS SEEMS TO BE CAUSING FOR MANY PEOPLE. I CAN'T DRIVE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE MY BRAKES KEEP LOCKING UP AND MY SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY DROPS TO ZERO AND THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION SOUNDS AWFUL. FORD TOLD ME ALL THEY NEED TO REPLACE IS THE WIRED HARNESS IS THIS TRUE.I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES. THEY WERE DONE LAST SEPTEMBER 2009. MY MECHANIC COULDN'T FIGURE OUT BRAKES. PULLED 15 AMP FUSE FOR SPEED CONTROL. PUT BACK IN AFTER HARNESS WAS INSTALLED STILL BRAKES LOCKING UP AND SPEEDOMETER ACTING UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358328

Incident

Sep 1, 2010

ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS THEN BEGAN TO STAY ON. NEW BRAKES & ROTORS/DRUMS ALL AROUND. NOW PROBLEM WITH BRAKES BUT LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. ALSO AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE ABS LIGHT. IT WILL NOT GO OFF EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352796

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

125,000 mi

1998 FORD WINDSTAR MY BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352413

Incident

Mar 5, 2009

Mileage

97,500 mi

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE ABS BRAKES ARE WORKING ALL THE TIME. EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER I CAN HEAR THEM ENGAGING. I CAN NOT GET THEM TO STOP CHATTERING. AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES OF CITY DRIVING THEM FINALLY GIVE UP AND THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE CAR STOPS NORMALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352393

Incident

Aug 18, 2010

Mileage

147,000 mi

CAR STARTS OUT NORMALLY. CAR SOMETIMES SUDDENLY HAS A LONGER BRAKING DISTANCE THAN NORMAL AND BRAKING IS JERKY. "TRAC ON" ENGAGES FOR A FEW SECONDS AND TRACTION IS JERKY. AFTER THAT ABS LIGHT REMAINS ON AND "TRAC OFF " LIGHT IS FLASHING. IT ONLY HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. I AM PLANNING TO TAKE IT TO FORD TO CORRECT ABS LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342090

Incident

Jun 28, 2010

Mileage

120,000 mi

ON DECEMBER 16TH 2009. I WAS DRIVING DOWN WEST 117TH TOWARDS MADISON/LAKEWOOD IN CLEVELAND, OHIO AND WAS TRYING TO COME TO A STOP (SLOW DOWN AND STOP) TO ALLOW AN AMBULANCE TO PASS (THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS ALSO SLOWING DOWNA ND THAT CAME TO A STOP AT THE STREET LOT)THIS IS ON A MAJOR STREET NEAR AN HIGHWAY INTERSECTION. I PUT MY FOOT ON MY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND COME TO A STOP BUT IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE BRAKE HAD WENT OUT. I ENDED UP HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HARD (AN SUV) AND DOING QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE OTHER DRIVER VEHICLE WAS SO FAR AS I COULD TELL UNDAMAGED. ON MY VEHICLE THE FRONT LIGHT IS BROKEN, MY BUMPER IS DAMAGED, AND MY HOOD IS DAMAGED. I, MYSELF AND THE DRIVER I HIT COULD HAVE GOTTEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. SO FAR WE ARE BOTHFINE AND NO INJURIES OCCURRED. HOWEVER HE MAY TURN AROUND AND COME AFTER ME IF HE DECIDES TO. AND I NOW CAN NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY VEHICLE BRAKE ABOUT A MONTH AGO AROUND EARLY NOVEMBER. MAYBE IN END OF OCTOBER. THE VERY DAY OF MY ACCIDENT (HAPPENED AROUND 12:15 NOON) I WAS GOING TO GO HOME AND CALL FORD ABOUT THE RECALL. THERE IS A WORLDWIDE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE MODEL AND MANY OTHERS. AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE HAD TO MAKE NUMEROUS REPAIRS ON IT AND STILL HAD PROBLEMS AND THIS ACCIDENT. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND SHOULD COMPENSATE ME WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME AND MONEY INTO REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THIS WINDSTAR. OR GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK OR SOMETHING. I'M GLAD MY KIDS WERE NOT WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THAT THE MAN I HIT WAS ALSO ALONE AND IS OK. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS SINCE I GOT THIS VEHICLE: O2 SENSORS (BOTH), ALTERNATOR, BELT, WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE, AND MAKE BACK BLADES DON'T WORK AT ALL, THE TRANSMISSION, THE STEERING COLUMN BOX, DOOR HANDLE AND COMPONENTS INSIDE AND MORE!

NHTSA ID

10296483

Incident

Dec 16, 2009

THE BRAKE FLUID CONTINUES TO LEAK, TODAY I WAS DRIVING AND HAD NO BRAKE FLUID, I HAVE NOTICED SOME SMOKING UNDER MY VAN AFTER THE VAN IS TURNED OFF. I HAD TO REMOVE A FUSE DUE TO LIGHTS NOT TURNING OFF ALSO, THE CHILD BUILT IN RESTRAINTS PLASTIC IS BROKEN, (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=1998, MAKE=FORD, MODEL=WINDSTAR). *TR

NHTSA ID

10292875

Incident

Nov 19, 2009

Mileage

180,000 mi

WE HAVE FINALLY GOT FORD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES ON THE 1990-2000"S FORD WINDSTARS I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR ( EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY LOCAL DEALER THAT THEY WILL ONLY BE PUTTING ON THE HARNESS FOR THE SWITCH WHEN I TOLD THEM I HAD ALREADY HAD MY SWITCHED REPLACED ABOUT A YEAR AGO FOR A BRAKE FLUID LEAK THEY INFORMED ME THEY WOULD NOT CHECK MY ABS SYSTEM FOR DAMAGE UNLESS I PAID FOR THEM FOR THE SERVICE. THE SERVICE TECH SAID "QUOTE" ( HOLD ON NOW WE ARE ONLY PUTTING ON THE HARNESS ANYTHING ELSE WILL COST EXTRA) ALL THERE GOING TO DO IS PUT IN THE HARNESS I GUESS ANY OTHER DAMAGE DONE BY THESE SYSTEMS WILL JUST HAVE TO BE JUST SHOVED UP OUR TAIL PIPES !!!! EVEN THOUGH THE CCDS SYSTEM IS THE CAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS...THIS SEEMS TO BE THE WAY OF DOING BUSINESS FOR FORD I HAVE ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE ALSO WITH THIS VAN LIKE ,DOOR LIGHTS SIGNAL ALWAYS ON EVEN IF THE DOORS ARE SHUT THE DOOM AND INSIDE DOOR LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME....WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR IT PUTS OUT COLD AIR ONLY THOUGH THE DEFROST SWITCH AND THEN UNDER THE BACK SEAT IT BLOWS HOT AIR INSTEAD ..WHEN I DRIVE FOR A FEW MILES AND TURN THE VAN OFF IT SOUNDS LIKE A POPPING NOISE FROM THE BACK AROUND THE MUFFLER MY MEC. SAYS THAT THE MUFFLER TAIL PIPE SYSTEM ON THIS MODEL IS NOT WORTH A FLIP HE SAYS YOU COULD NOT GIVE HIM ONE OF THESE VAN"S THERE A PIECE OF JUNK THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THERE OWN COME ON PEOPLE LOOK AT ALL THE SIGNS ABOUT THE FORD WINDSTARS LIKE MY DADDY USE TO SAY THIS IS A FIRE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO HAPPEN I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN'''''. *TR

NHTSA ID

10289035

Incident

Jan 10, 2008