2000 Ford Windstar Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start, and the rear glass was out of the frame by about three-quarters of an inch. Additionally, the front driver's and passenger’s side windows failed to go up or roll down and were inoperable. The contact also stated that the instrument panel and anti-theft system were inoperable. The service engine, anti-theft, overdrive, speedometer, ABS system, and door ajar warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V351000 (Electrical System) and 00V020000 (Visibility). The contact called the dealer and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and confirmed there were no associated recalls with the VIN and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11666369

Incident

May 28, 2025

Mileage

180,000 mi

GOING DOWN THE ROAD TRACTION CONTROL WILL GO OFF AND ON . IT WILL MAKE THE STEERING VERY HARD. THEN WHEN YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF. IT IS VERY HARD TO START UP . SOME TIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE HOURS THEN IT WILL START RIGHT UP. THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IS VERY BAD. SOMETIMES WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL STARTS TO HAVE A PROBLEM THE VAN IS VERY HARD TO EVEN KEEP IT IN CONTROL I'M DISABLED AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A BETTER VAN. I'VE TRIED TO TAKE IT BACK TO FORD BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. ALL THEY TALE ME IS TO GET ANEW ONE .BUT I CAN'T. THE POWER ON THE DOOR LOCKS ARE BAD THE LOCKS WILL GO LOCKED AND UNLOCK AS YOU DRIVE IT DOWN THE ROAD. BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT. 3 YEARS. OR MORE. HAD IT IN TO FORD MANY TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11384006

Incident

May 4, 2013

Mileage

129,032 mi

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES CRAZY, DOESN'T WORK OR WORKS JUST FINE. THIS HAPPENS WEATHER I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE CITY..

NHTSA ID

11242309

Incident

Jun 3, 2019

Mileage

151,000 mi

MY FORD WINDSTAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. IT TURNS ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD RANDOMLY. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON, THE ABS IS NOT WORKING. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS OFF, THE ABS IS WORKING. I HAD MY MECHANIC FIX THIS FOR $850. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE NEW PART STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. I NEVER KNOW HOW TO BRAKE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION BECAUSE THE ABS IS ON SOME OF THE TIME AND OFF SOME OF THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

11139679

Incident

Jan 2, 2015

Mileage

170,000 mi

ON FRIDAY, JUNE 23RD, THE 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WAS PARKED IN THE LOT OF MEIJERS AT 8650 WEST GRAND RIVER AVE, BRIGHTON, MI 48116 FOR APPROXIMATELY A DURATION OF 40 MINUTES. UPON RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS FIRE FROM INSIDE MY VAN THAT APPEARED. BY STANDARDS CONTACTED 911 AND FIRE DEPT AND POLICE HAD RESPONDED. THE FIRE WAS DISTINGUISHED AND REPORTS WERE MADE OUT. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT WAS THE ACCELERATE IGNITION POINT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER THAT PRESENTED A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND ME. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11001661

Incident

Jun 23, 2017

Mileage

53 mi

I OWN 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE PAINT IS FLANKING OFF THE ROOF REALLY BAD IT HAS SOME SPOTS RUSTED AND SOME IS GRAY EVEN IN THE BACK AND FRONT. I JUST REPLACED THE HOOD FROM A JUNK YARD. MY SPEEDOMETER KEEPS GOING CRAZY AND WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF PARK THE PARK AND REVERS PART BROKE BECAUSE IT GOT STUCK WITH THE RPM AND THAT BROKE TOO. I HAVE TO KEEP THE FUSE UNPLUGGED THAT GOES TO THE INTERIOR LIGHTING DO TO BATTERY DEAD BY THE NEXT DAY.

NHTSA ID

10914388

Incident

Apr 28, 2011

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WENT BAD AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING. THE ELECTRICAL LOCKS ON THE DOORS LOCKS US IN REGULARLY, WHILE DRIVING IT OFTEN SLIDES ON IT'S OWN. THERE'S A GOOD BIT OF THINGS GOING ON WITH MY CAR THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TO TELL YOU ABOUT.

NHTSA ID

10863591

Incident

Apr 29, 2016

Mileage

187 mi

VAN STALLED WHILE DRIVING, HAD TO BE TOWED. MECHANIC COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH COMPUTER. VAN IS HAVING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH KEEPS BLOWING FUSE #22 IN WHICH VAN CAN NOT BE STARTED OR DRIVEN. SAFETY HAZARD, FORD MUST RECALL VAN

NHTSA ID

10819827

Incident

Dec 24, 2015

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V608000 (SUSPENSION) AND THE REMEDY FOR THE REPAIR DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER ALSO INSPECTED AND SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT A FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE DEALER'S REPAIR. UPON LEAVING THE DEALER, THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS STILL WAITING ON THE DEALER TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,405.

NHTSA ID

10809312

Incident

Dec 2, 2015

Mileage

129,405 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY FULL WHEN THE FUEL WAS LOW. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD BE IN DRIVE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD DISPLAY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,007. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. MA 10/15/2015 *CN

NHTSA ID

10762317

Incident

Aug 8, 2015

Mileage

157,007 mi

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES START DANCING BACK AND FORTH, THEN THE TACK GAUGE MAXED OUT AND STUCK UNDER THE SHIFT INDICATOR. I WENT TO A FORD DEALER IN FORT WAYNE IN. AND THEY REMOVED THE CLUSTER AND BROKE OFF PART OF THE TACK NEEDLE SO IT CAN'T BECOME STUCK AGAIN. STILL TO THIS DAY (A YEAR LATER) THE GAUGES START DANCING AND SOMETIMES FREEZE IN A POSITION. ONCE IT SHOWED I WAS DOING 80 MPH WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. SOME DAYS THEY WORK THEN OTHER TIMES THEY DONT. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTARS. LOOK UP DANCING GAUGES WINDSTAR ON YOU-TUBE AND SEE ALL THE ISSUES PEOPLE SHOW. IF THIS IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE WHY ISNT SOMETHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT? RESPECTFULLY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).? *JB

NHTSA ID

10749315

Incident

Jul 16, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN DRIVING CAR OVER 45MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER STARTS JUMPING ALL OVER THE METER AND THE ODOMETER IS NO LONGER READING MILES. THIS IS THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V399000. APPARENTLY, EVEN THOUGH FORD RECALLED WINDSTARS, OUR WINDSTAR WAS SOMEHOW NOT QUALIFIED EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705058

Incident

Feb 4, 2015

Mileage

85,000 mi

SO I FIXED MY DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER AND GOT A ABS ERROR CODE C1185 WHICH IS A BAD ABS RELAY. THIS RELAY IS DEFECTIVE BY BEING ON THE BACK SIDE OF A HEAT-SINK PLATE THAT MAKES THE BOARD EXPAND AND CONTRACT ALLOWING FOR SOME, IF NOT ALL, OF THE SOLDER JOINTS BREAK. AS IT STANDS NOW I HAVE NO IDEA IF MY VAN IS SAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT STATE WITH THE FAILURE OF THAT RELAY NOR WOULD I LIKE TO RISK IT. SO MY VAN SITS DRIVABLE HOWEVER, NOT USED BECAUSE OF FORD'S LACKLUSTER PERFORMANCE ON RECALLS. I WILL NOT PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES ANYMORE!!! IT"S CRIMINAL!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10703971

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

183,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND THE GAUGES IN MY INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER STARTED TO GO ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE RPM INDICATOR BROKE OFF AGAINST MY GEAR SELECTOR INDICATOR. REPLACED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER AND HAD TO BUY A NEW KEY(ONLY HAD ONCE KEY FROM PREVIOUS OWNER) AND REPROGRAM BOTH KEYS TO NEW ANTI-THEFT DEVICE BUILT INTO SAID INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THE WIRING COMING TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER EITHER. WHEN I ASKED MY MECHANIC WHAT HAD HAPPENED HE SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AND HAPPENED A LOT. ALSO WHEN I REPLACED THE PART ANOTHER ERROR CAME UP THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. SO THIS WHOLE TIME I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HAD NO REAL IDEA OF THE STATE OF MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS COMMON DEFECT. VERY SCARY!!!! COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS ANOTHER RECALLED PART (ABS RELAY) THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FILL OUT ANOTHER COMPLAINT FORM FOR. ITS NICE TO KNOW THAT MY ENTIRE VEHICLE HAS A BUILD-IN DEFECT THAT ALLOWS FOR COMPLETE NEGLIGENCE OF THE STATE MY VEHICLE IS IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703962

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

163,000 mi

HAVING ABS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. OVER DRIVE LIGHTS WAS BLINKING SO I HAD A FULL SCAN DONE. ABS SYSTEM SHOWS ABOUT 12 ERROR CODES AND THE ABS LIGHT WASN'T ON. CHECK THE LIGHT AND THE LIGHT WORKS. THE MECHANIC SEEMS TO NOT TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY ALARMING TO ME BECAUSE THIS CAN BE REALLY BAD FOR MY FAMILY SAFETY. ALSO ANOTHER CODE PULLED FOR THE ALTERNATOR OVERCHARGING THE BATTERY WHICH NEVER TURNED THE CHECK ENGINE ON. CHECK ENGINE WAS PROVEN TO WORK AND THAT WAS REPAIRED AND WORK TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702752

Incident

Mar 7, 2015

Mileage

130,727 mi

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED WHILE IN MOTION. SEVERAL FAILURES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. DEALER FAILED TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR TO HIM. FINALLY OBVIOUS FAILURE. LIMPED CAREFULLY TO THE DEALER. SAFETY HAZARD OF COURSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680263

Incident

Jan 7, 2015

Mileage

127,500 mi

ABS BRAKE, CRUISE CONTROL, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667299

Incident

Nov 1, 2013

Mileage

168,000 mi

FOR SOME REASON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL CUSTARD NEEDLES STARTED,TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN FOR NO REASON AND SOMETIMES ITS OK.THAN YOU BE DRIVING AND EVERYTHING ITS OK, BUT THAN THERE GOES THE NEEDLES BOUNCING UP AND DOWN AGAIN AND THAN IT STOPS OR IF I STOP AT STORE OR GAS STATION AND START THE IGNITION AGAIN IT DOES IT AGAIN.PROBLEM 2, BEFORE THE FIRES ON THE FORD VEHICLES ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH MINE HAD ALREADY BURNED OUT AS I WAS AT THE STORE PARKING LOT I PICKED UP MY HOOD AND THERE WAS THE SMOKE AND SHORT WIRES BELOW THE BRAKE FLUID HOLDER I FIXED IT,ON MY OWN THAN SEE ALL THE PROBLEMS ON THE DAILY NEWS. THIS HAPPEN WHEN I ONLY HADABOUT 85000 MILES.PROBLEM 3, FOR SOME REASON I'M HAVING WITH MY ABS,THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND MY BRAKES DON'T WORK RIGHT,BUT WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS OFF MY BRAKES WORK FINE, I TELL YOU FORD CAN REALLY MAKE SORRY VANS LIKE THE WINDSTAR LX MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649538

Incident

Sep 4, 2014

Mileage

186,888 mi

AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS. THERE IS A SWITCH (CALLED THE BRAKE PRESSURE DEACTIVATION SWITCH) HOOKED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM THAT DETECTS WHEN THE BRAKE HAS BEEN PUSHED AND STOPS THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCORDINGLY. WELL? THIS SWITCH IS KNOWN TO DEVELOP LEAKS, WHICH ALLOWS BRAKE FLUID TO RUN DOWN INTO THE WIRING AND CAUSE A SHORT. THIS BLOWS THE FUSE WHICH CONTROLS THE SPEEDOMETER, A/C, ODOMETER, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648636

Incident

Oct 19, 2014

Mileage

110,856 mi

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,262. NE

NHTSA ID

10641397

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

88,262 mi

ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AND ABS STOPPED WORKING AND SPEEDOMETER RPM STOPPED WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10640847

Incident

Jul 16, 2014

Mileage

198,000 mi

ABS LIGHT STAYS ON MAKING THEM INOPERABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631288

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

133,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE GAUGES FLUCTUATE AND THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ID

10630828

Incident

Aug 4, 2014

Mileage

134,000 mi

ABS LIGHT COME ON WITHOUT ANY SPECIFIC REASON - 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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626464

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

44,951 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE RPM GAUGE DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10621802

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi