Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 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 41, in the owner's own words
TAKE MY VEHICLE TO RECALL A YEAR LATER THE WIPER WENT CRAZY,APPARENTLY THEY DID THE RECALL .I CALLED THE FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IF THE WIPER MOTOR WAS GOOD NOT CHANGED AND COVER
LAST NIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 PM, A PLEASANT EVENING AT ABOUT 65 DEGREES AND A LIGHT RAIN; FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER THE REAR QUARTER (AUTOMATED) WINDOW EXPLODED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE GLASS WAS ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLES BACK AND MIDDLE SEATS AS WELL AS IN THE DRIVEWAY. BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I THINK THIS QUALIFIES AS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE SHARDS OF GLASS FLYING EVERYWHERE; IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ANYBODY IN THE VAN THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THEM SERIOUS INJURY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND BACK IT UP WITH ACTION BY FINDING AND FIXING THE PROBLEM; OR AT THE VERY LEAST COVER THE COST OF THE DAMAGES. *TR
WELL MY ABS/ BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON AND OFF EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VAN AND I HAVE KEEP UP ON EVERYTHING THAT NEED KEEPING UP ON. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY WIPERS AND THEY DON'T WORK ON ANY OF THE SPEEDS BUT HIGH AND NEXT TO HIGH AND THE OTHER SPEEDS DON'T WORK. ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING IS THE ELECTRONIC SLIDDING DOORS DON'T ALWAYS CLOSE OR WANT TO STAY SHUT. THE DOORS HAVE EVEN TRIED TO OPEN WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS CONSIDERING I HAVE CHILDREN RIDDING IN THE BACK OF MY VAN. I HAVE HAD CODES COME UP ON MY VAN THAT SOUND LIKE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND I HAVE HAD ABOUT ENOUGH OF THIS. I HAVE NOT FELT SAVE IN MY VAN SINCE THEY CALLED ME IN FOR THE RECALL THEY FIXED ON IT AT DICK WITHEMS. I STILL THINK IT NEEDS AN INSPECTION BY THE COMPANY AND THEY NEED TO FIX EVERYTHING THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. I PUT MY CHILDREN'S AND MY LIFE IN FORD'S HANDS WHEN I DRIVE THIS VAN AND IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS TO MY CHILDREN OR ME I WILL BE GETTING AHOLD OF FORD, MY LAWYER. I THINK THAT WHEN VEHICLE'S ARE BUILT THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THERE ARE LESS MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE WIPERS WOULD STOP MIDWAY AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY RESET THE WIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: REAR WINDOWS NOT WORKING,HAD MOTORS REPLACED WORKED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THEN INTERMITTENT THEN QUIT WORKING WITHIN 6 MONTHS. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH GOES ON AND OFF. A/C STOPS BLOWING FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS THEN RESUMES BLOWING. KEYLESS ENTRY WORKS SOMETIMES,SOMETIMES IT DON'T. SPEEDOMETER SLOWER THAN IT READS AND MILEAGE MAY NOT BE CORRECT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. INTERMITTENT SETTINGS ON WIPERS QUIT WORKING AND WHEN YOU TURN OFF WIPERS THEY STOP IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. I HAVE AN 88 YEAR OLD FATHER WITH NO LEGS AND THIS IS THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO DRIVE HIM AROUND IN. DO NOT FEEL SAFE!! *TR
7/21/2011 BOUGHT VAN FROM PRIVATE PARTY. RECALL COMPLETED IN MARCH OF 2011 REGARDING BACK AXLE. ON 7/13/2012 8PM, MY 18YR OLD SON, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM LACROSSE PRACTICE, NEARLY KILLED. UPON PULLING OUT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD, HE LOST ALL CONTROLS, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES AND NO POWER. HE COASTED AND PRAYED IT WOULD STOP. I ARRIVED, WE CALLED AAA. FLATBED TO MY HOME DRIVER COULD NOT BELIEVE HIS EYES. THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN OUT. 7/16/12 CALLED FORD IN MICH AND SPOKE TO REP. TO BE TOWED 13 MILES AWAY TO ROUTE 23 AUTO AT OUR EXPENSE. REALLY? ROUTE23 WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH ME (THEY DID RECALL). WENT BACK AND FORTH THEN PER RT23 "IT WILL BE A MONTH UNTIL WE CAN LOOK AT IT" GETTING KNOW WHERE. 7/18-22 BORROWED FRIEND CAR FOR TOURNAMENT. 8/1/12 CALLED MAGARINO FORD AND WITH GREAT CONCERN HAD A FLATBED THAT NIGHT. THIS TOW TRUCK DRIVER COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. FLUIDS RACED OUT AND DOUBLE STABILIZED FOR ENGINE SLIDING DURING TRANSPORT. 8/2/12 MAGARINO CALLED 9AM, PICTURES SENT TO FORD AND AWAITING REPLY. 8/5/12 T/C FROM M STATING FORD REFUSES TO BUY BACK AND SENDING A SUBFRAME. YOU MEAN A RECALLED ONE? MAGARINO CAUGHT IN MIDDLE I QUESTIONED WHETHER HE WOULD PUT HIS CHILDREN IN THIS VAN. HE SOFTLY REPLIED, "NO" WHAT AM I TO DO, OUT OF WORK 2 YEARS, SINGLE PARENT WITH NO CAR TO FIND WORK. 8/8/12 I QUESTIONED FORD WHY THIS VAN EVER LEFT RT 23 AUTO, ACCORDING TO RESEARCHED PAPER A PART WAS WAITING ON. YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT UPON THIS FIXED AXLE NOBODY NOTICED THE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED FROM INSIDE OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL OUT THE NEXT SUMMER NEARLY KILLING MY SON! BUT THEY SIGNED IT WAS FINE! REALLY? NOW WE HAVE CASE # 1373091992 8/10/12 PICKED UP VAN. BROKE= A/C, R-WINDOW, HEATER ENGINE, AIRBAG, BRAKE LIGHT ON, RUNS HOT STEERING= THUMPS MAKES NOISE (FULL FLUID) SKIP GEARS, SWAYS, BARELY CAN GET UP A HILL. 11YR OLD SCARED TO DRIVE IN IT
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2009. I FIRST BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON, IN FEBRUARY 2010. THE NEXT INCIDENT WAS THE POWER WINDOWS ON DRIVERS SIDE AND BACK WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLE DOWN. THE NEXT INCIDENT WAS THE HEATER WONT WORK. A RECALL AND REPAIR WAS DONE ON THE REAR SUBFRAME 11S16 IN APRIL OF 2010.VEHICLE REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETE NOW TAKING IN FOR FRONT UNDER CARRIAGE REPAIR ON WED 21,2012. *TR
REPEATED FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF VARIOUS PARTS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCLUDING WIPER MOTOR, REAR WIPER MOTOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL PUMP FUSES, ALTERNATOR, REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF BATTERY, REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND LIGHT SOCKETS AND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, REPEATED FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS, REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF COIL WIRE, REPLACEMENT OF EGR VALVE. CONSTANT STALLING OF VEHICLE IN RAIN OR HUMID WEATHER. VEHICLE STALL WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS IN USE. ROUGH IDLE AND STALLING WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND ENGINE IS RUNNING. ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN CONSTANT AND ONGOING DESPITE REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SINCE DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2000. *TR
WHILE IDLING AT RED LIGHT THE REAR QUARTER PANEL WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR EXPLODED. NOTHING STRUCK THE GLASS FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO TRIGGER THE EXPLOSION. GLASS FLEW INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE COVERING THE REAR SEAT WHERE MY CHILDREN ARE NORMALLY SITTING. FORTUNATELY I HAD NOT YET PICKED THEM UP FROM SCHOOL. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR THREE YEARS AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE WERE NO CRACKS OR OTHER DAMAGE TO THE WINDOW PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE AND WINDOWS ARE GENERALLY IN GOOD REPAIR. I STILL DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION. THESE EVENTS OCCURRED ON APRIL 21, 2011 IN BOISE, IDAHO. *TR
2001 FORD WINDSTAR SPORT MINIVAN WAS PARKED. ONE PERSON ENTERED THRU THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR AND PUSHED THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED. LARGE CHUNKS OF GLASS WERE SHATTERED BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. MINOR CUTS FROM THE GLASS WERE SUSTAINED. WINDOW WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD MALFUNCTION WHILE BEING USED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THEIR IS A RECALL REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS (RECALL 01V26100) BUT HIS VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE CONTACT FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, IT SHUT OFF. THE RINGS IN THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. SHE ALSO HEARD A RUMBLING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE OPERATING NORMALLY; HOWEVER, AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING, THE CONTACT HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AFTER A NEW WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE MOTOR WAS FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION HOSES WERE LEAKING. THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK AND SHUT OFF. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. LASTLY, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD FISHTAIL OR WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE FACTORY WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,056 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE ROOF AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAD ABNORMAL DISCOLORATION AND WAS BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. TWO MONTHS LATER, HE NOTICED WATER LEAKING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. A PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HOOKS HOLDING THE WINDSHIELD TOGETHER WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS REGARDING THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2001 FORD WINDSTAR'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS NO LONGER WORK . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY STARTED WITH THE INTERMITTENT WIPERS WHICH WOULD NOT COMPLETELY WIPE THE WINDOW UNLESS ONE CONTINUEDT O WORK THE KNOB. SHE STATED THAT NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DOESN'T WIPE THE WINDOWS AT ALL. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL 01V261000 FOR VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/ WASHER: MOTOR. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THIS RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY NOW, AND WOULD NOT HELP HER WITH ANY OTHER INFORMATION. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE APART OF THE RECALL SINCE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 74,000 MILES ON IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COVER WAS NOT PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP NOTIFIED THE CONTACT OF THE RECALL AND DETERMINED THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE CONTACTED FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE AND NO OTHER SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO STATED THAT THE RECALL PERTAINED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COVER AND THE PRIOR RECALL WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE WAS FOR THE ADDITION OF SILICONE OVER THE MOLDING HOLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WOULD NOT ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH RECOVERY WORK TO THE RECALL.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ON THE VEHICLE AND THE WIPER/WASHER MOTOR WAS GETTING HOT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 01V261000, REGARDING THE WIPER/WASHER MOTOR. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM
DT: THE CALLER COMPLAINED ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPER/MOTOR PROBLEM. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 01V261000 ON THIS ISSUE AND THE REPAIRS WERE DONE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. DEALER SAID THE RECALL WORK WAS ALREADY DONE, AND THE CALLER HAD TO PAY FOR IT. MANUFACTURER SAID THE WORK WAS DONE ON DECEMBER 7, 2001. *AK
THIS IS A 2001 VEHICLE. AFTER WARRNATY EXPIRED WE HAVE INVESTED ALMOST $2000 IN REPAIRS AND THINGS CONTINUE TO BREAK.*JB
ON JUNE 27TH 2005, I WAS DRIVING AND IT WAS RAINING HEAVY AND MY WIND SHEILD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, I COULD'NT SEE ANYTHING, SO I DROVE SLOWLY TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET AND I ALMOST HIT THIS LADY AND HER DAUGTHER WHO WAS CROSSING THE STREETS CAUSE I COULD NOT SEE THEM CAUSE THE RAIN WAS COMING DOWN SO HEAVY.
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. NO ONE WAS AROUND THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.*AK
REGARDING RECALL # 01V261000. MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR [XXX] WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. HOWEVER, I AM HAVING THE EXACT ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MY VEHICLE IS THE SAME YEAR AS THE YEAR LISTED IN THE RECALL. IT SEEMS VERY ODD THAT I AM HAVING THIS ISSUE YET I SOME HOW MISSED THE RECALL WINDOW BY A SMALL MARGIN. THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE AND I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD HAS NOT RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ON 10/22/04 I DROPPED MY CHILD AT SCHOOL, AND EXITING THE PARKING LOT THE LEFT REAR SIDE WINDOW OF MY 2001 WINDSTAR VAN EXPLODED. I WAS IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. ON 3/22/05 I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH NO-ONE BEHIND MY VAN WHEN MY BACK LIFTGATE WINDOW EXPLODED. THE ONLY COMMONALITY BETWEEN THESE EVENTS WAS THAT BOTH MORNINGS WERE COOL AND THE INSIDE OF THE VAN HAD BEEN WARMED FOR 20-30 MINUTES. *AK
WHILE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY, WITHOUT IGNITION RUNNING, ON A RAINY, 60-DEGREE DAY, REAR WINDOW EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT OR THE DRIVEWAY, AS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. IT WAS QUITE AN EXPLOSION, AS THE LARGEST PIECE OF GLASS WAS THE SIZE OF A SILVER DOLLAR.*AK
WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ENGAGED THEY WILL EITHER WORK FOR A FEW SECONDS AND QUIT OR NOT WORK AT ALL. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR TWICE, AND THE FRONT ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. BUT PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. RECALL 01V261000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK ALSO, CLUNKING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AT LOW SPEED OR WHEN TURNING LEFT. DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND LATER REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTOR. STARTER WERE ALSO REPLACED. *LA
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WITHOUT CAUSE. *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
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