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 2002 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 647 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 647, in the owner's own words
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. I DO NOT HAVE ABS FUNCTION WHILE THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN WARMER WEATHER. WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF IT RESETS AND DOESN'T COME BACK ON UNTIL DRIVEN A FEW MILES AGAIN. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ON A LARGE AMOUNT OF FORD WINDSTAR'S SIMILAR TO MINE OR ASSEMBLED IN CANADA.
RED AND YELLOW BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD COME ON AND GO OUT EVEN WHEN MASTER CYLINDER IS FULL OF FLUID.
I HAVE MY VEHICLE IN A SHOP TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE FRONT RESERVOIR OF THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS EMPTY. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION, HE FOUND THAT THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING ON ALL THE COMPONENTS BELOW, I.E. TRANSMISSION, STEERING COMPONENTS, ETC. I LOOKED THE ISSUE UP ONLINE AND I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE WITH FORD. WHEN I CHECKED MY VIN FOR ACTIVE RECALLS, THE NHTSA WEBSITE STATES THAT THERE ARE NO UNRESOLVED ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE.
ROTTED REAR AXLE BEAM , 2002 FORD WINDSTAR , THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NEAR BY TOWN FORD DEALERSHIP : ACE MOTORS IN WOODBURY NJ , FOR THE REAR AXLE RECALL IN 2015 NOT SURE IF ANYTHING HAS BEEN REPAIRED OR NOT I WAS JUST TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND PASSED AND OK TO DRIVE BUT WHEN THE AXLE BROKE ON THE DRIVER SIDE I TOOK PITCHERS AND IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE HAS PUT ON SOME KIND OF SLAVE CLAMPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AXLE THAT I DON'T SEE ON OTHER FORD WINDSTAR MINI VANS ( SEE PITCHERS ) CALLED UP THE DEALERSHIP ACE MOTORS AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT UP TO THEM AND THEY WILL HAVE A LOOK AT IT AND MAYBE IT CAN BE PUT IN A CLAIM TICKET BUT AGAIN MAYBE NOT , IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO PUT ON A FLATBED TOW TRUCK WITH THE DAMAGE THAT IT HAS AND IF SOME REASON THEY DON'T PUT A CLAIM TICKET IN I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP TOWING THIS VEHICLE ALL OVER THE PLACE SO DEALERSHIP GAVE ME THE FORD I.N.C COMPANY PHONE NUMBER : 800-392-3673 , SO I CALLED THEM AND MORE LESS THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO , ONE THING I'M HAPPY ABOUT IS WE WAS GOING SLOW IN MY HOME TOWN PULLING OFF THE MAIN ROAD ONTO A SIDE ROAD HEADING TO THE HOUSE WHEN IT HAPPENED AND NOBODY GOT HEART WHEN IT HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SO LOUD AND NOSY THINK IT BROKE A SHOOK AND BRAKE LINES . 8 / 8 / 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH, AND STATED THAT THE AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (FETTE FORD, 1137 U S 46, CLIFTON, NJ 07013, (973) 779-7000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE LOCAL DEALER THAT THE AXLE WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON THE RED BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON IT IS THROWING 9 CODE STARTING WITH C1185 AND 8 OTHER THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH THE FIRST CODE I AVE TRIED AND TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM MANY TIMES IT WILL NOT PASS A SAFETY CHECK. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND HIS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND VERY UNSAFE I KNOW IT CAN CATCH A FIRE AND ALSO THE BRAKES MAY LOCK UP.
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON
THE ABS WARNING LIGHT STAYS LIT AFTER STARTING.
EXITING HIGHWAY FROM OFF RAMP INTO 4 LANE RED LIGHT INTERSECTION AT NORMAL SPEED. APPLIED BRAKES, NO REACTION TO SLOW DOWN. PUMPED BRAKES STILL NO SLOWING. DROVE CAR INTO SHOULDER AND FIELD AT OFF RAMP. CAR WENT THROUGH CHAIN LINK FENCE AND FINALY CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT HIT A TREE. POLICE RESPONDED. NO INJURIES OR MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. CAR WAS TOWED TO GARAGE AND FINALLY FORD DEALER. THE BRAKE MODULE FAILED. MONTH OLD INPECTION, NO BRAKE PROBLEM. POLICE COMMENDED FAST THINKING TO AVOID A MAJOR ACCIDENT INVOVLING HITTING ANY OTHER VEHICHLES. I HAVE A POLICE REPORT BUT I DO NOT HAVE A SCANNER.
"ABS RECALL"
YELLOW ABS LIGHT AND RED BRAKE LIGHT COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY ON DASHBOARD IN INTERMITTENT AND RANDOM FASHION. HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME - SOMETIMES OFF, OFTEN ON. AM INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM IS NONFUNCTIONING AND THEREFORE, A DRIVING HAZARD. WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON, BRAKES ARE FUNCTIONAL BUT AS IN STANDARD, NON-ABS MODE. MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM SINCE IT IS WIDELY REPORTED IN THIS MODEL AND MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 84,000 MILES OF LIGHT DRIVING OVER 15 YEARS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE AND ABS SENSORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE AND ABS SENSORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
I GET A WARNING TO CHECK THE TRACTION CONTROL AND I GET A BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING, IT RESETS AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT'S SPORADIC.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OUR AND AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAD CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL SHOP AND WAS TOLD ABOUT THE C1185 CODE WAS ON. WE WERE DRIVING ON THE WAY HOME, AND IT JUST COMES AND GOES WITH EVERY START UP AND SHUT OFF. CAR WAS IN MOTION. TO MY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I'M NOT POSITIVE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE BUT I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING AND HAVE READ ABOUT MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES IN THIS PARTICULAR VAN SERIES. I'VE READ ABOUT FORD'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 09S09 AND AND MY VEHICLE IS TO BE IN THAT RECALL AS WELL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEED CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE ABS MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 372,000.
TAKATA RECALL WE RECIEVED A NOTIFICATION OF SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 15S27 OF DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE ON THE VEHICLE. WE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND THAT MIGHT BE THE REASON WE HAVING THOSE ISSUES.
THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT INDICATORS TURN ON SPORADICALLY AND REMAIN ON UNTIL THE CAR IS RESTARTED. I HAVE WATCHED FOR SOME PATTERNS, BUT SEEN FEW. COOLER WEATHER KEEPS THEM OFF LONGER AND WHEN IT IS HOTTER OUT, THEN THEY TURN ON QUICKLY. I MIGHT ALSO DRIVE THE CAR FOR 30-45 MINUTES BEFORE THEY TURN ON, AND WHEN I RESTART THE CAR, IT IS INCONSISTENT ON IF THEY COME BACK ON OR STAY OFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND IS NOW HAPPENING MORE ROUTINELY THAN WHEN IT FIRST STARTED.
ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON; CONNECTIONS CHECKED AND NO APPARENT LOOSE CONNECTIONS; HAPPENS WHEN MOVING AND OR SITTING STILL
ELECTRICAL SHORTS FIRE , AC , BRAKES SPEEL CONTROL ,LOCKS DOORS
I HAVE A CODE C1185 IT IS MAKING MY VAN UNSTABLE . IT STARTS TO JERK AS IT GOES FROM 40 TO HIGHER SPEEDS IT'S AFFECTING . IT TURNS OUT THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE C1185 ABS MODULE
"TAKATA RECALL" IT HAS THE ABS LIGHT ON AND THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE IS GOING TO POP OR DONT EVEN WORK IN ONE POINT IM REALLY SCARE TO DRIVE IT CHANGE THE BRAKE BOSTER AND NOTHING FUSE SENSOR FOR THE A B S. AND NOTHING I WISH JUST TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE FORD COMP..EVRY WHERE I GO
ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR DAYS AT A TIME THEN WILL GO OFF AND REMAIN OFF FOR A DAY OR TWO AND THEN COME ON AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT BOTH LIGHTS (ABS AND BRAKE) COME ON AND THEN WILL STAY ON AND THEN GO OFF FOR VARIOUS PERIODS OF TIME. HAVE HAD ALL OF THE ABS SENSORS CHECKED AND THEY ALL CHECK GOOD. PROBLEM IS ANNOYING AND INTERMITTENT.
ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ON AND OFF CONSISTANTLY. WAS TOLD AS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED
BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ON MOST OF THE TIME, MYRIAD CODES, HARD TO EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START TROUBLESHOOTING...UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF UPDATED 9/23/15 *JS
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 .