RoadVitals

2002 Ford Windstar Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
165
Latest Apr 19, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 1,353 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
17
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. 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. 165 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.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

The 25 most recent of 165, in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 19, 2025

Manufacture Recall # 09S09 NHTSA Recall # 09V399000 Instrument cluster has become faulty. Details listed below. Overdrive (O/D) light will randomly start flashing for no reason ABS will randomly engage Parking brake light will randomly turn on Speedometer with become sporadic Transmission has trouble shifting gears due to tachometer becoming sporadic Vehicle will randomly try to die/stall out at a prolonged stop or while coming to a stop, even after all charging components have been replaces i.e. battery, alternator, drive belt, and cables.

NHTSA ID
11655566
Incident
Oct 23, 2024
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 29, 2022

The gauges are acting crazy which causes the engine to jerk or the transmission and then it starts making the lights flicker in the interior and the gauges start sticking. It seems to make the overflow on the radiator to empty more because it is causing the sensors in the electrical for the parts to go crazy and run hot. Sometimes it only does it every so often but after getting the reserve hose on the power steering that connects to the reservoir to the coolant the battery was drained. Then going after getting it charged down the highway it caused the interior lights radio and seat and turn signals not to work when coming to a complete stop and it was idling the dashboard and all the lights were coming back on once given a guess it winded up not working again causing the battery to become hot or warm and acid you can smell in the air like rotten eggs. It is causing the overflow tank of the radiator to evaporate more or come out quicker and it is causing other component parts to react strangely which I'm afraid will cause a fire in the vehicle and the idling is not correct also on it now

NHTSA ID
11495403
Incident
Nov 29, 2022
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 12, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11268118
Incident
Oct 12, 2019
Mileage
235,834 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 20, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11096952
Incident
Apr 28, 2018
Mileage
230,000 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed May 9, 2018

MY TIRES WIGGLE WHEN DRIVING LIKE THEY ARE ABOUT TO COME OFF

NHTSA ID
11092659
Incident
Mar 19, 2018
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 8, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
10950368
Incident
Jan 31, 2017
Mileage
372,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Dec 13, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE KEPT GAINING FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE SIDEWALK AND STRUCK TWO SMALL TREES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY TURNING THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND MUSCLE SPASMS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO SEIZE IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE) AND 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,064.

NHTSA ID
10935107
Incident
Dec 7, 2016
Mileage
100,064 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 3, 2015

TRACTION CONTROL & BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, GOES OFF LATER. BEEN DOING THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES IF YOU READ ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET. FORD DENIES THAT IT IS A PROBLEM FOR THEN TO FIX ON A RECALL. ????????????????????????

NHTSA ID
10761399
Incident
Sep 1, 2012
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 28, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD BECOME STUCK AT 20 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10759974
Incident
Mar 12, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 10, 2015

ABS BRAKE LITE ILLUMINATES, BRAKES APPEAR TO CONTINUE TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10704973
Incident
Apr 10, 2015
Mileage
16,700 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 21, 2015

THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON AFTER A MINUTE OF DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN BRAKING. THIS HAPPEN TO ME AFTER PUTTING IN NEW WHEEL BEARINGS. THEN I PUT IN NEW ABS SENSORS STILL HAVE PROBLEM. ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET ARE HAVING SAME ISSUE AS ME. THE I PUT IN SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. STILL HAVE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10689775
Incident
Feb 1, 2015
Mileage
92,205 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 16, 2015

ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATES AFTER DRIVING FORWARD 150 YARDS. HEAVILY SALTED CHICAGO STREETS HAVE CAUSED CORROSION UNDER CAR. SUSPECT ABS FAILURE DUE TO SALT AND WATER CORROSION IN ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. HIGH AMPERAGE ABS ELECTRICAL WIRES COULD SHORT- OUT AND CAUSE A FIRE; AN ENVIRONMENTAL, POLLUTION AND SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10683723
Incident
Feb 19, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 29, 2014

USED THE VEHICLE TO GO ON A TRIP ABOUT 200 MILES FROM HOME, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING BUT THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON. WHEN I GOT BACK HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, WHEN I WENT TO GO BACK OUT IN THE VAN ON ANOTHER SHORT TRIP AND GOT ON THE INTERSTATE THE CRUISE WOULDN'T WORK AGAIN. THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME WHEN BEFORE THE CRUISE STOPPED WORKING IT WAS ONLY INTERMITTENT. NOW THE LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE CRUISE ISN'T WORKING AT ALL. I CAN'T USE THE VAN ON TRIPS O WHEN I GO A FEW MILES AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE THE CRUISE DON'T WORK. I HAVE A BAD BACK AND JOINTS AND RELY ON THAT CRUISE TO HELP ME GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B. THANKS. ...UPDATED 01/07/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUES ARE ON RECALL. UPDATED 01/17/15

NHTSA ID
10668720
Incident
Feb 15, 2014
Mileage
73,425 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 8, 2014

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON. THE BRAKES WERE UNAFFECTED. WE STOPPED AND CHECKED ON FINDING A MECHANIC IN THE TOWN WE WERE GOING THROUGH, BUT WHEN WE RE-STARTED THE VAN, THE LIGHTS WERE BACK OFF. THE BRAKES REMAINED UNAFFECTED. THE PROBLEM RECURS SPORADICALLY AT INTERVALS OF A FEW WEEKS TO A FEW MONTHS. SOMETIME LATER, WE HAD TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL REPAIRED DUE TO TWO BAD SWITCHES (DAMAGED BY LEAKS). I MENTION THIS BECAUSE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS A LINK BETWEEN THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE ABS PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10662981
Incident
Aug 28, 2010
Mileage
75,494 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 6, 2014

ABS LIGHTS ON. SPEEDOMETER DON'T WORK AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING ..SPEED CONTROL FUSE KEEPS BLOWING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10662566
Incident
Dec 6, 2014
Mileage
112,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 20, 2014

ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED UNDER NORMAL BREAKING CONDITIONS, CAUSED EXTENDED BREAKING DISTANCE. HAS HAPPENED 13 TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE. DEALER UNABLE TO REPLICATE BUT SCANNED FOR CODES AND FOUND C1185 WHICH THEY SAID WAS FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROLLER/COMPUTER. THEY SUGGESTED $1200 IN REPAIRS BUT COULDN'T GUARANTEE IT WOULD "FIX THE PROBLEM". HAVE MULTIPLE ABS FAULT CODES ALL THE TIME NOW. C1198, C1194,C1254, C1246, C1250, C1242 ,C1214, C1210, C1446 WHICH ALL POINT TO MULTIPLE FAILURES IN THE COMPUTER. SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT APPEARS ON HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/ THAT A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE MAY BE IN THE WORKS AS OF 5/2014. *TR

NHTSA ID
10648904
Incident
Dec 18, 2013
Mileage
124,511 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 30, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES SPIRALED BACK AND FORTH. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ID
10640179
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
Mileage
81,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 6, 2014

THE LIGHTS COME ON AFTER A FEW MILES OF OPERATION AND STAY ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHOUT OFF. THE NEXT TIME THE ENGINE IS STARTED THE CAR WILL TRAVEL A FEW MILES AND THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10631256
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
65,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 4, 2014

APPROX., A YEAR AGO MY ABS MODULE WENT BAD AND I HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC TO VERIFY THAT FACT. JUST RECENTLY MY SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WENT BAD AND LEAKED,. NOW I FOUND OUT THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN BOTH THE SWITCH AND THE ABS BAD MODULE. FORD DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THE ABS SYSTEM, BUT THEY DO ON THE ABOVE SWITCH. VERY POSSIBLY THE HIGH COST OF THE MODULE HAS KEPT THEM FROM HAVING A RECALL!!! I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM FROM ANOTHER FORD VAN OWNER. ALSO THE SWITCH WAS CHANGED APPROX. 5 YEARS AGO AND IT WENT BAD AGAIN.( PER A FORD RECALL THEN) THERE SHOULD BE A DEFINITE RECALL ON WINDSTAR VAN ABS SYSTEMS AND AS A SAFETY ISSUE---FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE SWITCH AND WIRE HARNESS AGAIN! ..UPDATED 08/12/14 *BF

NHTSA ID
10618844
Incident
Aug 4, 2014
Mileage
80,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 14, 2014

MY ABS AND BRAKES LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES FOR MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR FOR A LONG WHILE, AND STAY ON NOW THAT IT IS SUMMER. I HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON TWO OCCASIONS AND CHANGED THE BAD ECM WITH A NEW ONE AND THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED BOTH TIMES ONLY AFTER A FEW MONTHS. I MADE A LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 5 MPH WITH THE TWO LIGHTS ON AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT THE COMPLETION OF THE TURN TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING SLOWLY INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC WHILE MAKING A METAL GRINDING NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO STOP IT RIGHT UNDER THE LIGHT. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY AGAIN. A FEW BLOCKS LATER THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BUT THE BRAKES DIDN'T SEIZE THIS TIME. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS AND I HAD BOTH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS AND BUILD A ECM THAT WILL NOT EXPAND DURING WARM MONTHS CAUSING THE ABS SYSTEM TO FAIL. MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE WINDSTAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610290
Incident
Jul 13, 2014
Mileage
82,179 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 28, 2014

FOLLOW-UP ON ODI # 10593430. ON MAY 26, 2014, AFTER FORD DEALERSHIP IN FORT WALTON BEACH, FL KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR A WEEK TO FIX THE CRUISE CONTROL AND SEAT LATCHES RECALL, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PICK UP MY VAN. THEY ALSO CHECKED THE CAUSE OF ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER TO STOPPED WORKING, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON, SLIDING DOORS NOT WORKING, AND O/D LIGHT FLASHING; I WAS TOLD THE CAUSE IS A DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE. THEY CHARGED ME $114.27 TO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND QUOTED ME $1,265.00 TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE. I SHOWED TO FORD SERVICE ADVISOR, ANDREW TOMPITCH, A PRINT-OUT FROM NHTSA WEBSITE STATING THAT PART OF FIXING OR REMEDY TO THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL WAS TO "INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY." "REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE." YET FORD CHARGED ME FOR THIS SERVICE AND TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE NOT THE SAME SINCE MY VEHICLE'S SCDS SUPPOSEDLY DID NOT LEAK. HOW COULD I VERIFIED WHAT HE TOLD ME WAS TRUE WHEN HE WOULDN'T LET ME ENTER THE WORK BAY TO WATCH WHAT THE TECHNICIAN WAS DOING TO MY VEHICLE? ANDREW ADMITTED THAT THE ABS MODULE IS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED SEVERAL MODULES DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MY VAN. BUT ANDREW SAID IT'S NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND WOULDN'T REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. IF FORD USED DEFECTIVE PARTS SUCH AS THE ABS MODULE, THEN FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE AND RECALL IT BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST! *TR

NHTSA ID
10594635
Incident
May 26, 2014
Mileage
64,500 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 23, 2014

MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO ACE FORD IN WOODBURY , NJ AS PART OF A SERIES OF RECALLS. THE 09S09 SPEED CONTROL CAMPAIGN WAS ONE AND THEY DID THE FIXES AS WELL AS THE REAR AXLE. AFTER GETTING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED MY ABS LIGHT WAS ON , MY ODOMETER HAS ALL DASHES , MY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON , MY SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK AND MY O/D LIGHT BLINKS FAST CONSTANTLY. SERVICE WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME SO I DROVE IT HOME. UPON DRIVING EVERY BUMP I HIT IT FELT LIKE MY BACK END WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. I TOOK IT BACK THE NEXT DAY ON MAY 21ST , 2014 AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ISSUES. THEY DID NOT SEAT MY REAR AXLE PROPERLY AND THEY SAY THEY FIXED IT. AS FOR MY DASHBOARD ISSUES , I WAS TOLD THAT THE 09S09 SPEED CONTROL WAS INSTALLED AND IT THEN MADE ANOTHER PART FAIL. THEY SAID (DEALER AND CORPORATE FORD) , THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT FOR FREE. I HAVE TO PAY $390 FOR THE PART AND THEN LABOR. I HAVE BEEN IN TALKS WITH FORD TO NO AVAIL. I DID SOME MINIMAL RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593670
Incident
May 20, 2014
Mileage
186,669 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 22, 2014

ALL OF THE FOLLOWING HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME: ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON AND STAY ON. O/D LIGHT FLASHING. ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING. THE ELECTRONIC COMPASS, REMAINING FUEL INFO., AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC AND ELECTRONIC TEMP. SHOWING ERRORS. ELECTRONIC SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN UNLESS ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. POWER WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING 6 MONTHS AGO, NOT SURE IF IT IS RELATED. I HAD A MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND CHECKED THE BRAKES. IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEMS AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS MODULE COULD BE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REPLACED A LOT OF THEM. THE ABS MODULE SUPPOSEDLY MESSING UP THE WHOLE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. IT HAS LESS THAN 65,000 MILES AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM MIGHT SUDDENLY CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE ELECTRONIC SLIDING DOORS ALREADY WOULD NOT OPEN UNLESS THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OR A CRASH, SOMEONE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT AND BE TRAPPED INSIDE BECAUSE THE DOORS AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPEN. I WAS TOLD BY A FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR LOOK INTO IT EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTED THEY'VE BEEN HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO A LOT OF FORD VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593430
Incident
May 9, 2014
Mileage
64,500 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 21, 2014
Fire reported

ON JUNE 16, 2006, WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, SOMEONE INFORMED US THAT MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AN INTERNAL FIRE OCCURRED, DAMAGING THE WIRING HARNESS AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. UNAWARE TO THE CAUSE OF SAID FIRE THE DAMAGED PARTS WERE REPLACED. THEN OTHER PROBLEMS STARTED TO ARISE, THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY (NOT ACCURATELY READING). THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE BEFORE-MENTIONED PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE INTERNAL FIRE THAT HAD OCCURRED , AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL BRAKE PRESSURE DEACTIVATION SWITCH RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PRESSURE DEACTIVATION SWITCH INDEED WAS LEAKING AND THAT THEY SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. STILL THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. ON 3/14/14 THE WINDSTAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL GARAGE TO DIAGNOSE THE ABS/BRAKE ISSUES AGAIN. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SAID UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ABS MODULE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVED AND EXAMINED THE CONTROL MODULE (3/21/2014). THE ABS MODULE SUFFERED AN INTERNAL FIRE AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS MELTED AND DAMAGED. ALSO FOUND WAS EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT BURNING AROUND THE PINS AT THE CONNECTIONS. THIS EVIDENCE INCLUDED THE BLACKENED FLUID, SEVERE DISCOLORATION, AND LIFTED TRACES, ALL OF WHICH ARE CLEARLY APPARENT IN PHOTOS OF THE MODULE INTERIOR. THE LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE MODULE UNDER THE RECALL CLAIM, STATING THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, AND THAT SAID RECALL WAS CLOSED. FORD HAS BEEN NEGLIGENT IN THIS MATTER AND LUCKILY THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO TODAY, HAS NOT BECOME A RUNAWAY FIRE EVENT AND BURNED TO THE GROUND!! AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, AND IS SITTING IDLE. I HAVE KEPT THE DAMAGED CONTROL MODULE FOR EXAMINATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10574097
Incident
Jun 16, 2006
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 19, 2014

THE ABS AND RED BRAKE LIGHT AS WELL AS THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, AND NOW MY BATTERY LIGHT COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN AT UNNECESSARY TIMES MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOW ALSO BOUNCING UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENTLY, BUT NO OTHER GAUGES SEEM TO BE AFFECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10565041
Incident
Feb 1, 2012

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