2002 Ford Windstar Electrical Problems

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

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

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR RANDOMLY CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SOMETIMES IT CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A INTERSECTION CAUSING US TO ALMOST GET HIT IN THE SIDE OF THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES THIS HAS HAPPEND NUMORUS TIMES

NHTSA ID

11343657

Incident

Aug 6, 2020

Mileage

166,000 mi

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

ABS LIGHT ON. TIRE ! LIGHT ON. RPM OFF SCALE.

NHTSA ID

11101547

Incident

May 13, 2018

INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES CRAZY. IT WAS SITTING IN PARK WHEN IT DOES IT.

NHTSA ID

11075155

Incident

Feb 25, 2018

Mileage

241 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOT WORKING, AND THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. NEXT, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA ID

11022906

Incident

Sep 7, 2017

Mileage

157,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10957471

Incident

Feb 27, 2017

Mileage

1 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY WAS DRAINING. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE TERMINAL TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN FOUR MONTHS. THE ABS AND ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY COULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ID

10895933

Incident

Feb 26, 2016

Mileage

78,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGE AND TEMPERATURE NEEDLES STARTED "DANCING" (BOUNCING ALL OVER THE PLACE). WHEN I CAME TO A STOP, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE HAD GONE ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND WAS STUCK THERE, BLOCKING THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR AND NOT LETTING ME PUT THE CAR IN "PARK." I HAD TO DRIVE TO A NEARBY MECHANIC WHO WAS ABLE TO FREE THE STUCK SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HAS GONE FROM BEING INTERMITTENT TO PERMANENT. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A "UNIQUE" PROBLEM WITH WINDSTAR VANS.

NHTSA ID

10884607

Incident

Sep 9, 2015

Mileage

1,300,000 mi

ELECTRICAL SHORTS FIRE , AC , BRAKES SPEEL CONTROL ,LOCKS DOORS

NHTSA ID

10860860

Incident

May 20, 2011

Mileage

16,894 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL, HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDED. AFTER RESTARTING, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE A CODE WAS NOT DETECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

10713017

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

155,000 mi

HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALL DAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. LATER IN THE DAY, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. IT TURNED OFF AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR. A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER THAT, I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE STORE. I CAME OUT ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER, AND THE THEFT LIGHT WAS BLINKING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I GOOGLED DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRY TO FIX THE ISSUE, AND TRIED 3 OF THEM. WE UNHOOKED THE BATTERY, PULLED SOME FUSES, AND TRIED DIFFERENT KEYS. NONE WORKED. AS OF NOW, THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE STORE PARKING LOT AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. WE JUST BOUGHT IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694007

Incident

Mar 12, 2015

Mileage

169,235 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, THE BATTERY, AND THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10689416

Incident

Jun 1, 2014

Mileage

131,000 mi

2002 FORD WINDSTAR SEL WITH VIN [XXX], I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS DAMAGED AND HAS A RECURRING WARNING WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED WITH THE ABS / BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ON. THE PERSON I PURCHASED THIS VAN FROM (2ND OWNER) STATED THAT HE HAD ALL THE RECALLS COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE HOWEVER HE BELIEVED THAT THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN FORD SAFETY RECALL 09S09 FOR THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM HAS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE ABS SYSTEM COMPUTER AND/OR ASSOCIATED HARNESS WIRING OR HARNESS CONNECTIONS. HE (2ND OWNER) DID NOT KEEP THE REPAIR ORDERS FOR ANY OF THE RECALL REPAIRS SO I DO NOT HAVE ANY RECORDS TO REVIEW. I BELIEVE THAT THE WIRE HARNESS, RELATED WIRE HARNESS CONNECTORS AND THE ABS SYSTEM COMPUTER ARE DAMAGED RESULTING FROM BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AND/OR CORROSION RELATED TO THE DEFECT FOUND IN FORD SAFETY RECALL 09S09. I BELIEVE THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THIS RECALL FAILED TO PROPERLY REPAIR OR IDENTIFY COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN THE WIRE HARNESS AND ABS SYSTEM COMPUTER AS NOTED IN RECALL REPAIR PROCEDURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT REPAIRED AND THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED (NON-FUNCTIONING), I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. CURRENT OWNER: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10680091

Incident

Jan 30, 2015

Mileage

156,000 mi

I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. MY MOM PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 3 YEARS AGO FROM RALPH THAYER DEALERSHIP IN LIVONIA MICHIGAN. THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND NOW THE GAUGES ARE JUST FLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676238

Incident

Nov 13, 2014

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT AND BRAKE SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE LIGHTS IN ORDER TO TURN IT OFF, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID

10650785

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

64,000 mi

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

AFTER PURCHASING USED VAN THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASH, AND COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. WEATHER SEEMS TO PLAY A ROLE WHETHER THE LIGHTS COME ON OR NOT IF ITS HOT OUTSIDE THE LIGHTS COME ON QUICKLY, AND IF IT'S RAINING THEY COME ON GOING THROUGH PUDDLES. ONCE THE LIGHTS COME ON THEY STAY ON UNTIL THE VAN IS SHUT OFF. HAD A DIAGNOSIS DONE A FORD DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A LEAK OVER THE ABS BRAKE MODULE THAT IS CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT THE ABS SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648147

Incident

Apr 15, 2010

Mileage

105,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT , ABS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD CAME ON ,THEN LOST OVER DRIVE, CRUISE CONTROL AND MILEAGE METER. MILEAGE METER GOES BLANK THAN ODOMETER STARTS WORKING AFTER A FEW MINUTES .THE DASHBOARD LOOKS LIKE X MAS WITH ALL THE FLASHING LIGHTS. THIS VAN HAS THE FACTORY RECALL FOR THE REAR AXLE AND FRONT FRAME REINFORCEMENT WORK DONE.WHAT ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL/ ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS ? *TR

NHTSA ID

10640584

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

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

VAN INTERMITTENTLY HAS ABS LIGHT, TRAC CONTROL OFF LIGHT, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ALL ON AT VARIOUS TIMES. IF VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF SOMETIMES LIGHTS GO OFF SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT. ALSO AT RANDOM TIMES THE THEFT LIGHT WILL COME ON AND VAN WILL IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF (THIS OCCURS AT SPEEDS OVER 35MPH). IN ADDITION THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WILL NOT HOLD FLUID. NEEDS TO HAVE FLUID ADDED AT LEAST 2 TIMES A DAY. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE POWER STEERING ISSUE, THE BRAKE FAILURE AND THE THEFT SYSTEM FAILURE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE ITEMS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO FORD FOR REPAIR OF THE RECALL ON THE SPEED MODULE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THESE OTHER ISSUES WERE NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE INDIVIDUAL ON THE PHONE TOLD ME THAT IF I FELT IT WAS UNSAFE THEN I SHOULD SELL MY VAN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH FORD VANS....THE BRAKES FAIL AND THE THEFT SYSTEM IS FAULTY!!!!!! THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO MANUFACTURE ANY VEHICLES!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10629107

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE 2002 WINDSTAR VAN ON 7/15/14 WITH 155,400 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES NOR WITH BRAKING. THE BRAKES SEEM TO BE WORKING FINE. THE LIGHTS SEEM TO RESET THEMSELVES EVERY SO OFTEN BUT WILL COME BACK ON. (NOTE: I AM AN OLD SCHOOL MECHANIC NOT A MODERN DAY AUTOMOTIVE TECH). *TR

NHTSA ID

10627952

Incident

Jul 15, 2014

Mileage

155,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ABS AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10621307

Incident

Mar 8, 2013

Mileage

125,000 mi