RoadVitals

2003 Ford Windstar Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
660
Latest Jan 7, 2022
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.
44%
of 1,510 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.
13
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

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 2003 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 660 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 brake

The 25 most recent of 660, in the owner's own words

BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 7, 2022

When driving my muffler broke loose and was dragging on the ground. My axel creaks when I stop or sit idle at a light. When several miles from home my ignition cylinder came out. I couldn't start or turn the ignition on nor operate the steering. I'm now afraid to drive my vehicle. Since acquiring it. I've put a lot of money into repairs. In addition to purchasing this vehicle, I've spent well over $2,000 in repairs. Once I learned of the recall and viewed the risks (Video) of the dangers I became grossly disturbed by what I am facing at the thought of driving. I have contacted 4 Ford Service Centers and none of them contacted back regarding fixing my 'recall'. I NEED HELP!! I have a disability and now I don't have transportation besides this car. How come no one is returning my calls? I am stranded at my home knowing that my safety is at risk. I would like to get my issue remedied with a $4,999.00 Reimbursement for this vehicle ASAP so I may invest in getting a safer one. Please give me a dealership address here in Los Angeles so I can have the vehicle towed there and be done with it. I no longer want a vehicle that I can not drive nor can get my 'recalls' remedied. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.

NHTSA ID
11446673
Incident
Jan 7, 2021
Brakes
Filed Oct 5, 2019

WHEN TRAVELING 15 MPH ON BRICK ROAD I PRESSED BRAKES TO STOP THEN LOUD NOISE AND CAR STILL ROLLED FORWARD - SCARY AND UNSAFE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS - THE ABS LIGHT IS ON IN MY VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
11266482
Incident
Oct 4, 2019
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 30, 2019

THE PARK AND BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, LOOKED UP AND IT SAID THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING LIKE IT SHOULD. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING IN CITY , HIGHWAYS, NOT MOVING.

NHTSA ID
11258992
Incident
Mar 23, 2016
Mileage
158,200 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 22, 2018

TRANSMISSION SLOW TO ENGAGE AFTER SITTING. THIS IS NOT ONLY A REPEAT PROBLEM AFTER BEING REPAIRED, BUT ALSO AFTER BEING TOTALLY REPLACED BY FORD DEALER. ABS NEVER RECALLED FOR SCDS 09S09. CONSTANTLY RESETTING AND DISENGAGING. AFTER 15 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, I HAVE YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF OR HAD ANYTHING REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ( WHEN THE RPM'S WENT UP AND THE TRANSMISSION QUIT PULLING) ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, NO PLACE TO GO. NEARLY CAUSING A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT. WITH THE ABS PROBLEM, ANYTHING INDICATING A BRAKE FAILURE, POSSIBLE ONBOARD FIRE, OR LOSS OF CONTROL, LEAVES YOU WITH A HUGE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11163100
Incident
Mar 20, 2004
Mileage
71,018 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 9, 2018

I HAVE THE FAMILIAR 9 C CODES FOR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WITH THE COLD SOLDER JOINTS THAT EFFECTS THE ABS FUNCTION. THERE IS A 23 PAGE 2CARSPRO.COM FORUM WITH INDIVIDUALS SHARING THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE DEFECT ON THEIR WINDSTAR VEHICLES. THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID
11157183
Incident
Nov 30, 2018
Mileage
85,575 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 15, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

NHTSA ID
11120135
Incident
Apr 1, 2018
Mileage
58,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Feb 26, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT WAS STIFF AND FAILED TO RESPOND. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING PULLED TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS14205849. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.

NHTSA ID
11075071
Incident
Feb 23, 2018
Mileage
103,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 6, 2017

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VAN AND DRIVING IT. BEEN LIKE THIS FOR YEARS. LOOKS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID
11052753
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 6, 2017

ABS AND BREAK LIGHTS IS ON AFTER DRIVER 3 MIN

NHTSA ID
11043982
Incident
Aug 2, 2017
Brakes
Filed Sep 5, 2017

ABS MODULE IS BAD - WELL KNOWN COLD SOLDER JOINT PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
11021500
Incident
Sep 1, 2010
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2017

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT THE SAME TIME

NHTSA ID
11010589
Incident
Feb 16, 2017
Mileage
162,900 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 7, 2017

ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON SIMUTAINOUSLY AND THE ABS SYSTEM FAILS TO OPERATE.. THIS IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM.. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THE SYSTEM RESETS. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNDER MOTION AND CAN BE UNDER ANY CONDITIONS...

NHTSA ID
11003638
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Mileage
145,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 19, 2017

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE FAILURE AT 102,000 MILES. APPEARS TO BE A CONTINUING TREND WITH VARIOUS FORD MODELS, AND REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE; APPROXIMATELY $2,000. IF ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAILING, ABS NO LONGER WORKS. DOUBT ACCURACY OF ABS WARNING LIGHT TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE WARNING.

NHTSA ID
11000070
Incident
May 8, 2017
Mileage
102,300 mi
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Mar 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE STATIONARY, THE HAZARD LIGHTS FLASHED AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS COULD NOT BE USED DUE TO THE INVOLUNTARY FLASHING OF THE HAZARD LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10968332
Incident
Mar 22, 2017
Mileage
90,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 21, 2017

THE ABS AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT COME ON AFTER DRIVING. THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAR THE LIGHTS IS TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURN THIS BACK ON. THE LIGHTS WILL EVENTUALLY COME BACK. THE CONCERN IS ARE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY HAVING AN ISSUE. SYSTEM HAS BEEN GIVEN AN OVERHAUL: PADS, ROTORS, NEW MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE FLUID BLEED AND REFILL, AND THE ISSUE PERSISTS. NO NONE FIXES FROM MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID
10946895
Incident
Dec 15, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Dec 6, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ABS, ENGINE, AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10930304
Incident
Jun 20, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 14, 2016

WHEN DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT AND RED BRAKE LIGHT COME ON TOGETHER. MY VAN HAS 77,483 ACTUAL MILES ON IT! I HAD A BRAKE CHECK AT LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY REPORTED 80% BRAKE LINING STILL ON,

NHTSA ID
10916171
Incident
Oct 13, 2016
Mileage
77,480 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 13, 2016

ABS AND BRAKE ALARM LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING AND STAY ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I SUSPECT THIS INDICATES A PROBLEM THAT DISABLES THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER SHOWS AT LEAST 12 STORED FAULTS IN THE ABS SYSTEM WHICH CANNOT BE ERASED.

NHTSA ID
10915877
Incident
Oct 12, 2016
Mileage
180,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 3, 2016

MY ABS LIGHTS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND ABS SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE ENGAGED WHEN NO BRAKING IS HAPPENING. WHEN BRAKES ARE ENGAGED THE BRAKING SEEMS TO TAKE A LOT LONGER. ABS MODULE HAS DEFECTIVE SOLDER JOINTS CAUSING MANY SYSTEM FAILURES. FAILURE HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
10903502
Incident
Dec 10, 2010
Mileage
95,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Aug 31, 2016

ABS LIGHT. TOOK MY 2003 WINDSTAR WITH ONLY 74,000 MILES ON IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO GET CODES AS TO EXPLAIN THE REDUNDANT ABS LIGHT. THERE WERE AT LEAST 12 CODES ALL POINTING BACK TO THE ABS MODULE. THIS ISSUE WITH THE ABS HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR 2+ YEARS.

NHTSA ID
10899866
Incident
Aug 20, 2014
Mileage
74,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 18, 2016

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT REMAIN ON CONSTANTLY.

NHTSA ID
10897006
Incident
Apr 12, 2016
Mileage
174,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 28, 2016

I WAS BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN MY FORD WINDSTAR 2003 ENGINE STARTED REVVING AND I HAD TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BREAKS TO STOP THE CAR FROM RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES TO RELEASE THE ENGINE FROM REVVING DID IT STOP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE SAME DAY AND IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO STOP THE FORD WINDSTAR 2003 MODEL. IT COULD HAVE DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE EITHER TO ANOTHER CAR OR A PERSON. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THIS PROBLEM HAS TO BE CORRECTED OR PUT ON A RECALL BASIS BEFORE OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE THE PROBLEM, CAN EITHER GET IT FIXED OR TAKEN OFF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
10889166
Incident
Jul 27, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 12, 2016

MY SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK AT ALL, GO UP AND DOWN OR GET STUCK, INDICATING THE WRONG SPEED, WHILE IN MOTION, ALSO AT A STOP, IT WILL POP UP, HAPPENS ON CITY STREET AND ON HIGHWAY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ISSUE WITH FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS. TO ME THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AS I FIND IT DISTRACTING, HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I'M GOING. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE TODAY AND WHILE I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST, I COULD NOT SAY FOR CERTAIN THAT I WAS WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT. I'M CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING AT MY SPEEDOMETER, TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO SEE IF IT WILL DROP, BUT I CAN'T TRUST THAT THE SPEED READING BEFORE WAS CORRECT. I CAN BE DRIVING AND IT WILL POP RIGHT UP TO INDICATED 100MPH, WHEN I'M DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I GET ALERTS AND SIGNAL ALARMS FOR "LOW BRAKE FLUID", "CHECK ADVANCETRACK", MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND MY REAR BACK UP SENSORS DON'T WORK EITHER. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR NOT STAYING SHUT WHEN PARKED, I HAVE HAD THIS FEATURE DISABLED FOR SAFETY REASONS. IT WILL START TO CLOSE, REOPEN, START AGAIN, CLOSE PARTIALLY AND THEN REOPEN AGAIN, EVEN IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED IT WILL DO THIS. THESE ARE ALL ONGOING PROBLEMS, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE TIED TOGETHER. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT FOR PROBLEMS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT CODES COME UP UNDER DIAGNOSTICS BUT WHEN THE ACTUAL PARTS THEY ARE WARNING ABOUT LIKE THE ABS, LOW BRAKE FLUID ARE FINE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT A FORD DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE DOOR ISSUE AND WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIGURE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10884432
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE BLACK TIRES MARKS ON THE ROAD AND THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKES SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,568.

NHTSA ID
10865614
Incident
May 17, 2016
Mileage
78,568 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 14, 2016

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND STAYS ON.

NHTSA ID
10855553
Incident
Apr 14, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .