2003 Ford Windstar Driver assistance Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS and Brake warning lights remained illuminated. Additionally, there was smoke, and a burning odor coming from the engine compartment. The contact also stated that the ABS fluid had leaked from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that fluid had leaked from the Speed Control Deactivations Switch causing damage to the ABS Control Module connector. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V399000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 250,000.

NHTSA ID

11599271

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

250,000 mi

Driver was stalking a pedestrian.

NHTSA ID

11430964

Incident

Aug 29, 2021

IT HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. NEEDS WIRING HARNESS, NEEDS FRONT AND REAL AXLE REPLACEMENT. DANGEROUS. ALARM GOES OFF AT RANDOM. WON'T HOLD CHARGE. STEERING WHEEL BEARINGS ARE SHOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324221

Incident

May 3, 2010

Mileage

103,000 mi

WAS ON THE STREET DRIVING, LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON DASHBOARD VAN SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, BLEW OUT, WAS DRIVING AGAIN VAN WAS ILDE UP REALLY BAD AND WHILE MY FEET WAS ON THE BRAKES IT STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN AND RAN INTO SOMEONE ELSE VEHICLE, AND ALSO VAN WAS ON THE ROAD STARTED RUNNING BAD BROKE DOWN ON A BUSY STREET ONCE I WAS PUSHED TO A SAFE LOCATION ALL MY FLUIDS WERE ON THE GROUND AND THE VAN WAS SMOKING REALLY BAD AND LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WERE FLASHING.

NHTSA ID

11120027

Incident

Aug 14, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT IDLED AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TP SENSOR AND MULTIPLE OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10905866

Incident

Aug 6, 2015

Mileage

48,000 mi

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

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

ON MAY 24 WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY SONS CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A TREMENDOUS RATE OF SPEED AND WITH A LOUD NOISE AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO OUR SHED. I SUSTAINED INJURIES OF 6 BROKEN RIBS, BRUISED LUNG AND CONTUSIONS TO MY CHEST. IF NOT FOR THE CAR AND SHED IN FRONT WE WOULD HAVE ENDED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL BEHIND OUR HOME. THE INSURANCE COMPANY, 21ST CENTURY, DID NOT SEND A CLAIM FORM AND IS FIGHTING PAYING FOR THIS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10884092

Incident

May 24, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE TRACTION CONTROL TURNS ON AND OFF WITH SWITCH IN OFF POSITION. ON A CLEAR DRY DAY THE SYSTEM WILL TURN ON WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT . THE CAR MUST BE IN MOTION FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THE CAR DOES THIS VERY OFTEN. WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT HEAR A HUM. IT HAPPENS ON ALL TYPES OF PAVEMENT AND BOTH DAY AND NIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10816272

Incident

Dec 25, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

ABS INDICATOR KEEPS TURNING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY AT INCREASING INTERVALS AND IS NOW STAYING ON MORE OFTEN. THE SPEEDOMETER'S NEEDLE IN THE DASHBOARD ALSO FAILS TO REGISTER THE SPEED THAT THE CAR IS GOING AND MOVES WILDLY BACK AND FORTH.

NHTSA ID

10726099

Incident

Jun 5, 2014

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THIS MORNING, 4/29/15. I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE LAST NIGHT, NO PROBLEMS. THIS MORNING WHEN I LEFT THE HOUSE TO GET THE TITLE TRANSFERRED AND VEHICLE REGISTERED, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION AND TURNED IT OFF, THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, THE LIGHT REMAINED ON, AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ONE. NEITHER WILL GO OFF. I HAD A 1998 WINDSTAR THAT I SOLD DUE TO AGE BUT LOVED. I AM NOT HAPPY TO HAVE THIS ISSUE THE FIRST DAY I OWN ITS REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10713685

Incident

Apr 29, 2015

Mileage

119,832 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE COMPLETELY. THE DEALER FUSED THE WIRING HARNESS, BUT ONLY INSPECTED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND DID NOT REPLACE IT AS LISTED IN THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE MODULE WAS LEAKING. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

NHTSA ID

10706663

Incident

Mar 16, 2015

Mileage

192,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN

NHTSA ID

10702858

Incident

Mar 23, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

DASH ABS, BRAKE LIGHT ON, SPEEDOMETER, RPM GAGE JUMPS BACK AND FORWARD, CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATES, PASSENGER WINDOW AND REAR SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702029

Incident

Dec 16, 2014

Mileage

143,216 mi

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, FOLLOWED SOON AFTERWARDS BY THE POWER RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW FAILING TO GO AND DOWN, FOLLOWED BY THE TRANSMISSION O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING. THESE WOULD OCCUR UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN, THEN MOST OF THE TIME THE SYMPTOMS WOULD GO AWAY, ALWAYS TO RETURN. WHEN THE O/D OFF LIGHT WOULD COME ON, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL TO PERFORM AT SPEED AND WE WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE OUR SPEED TO UNDER 50 MPH IN ORDER TO NOT REV THE ENGINE ABOVE 3500 RPM. WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON, YOU CANNOT GET TO 60 MPH WITHOUT REDLINING THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD DEALERS AND MECHANICS LOOK AT THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10640044

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ONE FOR QUITE SOME TIME MANY MONTHS, MAYBE A YEAR. THE BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY BEEN ON OR GONE OFF, BUT HAS BEEN ON FOR SOME TIME - THE LAST 6-8 MONTHS. WE HAVE A KNOWN BRAKE OIL LEAK, AS WE HAVE SEEN THE PUDDLES AND FREQUENTLY REFILL IT. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE FORD RECALL 09S09 BUT OUR VIN # IS NOT PRESENTLY INCLUDED. ON 8/21 THE ALL OF THE INTERNAL GAUGES "WENT WONKY" AND THEN STOPPED INDICATING ANYTHING (SPEEDOMETER AT 0, EVEN THOUGH I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 50-60 MPH. THIS "WONKY ISSUE" HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE SPRING OF 2014. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS NOT WORKED FOR A FEW MONTHS (ABOUT THE SAME TIME WE FIRST NOTICED THE "WONKY GAUGES" WHICH USED TO ALWAYS ACCOMPANY A RAPID ACCELERATION) SINCE THE LAST WEEK, THE GAUGES ARE "GOING WONKY" ON THEIR OWN, EVEN WHEN I DON'T RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. WE HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT A BRAKE OIL LEAK AFFECTING THE SCDS AND OUR ISSUES SEEM VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE DESCRIBED IN A RECALL! TO RECAP, THE "WONKY GAUGES" HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE FEB/MARCH BUT WAS ONLY OBSERVED WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. NOW, SINCE A MUCH MORE SEVERE EPISODE ON 8/21/2014 THE GAUGES ARE ACTING UP EVEN AT SLOWER SPEEDS, THE GAUGES ARE "GOING OUT" AND NOT REGISTERING ANYTHING AT ALL FOR 10-15 MINUTE STRETCHES. A/C, RADIO, CLOCK, WINDOWS, TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING. AND ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION! *TR

NHTSA ID

10628976

Incident

Aug 21, 2014

Mileage

135,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON, BRAKES ARE FINE, FLUID LEVEL IS FINE, BUT LIGHT IS ON. ABS NOW NOT WORKING. SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT GO ABOVE 40 MPH UNTIL DRIVEN AT LEAST 3 MILES, THIS IS ALSO CAUSING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO NOT WORK SMOOTHLY. TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE, TRANSMISSION IS CLEAN AND WORKING. ALL OF THESE ISSUES BEGAN WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10627459

Incident

Jul 8, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

ABS LIGHT ALONG WITH BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. MULTIPLE DEFECT CODES FOR ABS MODULE SHOWN ON SCANNER. BRAKES NOT FULLY STOPPING VEHICLE WHEN DEPRESSED. BOUGHT VEHICLE IN MAY 2014. CRUISE CONTROL ACTING FUNNY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607707

Incident

May 30, 2014

ABS, BRAKE WARNING LAMPS LIT, SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T SHOW THE OPERATING SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605690

Incident

Feb 17, 2014

Mileage

90,670 mi

ABS, BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR NO REASON. SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS HAVING IT DIAGNOSED. REPLACE MANY PARTS. NO RESOLUTION. DRIVES OFTEN WITH A MISS ESPECIALLY DURING ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10592784

Incident

Jun 18, 2013

Mileage

54,000 mi

THE BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR SOME TIME, AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LEAKING WHAT APPEARS TO BE BRAKE FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587613

Incident

Mar 30, 2012

Mileage

115,000 mi

WHILE IN 75MPH SPEED LIMIT UPON ENTERING INTO A 70MPH LIMIT I PUSHED CST ON CRUISE PANEL STEERING WHEEL. I NOT ONLY SLOWED BUT MY VAN CONTINUED TO SLOW WHILE HEAVIER TRAFFIC WAS SKIRTING AND TRYING NOT TO RUN ME OVER. IT WAS AT LESS THAN 40MPH I WAS ABLE TO GET ON THE EMERGENCY LANE. WOULD NOT RESPOND TO DRIVE, 1ST, 2ND, REVERSE GEARS. ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IN NEUTRAL, GOING NOWHERE, WHEN FOOT APPLIED TO ACCELERATOR. NO WARNING GIVEN; NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OR NOISE BEFOREHAND. STRANDED 400 MI FROM HOME, TOWED TO STERLING FORD DEALERSHIP IN OPELOUSAS, LA WITH VAN LEFT THERE AND NO NOTION OF WHEN FIRM DIAGNOSIS, TORQUE CONVERTER WAS THE FIRST SUGGESTION, PULLING TRANSMISSION PUMP AND MUCH MORE COSTLY WAS SECOND. WAS TOLD BY PREUS FORD THEY "THOUGHT" THERE HAD BEEN RECALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. DON'T KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583522

Incident

Apr 17, 2014

Mileage

69,000 mi

THE ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS HAVE COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND WILL NOT RESET. THE TRACTION CONTROL SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. *TT

NHTSA ID

10583386

Incident

Apr 15, 2014

Mileage

96,270 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE PERSISTED UNTIL IT HAD BECOME A PERMANENT OCCURRENCE AND WOULD PRESENT ITSELF EVEN WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION WAS NOT BEING USED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY ACTIVE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

NHTSA ID

10579593

Incident

Apr 14, 2012

Mileage

151,000 mi

THE ABS LIGHT, ADVANCED TRAC CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT, AND DASH LIGHTS ARE FLASHING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. ALARMS BEEP AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. THEN COMING ONTO THE FREEWAY THIS MORNING IT OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER ALMOST GETTING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. TRIED TO START THE VAN SEVERAL TIMES AND AFTER A FEW TRIES IT STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY WITHOUT GETTING HIT. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM MANY 03 WINDSTAR VAN OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THEM. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS FROM OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THESE SAME PROBLEMS. FORD DEALERSHIPS HAVE REPAIRED/REPLACED VARIOUS COMPONENTS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BUT IT KEEPS RECURRING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. IT IS A DESIGN THING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10569380

Incident

Mar 14, 2014

Mileage

141,457 mi