Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 278 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 278, in the owner's own words
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
STARTED HAVING WIPER ISSUES (INTERMITTENT DID NOT WORK) RANDOMLY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, THEN HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WITH NO OTHER CARS, FIRST FOR A COUPLE SECONDS OFF THEN ON THEN OFF FOR GOOD AFTER A FEW MORE SECONDS. AFTER ANOTHER 10 MIN OR SO THEY WENT BACK ON AND STAYED ON. ALSO WIPERS DID NOT WORK, OR RADIO, WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS. ANOTHER TIME DURING HEAVY RAIN IN DAYTIME THE SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN, WIPERS WENT OFF. THIS WAS ON BUSY HIGHWAY. LUCKILY THEY WENT ON AGAIN AFTER 10S AND I WAS ABLE TO SEE AND PULL OVER. VERY SCARY. HAPPENED OFF AND ON AGAIN. TURNED OUT FORWARD CONTROL MODULE WAS BAD. DEALER REPLACED ONE I GOT FROM JUNKYARD, NO MORE PROBLEM.
WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTING BECAME ERRATIC AND FAILED. A SHORT TIME LATER THE SITUATION NORMALIZED. SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR THE TACHOMETER MALFUNCTIONED AND BECAME INOPERABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED AND A HOLE WAS PRESENT LOCATED BEHIND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE HOLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD RANDOMLY STOP OPERATING. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (DICK BRANTMEIER FORD IN SHEBOYCAN, WI) WAS NOTIFIED ALONG WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE OR ANY OTHER ROAD, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OFF FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS. I HEARD A CLICKING SOUND UNDER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH LIKE THE SOUND OF A RELAY ENGAGING. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND IT WAS OK FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS THEN STARTED AGAIN. DRIVING DURING THE DAY W/NO LIGHTS ON THE A/C BLOWER MOTOR SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AND THEN RE-STARTED. THIS ALSO HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HEARD THE CLICKING UNDER THE DASH AT THAT TIME TOO. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE FORD DEALER. THEY KEPT IT FOR 5 DAYS AND FOUND NOTHING. I WAS AT CHURCH AND CAME OUT TO LEAVE. I STARTED THE VAN AND THE WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES ON INTERMITTENT AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF NO MATTER WHAT I DID. I TURNED THE VAN OFF WHEN I GOT HOME AND THE NEXT TIME I STARTED IT THE WIPERS WERE OFF. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE A/C ON AND THE BLOWER MOTOR SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AGAIN AND ALSO THE RADIO, POWER WINDOWS, AND POWER LOCKS. AGAIN I HEARD THE RELAY CLICKING SOUND. IT STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND CAME ON LONG ENOUGH TO OPEN THE WINDOWS (IT WAS 92 DEGREES OUTSIDE). A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER IT WENT OFF AGAIN AND STAYED OFF FOR THE REST OF THE DAY AND MOST OF THE NEXT. WHEN I NOTICED A STORM COMING, I WENT OUT AND STARTED THE VAN. THANK GOD THE A/C, RADIO, WINDOWS, AND LOCKS WERE WORKING AT THAT TIME SO THAT I COULD SHUT THE WINDOWS. I DROVE IT TO WORK THE NEXT DAY AND ALL WAS WORKING. I LEFT THE VAN WITH MY BOSS (HE'S A MECHANIC) SO THAT HE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT. MY REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL ABOUT 16 MONTHS AGO. I'M FRUSTRATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE VAN USED IN JULY OF 2015. IT HAS METICULOUS SERVICE RECORDS AND HAS BEEN GREAT UP UNTIL THIS YEAR. FORD REALLY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
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.
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.
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.
THE SPEED METER GAUGES GOES CRAZY
MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD COME ON AND OFF AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SOMETIMES THEY STAY FOR A WHILE (DAYS) AND THEN GO OFF FOR (DAYS). ALSO, I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAUGE ARMS ON THE DASHBOARD ALL OF SUDDEN WILL GO BACK AND FORTH IN A QUICK MOTION. THEN SOMETIMES STICK IN ONE POSITION AND THEN BACK TO NORMAL AND THEN SOMETIMES NOT MOVE AT ALL FOR A WHILE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE BRAKE AND OVERDRIVE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
THE GAUGES IN THE VEHICLE KEEPS GOING NUTS. MOVING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER,TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, GAS, TEMPERATURE, BATTERY. THE TACHOMETER GAUGE HIT THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR AND NOW THAT IS PUSHED OVER TO 1. IT APPEARS THERE A MANY FORDS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FIX IS WELL OVER $400 JUST FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ALSO THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE POWER STEERING WHINING NOISE THAT ALL FORDS HAVE. IF THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THEN HOW COME THE NTSA DON'T MAKE THEM FIX THE PROBLEMS.
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONLY. BRAKES CONTINUE TO WORK. I AM TOLD IT GIVES A 1185 CODE MEANING A BAD MODULE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKED ERRATICALLY AND THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,415.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES, ABS, ENGINE, AND DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHTS PREVIOUSLY ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS ELECTRICAL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,190.
"ABS" AND "BRAKE" INDICATOR LIGHTS WITHIN DASHBOARD TURN ON INTERMITTENTLY.
PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. THIS VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND YET WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO EAT THE FINANCIAL BILLS INSTEAD OF FORD. FROM SENSORS FAILING, TO INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHING AT US, AND THE VEHICLE SPUTTERING WHILE WE DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. FORD KNOWS THAT THE 1999- 2003 WINDSTAR HAVE SERIOUS SAFETY AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES, YET THEY DO NOT WANT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. FORD WOULD RATHER PASS ON THEIR PROBLEMS ONTO THE CONSUMER AND AT THE CONSUMER'S COST. 2013 AT OUR COST OF $1,000.00+ WE REPLACED THE COIL ASSEMBLY PACK, EGR SYSTEM WITH BRACKETS, OXYGEN SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS, AND WIRES. NOW WE ARE REPLACING THEM AGAIN. THE ABS SYSTEM, THE TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL ALL INTERWOVEN AND ALL FAILED IN 2009 AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS NOT IMPORTANT BY THE DEALERSHIPS. WE PLACED OUR OBD SCANNER ON OUR VEHICLE AND THIS IS WHAT WE PULLED. P0302, P0305, P0316, C1235, C1185, C1198, C1194, C1254, C1246, C1250, C1242, C1214, C1210, C1103, C1410, C1404, B1318. WE WERE TOLD BY MANY "SERVICE DEPARTMENTS" A WHILE BACK THAT THESE CODES WERE NOT IMPORTANT. THEY CLEARED THE CODES EVERY TIME. THEIR RESPONSE TO THESE CODES WERE TO CLEAR THEM EVERY TIME. WHY ARE WE HAVING TO REPLACE THE COIL ASSEMBLY PACKS, WIRES, EGR SYSTEM WITH BRACKETS, OXYGEN SENSORS,AND PLUGS SO OFTEN, WHEN WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THESE PLATINUM PLUGS AND WIRES SHOULD LAST 150K? WE HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS VEHICLE YEARS AGO. FORD SHOULD COMPENSATE US FOR OUR TROUBLES, INSTEAD THEY INCREASED OUR FINANCIAL BURDEN, AND FORD SHOULD HAVE PLACED US INTO A SAFER VEHICLE ALL AT THEIR COST. THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE. WHEN IT FAILS, WE HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS TO GET IT REPAIRED AT OUR COST. FORD SHOULD TAKE ON THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THESE ISSUES. MAJOR REPAIRS= 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, AND NOW 2015. *TR
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, ODOMETER AND SLIDING DOORS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTAL INTERGRADED POWER MODULE FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. ALSO, BRAKE (E-BRAKE) LIGHT COMES ON, INTERIOR LIGHTS OCCASIONALLY FLASH, ALL RUNNING LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT (REALLY BAD WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT NIGHT), AND LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL (RADIO, LIGHTS, HEATER FAN, DASH ILLUMINATION, HEADLIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS, ETC... ALL GO OUT AT SAME TIME). ALTERNATOR AND SEVERAL BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ELECTRIC WINDOWS WILL OCCASIONALLY STOP WORKING AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY THE HUGE ISSUE HERE IS THE FACT THAT THE ABS SYSTEM MAY BE DISABLED, DASH WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON AND OFF, AND ALL ELECTRICAL SHUTS OFF, WITH LOSING HEADLIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS BEING THE BIGGEST ISSUE! *TR
MY VANS BRAKES STARTED ACTING FUNNY WHEN I CAME UP TO A STOP. THE ABS SYSTEM IS ACTING AS IF THE VAN IS GOING INTO A SKID AND ACTIVATING THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. IT CAUSES IMPROPER BRAKING DISTANCE WHICH HAS ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT. AFTER OPERATING FOR AWHILE THE WARNING LIGHTS GO ON IN THE DASH FOR THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL, AT THIS POINT WHEN THE LIGHTS GO ON THE SYSTEMS ARE DISABLED. WHEN YOU SHUT OFF THE VAN IT RESETS AND THE PROBLEMS PERSIST WHEN YOU START IT BACK UP. I BELIEVE THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER BOARD CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. IT CAN POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND OR DEATH. *TR
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING.NOW THE O/D OFF LIGHT IS FLASHING ON DASH. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF. I'VE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED, AND THEY ARE FINE. WE CHANGED THE MODULE, WHICH WE WERE TOLD WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE OFTEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARMER, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN DURING THE WINTER, TOO. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY, TO HAVE THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHING, AND IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. ALSO, I WOULDN'T KNOW IF THE BRAKES ACTUALLY HAD A PROBLEM. *TR
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. NO RHYME OR REASON BUT MAKE US FEEL UNSAFE. HAVE TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH ABS OR BRAKES. CAR ONLY HAS 56000 MILES ON IT NOW AND WE CAN'T TRADE IT OR SELL IT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THOUSANDS OF ENTRIES WITH SAME PROBLEM. FOUND INDIVIDUAL ON EBAY THAT HAS BUSINESS REPAIRING ECU COLD SOLDER JOINTS SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFAULT. ABS AND BRAKES FUNCTION PROPERLY BUT THOSE LIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE COMING ON. IT APPEARS TO BE A COLD SOLDER JOINT WHICH IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SINCE THE ECU SITS RIGHT UNDER MASTER CYLINDER A BRAKE FLUID LEAK LEAKING FLUID ON ECU HAS AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE.MMMFORD SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE UNIT AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. *TR
A FEW DAYS AFTER BUYING THE VAN THE ABS LIGHT STARTED COMING ON, IT GOES ON AND OFF. MY INTERIOR LIGHTS HAVE FLASHED ON AND OFF, MY PASSENGER WINDOW NO LONGER WORKS! AND THE GEAR SHIFTER IS LOOSE AND SOMETIMES HARD TO GET INTO PARK. *TR
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.
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