2003 Ford Windstar Interior & seats Problems

ABS AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. MIDDLE SEAT WON'T GO BACK UP AND THE DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK HALF THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641532

Incident

Oct 2, 2012

Mileage

120 mi

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE FLICKER ON AND OFF AT RANDOM WHEN DRIVING. IT DOES IT DURING THE DAY AND AT NIGHT. AT NIGHT IS THE WORST. SOMETIMES IT WON'T DO IT FOR A LONG TIME AND THERE IS TIMES WHERE IT DOES IT CONSTANTLY. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING CORRECTS IT BUT ONLY SOME OF THE TIME. I HAVE BEEN SEEING COMPLAINTS ON MANY DIFFERENT WEB SITES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I HAVE SEEN NO TSB ISSUED FROM FORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621098

Incident

Nov 16, 2012

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING ALL THE TIME. I KEEP THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OFF SO THEY DON'T FLICKER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597457

Incident

Jan 2, 2010

Mileage

101,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING BEGAN FLASHING ERRONEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,720.

NHTSA ID

10487953

Incident

Oct 27, 2012

Mileage

126,720 mi

INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT ON AND WERE FLASHING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475728

Incident

Sep 7, 2012

Mileage

105,000 mi

ABS MODULE DOES NOT WORK, AND SHOWS A CONSTANT ALARM LIGHT. COST TO REPAIR IS $2K DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND HAVE TO BE OPENED MANUALLY. COST TO REPAIR IS $500/LOCK POWER STEERING UNIT CONSTANTLY NOISY, HARD TO STEER VEHICLE. NO REPAIR COST KNOWN. DOOR OPEN LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON. NO REPAIR COST KNOWN. INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN DOORS ARE OPENED. NO REPAIR COST KNOWN. *JS

NHTSA ID

10457099

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, I FELT THE VAN WAS NOT SHIFTING, SO I WENT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER-AGAIN, NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION BUT THEY DID DO A TRANSMISSION TUNE UP. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I DROVE INTO TOWN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO STOP ON A RED LIGHT. ON GREEN, I PRESSED MY GAS PEDAL BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IN A DESPERATE EFFORT, I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN, BUT FOR ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER MILE TO HAVE TO DO THE SAME REPEATEDLY UNTIL I GOT TO A SAFER SPOT. FINALLY, I ENDED UP LEAVING MY VAN PARKED AT A SHOPPING CENTER AND CALLED A CAB HOME. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH WITH MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING, AND MY AIR CONDITIONING DOESN'T WORK, EVEN WHEN I HAD FREE ON PUT IN IT. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR ANOTHER CAR, NOR DO I HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, ALONG WITH HAVING IT PUT IN. I LIVE IN A TOWN WHERE THERE ARE NO BUSES AND CAN ONLY GET A RIDE FROM A TAXI. I DON'T HAVE $10 ONE WAY FOR THIS! I NEED TO GET TO WORK, AND CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MY JOB. ALL BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING SAME PROBLEMS FOR MANY OTHERS OUT THERE. FORD SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE VEHICLES! *KB

NHTSA ID

10426361

Incident

Jun 23, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON CONSTANTLY....LOSING POWER....FRONT/PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK, LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF..... *TT

NHTSA ID

10414772

Incident

Jul 21, 2011

Mileage

124,550 mi

2003 WINDSTAR ELECTRONIC CONCERN -FUSE NO.3 TO POWER REAR VIEW MIRROR SHORTS OUT. CAN NOT KEEP A FUSE IN IT. THE LITE ON MIRROR IS GREAT IDEAL. BUT DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THEY WANT 89.00 TO 100 CHECK TO RUN A ECTRIC CHECK TO SEE WHY? I AM STILL PAYING A BANK FEE AND THIS VAN HAS RUN ME IN DEBT TRYING TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399479

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

42,000 mi

WINDSTAR VAN DOORS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING. RIGHT PASSENGER SLIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK/ UNLOCK HAVE TO DO IT BY HAND. LEFT REAR PASSENGERS DOOR SLIDE OPEN IT SELF AFTER I SHUT IT. WILL LOCK IT SELF. I CAN PULL THE LOCK UP AND IT WILL LOCK IT SELF AGAIN. THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK HAVE TO USE KEY.. KEYLESS REMOTESTOP WORKING. PLUS BATTERY . STILL NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10398876

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

FORD WINDSTAR THAT HAS HAD 2 RECALLS FOR FRONT AND REAR AXLES. INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10389983

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

Mileage

92,000 mi

OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR HAS BEEN HAVING MECHANICAL FAILURES FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS. WE HAVE HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR PASSENERS SIDE OF THE CAR THAT NEITHER OUR LOCAL MECHANIC NOR FORD COULD FIX. WE REPLACED SHOCKS AND MOST RECENTLY THE TIRE RODS ON 9/24/10. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRONICAL "BUGS" INCLLUDING ABS LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF FOR 2 YEARS REQUIRING MULTIPLE FUSE CHANGES AND ELECTRICAL TESTING. OUR TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 2009 AT 59,000 MILES. THE POWER LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS DO NOT OPEN REMOTELY OR WITH POWER LOCKS, ONLY KEY OR MANUAL LIFTING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PERSON INJURIES, WE HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE TO KEEP THIS CAR RUNNING IN WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS SAFE MANNER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10376993

Incident

Sep 24, 2010

Mileage

81,535 mi

INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AS DRIVING. THE LIGHTS INCLUDE THOSE ON THE DASH, WHICH MAKES IT DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. PLEASE DO A SEARCH FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND NOTE THE EXCEPTIONAL NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS POSTED BY OTHER OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369200

Incident

May 23, 2005

WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 WINDSTAR IN AUGUST OF 2006 USED FROM A CAR LOT. IN THE SPRING OF 2008 THE LOCKS ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE ARE PARKED OR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HEAR THIS AWFUL SOUND. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I NOTICED LEAKING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE IN THE FRONT BEHIND THE TIRE AND THEN THE STEERING WAS MAKING A NOISE AND BEGINNING TO TURN HARD. WE ENDED UP REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THEN IN OCTOBER 2009 WE ENDED UP REPLACING THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. WE HAD A MECHANIC FRIEND OF OURS COME AND TAKE A LOOK TO HAVE IT DONE CHEAPER. WE THEN FOUND OUT THAT THE RADIATOR WAS ALSO GOING OUT. SO WE HAD IT PARKED AND REPLACED THE RADIATOR IN JANUARY OF 2010 AND LEFT IT PARKED BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION AT THE TIME. IT HAD ROUGHLY 13X,XXX MILES ON IT WHEN IT FAILED. WE FINALLY BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE AND REPLACED THIS IN FEBRUARY OF 2010. WE HAVE JUST REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER OF 2010. WE HAVE NOW TAKEN IT IN FOR THE RECALL AND FOUND OUT THAT IT HAS 3 CRACKS IN IT. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS EXTRA MONEY TO CHECK THE SUBFRAME SO I AM WAITING FOR OUR MECHANIC FRIEND TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT OTHER SURPRISE WE MAY HAVE. ONCE WE FIND OUT I WILL BE REPORTING BACK ABOUT THE SUBFRAME IF IT ALSO HAS AN ISSUE. WE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE STILL OWE $5600 ON THIS AND HAVE ALREADY PAID SO MUCH FOR THIS OVERPRICED VAN ON TOP OF ALL THE MONEY WE PUT IN TO IT. WE ARE BEGINNING TO BE SCARED TO DRIVE THIS WITH OUR CHILDREN IN IT WHEN IT EVENTUALLY GETS FIXED. PLEASE HELP, WHAT ELSE IS GONNA GO WRONG!!! THE DATE IS NOT EXACT BUT APPROXIMATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365598

Incident

Apr 1, 2008

FORD VEHICLES SHOULD NOT ONLY BE RECALLED FOR REAR AXLE RUST. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A RECALL FOR RUST THAT CONSTANTLY OCCURS AROUND THE REAR WHEEL WELL PANELS. THE RUST APPEARS TO START FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR SIDE PANEL ON THE WINDSTAR. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS OCCURRING ALONG WITH THE REAR AXLE RUST. THE SLIDING SIDE DOORS HAVE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH CLOSING COMPLETELY WHEN ANY OF THE CONTROL BUTTONS WERE USED. THE DOORS WOULD REOPEN OVER AND OVER. REPEATED VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM WHICH SEEM TO INVOLVE THE PULLEY SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361840

Incident

Mar 1, 2009

WHERE TO START? ALMOST SEEM LIKE TO MANY PROBLEMS TO LIST. WE WILL START WITH THE CONSTANT DRAINING AND REPLACEMENT OF THE BATTERY. NEW BATTERY EVERY FEW MONTHS. THINKING THIS ISSUE MAY HAVE TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF AT RANDOM UNEXPLAINED TIMES. SOMETIMES REMAINING ON ONCE THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND ALL DOORS ARE COMPLETELY CLOSED. PROBLEM WITH ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AT RANDOMS TIMES IN ADDITION TP THE CHECL CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON AND OFF BUT IF THEY REMAIN ON CAUSE THE CAR TO HESITATE OR JUST QUIT ON YOU. I HAVE 3 KIDS AND AM TERRIFIED FOR OUR SAFETY EVERYTIME WE ARE IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE FINALLY HAD ENOUGH AND AM FILING A COMPLAINT SINCE I HAVE READ FROM NUMEROUS SOURCES THAT I AM ONE OF THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. PLEASE CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND SUBSEQUENTLY ANY INNOCENT MOTORIST OR PEDESTRIAN WHO MAY BECOME INJURED FROM THESE SAFETY ISSUES. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352391

Incident

Mar 7, 2010

Mileage

59,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR SOMETHING WHICH FORD CLAIMS THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS- ALL THEY KEPT SAYING IS YOU NEED TO PAY $ FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WHICH WILL PROBABLY NOT EVEN TELL THEM THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEMS BECAUSE IN ORDER TO CATCH THE PROBLEM THEY NEED TO CATCH IT JUST AS IT HAPPENS WHICH IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. LONG STORY SHORT-I HAVE PUT NOTHING BUT $ INTO THIS VAN WHICH I FEEL SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON ALL THE PROBLEMS THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EXACT SAME ISSUES FOR THE EXACT SAME YEAR AND MODEL VAN. AS OF NOW I AM STUCK WITH NO CAR TO GET TO WORK AND TO GET MY KIDS TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THE VAN WON'T START AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP ONCE AGAIN. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE- DOMES LIGHTS FLICKERING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING EVEN WITH THE SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION, FUSES GETTING BLOWN FROM OPENING WINDOWS, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ONLY WORKING WHEN IT WANTS TO, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, AND NOW THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHY IT IS NOT STARTING. FAILURES HAPPEN EVERY YEAR SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VAN. I HAVE HAD THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY REPLACED EVERY YEAR AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AS WELL. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AC AND HEAT AND THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS COMING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN AND JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS ANYMORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348949

Incident

Aug 9, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE ALSO LEAKED BRAKE FLUID FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE MASTER CYLINDER. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE DOME LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT OPEN. THE TWO BENCH REAR WINDOWS WOULD ALSO OPEN INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,289. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,279.

NHTSA ID

10348439

Incident

Jul 22, 2010

Mileage

113,279 mi

I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. MY BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT NEVER TURN OFF. MY WARNING THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN IS ALWAYS ON AS WELL SO MY INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY SO MY BATTERY DIES. MY HEAD LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10340235

Incident

Feb 10, 2010

Mileage

97,000 mi

55000 MILES. ORIGINAL OWNER 09S09 RECALL. BRAKE SWITCH LEAKING-REPAIRED BEFORE RECALL.PAID 250.00 ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENT, OCCASIONAL BURNING SMELL, REAR TAIL LIGHT REMAIN ON. BATTERY DIES (ON#3) FLASHING INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO GO OUT UPON BRAKING. DEALER PERFORMED RECALL (WIRE THING) SAID NEED NEW ECU AND HCU AT COST OF 1800.00. HAVE HAD CAR IN AND OUT OF SERVICE MANY TIMES FOR STRANGE ELECTRICAL OCCURRENCES AND WARNING LIGHT PROBLEMS. ALWAYS SAID CAN NOT DUPLICATE. HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON MESSAGE BOARDS WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO, WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2003/FORD/WINDSTAR/ABS+WARNING+LIGHT, WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2003/FORD/WINDSTAR/ELECTRICAL+SYSTEM. FROM CONSUMERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FEEL CAR IS NOT SAFE. LOW MILES, ALWAYS HAD SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336950

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

45,000 mi

ENGINE REVS AND CAR ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. DOOR LOCKS CLICK OPEN AND CLOSE WHILE DRIVING. INTERIOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329524

Incident

May 10, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

THIS VAN KEEPS DRAINING OUR BATTERY. WE HAVE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE VAN'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEEPS DRAINING THE BATTERY. IT HAS DRAINED OUR BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10326172

Incident

Apr 10, 2010

Mileage

136,000 mi

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DOORS LOCK SOMETIMES, NEXT TIME NO LOCK, ABS LITE WILL NOT GO OFF REPLACE FUSE, DRIVE 5 MILES, ABS LITE COMES BACK ON, HAS FOR 2 YEARS,WASTED MONEY AND TIME ON TRYING TO FIND SOLUTION. FUSES BLOW OUT FASTER THEN I CAN REPLACE THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320057

Incident

Apr 1, 2007

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE "ABS" BRAKE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM COMPUTER MODULE. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE DEFECTIVE AUTOMATED POWER LOCKS ON ALL FOUR DOORS. AN AUTHORIZED MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE DOOR LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED FOR THE ABS COMPUTER MODULE. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/30/09 *BF UPDATED 12/30/09*JB

NHTSA ID

10292317

Incident

Apr 9, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR CONTINUES TO SMOKE AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. IT ALSO HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CONTINUE ON FLASHING AND THE DOOR LOCKS SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY EXPERIENCED ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS WEBSITES DESCRIBING THESE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282213

Incident

Jun 10, 2009

Mileage

75,000 mi