RoadVitals

2003 Ford Windstar Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
26
Latest Jan 7, 2019
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.
2%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 26 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 exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words

ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jan 7, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11165003
Incident
Oct 23, 2018
Mileage
120,000 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
Exterior lighting
Filed May 3, 2015

I WAS WARNED BY A FELLOW DRIVER THAT I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TAIL LIGHTS WORK. ALL BULB FILAMENTS ARE INTACT. INTERIOR FUSES #'S 10 & 11 ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL ARE INTACT. I REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH. STILL I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10714224
Incident
Apr 19, 2015
Mileage
118,300 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 4, 2015

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

NHTSA ID
10681338
Incident
Mar 31, 2014
Mileage
113,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Aug 9, 2014

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
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jun 10, 2014

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
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed May 1, 2013

BATTERY WAS DEAD ALL OF A SUDDEN... JUMPED IT AND ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING... DOME LIGHT DASH LIGHTS... WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND THEY WERE TURNED OFF... DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN UNTIL THE GAS WAS PRESSED AND THEN IT ALL CAME BACK ON... CALLED SEVERAL PLACES AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG.

NHTSA ID
10512135
Incident
Apr 27, 2013
Mileage
195,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 21, 2013

AFTER GOING ABOUT 4 MILES AFTER STARTING UP VAN, ABS LIGHT COMES ON, OCCASIONALLY THE RED BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON TOO, SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY (UP AND DOWN) AND INSIDE LIGHTS FLICKER AT RANDOM. SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND/OR BRAKE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10499584
Incident
Jan 7, 2013
Mileage
131,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 23, 2012

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND GOES BACK OUT ALL THE TIME. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BLOWS OUT ABOUT EVERY TWO WEEKS TO TWO MONTHS, HAVE REPLACED ABOUT 20 TIMES SINCE BUYING VEHICLE. NEIGHBOR HAS A 2003 WINDSTAR WITH SAME PROBLEM. HORN FAILED, CONNECTION PROBLEM, WORKS OFF AND ON. ATTEMPTED TO GET REPLACEMENT PART BUT WAS INFORMED NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471997
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
109,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Aug 22, 2012

LIGHTS TURN ON AND OF INSIDE THE CAR. THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ON AND OFF. WINDOWS STOP WORKING GET STUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471919
Incident
Sep 1, 2010
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 1, 2012

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT STAY ON. HAVE NEW BRAKES. INTERIOR LIGHTS KEEP FLASHING ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING BATTERY LIGHT STAYS ON. I HAVE HAD BATTERY TESTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10468776
Incident
May 10, 2012
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 1, 2012

SPEEDOMETER LIGHTS COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND DON'T GO AWAY. NOW THE CAR WONT START FROM WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. REAR DRIVER LIGHT DOESN'T WORK BUT CAN SIGNAL,LEFT REAR PASSENGER LIGHTS WONT SIGNAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10453714
Incident
Aug 31, 2011
Mileage
90,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 10, 2011

INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY AND BLINK WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THEY STAY ON AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE DOOR AJAR STAYS ON WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. ALL CONTACTS CLEANED AND IT STILL DOES THIS. DRIVING WITH A FLASHING LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE IS DISTRACTING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM IN ALL FORD WINDSTARS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10439248
Incident
Nov 17, 2010
EngineExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 8, 2011

I WAS PARKED OUTSIDE MY HOME.I WENT OUT TO MY VAN TO GO PICK UP DINNER AND TO MY DISTRESS, THE VAN WOULDN'T REVERSE OR GO FORWARD. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION FROM ONLINE SOURCE AND AUTO MECHANICS, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD'S TRANSMISSIONS. NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM.IN THE PAST WEEKS,MY INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHILE IM DRIVING. THIS VAN IS A HAZARD. YOU REALLY NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS PLEASE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10424368
Incident
Sep 7, 2011
BrakesElectricalInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Jul 22, 2011

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
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 6, 2011

VEHICLE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD COME ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BY ITSELF AND NOW PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD NOT WORK ON DIM. THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THEM TO TAKE THE SAME MATERIALS AGAIN. I'M DECIDING IF I SHOULD CUT MY LOSSES AND SELL. MY HUSBAND SAID WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT A FORD. I'M DISABLED AND CAN'T AFFORD TO BE STICKING THIS KIND OF MONEY MONTHLY INTO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10399396
Incident
Apr 5, 2011
Mileage
174,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Dec 22, 2010

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MAIN ELECTRICAL HARNESS 3 TIMES, WHICH WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLASH AND FLICKER TO THIS DAY, BOTH DAY AND NIGHT, CREATING A HAZARD TO SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE ALSO FALSE ALEERTS OF THE TIRE WARNING SYSTEM, AND OTHER INTERMITTANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END, WHICH IS IN THE AREA OF THE SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID
10372783
Incident
Jan 5, 2005
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 31, 2010

2003 FORD WINDSTAR'S BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS STAYING ON WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES OF CAR HEATING UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353103
Incident
Aug 29, 2010
Mileage
130,220 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 24, 2010

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LX TO FORD REPAIR SHOP. 1,825 LATER, IM READING THESE COMPLAINTS. VERY EXPENSIVE CONSIDERING I ONLY HAVE 45,000 MILES ON THE VAN. IM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FORD COMPANY FOR NOT ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10351418
Incident
Aug 20, 2010
Mileage
45,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+3 more
Filed Jun 18, 2010

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
ElectricalFuel systemInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Jul 27, 2009

WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS TO REPORT, I WAS SUDDENLY UNABLE TO PUT MY VEHICLE IN GEAR AFTER STARTING IT. THE GEAR-SHIFTER FELT SOMEWHAT LOOSE AS IF I WERE PARKED AT AN INCLINE WITHOUT PUTTING THE HAND BRAKE ON. HOWEVER, I WAS PARKED ON LEVEL GROUND. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL WHERE I WAS ABLE TO START IT AND PUT IT INTO DRIVE. WHENEVER I PLACED IT IN PARK IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET IT BACK INTO ANY OTHER GEAR HOWEVER, IT WOULD RANDOMLY GO INTO GEAR AS IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. BUT ONCE PLACED BACK INTO PARK IT WOULD GET STUCK AGAIN. NOW THERE IS ALL KINDS OF WACKY ELECTRICAL STUFF GOING ON...WINDOW SWITHCHES AREN'T FUNCTIONING, NO TAIL LIGHTS, FUEL GAGE IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE REMOTE ALARM ENTRY ONLY UNLOCKS THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THERE IS A CLICKING IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TRYING TO UTILIZE ANY OF THE LISTED ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10278411
Incident
Jul 25, 2009
Mileage
77,971 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Nov 26, 2008

IT STARTED WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTING COMING ON WHILE DRIVING ,THEN THE DASH WINDOWS ND RADIO ,BATTERY DYING AND THE OUTSIDE LIGHTING STAYING ON WHILE KEYS WERE OUT AND NOT WORKING ONCE STARTED. THEY ARE ALL HAPPENING CONSTANTLY EVEN WITH ALL THE NEW PARTS THAT THE FORD GARAGE REPLACED{BATTERY,SWITCHES,ALTERNATOR,LIGHT SOCKETS,ETC}. *TR

NHTSA ID
10249927
Incident
Nov 24, 2008
Mileage
48,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 15, 2008

I OWN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LX FOR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF THE ABS (ORANGE) LIGHT AND THE BRAKE (RED) LIGHT COME ON WHENEVER I DRIVER MORE THAN ABOUT A MILE IN THE SUMMER TIME IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS ON I KNOW THAT THIS SEAMS TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS A WEB SITE DEDICATED TO THIS. I REALLY BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS I HAVE TAKEN MY VAN TO THE FORD HOUSE AND THEY SAY THEY CAN DO NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234448
Incident
Feb 10, 2007
Mileage
59,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 14, 2008

ON MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT IS ALMOST ALWAYS ON ALSO MY BRAKE LIGHT IS THE SAME I HAVE HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED MANY TIMES I WENT TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $500 DOLLARS SO I WENT TO A DIFFERENT CONTRACTOR AND THEY SAID MY BRAKES ARE FINE PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231025
Incident
Jun 17, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 31, 2008

RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) FRONT MARKER LIGHT HAS A GROUNDING PROBLEM. I CHANGED THE BULB TWICE AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR NO REASON AND THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SHOWS THAT ALL LIGHTS ARE FINE. IF YOU BANG IT WILL GO OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10222974
Incident
Mar 31, 2008
Mileage
55,000 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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .