RoadVitals

2003 Ford Windstar Seat belts Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Seat belts 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.
8
Latest Mar 29, 2015
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.
<1%
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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. 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. 8 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 seat belt

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesSeat belts
Filed Mar 29, 2015

I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR VAN I PURCHASED. THE MILEAGE IS 081206.3. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VAN. THE DOORS ON THE SIDES AND BACK ARE VERY HARD TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AS WELL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT TURN OFF UNLESS YOU HIT THE BRAKES. THE SEATBELT ARE MAKING A HORRIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE AND DON'T REALLY ROLL UP RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET A LIST OF RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. TO ME THESE ARE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10702429
Incident
Mar 23, 2015
BrakesPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Mar 28, 2015

AFTER LOOKING UP ALL OF THE SERVICE REPORTS ON THIS VEHICLE, I AM BEGINNING TO RECOGNIZE THAT FORD HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO. WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SERVICE REPORTS ON OUR VEHICLE ALONE THAT OUR DEALERSHIP IS NOT REPORTING. WE HAVE PAID MORE FOR SERVICE REPAIRS THAN WE DID PAYING FOR THE VEHICLE. OUR AC/HEAT JUST CLICKS W/O WORKING, POWER WINDOWS FRONT AND REAR DO NOT WORK, POWER DOOR LOCKS, LEAKING ROOFS, LEAKING DOORS, ABS LIGHTS ON, ENGINE LIGHTS ON, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON, ENGINE SPUTTERS EVEN AFTER TWO COMPLETE OLD FASHIONED TUNE-UPS, COWL BROKEN, FRONT AND REAR AXLES SEVERELY CRACKED, SUB-FRAME CRACKED, REAR WIPER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, BRAKES NEED CONSTANT REPAIRS, ELECTRICAL SHORTS EVERYWHERE, HEAD LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS ALL NEED CONSTANT REPLACEMENTS, ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED 6 TIMES IN ONE DAY BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL FAULTY, BRAKE SWITCH UNDER BRAKE PEDAL NEEDS CONSTANT REPLACEMENT, CONSTANT WHEEL ALIGNMENTS, WHEEL SENSORS MISSING OR BROKEN, POWER SEAT BROKE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT IT WAS PETTY TO HAVE IT FIXED EVEN WITH A HEIGHT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRIVERS, CONTROL MODULES REPLACED, MULTIPLE EXPENSIVE SENSOR FAILURES, SPARK PLUGS WITH WIRES REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE, STARTER REPLACED, PARKING BRAKE NEEDS TO BE WATCHED FOR SLIPPAGE BECAUSE IT CAN'T HOLD ON HILLS, INTERIOR LIGHTS BLINK IN A PATTERN WHILE DRIVING, CAN'T HAUL IT'S OWN TAILGATE, BATTERY REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES BY DEALERSHIP, POWER MIRROR SWITCH BROKE, MANY MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AT OUR COST, 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 SINGLE TIME. WE ONLY HAVE ONE VEHICLE AND THIS IS IT. I AM A MOM W/CHILDREN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10702306
Incident
Mar 26, 2015
Mileage
175,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Oct 13, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVING EAST BOUND AT 35 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF ME AND I HAD A DIRECT HIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME BACK AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10644396
Incident
Sep 22, 2014
Mileage
146,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Feb 18, 2014

I BELIEVE THE SEAT BELTS IN MY FORD WINDSTAR DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE VAN AND FORD WILL NOT LOOK INTO THE ISSUE WITHOUT CHARGING ME A FEE. THERE WAS A SEAT BELT RECALL IN THE PAST ON SOME FORD WINDSTARS BUT FORD CLAIMS IT DOES NOT AFFECT THIS MODEL. THIS ISSUE AFFECTS PRIMARILY THE MIDDLE AND REAR ROW OF MY VAN AND POSSIBLY THE FRONT SEATS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564797
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Oct 13, 2008

WHEN STARTING CAR AIRBAG LIGHT CONT' ON. CONT' PROBLEM PRETENTION RETRACTOR REPLACED-WORKING. NO OLD PARTS RETURNED TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245237
Incident
Aug 8, 2008
Mileage
60,114 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 3, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSIS TO SEE IF THE MANUFACTURER WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *AK UPDATED 2/9/2007 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10177637
Incident
Jan 3, 2007
Mileage
55,600 mi
Seat beltsTransmission
Filed Jul 14, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TWO. FIRST, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THIS CONDITION ALMOST CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. SECONDLY, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH IF ANY TYPE OF DEBRIS GOT INSIDE OF THE BUCKLE OPENING, LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT IF THE VEHICLE GOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10082003
Incident
Jan 20, 2004
Mileage
50 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Dec 8, 2003
Crash reported2 injuries reported

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN IT WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED. THE IMPACT WAS ON THE PASSAGE SIDE BACK WHEEL AND CAUSED OUR VAN TO ROLL OVER. HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER SIDE AID BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THE LATCHES THAT CONNECT THE REAR SEATS TO THE FLOOR RELEASED FROM THE TWO SEATS AT THE MIDDLE ROW. SEVEN DAYS LATER FORD RECALLED 257,119 WINDSTAR MINIVANS BECAUSE THE LATCHES THAT CONNECT THE REAR SEATS TO THE FLOOR COULD RELEASE IN AN ACCIDENT......FORD WINDSTAR IS A VERY UNSAFE CAR, SPECIALLY IF YOU USE IT WITH CHILDREN!!*AK

NHTSA ID
10049416
Incident
Nov 1, 2003

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 .