Problems with 1999 Ford Windstar SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Connector coming from the bottom of the sensor on the brake reservoir on my 1999 windstar 3.8 liter is burned - melted. this caused the brake light to come on and the abs to shut down and the light to come on. also, the a/c doesn't work and the fans don't work. *tr

Abs light came on without warning. *tr

1999 ford windstar abs light. *tr

1999 ford windstar 3.0l 4sp auto. anti lock brake control module (tested at my expense $70) has gone bad, seems to be a big problem as many people have reported this. i have no odometer, speedometer or anti lock brakes. the engine also shuts off on its own on occasion, don't know if that's related or not. van runs good otherwise, has 107000 miles on it i think, since the odometer hasn't worked for 3 months. i cant even get a replacement module unless i go to ford and then i have to pay to have it programmed too. its shameful how much of the gauges are affected. i could live without the antilock, but i need a speedometer, my van is dead in the driveway until i work enough overtime to pay for something that shouldn't have gone out. *tr

Brake leak under master cylinder. can apparently cause other items to falter if not fixed and can even cause fire in the abs circuitry. *tr

Passenger side brake light went out, took it to the ford dealer and found the rear electronic module bad. rem costs $740 for removal and replacement. whatever happened to keeping things simple? this is a disgrace that the auto industry makes all of these terrible engineering enhancements for their bottom line but will not produce cars that are more fuel efficient to reduce global warming. what a joke this situation is and hopefully, the nhtsa doesn't oversee these senseless designs and approves them. *tr

My cruise control stopped working on my 1999 ford windstar van, i would smell a electrical fire smell after driving it and a little smoke under the hood. my dada and myself checked and found a small brake fluid leak that was getting on a electrical connection. this was also causing some fuses to blow. i went online and found out it was the abs ecm module switch under the brake fluid reservoir. i purchased a new switch and replace it, and have not had any more problems with it. *tr

Brake fluid leaking out of the speed control brake differential deactivation switch. possible fire hazard. *tr

Abs module system failure and electrical fire due to pressure switch leak. according to ford, 1999 model year windstar is not part of recall but my vehicle exhibited the same failure as other model years as listed on the www.fordwindstarrecallinfo.com website. *tr

Brake pressure deactivation switch leaking fluid causing cruise control not to work and possibly causing problems with the ecm control module. also a possible risk of fire caused by the leaking fluid into the wiring for the ecm control module causing it to short out. abs brakes not working due to faulty ecm control module. parts have been priced,but no repairs have been scheduled yet due to a lack of money to pay for repairs. *tr

Braking distance suddenly increased and abs was not reliable. abs would activate when turning on dry roads. back up radars and traction control also stopped working. speedometer is erratic above 55 mph. *tr

Abs light on. *tr

1999 ford windstar brake, abs brake stays on, cruise control went out, and speedometer/odometer went out. fuse blew and continues to blow. ford has a redesigned brake pressure switch, but will not say it is a recall. *tr

Abs light keeps on turn off and on, tacking light keeps coming on. replaced brakes twice. *tr

Abs light, o/d light in dashboard coming on. when vehicle purchased as used car these items showed up on the drive home after purchase. veh has been in to ford dealership garage 4 times. brakes were working fine at that time. 3 months later brake light come on. check and find that brake fluid is leaking from multiple locations. one being the brake pressure differential deactivation switch (2b264) located under the master cylinder. upon removing this plug i found brake fluid in the connection. looking below i found brake fluid on the wiring harness below the switch and on the metal panel, where it had actually began to rust. believe this harness is the power steering wiring. brake pedal in cab now goes to the floor before brakes are applied. there is a hissing sound when this is done. believe that the master cylinder is leaking fluid into the brake booster as well and has destroyed the gasket in there as well. this happened while my wife was driving. thankfully all of this happened without causing an accident considering i transport my 3 children and wife in this van. *tr

April 2008 lost fuel pump, and guage for gas level had fuel pump sending unit and filter replaced but gauge didnt come back it stayed on as a low fuel light permanently. brake fluid leaking or excessive use by braking system had to fill about once weekly brakes though they had been replaced would just go out with no warning abs light wasnt indicative due to fact its lighting up and staying lit was errratic. replaced braking system and front end components (linkage pins gone, rotor that had gotten very hot and possibly started on fire due to brakes going out and heavy breaking needed to avoid accident death had to pump brakes rapidly to try to stop sometimes unable to stop brake pedal would stick on hard pumping when attempting to stop passenger side sliding door lock engaged and unable to engage. *tr

Abs light comes on more and more often. stopping and restarting the vehicle eliminates the problem for a week or two. *tr

Our abs light continue to be on and we had brought it to the mechanic several time, however we could not understand why it was on since the brakes was all newly changed. i found out through researching and the failure of our speedometer, mileage counter and ac control died on us yesterday, 08/05/08 while driving that there is an issue with the brake differential deactivation switch can cause a leak and short out fuse 10. sure enough we had one. thus i am writing to inform of this problem. i am not the only one according to my research that this has occurred to several other vehicle owners. and what scares me the most it can cause fire especially i have 2 children one of which is a toddler age who sits in a car seat that could get caught in the vehicle. *tr

Brake pressure deactivation switch leaking down wires causing fuses to blue along with other major problems. *tr

The abs warning light activates intermittently (it might be fine for a couple of days then will suddenly come on). when the vehicle is shut off, the abs seems to reset and the light will be off when the vehicle is restarted. the code is c1185. my mechanic wants to replace the hydraulic pump and ehcu ($1000) the vehicle is a ford windstar 1999 se 125,000 miles. *tr

Abs light on dashboard keeps coming on.. 1999 ford windstar... no problem with brakes.. just light keeps coming on....is there a recall on this problem... thanks. *tr

I am seeing an intermittant yellow abs light come on on my 1999 ford windstar se 3.8 liter. it comes and goes, after seeing the pictures of what can happen and that my indications are symptomatic or this i had to report it. the brakes are still working and the light does not remain on continually. i will take it in to have it fixed and wait for your findings. *tr

The abs braking system on my 1999 ford windstar has been malfunctioning for about the past 6-9 months. they will come on at inappropriate times (when conditions don't warrant the use of abs brakes) and will stop working altogether at other times. the cruise control has not worked for about the past year and a half and the speedometer intermittently works. brake fluid is leaking down under the master cylinder in my engine-all over wires. the constant problems with the abs braking system are causing unnecessary wear and tear on my brakes making constant replacement a necessity. i have disconnected the abs braking system in my van in order to prevent a fire or catastrophic failure of the brakes that would endanger my family. *tr

Frequent abs and trac warning lights after vehicle warms up. almost always off initially. *tr

On july 1, 2007 during the operation of my 1999 ford windstar, smoke started coming from under the hood of the vehicle. the vehicle was stopped and shutdown at which time the smoke stopped. the engine compartment was inspected by myself at that time and i found nothing that appeared abnormal. restarted the vehicle and the smoke did not reappear but the odometer readings went to dashes, speedometer was inoperative, the abs light was on, and the air conditioner was inoperative. drove the vehicle home and performed a more detailed inspection of it. this inspection revealed a blown fuse, as #10 of the interior fuse block. this fuse was replaced and the vehicles ignition switch was turned on, again smoke came out from the engine compartment of the vehicle and i determined at that time it was caused by the cruise control deactivation switch connector. the ignition switch was turned off immediately and the connector was disconnected from the deactivation switch located on the brake master cylinder. i found the connector both internally and externally wet with brake fluid. the connector showed signs of overheating as it was partially melted on the inside. cleaned all the brake fluid from the deactivation switch connector and the deactivation switch itself. i left the connector disconnected from the switch and turned on the ignition switch. this resulted in no smoke from the engine compartment. the connector was left disconnected from the switch but the vehicle will not be used until i have performed or ford performs repairs to it. i found that ford had recalled several vehicles for what appears to be the same problem that i have with my 1999 windstar but it was not on the recall list. i feel that this could have developed into a dangerous situation for my family. i would like to state that i am a certificated air frame and power plant technician by the faa and have worked in that capacity for 28 years for fedex express on their aircraft. *ak

The abs system light comes on when car operating temp or outside air temp is warm. reported to ford on numerous occasions & they tell me it's my problem. i believe that ford has produced a faulty part which has been well documented by other windstar owners on ford forum sites etc. apparently when the abs board gets hot, one of the electronic parts separates causing the fault error code. i think ford has some responsibility with this issue and should issue a recall to fix the problem! *tr

1999 ford windstar. began leaking brake fluid from scds onto transaxle and down firewall. scds has since been replaced under recall. once i became aware of the scds problem i found brake fluid splattered all around the master cylinder area of the engine compartment. concurrent with the leaking fluid, i noticed the abs light would sometimes come on, the speedometer became erratic, the "o/d off" lamp sometimes flashed, the cruise control was often non-functional. all of these things have gotten progressively worse. the abs light now comes on almost instantly, thus i have no anti-lock brakes, an obvious safety issue. the speedometer is always erratic and jumpy, thus it is difficult to tell my actual speed. the cruise control tries to follow the bouncy speedometer, as thus is useless. *tr

I have had a lot of electrical problems with my 1999 windstar se. the inside fan goes on when opening/closing doors, lights flicker off and on, for no apparent reason, my master cylinder leaks and i have had abs problems. we've replaced the rack and pinion three times. i love my van, but it has a lot of problems. the horn only works on occasion which caused me to be backed into! *tr

On my 1999 ford windstar se, the antilock brake system ecm is defective because the computer board is mounted on an aluminum plate which expands from engine and summer heat, causing the dashboard abs light to come on and possibly failure of the abs system. *tr

Tl* - the contact had a 1999 ford windstar with an odometer reading of 95000 miles and the brakes failed. the contact stated that when she applied the brakes at any speed the vehicle will not slow down ,and she would feel a pulsating vibration. the contact said that the anti lock brake light stayed on at all times, and the brake pedal went to the floor before the vehicle stopped. the weather has not been a factor when this occurred.. the contact took the vehicle to a repair shop, and they stated that they had fixed the problem, but did not give her a repair order. *ak

The antilock brakes light stays on,and abs does not work. ford did recall related to the brakes fluid causing a fire, now the cruise control does not work.abs is a safety issue . this is a manufacturer defect and should be corrected. please don't wait until more people die. recall this shabby workmanship. *tr

Without warning, the brake pedal went to the floor. my daughter was unable to stop and collided with the vehicle in front of her. the brake fluid reservoir is full. the car was serviced regularly but had no recent brake work completed. i have been told that the master cylinder completely failed. the party that was struck is now claiming injury. we do not know the severity of their injuries. *nm

Anti-lock brake light went on. i drove it this way for two months. 15 codes in the system. ford dealer states it's the hydraulic and electric box. to repair both would cost 800.00 or so, which is including labor and parts. states it's a known problem of 1999 ford windstars. i have no anti-lock brakes when the abs light is on. declining to fix at this time, but a huge liablility for myself. possiblity of brake failure not discussed at this time. i have already had to repair the upper intake manifold 500.00+ (at a ford dealer) and also had the door ajar problem, which was fixed at home here for 0$. this is the third and final problem listed on consumer reports that this vehicle is known for. *jb

Abs brake light issue. *tr

Abs light almost constantly on in my 1999 ford windstar lx, 3.8 liter. *tr

While driving down the interstate, moving at a speed of 65 mph, the fuse (10)controlling the speed control module, abs module, brake shift interlock solenoid, powertrain control module, etc. etc. blew. instantly, i had no speedometer, abs light came on and my rear a/c began blowing on its own. i have since replaced #10 fuse and it has blown repeatedly. since this past friday, i have also learned that my cruise control is no longer functioning. i have done the research and have found from my fellow ford lemon owners, that this is not an uncommon occurance. i will be replacing the cruise control switch and/or brake pressure switch (which is located by the master cyclinder; which commonly seems to have a short in the circuit due to the wonderful job ford did designing their vehicles. *ak

The abs light keeps coming on and it is intermittently. we have had the abs checked and told it is fine, but it makes no sense that the light keeps coming on. incidents have been ongoing for the last 4 or so years. *tr

Braking distance suddenly increased, abs light on. while at the dealership for other issues, they checked the abs system, said a new ecm would fix it... $300 part!!!! this seems to be a very common issue on the windstars. *tr

Just about everything that can go wrong with a car, i've experienced it as the owner of this 1999 ford windstar lx. i've had transmission work done, brake work, replaced tires (twice in 2 years), replace the battery and the starter. i came to this site because the car wouldn't start, wouldn't take a jump, wouldn't make a sound. i called to have it towed and the gentleman jiggled the key in the ignition and the car started. a few days later the same thing happened again. this time no one could start it. testing the battery and primary parts for starting the car proved that these parts were all functioning normal. a few hours and $127.00 later (not including the cost of towing the vehicle) i'm told the problem is with the anti-theft device. it is broken and needs to be replaced to the tune of about $900.00 with a 90-day warranty. recommendations to me were to get rid of the car. "this particular part in all ford vehicles is poorly built." i haven't decided what i'm going to do at this point, however, i feel pretty sure my decision will not involve staying with ford. *jb

Transmission problem with 1999 ford windstar on several occasion. *bf (transmission slippage) these problems have existed since the vehicle was first purchased; engine trouble, vaporization leaks, and a broken gear. there were also worn front brakes, steering was inoperative, and there was a vacuum leak due to the upper intake manifold. *sc *jb

Abs light comes on intermittently. *tr

Front heater does not work. thumping noise from dashboard. dealer (person ford, laverne, ca) wants $500 to replace heating valve/flap. abs light stays on dealer could not figure out the cause. *jb

* vehicle leans since purchased sept 13, 2003. * allignment problems. * transmission does not properly change gears. * low treads on tires. * a frame problems. * suspension steering makes a clunking noise. * brakes must be pumped to stop, and make a ticking noise when applied. * vehicle has overheated. * power steering fluid leaked. * gears do not shift properly. * primer scotch guard on seats wearing after coat applied.

The consumer complained about an alignment problem. the vehicle pulled to the left and made a ticking noise underneath the vehicle when the brakes were applied. the vehicle was constantly in the repair shop but the mechanic are was unable to solve the problem. *ak also the check engine light illuminated. *jb

The brake fuild leaked into the wiring causing the vehilce controls to malfunction. dealer has been contacted. please provide any additional information. *nlm

I bought this car used and from the day i drove it off the lot i have put a few thousand dollars in it. the engine light keeps coming on with codes 171/174 lean on bank 1 and 2 i have replaced the o2, the egr, the differential, i have had the upper intake gasket replaced and the egr hoses cleaned. the light still burns. i have had nothing but trouble with this car since buying it and i will never buy another one.i also had to replace the brakes, the struts and the stablizer bar , as well as one of the tie rods. this van might look great but it runs like crap we have spent enough on this used van to have bought a new one. *la

The brake pedal and the gas pedal were designed too close together, which made the vehicle difficult to drive. *nlm. *ak *ts *jb

While applying the brakes vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. mechanic determined that the rotors needed to be rotated. mechanic rotated the rotors, and the problem recurred. *ak

I am having lots of troubles with 1999 ford windstar since the day i bought from dealer (lew webb ford, garden grove). 1. currently my van has manifold leakage. this has occurred immediately after the ford dealer fixed my transmission leakage. the price quoted is $1200 out of which i have to pay $540. i have already spent lots of money in maint & repairs. before this i had to take my van to dealer for following problems: transmission leakage at 37000 miles. front & back brakes at 37000 miles. electrical system failure. couple of recalls. currently it has approximately 50600 miles on odometer and i have been communicating to & fro with dealer. for the current problem dealer has offered me 55% in assistance. but my problem is i am wasting lots of time, money & energy to have all this problems fixed. i would prefer to hand this van back to dealer or atleast get more assistance from dealer or ford company. please advise me of any further action i should take. my phone number is[xxx]. thanks in advance for looking into this matter. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

On two occasions the brakes in my 1999 windstar failed. both occasions involved damage to my windstar. the first accident occured in november 2002 and in that accident two other autos were involved. in both accidents the brakes did not engage even though i stepped on the brakes hard. i told the dealer (koon's ford in falls church, va) on both occasions that the brakes did not engage properly. they told me nothing was wrong with the brakes. i felt so scared driving my windstar that i just traded it it at a big loss (us$4,000 trade in) for a new 2003 toyota sequoa. i took possession of my new auto today 1/18/03). the brakes simply did not engage on these two occasions. while they worked fine at other times. this is a problem that needs to be looked into.