Problems with 2001 Ford Windstar ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while the vehicle was parked, it ignited into flames without warning. the vehicle was destroyed. the fire department was called to the scene and a report was filed. the fire representative stated that the cause of the failure was electrical, consisting of the air conditioner unit. the failure and current mileages were 79,000. updated 10/03/08 *bf the engine light had also been on. updated 10/06/08. *jb

Abs light is on, brake light is on, a/c is blowing out warm air, odometer is not working, o/d off light is blinking. replaced fuse #10 twice, but keeps blowing. we have not had it fixed yet. *tr

Abs and brake lights on, no speedometer, odometer or cruise . *tr

Fuse #10 keeps blows, abs and parking brakes lights are on, o/d off light is flashing, speedometer, a/c, and odometer are not functional. *tr

2001 ford windstar, abs and brake light come on intermittently, they only go out when the car cools. terrys lincoln mercury in orland park il replaced/or added some sort of cable per detroit (i was not aware of the recall, they performed this without my knowledge as i found out. the problem still exists and has existed for years. *tr

On a very hot day i went over a bump and the red brake light and yellow abs light came on in my 2001 ford windstar. i was panicked that the brakes would fail, but after parking the van and restarting it, the lights were gone. they came back on intermittently over the next couple months. i took it to the dealer a couple times before they told me it needed a new abs module. i research the internet to understand the problem, and why it only happens when it is hot out. we decided to postpone the $700 repair, since it doesn't occur when it is cold out. we had no problems this winter, but now that it hot again, the lights are again coming on intermittently. my understanding is that we won't have abs only when the lights are on. but this is a big safety concern in that we don't know if we will be able to count on the abs system working when we need it. ford should be responsible for fixing this problem since it is definitely a safety issue that results from a defective part they designed. at this point we have not replaced the part, it is still in the van, but i anticipate that we will have to replace it soon as the weather gets warmer and the lights become more frequent. *tr

i just recently brought my ford windstar (2001) to the repair shop due to some unexpected electrical malfunction. at first, both abs and brake light on the dashboard turned on then the odometer counter went blank, o/d light was constantly blinking and the air conditioning compressor will not engage. my mechanic told me about what he discovered under the dashboard, the abs mechanism damaged the electrical harness due to abs control fluid leak. i decided to look for the replacement parts on the internet due to a very costly repair and discovered that there is a lot out there having the same issues i had experienced. luckily my vehicle did not set on fire. i am surprised that ford company never took action on this issue knowing that this could lead to a very serious accident. kindly inform me if there is any recall from ford company regarding this problem. *tr

Brake pressure diff switch is leaking brake fluid on the wires under it and fuses and popping. odometer, speedometer, a/c, abs and o/d have all posted as not working. *tr

My 2001 windstar has never been in any accident. last summer while standing and running it all of a sudden had smoke rising on the exterior of the van on the driver side, most likely due to the low brake fluid sensor leaking at the bottom of the brake master cylinder. my cruise control became intermittent and my abs light came on after hitting a bump. a local shop stated that a wire was loose and it would cost a $1000 to find the problem. today i learned that the switch is leaking and the connector to the wiring harness is burned and has been shorted by leaking brake fluid. thankfully that i did shut down the car when the smoke appeared and i did not have a fire. i understand that the nhtsa is investigating windstars that have had fires or problems like this. *tr

Ford windstar brake, abs brake, cruise control, and speedometer/odometer electrical problems * brake light (red) stays on * 15 amp fuse #10 blowing out * fire or smoke coming from under the van abs ecm area while off. * melted abs ecm wiring connector. * speedometer and odometer stop working. * cruise control will not activate or deactivates without warning. * abs brake light (yellow). *tr

My 2001 ford windstar abs and brake warning lights have come intermittent on and my cruise control is intermittent. searching the internet revealed that there is a problem with the "speed control deactivation switch" that is mounted on the front of the master cylinder. i have inspected my switch and it does have a fluid leak that is running down the wires. this has not caused any other problems yet. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact noticed smoke and sparks underneath the hood and from the doors of the vehicle. she stated that the smoke and electrical sparks occurred once on may 31, 2008. the failure occurred after driving 40 mph, at which time the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. the weather was dry and sunny. on june 3, 2008, the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that there was circuit failure. ford is aware of the failure, but will not provide assistance. the contact left the vehicle at the dealer and is waiting on ford to issue a recall so that her vehicle can be remedied. the current and failure mileages were 109,000. updated 07/09/08 *bf

A few months after i bought the car (may 2008) the abs and brake light started to come on, intermittently, every couple of days. it would come on when i went around a sharp curve or hit a pothole. i took the car to 3 different mechanics, when the lights were not on (no error codes) and when the lights were on (every abs error code came up). i was told by all 3 mechanics that the abs sensor board needed to be replaced. the part was going to cost over $300 plus labor to repair. they also told me that the car was ok to drive but that when the lights came on my abs was not working and that i should be careful when driving in rain or when road conditions were slick because i would need extra time to prepare for a full stop. i have researched on the internet for the same problem and found that there were many others who were experiencing the same problem and have tried many different fixes with no resolution, including the replacement of the abs sensor board. what do i need to do to ensure that my abs brakes will work correctly? *tr

Abs light and brake light on/ off more then 5 years every time driving , brake working fine. all the gauge moving crazy about 1 a week. winter time the problem less. *tr

Interior lights come on at random , driving at night causes problem. *tr

Brake light & abs light come on and stays on even after latest recall was done on my vehicle. this is an unsafe condition and is related to the original complaint. the recall (09s09) didn't go far enough. these vehicles continue to be a hazard for the owners & other motorists. please expand this recall to cover the entire problem before someone gets hurt or killed. *tr

2001 ford windstar - recurring abs & e-brake lights on while driving in 2001 ford windstar. lights come on intermittently and stay on until vehicle is turned off. after restarting, lights will come on again once driving has started. mechanic unable to determine problem. possible fire damage. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. occasionally, the contact has to spend time maneuvering the gear shift out of park. the dealer stated that there was a related safety recall; however, it was performed on the vehicle with the first owner. the current mileage was 129,500 and the failure mileage was 124,000. updated 06/25/08 *cn the consumer requested to withdraw his complaint, since the dealer said the problem was originating from somewhere else and the recall problem was not the issue. updated 06/25/08

In our ford windstar our abs system has completely gone out and the ford place told us that was going to cause us electrical problems. then our abs light and brake light comes on, everyday. the airbag light has come on and then off. the check fuel cap came on and then went off. the rpm's almost hit zero when the abs light and brake light come on. the ford dealership told me that they keep extra abs parts because windstars have had problems with the abs system. *tr

Both abs and brake warning lights come on intermittently and stay on until engine is turned off. has occurred when starting engine, or while driving. on several occasions, 15amp fuse #10 has blown out, causing instrument panel gauges (speedometer and odometer) to turn off. replacing fuse has not stopped problems from occurring. running diagnostic tool on abs module displayed codes c1185, c1194, c1210, c1214, c1242, c1246, c1250, and c1254. other owners have reported that identical problem resulted in engine fires. *tr

Ford windstar 2001 with brake, abs brake, cruise control, and speedometer/odometer electrical problems. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving between 20 and 70 mph, the abs and brake lights illuminated simultaneously on the instrument panel. the failure has been occurring only in warm weather. the indicators remained illuminated until the vehicle was shut off. the contact stated that the brakes were operating normally. on one occasion, the contact smelled an unrecognizable odor. the current mileage was 81,209 and failure mileage was 80,650.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that the constant-velocity joints on the passenger side were repeatedly replaced and the speedometer did not work. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who stated that there were no recalls addressing the failures. the manufacturer was notified and offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 139,000. error codes po 174 and po 171 - misfire, fuel comp, cat lyst, evap 02 sensor, 02 htr, egr. updated 10/03/2011 *ln *tr

The brake light and abs light come on soon after start up. this indicates a malfunction in the abs braking system. ford has done nothing to correct the problem and can not identify the cause. *tr

My family and i were exiting the new york state thruway at exit 25a on wed 8/8 at approximately 8:30pm. sparks were noticeable on the passenger side of our 2001 ford windstar. the sparks were coming from under the left side of the hood. as we went through the toll booth and onto the exit ramp to route 7, smoke began coming in the air vents. at that time i pulled to the shoulder of the ramp and looked in the rear of the car for a fire extinguisher. unfortunately i did not have one in the car. i then went to assist my wife with getting our 5 year old son out of the back seat. at that time i noticed flames coming from under the hood on the left side. we exited the vehicle and another person assisted me with getting various belongings out. we then waited for help to arrive. the car was totally destroyed by the fire. the insurance company took care of what they considered the value (this value was lower than the nada value). i protested this but was told they could not consider nada due to its accessibility online. their value resulted in my having to pay $1000 to fulfill my loan obligation and release the lien to the insurance company. i then contacted ford and reported the incident to which their reply was the insurance company could pursue restitution but not myself. why is it that i am the one that suffers this great loss? we have spent $2000 to satisfy this loan and put a down payment on a new car. this clearly is the responsibility of ford. cars do not just catch on fire for no reason. there are many recalls on ford products. lawyers have not responded to my messages regarding this matter because no one was injured. i am only seeking for ford to take responsibility for this or the insurance company to pay the proper value of my vehicle. *tr

1. event leading up to failure: leaky brake pressure switch at the base of the master cylinder caused brake fluid to leak into the switch, wire harness, and abs ecm. this eventually caused failure in the brake pressure switch and abs ecm wiring. 2. the symptom of the failure is intermittent yellow abs and red brake warning lights in dash that come on and remain on shortly after drive off. this also causes loss of cruise control functionality as cruise control can not be activated. 3. nothing has been done to correct this problem yet. at my earliest opportunity, i'll have the brake pressure switch and abs ecm replaced. according to numerous automotive forums, this failure has led to spontaneous fire under the hood. *tr

Upon starting the 2001 ford windstar van tuesday morning several of the warning lights stayed on, including the brake and abs lights. the digital odometer display changed from numbers to dashes and the speedometer remained at "0" when driving. also, the air conditioning (a/c ) stopped working. i took it to the ford dealership for repair. it took them 2 days to find the problem which turned out to be a defective cruise control deactivation switch. the service dept. manager said we were fortunate that the van did not catch on fire. he told us that the switch had completely melted and had charred the surrounding wires. this problem is very similar to the problem which caused the massive ford recall in 2005, but ford claims that this has never been a problem in their minivans. the ford dealership did repair the damage at a cost of about $700. i did not think to ask at the time if i could have the burned switch. i would like this to go on record in case there are other vans out there with the same problem. perhaps the ford recall needs to be extended to include the windstars as well. i contacted ford by email and was told that there were currently no safety recalls involving this van.*ak

On may 2, 2007 we detected an odor of burning plastic in the house. after searching the house i opened the garage and a large amount of smoke filled the house. the occupants left through the front door, and i proceeded to open the garage door and went out with phone in hand. while i was standing outside a friend's son indicated that there were flames under the van. i went back into the house, got the keys and made an attempt of pushing the van out of the garage. as i took the vehicle out or park i noticed flames coming from the engine compartment at the windshield. i decided that i was not going to be a hero, and i got out of the van and garage. we were afraid of an explosion since the gas tank was filled that day. i called the fire department which extinguished the fire before it spread to the house. i attempted to get a water hose to try to contain the fire, but after four steps, my right knee on which i had surgery three weeks before it gave out on me and i ended up having to go to the emergency room. the van was totaled by the insurance company. my daughter and i did extensive research of the ford web site , and in all cases involving fires ford motor company has not even blinked an eye to pay one cent. why can't the government go after this company that knowingly produced a product that was defective and continued to produce over and over again without taking safety into consideration. we have been fortunate that there were no deaths involved. what is it going to take? *ak

My abs and brake light come on when the electronic control module gets heated by the engine. it has been doing it from the time i bought it as has my neighbors windstar. no one could tell me what was causing the problem, but i found an explanation on the web at http://www.fordwindstarrecall.info/#problem2. the vehicle started doing this about a year after i bought it and is doing it today. the temp has warmed up. we had some freezing temperatures and during that period of time the lights were out and the braking system i assume was working. if this isn't a defect, why is it so widespread?? *tr

My 2001 windstar has been blowing driver side headlights. not only does the light blow but the entire glass part of bulb blows completely off. this is the 6th time we have changed bulb. this time i was 60 miles from home on a road full of 18 wheelers. when the head light blows so does my tail lights. so i must drive home with 4 way flashers on. the only reason i have this van is because we have 5 children and have to use a van to go anywhere. which means my children are always in it when it messes up. this time ,also, when trying to get the van back home, my interior lights kept going on and off by there self. and as always the motor stutters and makes it hard to go up any hill. we live in alabama. every road i take is nothing but hills. *jb

I have a 2001 ford windstar sel. the following problems occur when the #10 fuse blows, which is everytime we replace it. the anti-theft system, interior illumination on dash board(speedometer, a/c, radio lights), and the day runners/auto headlights. sometimes the car does not turn off....even with the keys out of the ignition and the car door open; the radio and a/c will continue working and then the headlights come on. i purchased this car in february of 07 and these things began happening shortly afterward. also, the brake light will come on occasionally. *tr

Tl* - the contact called regarding the 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated when he started the vehicle the contact began to smell wires burning. the contact stated that he saw smoke coming out from under the driver's front seat and exited the vehicle. the engine was located under the driver's front seat. the failure mileage was 138,000. the fire went out by itself. the contact did not take the vehicle to dealer for repairs. the vehicle was drivable. there were no warning indicators. the failure and current mileages were 138000.

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35mph on a street in rainy weather, the brake warning light illuminated. a bystander alerted the contact that the rear brake lights were inoperative. upon initial inspection the contact determined the rear brake wiring harness was wet and corroded from rainwater and it needed to be replaced. the dealer and manufacturer were alerted.

Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked in an idle position, smoke began coming out from under the hood. there were no warning signals prior to the incident. upon inspection, the cruise control deactivation switch and the brake master cylinder were observed to be completely burnt. the service dealer was contacted, and determined that the fire began in the deactivation switch. the dealer refused to offer a new cruise control deactivation switch and wiring for the electrical system. the manufacturer alerted the contact that replacement parts that were available were defective.

Abs and brake failure warning lights constantly displayed in dashboard display. brake inspections cannot determine a cause. i just learned that many other windstar owners have reported the same problem, and that a recall for repair may be (or have been) issued. *tr

In my ford windstar 2001 the yellow abs brake light and red brake light turns on after few minutes worm weather or after approximately 10 minutes in cold weather. looks like the fault is related to thermal expansion in the abs control module. the problem started in 2006 and is getting worse. *tr

While driving down the road, i pressed my brakes to stop and the pedal went to the floor. i had no brakes until i pumped my brakes several times. while doing this my brake light and abs light came on and stayed on. my o/d light was flashing and my speedometer stopped working along with odometer. and my a/c stopped working. we stopped to work on it and found fuse number 10 was blown. we replaced fuse. when we turned to key to start the motor blue smoke came up from motor area and fuse instantly blew. upon further inspection found that the sensor under master cylinder was leaking brake fluid into electrical harness. have not fixed sensor yet. *jb

Foia request any reports, notices complaints/ information, mfg violations, warning/ regulatory ltrs re electrical and/or air bag fires in 2004-2004 ford windstar minivans. *ts the consumers daughter died and the son was injured when their vehicle caught on fire. *jb

1) none. 2) multiple occasions failure of the brakes occurred after the vehical came to a compete stop. car shutters at 40,50 and 60 mph. several mis-accidents occured. these were diverted as our habits were altered to stop a minimum 10 feet from traffic and travel 10-15 mph less that posted. 3) replacement of the complete break system, pads, cylinders, lines, rotors and all computers to include fuses. all factory parts. *nm

The minivan is equipped with a button on the gear shift. this button enables you to shift out of overdrive when you do not want the vehicle to be in overdrive mode. about this time the fuse in the fuse box would blow. replaced the fuse a number of times but the problem is still there. the fuse may last for 5 to 10 miles and then it would blow. tried a larger amp fuse but it would also blow. transmission will leave the overdrive only if you accelerate going up a hill. *tr

Problems encountered: rear windows not working,had motors replaced worked for about 6 months then intermittent then quit working within 6 months. abs and brake light on dash goes on and off. a/c stops blowing for about 20 seconds then resumes blowing. keyless entry works sometimes,sometimes it don't. speedometer slower than it reads and mileage may not be correct. windshield wipers not working properly. intermittent settings on wipers quit working and when you turn off wipers they stop in middle of windshield. i have an 88 year old father with no legs and this is the vehicle i have to drive him around in. do not feel safe!! *tr

My ford 2001 windstar has had the abs/brake warning lights come on for five years now. i have been living with it. is there any recall. *tr

The abs and the red brake light came on the instrument panel. had the computer or something reset a couple of times but the lights keep coming on. been doing this for a number of years. *tr

While driving my 2001 ford windstar the entire dashboard lit up. then the abs, odometer, and engine light remained on. speedometer stopped working, and the odometer went blank. the van was taken to apple valley ford, where we were told that abs system had been leaking for sometime with no warning indication , and shorted out the entire electrical system. the repair bill was $4500 as the front electrical module was shot due to the leakage. dealer and ford corporation could not explain cause of leak, why warning system did not work, why the extreme damage or why the front electrical module was located so close to the abs system, that allowed this to happen. i questioned if this was a manufacturing or latent defect. repair was being done at this time. *ak

Dt: caller was concerned about cruise control burning up. he might have had it fixed, but he didn't know for sure. caller said cruise control would not work, and then the horn would not work. dealer replaced the steering column. that is all the caller thinks the dealer did.*ak consumer feels vehicle had a defective cruise control and should be included in recall.*sb

I have a 2001 ford windstar and the abs/brake warning lights on the dash keep coming on.

I have had problems with my 2001 windstar passenger rear automatic door since the day i bought the car brand new. the door would constantly close and reopen. i have had it checked at least 3 times for this problem. most recently the door would not close all the way and has been rattling. the problem now is the door has closed and locked and will not open. my ford dealer needs to pry it open with some device just to check the problem. minimum cost for this is $250.00. i cannot drive this vehicle with a jammed door because i have two small children. if i ever needed to get them out in an emergency i would not be able to. i have contacted ford motor company to see if there has been any recalls of this nature. ford did not acknowledge this problem and dismissed it and me. i think ford should investigate this further and i think they should be responsible to fix the problem for free. an automatic door malfunctioning seems like a recall situation to me even if there is only one person whom its happened to so far there may be others.*ak

Consumer's vehicle was parked with children inside. when one of the children exited the vehicle it was on fire. consumer removed the second child and noticed that fire spread from the dashboard to the rear of the vehicle.*ak

While driving dashboard lights illuminated intermittently. the odometer went out. consumer stopped the vehicle to look under the hood. there were little sparks of fire under the hood. the wiring that were connected to the master cylinder melted. there was brake fluid leaking down on the wiring. *ak

Questions: my husband and i own a 2001 ford windstar minivan which has been causing us trouble lately. two months ago, the car engine stopped suddenly in the middle of the street while i was driving. after letting the car sit for half an hour, i was able to restart the car. when i took the car to the local ford muzi dealer, however, they weren't able to find a problem with it, so i called ford corporation concerning the issue of safety, and we agreed that i co-pay $100.00 to replace the cam-sensor, which they said would solve. *jb the problem. two weeks after replacing the cam-sensor, however, my car stopped again in the middle of the road when i was driving my younger daughter to school. the car was later towed to muzi ford dealer and fixed again. today, around 5 p.m., the engine stopped abruptly again while my husband was driving. fortunately, there were no cars behind him, or our car might have been run into and our four-year-old son in the back seat would have been killed. since the ford dealer could not find a problem with the car, we requested for a partial refund or an exchange. however, ford corporation refused both options and is ignoring our calls. we are very concerned about the safety of our entire family; if the engine stopped in the middle of the highway, we could all be killed. *jb