Problems with 2003 Ford Windstar ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The vehicle stops in the middle of traffic. it will stall out when stopped. the car will not restart. it is not anything that pertains to a tune up or oil change or transmission fluid. the radiator got low a;little but that was not the problem. there was a recall on 2003 ford windstar limited edition but mine was not in this recall. i feel that my car should be fixed because it his a safety hazard. plus the front wheel bearings are bad, which causes my tires to go bald. ford will not fix the life threatening situation. *tr

The abs and engine lights have been on my 2003 ford windstar for years. however, they were electrical misfires and did not affect the operation of the vehicle. it does now seem that the abs is failing. the car brakes normally at low speeds. however, over 30 mph it now seems that the brakes lock up and the car pulls to the right. i do not feel that the car is safe to drive, as it screeched and locked up when i was stopping at a red light. *tr

Our van was fine until it was having a hard time shifting. we took the van into a transmission specialist and had to replace the transmission due to water. and also had the water to the radiator completely bypass the transmission. everything was fine until months later it was having a hard time shifting. somehow a lot of water had gotten in there. there's no way it's from the radiator since like i said it bypasses the tranny and has a different cooling thing?? now he thinks it's from the a/c. so now it's in the shop again and i already spent $300 for a complete flush. now i might have to do it again. plus he's going to make a shield for the a/c. this is crazy. *tr

While driving on the highway on a trip from chicago to north caroline, my car suddenly lost power. it was as if i just put it into neutral; i could hear the engine rev when i applied the gas but nothing else happened. luckily, i was near an exit ramp and pulled to the side of the road without incident. i tried putting the car into another gear, but there was no change. we ended up getting the car towed to a garage, where they determined it was an issue with the transmission. later, after pulling the transmission apart, they determined it was specifically the torque converter which had failed. my family and i (including 4 children and 4 dogs) had to stay in a hotel for 3 days until the car was repaired. during that time, i investigated this particular vehicle problem (via the internet) and found that it is common in windstars and freestars. there is a recall in place for the freestar but not enough complaints have been filed for the windstar yet. this needs to be rectified asap!!!! i was lucky that i was driving in conditions that allowed me to safely maneuver my car to the side of the road without causing or being involved in a accident. the safety of myself, my children and the other people on the road with me, a windstar owner, should not be put at risk because of a known torque converter defect. the windstar needs to be added to the ford recall for torqued converters immediately. *tr

I have had no transmission issues with my 2003 ford windstar van. i drove home from work early this morning (3:30am.) i went to leave for an appointment at noon on the same day, and nothing. i started my van, attempted to put it in gear and nothing!! no warning, no nothing!! i have never towed with this vehicle (it doesn't even have a hitch,) the total weight of people riding in it has been 350 pounds. there has been no stress on this engine as i don't live in mountainess areas. i am a single mom of 4 little kids, receiving no child support, working pt, just able to pay the bills, and ford needs to fix this issue!! i have also had numerous other 'problems' but nothing so major the vehicle couldn't be driven (interior lights flashing, blender door actuator going out 3x in a year, rough ideal especially when cold, back door handles not working from inside, back doors so hard to open and close, i can hardly do it, back wiper worked one day then just stopped and hasn't worked since, one back window opens and closes only when it feels like it. i also just put $70 in gas in this vehicle! ugh!! *kb

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact was driving 30 mph when flames emitted from the engine. the contact also mentioned prior to the failure that a loud noise was heard from the engine after the start of the ignition. the fire caused no injuries and both the police and fire departments were contacted. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted. the vehicle was destroyed. the failure and the current mileages were 103,000.

2003 ford windstar 71,000 miles - bought new for $35,000 in december 2003, i purchased a new 2003 ford windstar. i am the only driver of this van, to and from work and a few road trips. in the beginning a few things went wrong but i wasn't too concerned at the time. since then, here is a list of things that has gone wrong with this van: 1.no heat - blender actuator 2.driver's side window wouldn't roll up or down (fixed) 3.passenger side window and back windows do not work 4.interior lights go on and off 5.gasket replaced on engine because car was dying when i came to a stop. ($450) 6.rear window defroster doesn't work 7.rusting out by back tires 8.transmission failure $2,800. fluid from the radiator got into the transmission fluid! (now how did that happen other than being defective) 9.2 safety recalls i am lucky i haven't been killed in this vehicle! the transmission failed with no warning! you would think when i had my car serviced they would have noticed that my transmission fluid did not look right. i am so frustrated with this van that i have worked hard and struggled to pay for, but i did it. my entire family has always stuck by ford and i have always defended them. i can't afford another vehicle right now so i had to dig deep to pay for these repairs. i have done quite a bit of research on this vehicle and i cannot believe there hasn't been a recall on the transmission. now i am stuck with driving a $35,000 van that i don't feel safe driving! [xxx] copy to: nhtsa (national highway traffic safety administration) missouri attorney general (consumer protection) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

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

Abs light is on as well as check engine light.car is idling rough. checked with numerous car repair places with no success. also, van is pulling to the right even after i changed tires and did alignment check ! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that after receiving notification of a manufacturer's recall for the motor brackets, the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs. months after the recall repairs while the contact was driving approximately 5 mph, the engine began shifting abnormally. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they advised the contact that two motor mounts were fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the mechanic advised the contact that the failure may have been caused by the previous recall repairs. the failure mileage was approximately 186,000. the vin was unavailable. updated 02/09/12*lj updated 04/18/12

Brought my 2003 ford windstar sel (with 78,397 miles on it) in to dealer to have it checked for subframe recall, the engine light began flashing, and the abs, brake light, and trac off lights had all gone on. during the diagnosis, they found that the subframe was fine, the spark plugs needed to be replaced, the ignition coil needed to be replace (causing cylinder 3 to misfire), and the pcm needed to be resealed for moisture. (march 3rd, 2011) they found no hard code for the brakes. we get the necessary work done, drive the van home, and within a day the abs light, brake light, and trac off light come back on. call and have the dealer look at van again, they now find code 1185 (pin point test found abs module not responding). the dealer replaced the abs module and rescanned with no codes and was road tested. everything seemed fine (march 7th, 2011), i pick up van, within 4 hours, the abs light, brake light, and trac off light are back on. as of right now, the van is back at the dealers being checked again. this is very disappointing. in the last week, i have had to bring this particular van in 4 times due to problems. this all comes after having work done on this van in december. in december 2010, they performed system diag,, dtcs, po174, po174, lean on both banks, inspect for vacuum leaks, found leaks at intake manifold runner control shafts, required intake manifold replacement to correct, replaced intake manifold and required parts, including cleaned fuel injector, changed oil and filter cleared dtcs, retested verified proper operation. manifold, 2 seals, 5 gaskets, isolator, thermostat, anti-freeze, coupling, fuel system, filter, engine oil). this should not be the case with a van that has less than 80,000 miles on it. *tr

2003 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to the performance of the ford motor company and two safety recalls *tgw the consumer stated the inspections and repairs were not conducted in a timely, efficient, and responsible manner. the consumer stated when he finally received an appointment for the axle inspection, it was determined the axle was cracked in three places. the dealer did not have the replacement parts and the vehicle was deemed unsafe to drive, and therefore, it was left at the dealer for over a month. the consumer stated he then received another recall relating to the subframe. the consumer contacted the dealer regarding the second recall and was informed they were aware of it and he would be contacted when the repairs for the second recall had been completed. the consumer received a voice mail from the dealer stating the parts for the axle had arrived. however, it was discovered the engine had an oil leak, the sway bar link was broken in the front, the right front tire was badly worn on the inside and the left rear shock was completely blown out. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact was driving 50 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. the dealer was not contacted in regards to the failure. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 157,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled several times while driving 25 mph and above with the illumination of the check engine and battery warning lights. the contact would shift into park, back into drive and was able to restart the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and two local repair shops yet the failure was unable to be duplicated or diagnosed. the alternator and the battery were replaced but the failure persisted. the vehicle was not further repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the current mileage was approximately 141,000 and the failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

Engine light comes on every few weeks after being reset. codes are for lean bank 1, 2. vehicle was diagnosed with an intake leak. mechanics have said that this is a long standing issue with the 3.8l engine in the windstar. cost of repair is $600+. vehicle will not pass emissions without being repaired. *tr

Sit down, get a coffee, because you will be reading a book. i purchased a 2003 ford windstar, with 20,000 miles, in 2005. i've had nothing but major problems. in 12/2008 with 87,205 miles the transmission went,that was 2013.00 , then in 3-2009 check engine light, had to replace gaskets, that cost 500.00,. then in 10/15/2010 i had to bring van in for different sensors, and abs light, and emergency brake light kept coming on. that was . that was 232.00. then on 10/19/2010 brought van in to the ford dealer, because none of my gauges work, letting me know how fast i'm going, or how much gas i have. they say it is the gauge cluster, that's 500.00 alone not including labor, they inform me i have a hole in the left rear axle, and i have to leave the van there, and i may also need a new alternator, and it may takes weeks for the part to come in. that's not including other miner repairs along the way. the best part of all. i still have 6 payments left. what rights do i have? i can't believe all the major issues. they should take this van, and give me a different one. not a ford. i told you, that you were reading a book. *tr

My 2003 ford windstar cuts off going down the road , 30mph to what ever you are running don;t care. you have to stop and coast off the road best you can put it in park start it up again and then go on, may do it again or again in a day or so this needs to be placed on a recall, everyone i talk to 6 out of 10 people with these vans have the same thing and no one knows what to do about it, please help before some one gets hurt or killed for this crazy mess!!!! thank you *tr

I brought my car to the ford dealer for routine oil and filter maintenance and while on the lift it was brought to my attention that the rear axle is cracked and barely intact. this car was not safe to drive. i had it replaced and $1,300 dollars later. the representative states that my car is about the 4th in their dealership within the month with rear axle cracked. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled. the contact stated that he coasted to the side of the road. when he waited a few minutes after the vehicle stalled and turned it back on, it would perform correctly. the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop. the local mechanic advised him to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer. the vehicle was eventually taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the intake manifold casket needed replaced. the dealer replaced the intake manifold casket, installed a throttle body spacer and throttle air valve assembly and re-flashed the pcm to the computer and the iac valve. the contact stated the failure occurred again while driving from the dealership. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle stayed for two weeks. the dealer then installed a crank shaft sensor and a wire assembly. the vehicle had not been repaired fully as the contact picked the vehicle up before final repairs were performed. the failure mileage was 90,252 and the current mileage was approximately 91,000. updated 12/29/10 *bf updated 01/03/11

I purchased a 2003 ford windstar se on february 2, 2010 and it was on fire in my driveway february 6,2010 4am. i had not driven it over 6hrs before. i think all these vehicles should be off the road. the car by the way was a total loss not to mention a great inconvenience. *tr

Vehicle caught fire while driving down the freeway. completely burned and burned nearby field containing magnesium. *tr

Our 2003 windstar started misfiring badly and the engine light came on. i bought a code reader and found the codes 171 and 174 and misfire in cylinder #5. after doing some research i found this is usually due to the intake manifold gaskets leaking and is very common. i've had it with this van and i'm afraid to park it in the driveway near the kid's room in case it catches on fire. in the last few months i've replaced a broken (not rusted) front spring, brake deactivation switch, transmission (152,000km) and now this. also the abs light is on all the time now meaning that it doesn't have anti-lock anymore. i'm a licensed autobody technician and realize that cars require routine maintenance and parts replaced from time to time and i do most of the work myself, but when they are widespread safety and reliability issues it makes me extremely frustrated that nothing can be done. i want to just park the van, but we still have a year left on the financing. *tr

My 2003 ford windstar engine caught on fire on 8/22/09. the fire department was called. it was towed to a auto shop by aaa. i was told it was the abs and oil leaked, which caused a fire. *tr

We owned a 2003 ford windstar, which we had not had any incidents prior besides interior lights flickering. we were driving on the interstate at approximately 65mph when i suddenly saw a very dense light gray smoke in the driver's side mirror. we pulled over immediately. i told everyone to exit the vehicle upon seeing flames under the vehicle in front of the drivers front tire, under the engine. we never lost power while driving and the engine showed no signs of failure. everyone exited the vehicle without injury but unfortunately the fire was rampant and consumed the vehicle prior to emergency officials arriving. there were multiple explosions from the vehicle during the fire. please look into this, as i now know from looking into it further that there seems to be a trend of engine compartment fires in this model. we also were not informed of the recall for the cruise control/brake wiring issue. the insurance company considered it a total loss so nothing could be done due to the issue. *tr

Vehicle was skipping/jerking when trying to accelerate (happened recently), abs and brake lights come on and off w/o warning, inside dome lights were flickering, and front windshield wipers would not stop after being turned off, until car was cut off (happened over 2 year period). had a dealer to fix problems to a tune of about $2300. *tr

The check engine light came on. i went to a local parts store and they pulled the codes for me. the codes came up po171 and po174. i then went to a ford dealer for repairs and was advised that the problem was the intake gaskets. i was advised that they needed to be replaced. i had them replaced. i discovered later that this is a very common repair for this vehicle. it is also common on 1999 through 2002 windstars and is believed by many auto experts to be related to a manufacturer design defect . *tr

On november 10, 2008, my wife was heading home from work at midnight when the 2003 ford windstar she used lost all gears without notice. she left work and made several stops at lights and never noticed a problem until she was at a stop sign. when she went to execute the turn, the gears were gone. i had to push the vehicle to an empty lot for a tow in the morning. the vehicle was towed to the regular service garage i use. the problem ended up being a failed spline that stripped out at 52,008 miles. there was never any warning to indicate a problem for to take proactive and safe measures. the garage stated no preventable maintenance i would have done would have prevented this failure. the result was $1658 repair to replace the failed spline. i'm glad my wife was not on the highway with my children when this could have failed, the results could have been fatal. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while en route to new york and driving 60 mph, the door locks did not function and were not programmed. when the contact activated the cruise control, the abs, door lights, and emergency brake lights illuminated. halfway to her destination, she had to stop at a repair shop and pay for them to inspect the vehicle so that she could continue driving. the mechanic checked the brake line and pads and informed her that the vehicle was functional. the battery was also repaired. within 2-3 weeks, the same lights illuminated again. the vehicle has not been taken to the dealer. the current mileage was 55,394 and failure mileage was approximately 53,200. updated 07/29/08 *bf the consumer also state the vehicle had an oil leak in the oil pan near the oil gasket. the low tire pressure light illuminated. the consumer was informed that the new battery was causing electrical problems they were experiencing. updated 07/29/08

Tl*the contact owns 2003 ford windstar lx. the vehicle stalled intermittently and the lights on the instrumental panel illuminated while driving 10 mph. the contact performed routine maintenance on the vehicle. he replaced the alternator and the battery three times. the manufacturer stated that the vehicle didn't have a recall for the failure, but he should take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. the failure mileage was 75,000. the current mileage was 103,000.

Check emissions light came on. brought vehicle to dealer and was told that the intake manifold gasket needs replacement. service rep said that this model year has experienced frequent failure with this part. *nm

Our 2003 ford windstar has had multiple electrical issues and now a possible bad intake gasket causing a rough idle/check engine light/lean running code. i have no confidence in our local ford dealer as they couldn't repair either the interior lights coming on while driving or intermittent operation of the rear passenger vent window. their answers are always well if it's not acting up when we test it there isn't anything we can do. but i know that they have other vehicles in for the same problems so they do know. we have replaced 2 taillight bulbs and 1 headlight bulb in a vehicle 3 1/2 years old with 34,000 miles. i won't take the rough idle problem in till it's doing it 100% of the time so they can't squirm out of it. they say since we have the extended warranty it would be covered if it's the intake gaskets but i don't trust them. this is our 3rd and last new ford vehicle and they have all had electrical issues and intake/head gasket issues. ford=poor quality and service.*jb

Tl* - the contact stated that he took the to a ford dealer to be serviced. the dealership informed the contact that the vehicle had a faulty head gasket. the contact believed this fault is due to a faulty crancase ( pvc) valve. after taking the vehicle to another mechanic he found that the pvc valve was faulty as well. *ak

Item # 1 engine light came on and stayed on. vehicle began to idle sluggishly when cold. repair shop investigated and found the lower engine manifold gasket had failed. replaced lower manifold and gasket and problem was corrected. item # 2 battery light flickering. grounding strap between alternator and body frame failed. reads open with multimeter. created by own grounding strap using 10 ga. wire and weather resistant ring-type connectors. no more battery light. item # 3 internal lights flicker randomly and intermittently. slamming all doors does not seem to affect the condition. problem still remains. i turned of the dome light switch to keep from running down my battery and eliminate the mobile "disco" effect. *tr

My van is sputtering and i was told it is due to the valve cover leaking and my upper intake is full of oil. in addition, that the engine is taking in air and basically my engine is covered in oil. ford service then proceeds to tell me that the extended warranty will not cover this because it is a fault in design by ford and on newer models this design has been fixed. ford will not cover repairs either because i am just over 3 years and over 36k miles. if it is a fault in design by ford as indicated by their dealership service, then i should not have to cover repair charges. *jb

This is a copy of the letter i sent to ford recently. i thought i would try both paths to see if there is any other information out there about this issue. ford motor company customer relationship center p.o. box 6248 dearborn, mi 48126 hello, i have a 2003 ford windstar vin xxxxxxxxx that has a problem. {dealer name} has looked at the problem twice and found nothing. the problem has occurred twice in the last 12 months. so far it has happened within the first five minutes of operating the van. if the van is in drive and you are holding pressure on the brakes for an extended period of time (extra long stop lights), the following will happen. the engine will increase in rpms and jolt forward until you get enough pressure on the brakes to hold it at a stop. if you put it in neutral or park, it will continue to move forward if you let up on the brakes. the only way to get the van out of the situation is to shut it off. once you restart it, everything is fine. by pressure on the brakes, i mean you better push the pedal to the floor or you will be moving! i am not sure if my wife could hold it long enough to get it turned off. the first event happened in stop and go traffic at a congested intersection. i almost rear ended the car in front of me. the second event happened when i was the first vehicle at a stop light. when it jolted forward i was in the intersection. luckily i was not hit by another car. my question is, what can be done about this problem? my wife will no longer drive the van because she is scared of it. the problem will happen again. hopefully it will not cause an accident, but eventually will. so i would like to resolve the issue before it becomes a bigger problem. the van has also had other electrical abnormalities. *nm

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 50 mph the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where she was informed the alternator needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the failure has since recurred 5 times. after each failure, the vehicle was towed either to her home or to an authorized dealer where it was repaired. the failure mileage was 75,000 and the current mileage was 171,000.

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle stalls while driving on dry roads at 20 mph. if the vehicle sits for a few minutes, it restarts without a problem. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer several times. each time the mechanic has been unable to duplicate the problem.

While idling at a stop light with brakes activated, engine suddenly accelerated, starting car moving forward. releasing the over drive option on the gear shift stopped the uncontrolled engine revving. this was the third occurrence of this problem. i have a visit to the dealership scheduled to investigate. *jb

I own a 2003 ford windstar that was purchased in september of 2003. i had so many issues with this van since purchasing it, it's not even funny. it started out with the door locks and the back hatch door not operating correctly....there were also some cosmetic items that were defective. the most annoying problem occurred in august of 2005 and has continued sporadically over the course of the last year. the van stalls out while driving down the road!!! you lose the power brakes and power steering when this happens..it has been in the shop probably four times over the course of the last year. the first couple of times they would return the van with the explanation "no problem found". i have had people riding with me that have experienced this problem first hand. when it first started happening it was only when it rained..and it was very sporadic...then it started happening even in dry weather. i just got it back after having left it at the dealer for almost a month!!! the repair order states that the intake manifold gaskets were replaced... that was july 25th 2006. during another visit they replaced a cam shaft position/cylinder??? so now they tell me that because they replaced another part, that this is not considered the same problem. this van is a lemon!!!! and ford needs to take a look at these issues....and do what is right for the consumer. i.e. refund the purchase price of these vehicles!!! *jb

Was driving down street, steady speed approx 40 mph, not using cruise control. attempted to brake for intersection, vehicle would not slow down. visually looked to confirm foot was on brake and not on accelerator, it was on the brake and was not on the accelerator. shifted into neutral to avoid a crash, the engine revved way up then slowed down. this was a one-time incident so far, but it only happened yesterday and i haven't driven it much since then. *nm

Twice my vehicle went in for repair for engine running lean. the first time they said it was a faulty mass flow sensor, $ 400.00 to repair. a few months latter the same code comes up i took it back to the dealer. this time they said ford had issued a repair for the vehicle. it seems the valve cover was faulty and allowing oil to drip down and caused the gasket on the intake manifold to leak causing air to leak in the engine, which caused the engine running lean copde to come on. they have had quite a few windstars with this problem. that is why they came out with the service bulletin to make the repair. which included a new valve cover and other parts. which cost another $ 700.00 to repair. i believe that ford should be responsible for the repair as there was a faulty valve cover that caused the engine running lean code to appear. *jb

Since purchase i have had to replace transmission, airconditioner, and the alternator--this has been replaced 4 times. there is still an issue with the interior lights coming on. this has been reported to ford and they state there is no issue on their part. *tr

We own a 2003 ford windstar van. ever since we have had the van after running at cruising speed the engine will not idle down. we have taken it to the dealer several times but they could not fix it. being a former ford tech. i tried to fix it my self and replaced the tps sensor with no luck. no matter where you set the idle speed the problem will come back. we have been dealing with problem for three years now and are growing very tired. not only is this dangerous it is wearing out brakes faster. it seems to be an electronic problem where the computer will not lower the idle. i have checked the throttle cable and throttle valve and nothing is binding. i can't blame the mechanic at the dealership, i blame ford. i hope this can be corrected before someone gets hurt. i bought this van so i would not have to worry about my wife and kids. *jb

The consumer noticed the engine raced when a stop was made. consumer had to place the engine in neutral in order to stop the vehicle. *ak the motor raced three to four rpm's when the consumer tried to stop. the computer didn't show a sign of failure. *scc *jb

2003 ford windstar cuts out when driving - no warning at all. it is as if the key were turned off. *tr

While driving flames began to shoot from underneath the vehicle. *nlm

The timing cover gasket leaked coolant. *jb