Problems with 1999 Ford Windstar SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

While driving at 35/40 mph the brake warning light came on and the abs failed. the consumer applied the brakes and the abs engaged without cause. the parts replaced is unknown. the check engine light also appeared on dash. ts *jb

Abs light comes on frequently. i had the problem checked twice, the first time numerous codes occurred, it was reset and a switch was replaced. auto shop cannot find anything wrong with the abs. i keep taking it in at a cost of $70 each to have the problem rechecked because the abs light still continued to come on. i have written to ford corporation and local ford dealership where i purchased vehicle. *jb

Bought the van in sept. 2002 with 55,000 miles, engine light came on within a week of having it. took it back to car lot where we bought it, they took it to the ford dealer, couldn't find anything except that it came up a lean code they told me i didn't know how to put gas cap on the right way. that is not the problem. kept dealing with light on to this day. may 2003 had to have the transmission replaced, got it back starting having same problems,took it back they said they forgot to replace a wire, still having problems to this day with transmission in fact oct. 2010 had to have it towed they said shavings found in motor will need transmission replaced again. dome lights flash all the time. the gauges go haywire all the time, peg from one side to the other. had that replaced and did it again. took it in for recall dec. 28,2010 cracked rear axle still at dealer. now just heard that the recall for sub frame will get papers in feb. guess it will be there longer. our dumb mistake we bought another windstar in sept. 2010 a 2003 all we could afford, that has problems with abs light. told over $800 to fix. we need two new cars, don't feel safe in either.

Consumer applied brakes at 55 mp and, brake pedal felt normal. abs system never kicked in. consumer lost control of vehicle, went into ditch and rolled over. passenger suffered 11 fractures/ driver minor injuries. vehicle was totalled.*ak

There is a "skip" in the transmission that is a hard thud when it happens. i took it to the dealer, after several days and over 100 miles they "found" the problem and fixed it. it started to do it again about 6 months later. i just recently took it in for the console lights flickering when accelerating and told them again about the "thumping". they charged me for the diagnoses of there's nothing wrong, it's the a/c compressor that runs all the time. also the brakes squeak horribly when you first start out with it for the day. they said the brakes rust and there wasn't anything they could do about it, that's just the way it goes. the date i'm using is an estimated date of when things first occurred.*ak

The abs motor switch became stuck while braking and resulted in noise from the abs system. the consumer turned the vehicle off but the noise persisted. *nlm *nlm

The vehicle's check engine light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the fuel filter. *nm the alternator, right inner cv boot, abs module, and brake master cylinder were replace. *jb

Vehicle has had intermittent brake failure, pedal went to the floor at any speed. this has happened 20-25 times. vehicle taken to dealer 4 times, could not find a cause. *ak

Front brake caliper on driver's side froze up. brakes were worn down and were not working properly. contacted dealer to have brakes checked because of recalls. dealer never did service, and was told nothing was wrong with brakes. consumer went to another dealer and found brake problem.*ak

Abs and brake lights would turn on at times while driving at various speeds. added extra fluid in brake reservoir (over filled) and brake light stopped turning on. abs light used to turn on about 2 times a months with 38000 miles on the car. now light turns on almost all the time with 1400000 miles on the car. brakes have been completely replaces, calipers, pads, rotors and all other worn parts. all front suspension parts, including struts are new. rear has new shocks and brake parts as well. all brakes properly bled but the abs light continues almost every time it is driven. car is driven daily. mpg was about 21mpg average before 35k miles but now only about 17 mpg. engine and transmission has all maintenance completed on schedule - transmission mercon v fluid replaced each 30k motor oil by schedule in manual. car has had other electrical problems - like the dome light turning on randomly while driving down the road - this is very dangerous at night. i do not know if the two problems are related. also the rear ac would turn on randomly since new, but ford said they could not find the problem. i finally figured it out - the dash control switch for the rear ac is incorrectly maid and the lever goes past the off position. this causes the rear ac to randomly turn on and would probably be considered a short. the car was purchased new in 1999 from hub city ford in lafayette, la. there appears to be several electrical shorts in the van that they were never able to diagnose or fix. is this dangerous? the clicking sound from the rear ac system? the abs randomly turning on? the mpg dropping so drastically when the abs started turning on? the front of the car sounding like it is hitting large bumps in the road when there are only minor imperfections? this has continued for over 100000 miles and we would like to know if it is dangerous or just an extreme irritation. guillory *tr

Brakes operate erratically, failing to slow down vehicle during normal operation. dealership has examined vehicle three times and replaced master cylinder while making other adjustments. *ak *jb

At 3000 miles brake pads were squeaking, yesterday while drying consumer pressed brakes and there were no brakes.*ak

Approached stop sign and pressed brakes which made a loud grating metal sound which had never happened before. as i slid into intersection i flipped gears to park which finally stopped the car. took car to dealer and was told the rear brakes were practically unused and the front brakes were worn out which led them to believe the rear brakes were not connected or functioning and had not done so for some time. ford refused to cover this under our bumper to bumper warranty even though there is obviously some type of defective faulty part involved. luckily no accident came of this incident. *ak

Travelling at approx. 43 mph speed and applied brake. vehicle accelerated instead of slowing down to stop as it supposed to do and caused auto accident. at the time of accident, vehicle had only 2 person, if the mini van was fully loaded with max. wt., result could be much worse. tried to test the brake again on a straight asphalted highway under the same speed and condition, pressed the brake pedal, vehicle accelerate first and then slow down to stop in long distance. *ak

Power steering under carridge wentout which taken the power steering to the wheel. vehicle is at the dealership waiting for parts. *ak the stereo system failed. brake makes grinding noise. the rear door light keeps falling down whenever the door closed.

Grinding noise which is in time with the tire rotation, dealer is assuming there is a problem with the transmission, vehicle has not been inspected yet. *mjs

While pulling up into driveway, going slowly, applied brakes and vehicle didn't stop, it crashed into the garage door. contacted dealer. consumer was told that abs brakes were okay. *ak

Abs brake problem; while approaching a stop sign and applying brakes on a residential street, brake pedal went to the floorboard, van kept going and crashed into a parked vehicle. this happened on a smooth and dry road surface. van is being repaired by the dealership. please provide any further information.

Leaving a filling station and returning to the street attempting to stop because of traffic the transmission made a grinding noise, the car kept moving, the engine was not reving up but the van kept moving, i steered to the right as much as i could i was almost side siped by a 18 wheeler. after reaching the street i let up on the brake pedal and the van coasted to a stop. i took it to the garage today and they check the abs brakes but found nothing wrong. it appeared to me that when i stepped on the brake the transmission styed engaged , because when the car came to a stop the grinding noise stopped. the garage did not check the transmission, they felt it couldn't happen. i'm 74 years old in excellent health. the motor was not reving up so i did not have one foot on the gas peddle, as they assumed i did. i tried sat with 1 foot on the gas and the other on the brake and the car would not move. so in my opinon it had to be in the transmisson. if that 18 wheeler would have hit me they would have said the driver failed to stop, and my wife and i would have been dead . *ak

Abs module wire burned out; odometer and speedometer did not work. *ak

Brakes failed and was unable to stop. put vehicle in park while moving, and finally stopped on sidewalk, at a school where the problem could have been desasterious.

I have had more than 4 problems with this car in past two years that have been major problems. i would just like to see if other people have had as much problems with the steering and the van it's self. *ak

While driving at about 10 to 25 mph, if consumer puts on brakes or slows down, will experience a loud bang. consumer says this is a very scary sound. *ak

Due to the design and location of the brake pedal, occupant with a large standard foot size can press the brake pedal and the gas pedal at the same time, which may result in sudden acceleration. *ak

Vehicle has been experiencing the following problems: 1. steering column out of alignment, causing difficulty in steering; 2. power steering pump making grinding sounds when engine is cold and, intermittently, when the engine gets hot; 3. ongoing problem with windshield fogging up and dealer is unable to correct the proble;. 4. brake pedal goes to the floor before stopping, causing extended stopping distance; and 5. a loud sound coming from the front of vehicle. seeking help from nhtsa in this matter. *ak