Disclaimer: Not affiliated with or endorsed by Ford Motor Company. For informational purposes only. Full Disclaimer

Problems with 2003 Ford Windstar ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On average, the 2003 Ford Windstar starts to “feel” problems with the ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and its various aspects after 99 292 miles.

Components Affected by ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Issues

We have classified the 261 complaints from 2003 Ford Windstar about ELECTRICAL SYSTEM into the following categories.

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL 9 12V/24V/48V BATTERY 3 WIRING 2 ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR 2

Recently reported ELECTRICAL SYSTEM problems on 2003 Ford Windstar

Started having wiper issues (intermittent did not work) randomly for a couple weeks, then headlights went out on highway at night with no other cars, first for a couple seconds off then on then off for good after a few more seconds. after another 10 min or so they went back on and stayed on. also wipers did not work, or radio, windows and door locks. another time during heavy rain in daytime the system failed again, wipers went off. this was on busy highway. luckily they went on again after 10s and i was able to see and pull over. very scary. happened off and on again. turned out forward control module was bad. dealer replaced one i got from junkyard, no more problem.

While highway driving, the speedometer, gas gauge, temperature gauge and instrument lighting became erratic and failed. a short time later the situation normalized. several months prior the tachometer malfunctioned and became inoperable.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that the subframe had rusted and a hole was present located behind the front driver side wheel. the hole was approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. also, the instrument cluster would randomly stop operating. the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. the local dealer (dick brantmeier ford in sheboycan, wi) was notified along with the manufacturer, but no assistance was offered. the failure mileage was 150,000.

While driving at night on the interstate or any other road, the headlights suddenly went off for about 10 seconds. i heard a clicking sound under the left side of the dash like the sound of a relay engaging. this happened several times. i had the battery replaced and it was ok for about 2-3 weeks then started again. driving during the day w/no lights on the a/c blower motor suddenly stopped working and then re-started. this also happened several times. i heard the clicking under the dash at that time too. i took the van to the ford dealer. they kept it for 5 days and found nothing. i was at church and came out to leave. i started the van and the wipers came on by themselves on intermittent and would not shut off no matter what i did. i turned the van off when i got home and the next time i started it the wipers were off. i was driving down the road with the a/c on and the blower motor suddenly stopped working again and also the radio, power windows, and power locks. again i heard the relay clicking sound. it stayed off for about ...

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 35 mph, the abs, engine, and brake warning indicators illuminated. the failures recurred numerous times. the dealer diagnosed that the abs failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

The speed meter gauges goes crazy

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was able to restart. the brake and overdrive indicators illuminated. the contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 144,000.

The gauges in the vehicle keeps going nuts. moving from one side to the other,tachometer, speedometer, gas, temperature, battery. the tachometer gauge hit the transmission selector and now that is pushed over to 1. it appears there a many fords that have this problem but ford refuses to fix the problem. the fix is well over $400 just for the instrument cluster. also they refuse to fix the power steering whining noise that all fords have. if this is a well known problem then how come the ntsa don't make them fix the problems.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. the contact stated that the gauges on the instrument panel worked erratically and the lights on the instrument panel and the headlights illuminated intermittently. the dealer diagnosed that the wiring harness for the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 81,415.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. while approaching a stop, the driver depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle failed to stop. as a result, the driver had to engage the emergency brake in order to stop the vehicle. the brakes, abs, engine, and door ajar warning lights previously illuminated intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the abs electrical module needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 110,190.

Abs and "brake" indicator lights within dashboard turn on intermittently.

Dash abs, brake light on, speedometer, rpm gage jumps back and forward, cruise control accelerates, passenger window and rear side window doesn't work. *tr

Abs and brake lights come on within five minutes of driving.now the o/d off light is flashing on dash. *tr

Dancing gauge needles. *tr

The abs light is on all the time, the brake light is on most of the time. also the instrument cluster jumps erratically and the right brake light does not work. *tr