Three problems related to ignition have been reported for the 2001 Ford Windstar. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2001 Ford Windstar based on all problems reported for the 2001 Windstar.
At approximately 16:45 after driving 6 miles that day, the Windstar van was stopped and the ignition key turned off. The delivery driver went inside his destination for about 5 minutes. While loading his cargo, he smelled smoke. Looking up, he noticed flames coming out of the engine compartment between the hood and the windshield wiper plastic shielding. Using an onboard 5 lb fire extinguisher, he attempted to extinguish the flames but to no avail. He dialled 9-1-1 on his phone. Employees at his destination also noticed the fire, and contacted the local fire department as well. The fire department extinguished the flames with severe damage to the rear portion of the engine, the fire wall, brake cylinder and glass windshield. The ambient temperature that day was in the 70 degrees range, windows were down in the van, and the a/c system was not in use.
While driving theft light on dash comes on rear wiper comes on by it self and engine turns off leaving vehicle moving with no power, no steering, no brakes. After stopping vehicles ignition is locked out with no power/no crank.
This vehicle has died while driving at various speeds, at different times of trips (long and short/hot engine normally). While driving at 55 mph it died one time, causing us to enter the oncoming traffic lanes around a curve. This is not good for a family vehicle when there is an entire family in the vehicle. We have notified the dealer and have taken in for service, but it continues to die. We had the same problem with our 1998 Windstar that was totalled in a collision (not problem related). I do not know if it is the ignition system or the fuel system. This vehicle has multiple recalls to date.