general problems of the 2002 Ford Windstar - part 1

Manufacture recall # 09s09 NHTSA recall # 09v399000 instrument cluster has become faulty. Details listed below. Overdrive (o/d) light will randomly start flashing for no reason abs will randomly engage parking brake light will randomly turn on speedometer with become sporadic transmission has trouble shifting gears due to tachometer becoming sporadic vehicle will randomly try to die/stall out at a prolonged stop or while coming to a stop, even after all charging components have been replaces I. E. Battery, alternator, drive belt, and cables.

The gauges are acting crazy which causes the engine to jerk or the transmission and then it starts making the lights flicker in the interior and the gauges start sticking. It seems to make the overflow on the radiator to empty more because it is causing the sensors in the electrical for the parts to go crazy and run hot. Sometimes it only does it every so often but after getting the reserve hose on the power steering that connects to the reservoir to the coolant the battery was drained. Then going after getting it charged down the highway it caused the interior lights radio and seat and turn signals not to work when coming to a complete stop and it was idling the dashboard and all the lights were coming back on once given a guess it winded up not working again causing the battery to become hot or warm and acid you can smell in the air like rotten eggs. It is causing the overflow tank of the radiator to evaporate more or come out quicker and it is causing other component parts to react strangely which I'm afraid will cause a fire in the vehicle and the idling is not correct also on it now.

The abs light comes on and stays on the red brake light comes on and stays on it is throwing 9 code starting with c1185 and 8 other that are connected with the first code I Ave tried and tried to fix the problem many times it will not pass a safety check. I have done research and his can be dangerous and very unsafe I know it can catch a fire and also the brakes may lock up.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. While driving various speeds, the speed control warning indicator flashed and the abs warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact mentioned that several years ago, the abs module was replaced. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 372,000.

The abs sensor light comes on after a minute of driving. Sometimes the emergancy brake light will come on when braking. This happen to me after putting in new wheel bearings. Then I put in new abs sensors still have problem. Alot of other people on the internet are having same issue as me. The I put in speed control deactivetion switch. Still have same issue.

Ass lights on. Speedometer don't work and overdrive light keeps blinking . . Speed control fuse keeps blowing.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact also stated that the instrument panel gauges spiraled back and forth. In addition, there was smoke coming from the front end of the hood. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,000.

Approx. , a year ago my abs module went bad and I had it checked by a mechanic to verify that fact. Just recently my speed control deactivation switch went bad and leaked,. Now I found out there is a connection between both the switch and the abs bad module. Ford does not have a recall on the abs system, but they do on the above switch. Very possibly the high cost of the module has kept them from having a recall!!! I have read complaints about the same problem from another Ford van owner. Also the switch was changed approx. 5 years ago and it went bad again. ( per a Ford recall then) there should be a definite recall on Windstar van abs systems and as a safety issue---Ford should replace the switch and wire harness again! . . Updated 08/12/14.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. While driving various speeds, the speedometer would become stuck at 20 mph. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Abs system activated under normal breaking conditions, caused extended breaking distance. Has happened 13 times since the initial failure. Dealer unable to replicate but scanned for codes and found c1185 which they said was failure of the abs controller/computer. They suggested $1200 in repairs but couldn't guarantee it would "fix the problem". Have multiple abs fault codes all the time now. C1198, c1194,c1254, c1246, c1250, c1242 ,c1214, c1210, c1446 which all point to multiple failures in the computer. . Read more...

Abs light and brake light have been on for months off and on. Have a slight brake fluid leak. Was backing into my driveway and the o/d light came on and started flashing, the odometer went blank, speedometer stopped working and the a/c began blowing hot air. Checked fuse #10 and found it was blown. Replaced fuse #10. Odometer and speedometer work but other lights still on. Have an appointment to have the van looked at tomorrow.

Late April 28,2013 abs and emergency brake warning lights came on and stayed on. May 1,2013 van's speedometer quit working.

Brought in van for recalls 09s09, 10s13 and 11s16. This was for the subframe issues and speed control switch. Speed control switch was supposed to address leaking brake fluid. Brake fluid still leaking and now dealership is charging me for brake switch repair and bleeding of brakes. Also abs light came on after service and now dealership says abs sensor needs to be replaced. I believe these are all related to original recall but dealership says no.

My abs light is on and will not go off and speedometer wouldn't work properly when the weather was really warm,and just September 21st 2012 my car was not able to switch out of park,and on oct. 18th 2012 my brake light stop working all together. I have research this problem and there is a recall out on Ford Windstar 1998-2003 with the same problems. But when I called Ford 10/22/12 they check my VIN and stated that there was not a recall on my car only Ford Windstar van with parts made in virginia. I don't understand why my car cant be repair at Ford expense when there is evidence that there I s a problem with the car.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the brakes began to fail when attempting to brake. The vehicle had a sudden increase of speed before decelerating and stopping. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control) on November 27, 2009 and provided no additional assistance. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The current mileage and failure mileage was 108,000.

Traction control light comes on, abs light comes on, brake light comes on.

I have purchased a 2002 Windstar in April 2012, we noticed the abs light and brake light would appear and we'd be low on brake fluid. We replaced the master brake cylinder but they said the sensor on bottom was unavailable to order, we called Ford and they told us the same thing. The sensor is full of brake fluid. We have to fill our brake fluid about once every 2 weeks in warm weather more often. When I took it into dealership for recall on axle I asked about this they said theres no recalls for it. I can not afford to purchase a new vehicle nor would I want to sell this vehicle to another person as it was sold to me without being told of problem. Is there going to be a recall on this?.

The abs and red brake light as well as the traction control light, and now my battery light come on and off intermittently. The abs system kicks in at unnecessary times making it difficult to stop. The speedometer is now also bouncing up and down intermittently, but no other gauges seem to be affected.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the abs warning light would illuminate sporadically. The fuse wiring harness was repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control), but the manufacturer and dealer refused to inspect or repair the abs control module, which was also referenced in the recall. The vehicle was not further repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 130,000. The VIN was unavailable.

The speed control would not shut off with (off button) located on steering wheel, only with brake pedel. The brakes seemed not to stop the vehicle as quickly as other times. , and on came the lights (abs & brake light) now the lights (brake and abs come on everytime I drive the vehicle shortly after starting down the road.

Abs, and service brake, come on simultaneously. I am afraid that stopping distance shall be increased, thusly causing personal & property damage liability. Fear of braking distance suddenly increased, when driving, on a personal daily basis. Thanks, dj.

The Windstar is my only means of transportation and when driving it the speedometer will freak out and ended up breaking the needle on the tacometer and this leads to the theft light popping up when I am driving down the road. This acted up when I was going over and intersection and ended up stalling the vehicle right in the middle and while a car was coming from one way luckly I got the vehicle started and time and got out of there but after taking it to the dealership they couldnt even figure out what could be wrong I dont feel like loosing my life.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the abs, brake and air bag warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control) but the failure recurred. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted in regards to the most recent failure. The failure and current mileage was 154,000.

1st incident happened while driving at higway speeds. Abs and brake light illuminated until car was turned off. Lights now come on randomly. I took my vehicle to a Ford dealership on Aug. 31 2002 for recall on front and rear axles. They installed shackles on suspension and said that everything was fine. After I came home with vehicle, I noticed a clunking sound coming from the r/f wheel area and my overdrive off dash light starts flashing randomly until car is turned off. Concerning the abs issue, I took my vehicle to an independent garage and they told me I needed to replace the abs control module, then he told me that they did the exact same repair on another 02' Windstar earlier that week and the repair would cost $700-$800 dollars. Coincidence????.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated as the vehicle was started all of the warning lights began to illuminate, including the abs switch light. The engine also began to function rough and brake fluid was leaking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated they had to repair the electric switch on the bottom of the reservoir at the owners expense. The failure is the same as recall 09v399000 (vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 190,000.

Have had intermitent issues with abs light and now told that I need a new speed control deactivation switch.

Abs light, trac active light, alternator, check traction control light.

Braking distance suddenly increased. Abs/ brake light remain on. Speedometer not working properly (inaccurate reading).

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact was driving 30-35 mph when he observed a cloud of smoking emitting from under the hood. The dashboard lights were also illuminated. The vehicle was shut off and when restarted, the vehicle was taken to a local repair facility. The mechanic discovered there had been a small fire under the hood and the control switch was disabled. In addition, the mechanic advised the contact of a potential recall on the vehicle under NHTSA campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control) and referred him to an authorized dealer. The dealer replaced the fused wiring harness under the recall and also found that the instrument panel was damaged. There were separate damages as a result of the fire and the manufacturer advised they would not cover the repair expenses of the other components. The separate damages were not repaired. The failure and current mileage was approximately 68,000.

I took my 2002 Ford Windstar van to bob bell Ford in glen burnie, MD in may 2010 for the recall #09s09. I had been experiencing abs, brake and trac control lights coming on and staying on thru duration of ride. They supposedly repaired the part (recall 09s09). On July 16, 2010 I was driving when all of the sudden the same lights, abs, brake and trac. Control came on my dash board. I arrived at my destination and parked van. Later I had an appointment to go to when I got in van, no warning light were on the dash board. As I drove probably 3 blocks all of the sudden the brake fluid low light came on. I drove another block and parked the van. I went inside and when I came out there was brake fluid all over the ground that had leaked out of the van. I got the van to my local auto repair shop and was told that he thought the master brake cylinder was leaking, so I had it replaced (not knowing that this was related to the recall #09s09). When I got the van back, I drove it not 4 blocks and then all of the sudden the same three lights came on, abs, brake and trac control. The same lights that would come on all of the time before I took the van into Ford for the recall repair. I contacted bob bell Ford of glen burnie, MD and told them that I was having the same problems that I had before I had brought the van in for the recall repair, with the lights coming on and I was told that the recall had nothing to do with abs, brake or trac control lights coming on, but that I could bring it in, but that this problem did not sound light anything related to the recall 09s09, now I know that this is not true, and I will be taking the van back to bob bell Ford tomorrow, but I am definitely still have problems with the vehicle.

Recall 09s09 was performed on my 2002 Windstar. The speed control was not working before this recall. It was working now. A day or 2 later the orange abs light came on. The brakes seem to work ok for a while, now it seems that the brakes are erratic in pedal pressure and stopping distance.

Ford performed safety recall 09s09 in 2009 but only installed safety wiring harness 2002. Requested Ford to replace both speed control deactivation switch and abs module due to the know failures included in the investigation, but Ford refused after a year the abs and brake warning lights started to come on intermittently, now the warning lights come on everytime the car is driven after several miles. . Read more...

Brought vehicle into Ford for NHTSA campaign id number: 09v399000, NHTSA action number: ea08021. Vehicle still getting a hot, burning smell. Abs and emergency icons still come on at various times lasting for hours or days then shutting off. Drives rough with a distinct "chugging effect" like it is going to stall. Complete tune up has been done including replacing spark plugs,intake valves and seals. Burns oil at a slow rate (approx 1/4 litre every 1 1/2 months) the abs/emergency lights come on at least once a week and the "chugging" and burning smell is every time you drive it. The recall work was done and we were told the scds did indeed leak and personal research reveals that then the ecm connector needs replacing which Ford refuses to do for us.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the dashboard panel malfunctioned. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to have the wiring harness fuse installed according to recall # 09v399000, vehicle speed control. The brake fluid leak caused the wiring harness in the dashboard to malfunction. The dealer informed the contact that the brake fluid could have also leaked onto the abs module. The contact stated that the failure was directly related to the recall. The failure mileage was unknown. 93,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an increased stopping distance whenever the brakes were applied. This failure occurred after the vehicle was repaired under the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 09v399000 (vehicle speed control). The contact also stated that the anti-lock brake and brake lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The speed control deactivation switch was not leaking and there were no brake fluid leaks either, but the vehicle was experiencing braking issues. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 130,000.