196 problems related to electrical system have been reported for the 2003 Ford Windstar. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Ford Windstar based on all problems reported for the 2003 Windstar.
Abs and brake light come on intermittently, abs system does not work when light is on.
Abs, brake light stays on for no reason. Spent several hundred dollars having it diagnosed. Replace many parts. No resolution. Drives often with a miss especially during acceleration.
The abs light and brake light come on during the spring and summer months not in the fall and winter months.
For a few years, the abs warning light has been intermittently coming on. It has mostly been during the warmer months of the year. Also, the brake warning light has been intermittently coming on. Sometimes the two lights come on together sometimes individually. Also, the low tire pressure warning has come on numerous times when there was no issue with tire pressure. Now I have a new issue- the speedometer is reading incorrectly. This is very unsafe because I am teaching my son how to drive and he is very nervous already, now he has no idea how fast he is going! this problem is also intermittent but happens 80 percent of the time the vehicle is driven. Mostly, it is indicating about half of the vehicles actual speed. I also got an airbag warning yesterday for the first time. I assume this issue will start to show up more often now. This vehicle is unsafe to drive with all of these erratic warnings and indications. Please help the nation out by mandating a recall of the Ford Windstar wheel speed sensors & vehicle speed sensors.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that after having the vehicle serviced under NHTSA campaign I. D. Number 12v195000 (suspension), the vehicle started to display electrical failures. The contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer or a mechanic for diagnostics. The contact called the manufacturer and the manufacturer recommended taking the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was 115,000.
Abs light will go on and off when the weather gets warm. Stays off in cold weather.
Bought used vehicle from dealer and noticed the abs/brake light was constantly on. It was "fixed" before completing the purchase. Lasted for a few days before lights came back on and stayed on. Was told it not a big deal, so I didnt worry about it. Was not experiencing any other issues until 1. 5 years later when I turned the defrost fan on and it stalled the motor as I was traveling. The next weekend my husband wanted to look at it and after the van idled for a few minutes, turned on the defrost and it did not stall, called it a fluke until we popped the hood and had smoke coming out!.
Both the emergency brake light and anti-lock braking light on instrument panel were illuminated within 5 minutes of having started the car. After approximately 10 minutes, all electrical appliances failed, including directionals, brake lights, etc. The engine continued to run, however it struggled on uphill climbs.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, it was found that the rear axle was corroded and fractured. The contact also mentioned that the abs and brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was inspected by a private mechanic who stated that the electronic control module had failed. The contact also stated that the interior lights erroneously illuminated intermittently while the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). The approximate failure and current mileage was 149,000.
After going about 4 miles after starting up van, abs light comes on, occasionally the red brake light will come on too, speedometer goes crazy (up and down) and inside lights flicker at random. Seems to be some sort of electrical issue and/or brake issues.
There was a safety recall initiated by Ford for corrosion of the engine cradle - 2003 Ford Windstar structure: frame and members:underbody shields NHTSA campaign #11v030000. Ford repaired the left side only, leaving the right side rusted and now several significant rust holes have appeared on the right side. Ford disclaims any responsibility saying that they made the repair properly but I claim they made the repair inadequately. Bad metal is bad metal and regardless of the fact that the holes were discovered over a year later is inapplicable as good metal does not rust through to the point of creating a safety hazard. If the engine cradle fails, the engine will fall from the vehicle, potentially while moving. Gas will spew across the road and a fireball will ignite. Other drivers will either hit the engine, swerve to miss it and hit other vehicles, and/or get caught in the inferno which will cause significant damage, human harm and needless deaths. Ford initiated this safety recall because there was this safety issue and the issue remains. Safety was not improved by simply repairing one side of the engine cradle allowing the other side to corrode to the point of sizeable rust holes being created in a short period of time following the initial inadequate repair. Once a safety recall is initiated, it is in the best interests of the public to ensure that the repair is properly and completely made and therefore that the safety issue is fully resolved.
Abs light will not turn off. Also the check engine light blinks on and off and the car will not take any gas.
While driving down the road the abs and brake light come on and stay on, and the interior lights come on and go off. I've had the brakes checked, and they are fine. We changed the module, which we were told was the problem, but it didn't solve the problem. The problem occurs more often when the weather is warmer, but it does happen during the winter, too. It is very distracting while driving at night, especially, to have the lights on the dash and the interior lights flashing, and it could be dangerous. Also, I wouldn't know if the brakes actually had a problem.
Anti-lock brake system became inoperable according to code c1185 abs light and brake light illuminated on instrument panel.
Abs and brake light come on intermittantly. No rhyme or reason brut make us feel unsafe. Have tanke in in for service several times and they can find nothing wrong with abs or brakes. Car only has 56000 miles on it now and we can't trade it or sell it because of the problem. Internet research shows thousands of entries with same problem. Found individual on ebay that has business repairing ecu cold solder joints so this is definitely a factly default. Abs and brakes function properly but those lights should not be coming on. It appears to be a cold solder joint which is clearly a manufacturing defect. Since the ecu sits right under master cylinder a brak fluid leak leaking fluid on ecu has and could cause a fire. Mmmford shold replace the defective unit at no charge to the customer.
The abs, traction, and brake light come on intermittently.
Abs and emergency brake lights come on and off intermittently. Middle seat won't go back up and the door locks don't work half the time.
I purchased a 2003 Ford Windstar used in October of 2012. It had 114,000 miles on it well from day one I have had a problem. The rpm, speed and gas on the dash go crazy. It says I am doing 20 mph when I know I am going faster than that. The rpm will go and up and down. I was driving to work and the brake light and trac off light came on. I tapped the break and it went away. 5 miles later I was making a right turn and the car just stopped moving. Could not go reverse or in drive. I had the car towed and was told it was the transmission yet I had no signs that it was the transmission. I was told the other issues were an electrial problem and would cost me any where from $700. 00-1500. 00 plus up to $2500. 00 to fix the transmission. Started doing research and found that these are very common problems with the Windstar. Also I have problems with my lock on the driver side door. Sometimes it will not lock and other times will not open. You have to climb through the van to unlock it. They need to recall this especially the electrial problems. . . This is unsafe! I will never buy another Ford. . . .
Abs and brake light comes on and off, drivers side window and rear drivers side wing does not operate properly, radio changes stations on its own, engine serge when in ideal, interior lights come on by themselves, noise in rear when in reverse.
The brake light and the abs light came on as I was driving down the highway. I tested the brakes and they still worked. Pulled over and checked them out on the side of the highway. Worked ok continued on my trip. Have since had numerous times this his occurred. Have found out this happens when the car has been driven and has reached normal operating temps. Have been told by mechanics that the abs module is bad! I have not had it repaired yet. Lights are annoying though.
Interior lights went on and were flashing while driving at night.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that all of the gauges on the instrument cluster malfunctioned. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 156,000 and the current mileage was 162,000.
The electrical system, computer, causes the dome lights to go on and off. The electric window to sometimes not work, the abs light to come on and off, the brake light to come on and off.
Abs light on constantly despite repairs.
Break light and abs light are both lit at all times after driving for a short period of time. Mechanic says that abs system will not work.
While driving my 2003 Ford winstar model sel, I'm encountering a problem with the breaking system/abs, as well as, my cluster gauge going haywire doing what it wants on and off on its own. The breaking system is starting to become more frequent. I've gone to Ford for this particular problem and a few others. Ford looked at my car and told me the rear axel had cracked and they repaired the axel on recall. I informed them about the abs breaking system. I've been to two separate dealers in staten island, NY. One dealer told me it looks like I have an electrical problem not sure if it's related to cluster gauge/breaking system. They told me I had a problem with the right rear window motor as well, which Ford fixed supposedly. As far as the breaking system goes they told me they took it for a ride and did not see anything wrong with my vehicle. I told them about the cluster gauge doing what it wants, the abs working/not working. Having a hard time stopping car, as well as, telling both Ford dealers about my wife having no choice but to pull off the highway because she was having this particular break problem. I told them the only way she was to stop the vehicle was to crash into these big green metal commercial garbage containers at approximately 10 miles per hour. I showed them the damage to the front of my vehicle as well as telling them my wife had hurt her neck, I was told from both Ford dealers that we don't see a problem we can't fix a problem and I am now reading on the web that there seems to be a problem with these cars up to 2003 with everything I have explained up til now. If anybody has any input or contact info for me to call to help me, I would deeply appreciate any help you can provide before one or all of my family members become injured or god forbid fatalities.
My abs and brake light keep coming on. I have had several items done to fix problem including tune up, cleaning of contacts. I am now told that the abs circuit controller may be bad. This is a $1,500 job that just may fix the problem. I have already spent about $600. Judging from the hits I get on the internet this is not an isolated problem.
Was making a left hand turn from a dead stop when engine without warning cut out during the turn. All of the dash board alert lights (brake, abs) comes on and off all the time. Took the vehicle to 3 dealer ships and could not find anything wrong. Vehicle still cuts out and almost causes an accident each time. Can't seem to get anyone that can resolve this matter. Now the dashboard and interior lights won't either.
My vans brakes started acting funny when I came up to a stop. The abs system is acting as if the van is going into a skid and activating the anti lock brake system. It causes improper braking distance which has almost led to an accident. After operating for awhile the warning lights go on in the dash for the abs and traction control, at this point when the lights go on the systems are disabled. When you shut off the van it resets and the problems persist when you start it back up. I believe there is problem with the computer board causing this problem. It can possibly lead to an accident and or death.
Abs and emergency brake light on and off when I turn car on and off did not know what it was. Took to mechanic lights when off before he could check. Scds was replaced in Feb 2010. Going to new Ford dealer to check. Haldeman Ford in hamilton NJ installed scds and they were the worst dealership ever. Read info from prior complaints. Possible fire,ect. Was nervous so now taking it back and having subframe recall inspection.
2003 Ford Windstar minivan vehicle had been driven to a workplace and parked for the day. Upon entering the vehicle to travel home, driver started vehicle normal and attempted to shift automatic transmission into gear to move from the parking space. The transmission would not engage into either drive (forward) or reverse (backward). Vehicle was towed to a garage and then to a transmission shop. Estimate to repair the transmission exceeds $2500. The transmission had shown no signs of slippage or other visible, audible and/or shifting issues. Since the incident, I have done online researched and found literally hundreds of similar complaints and incidents on this vehicle model. We have also have repeated electrical problems with this van. Interior lights come on and go off for no reason. Interior lights blink while driving in daytime or nighttime. Sometimes the rear power wing windows open. . . Sometimes they do not. Service lights come on and off including brake and abs system lights, service engine lights, and others. We are thoroughly disappointed with this vehicle.
My 2003 Ford Windstar has several problems. The abs light and the brake light on is lit on the dashboard. The cruise control is inoperable and the power windows do not work except for the front passenger side. I am concerned because I take my 3 kids to school and back everyday.
Multiple episodes of the abs traction control and brake light coming on at the same time. . If you shut off engine and restart the warning lights go away. Started several years ago thru present time. Have had vehicle serviced and they have tried to reset the error codes with out success seems to be worse when its wet.
The abs and brake warning lights come on frequently at any time for no reason. My mechanic says there is no problem with the brakes; he thinks it is a defective brake module. This is a safety issue, since it cannot get a state inspection when these lights are on.
The abs/brake light indicator came on. It sometimes will go off (usually when there is road salt on the road. It stays on and will not turn off. I took it to the Ford dealer thinking it was the brakes/or the brake sensors. They said it was the abs control module failing. It was too expensive for me to replace. When the indicator was off I took the car for emissions inspection and it passed. Now the emissions inspection is due and the lights are still on. I do not want to spend $900. 00 to replace the part on an eleven year old car especially since there is no guarantee that is the exact problem.