Dt*: the contact stated the ABS light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who determined the whole system needed to be replaced. Updated 10/03/06.
2001 Ford Windstar brakes complaints
Page 19 of 19: complaints 521 to 544 of 544, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving down the road, I pressed my brakes to stop and the pedal went to the floor. I had no brakes until I pumped my brakes several times. While doing this my brake light and ABS light came on and stayed on. My o/d light was flashing and my speedometer stopped working along with odometer. And my A/C stopped working. We stopped to work on it and found fuse number 10 was blown. We replaced fuse. When we turned to key to start the motor blue smoke came up from motor area and fuse instantly blew. Upon further inspection found that the sensor under master cylinder was leaking brake fluid into electrical harness. Have not fixed sensor yet.
2001 ford windstar, 80,000 miles. The ABS and brake warning lights come on intermittently. The dealer says a technical bulletin has been issued regarding moisture entering and corroding the ABS system. $2,845 to repair. This problem has been reported in many windstars; the vehicle should be recalled for this problem and the damage repaired at no cost to the consumer.
This is a 2001 vehicle. After warrnaty expired we have invested almost $2000 in repairs and things continue to break.
While driving my 2001 ford windstar the entire dashboard lit up. Then the ABS, odometer, and engine light remained on. Speedometer stopped working, and the odometer went blank. The van was taken to apple valley ford, where we were told that ABS system had been leaking for sometime with no warning indication , and shorted out the entire electrical system. The repair bill was $4500 as the front electrical module was shot due to the leakage. Dealer and ford corporation could not explain cause of leak, why warning system did not work, why the extreme damage or why the front electrical module was located so close to the ABS system, that allowed this to happen. I questioned if this was a manufacturing or latent defect. Repair was being done at this time.
While driving approximately 45 MPH brakes failed to operate, resulting in a crash.
Vehicle's back end swayed left and right, making it difficult to maintain control. The cause was undetermined. *ak the consumer stated that the rear control arm broke while driving. The bolt was replaced and a rattling noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The lower rear tight side bolt was no good. The conusmer stated that the engine light was on. Tests found vacuum leaking from the intake manifold. Lower and upper intake manifold gaskets were replaced. Idle speed control was replaced. The brakes squeaked . When taking off from a stop light the vehicle idles high.
(1) I had various problems with the braking on the van starting about 4 months after I bought it with. Nothing really lead up to the failures. (2) brakes would fail for no apparent reason. It was usually after I would hit a slight bump in the road while lightly applying the brakes. I would feel as the antilock brakes would kick on for no reason. The brakes would not recover until they were released and pressed again. Several times I would have hit someone if they were in front of me. (3) I sent many complaints to ford, the dealerships, etc. There policy was if they could not reproduce the problem then they couldn't fix it. I could not reproduce the problem either. This would just happen out of the blue. I have had witness in the van when this happened. Ford denied two dealers from working on the van (even though it was under warranty) because the dealer could not reproduce the problem. About 6 months ago I replaced the shocks and tires on the van. This problem has not happened since then. I did everything I could think of to have someone help me with this problem. Talked to ford, dealers, filled out similar forms on auto safety websites, etc. I am truly disappointed that no one ever looked into this problem. If this is happening on other ford windstar's then there are some very serious safety issues that need to be investigated.
While driving dashboard lights illuminated intermittently. The odometer went out. Consumer stopped the vehicle to look under the hood. There were little sparks of fire under the hood. The wiring that were connected to the master cylinder melted. There was brake fluid leaking down on the wiring.
Oil leaks leading to the engine $700.00 @60,000 miles ABS ---system replaced $1200 @74,500 miles head gaskets replaced and some suspension problem $2,000 @ 7500miles.
When the windshield wipers are engaged they will either work for a few seconds and quit or not work at all. Dealership replaced the wiper motor twice, and the front electronic control module. But problems still exists. Recall 01v261000 was issued, but this vehicle was not covered under the recall due to VIN. *ak also, clunking on the front driver side at low speed or when turning left. Dealership checked the vehicle and later replaced the brake rotor. Starter were also replaced.
Numerous things have gone wrong since we bought the vehicle. Items covered under warranty: electric seat stopped working twice, and transmission wouldn't shift when it was supposed to. Items not covered under warranty: brakes replaced at 30,000+ miles-told was normal for them to wear out so quickly; rack and pinion replaced at around 55,000 miles; months after brakes replaced, brakes grind loudly when coming to a stop (brakes checked numerous times, but was told they were ok); ABS brake light comes on and stays on after driving (not illuminated on start up, but comes on later); back dome light not secure-falls out; dome lights sometimes come on when braking; check engine light on for months, didn't have it checked, but turned off by itself; sliding door drags-rusted on vechicle frame.
Consumer states that when pressing on the brakes engine starts surging and shaking. Dealer can't duplicate problem.
Power steering system failure. Traction control failure. Anti-lock brake (ABS) system failure. Tire pressure monitor system failure.
Consumer states that the brakes failed causing the driving to throw it neutral to stop the vehicle.b please provide any additional information.
An electrical connector seal had to be installed, the seat buckles and rear wiper motor cover were replaced, the ABS failed, and right before the engine shut down all the lights on the dash board illuminated, after the vehicle was repaired the intake manifold, speed sensor and brake sensor failed. *ph *jb rq04011.
Brakes failed on three different occasions (repair dates: 3/22/02, 4/1/02 and 4/15/02). First, my wife noted the brake pedal was going all the way to the floor before there was any response. The dealership advised that this was normal. We insisted that it wasn't, until there lead technician found and replaced a faulty hcu. The second failure came while I was driving my wife and 6 month old baby from mo to va. While on the west virginia turn pike, the anti-lock brakes failed again and eventually the brakeing system failed all togoether by the time we reached our destination of suffolk virginia. Barton ford, in suffolk va, replaced the hcu and the ecu and repaired a brake fluid leak. The third incident occurred while driving back to mo. Once again the brakes did not respond normally. Once back in o'fallon, mo. The dealership found a air bubble in the brake line and they reprogrammed the ABS module. Each brake failure also affected the traction control system and the speedometer. We have also had to have one window replaced, the drivers side sliding door adjusted, a seal inserted in the rear of the vehicle due to a recall item, and bolts tightened at the engine cradle mounts. Recently, the fuel cap indicator light illuminated for a period of 5 days for unknown reasons and we are currently unable to fill the gas tank to its normal capacity. This vehicle is unsafe and hardly worth the $27,220 that we are paying for it.
While sitting at a stop with foot applied to the brake pedal and brake pedal failed and went straight to the floor. Vehicle lurched forward with force and entered first lane of traffic on highway. Abs light illuminated on the dashboard, and the warning chime went off. Several times vehicle has been at dealer to determine problem, but nothing has been found. Dealer was notified. Please provide more information.
After starting vehicle ABS light stayed on and overdrive light was flashing. Vehicle not taken to dealer yet.
When applying brakes, brake light comes on. Has to pull brake pedal up from floor. *ak brake lights do not turn off unless the brake pedal is manually pulled up. This occurs both at low and high positions of pedal adjuster. The dealer could not duplicate the problem.
I have repeatedly contacted my dealer for the problems that exist with my vehicle. The brakes fail after prolonged pressure at red lights. I was told to set my parking brakes to adjust. I had two large bumps on the steering wheel. I was told that it was a broken bearing and they replaced my steering wheel and fixed the broken bearing. The new wheel has the exact same bumps. I was told not to worry about it. The air conditioner was making grinding sounds. The compressor was replaced. The enige has a ticking noise when vehicle is in gear but stopped with brake. I was tols this is the injectors and nothing was wrong. The van stalls at any speed for no reason after long periods of driving. I was told it was my alternator. I have had my van not long and already have a rebuilt new van. I went to the dealer and drove another van. None of the above problems were seen. I was told there is nothing that I could do but to trade in and pay mega bucks for another one. My van has been in the shop for 9 days the first time and 15 days the second time. I feel I have been wronged by the ford motor company and I should be given a vehicle that I can drive and feel safe in. I feel that the vehicle has more problems then the 1980 aerostar that I replaced with this one. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to solve this problem. If there is nothing, then please warn others from the problems that I have encurred.
To summarize, we bought a 2001 new ford windstar van on oct. 6 from courtesy ford. The brakes failed on oct. 8, causing an accident with slight damage. The van was towed to a ford dealership in wray, where they were unable to find a problem with the brakes. Ford, through their corporate office, offered an extended warranty of 5 years. They also stated that they had sent an engineer from denver to wray who was also unable to find a problem with the brakes. I have a signed document from the service manager in wray stating that no one has come to look at the van. Neither my wife nor I feel that this vehicle is safe to drive, especially since ford has lied to us regarding their diagnosis of the problem. We do not feel comfortable putting ourselves and/or our grandchildren at risk when there seems to be no explanation for why the brakes failed initially. I have much documentation and a chronology of the events that brought us to where we are today. The most frustrating part of this whole deal is ford's reluctance to even respond to our calls and letters. We simply want a vehicle that is free from defects. This is the first new vehicle that we have ever owned. Your service comes highly recommended to us and we would appreciate any help you can offer. I can be contacted anytime at the above number or on my cell phone (970) 630-3328.
Consumer was traveling 60mph on highway and anti-lock braking system light came on dashboad. Consumer applied brakes and it was raining. Vehicle skidded and ran into a pole. Dealership was aware of problem.
While driving brakes were making a grinding noise. Brakes would skip before they stopped vehicle. While coming to an intersection brakes failed, they allowed consumer to slow down. Then, consumer had to put car in park. Consumer had vehicle towed to dealer. Please provide any further information.
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