Check a VIN

2001 Ford Windstar brakes complaints

Page 4 of 19: complaints 71 to 100 of 544, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 2001 Ford Windstar brakes problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Jun 17, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 168,000 miles · MI

My 2001 windstar started having electrical problems a couple weeks after I had all the other recalls taken care of. I turned the van on and all my needles went crazy darting back and forth, and my driver door censors aren't working now. The next day was the same and my ABS and brake lights on the dash are on and won't turn off. I have also had to keep my interior lights turned off completely because at any given time my vans door censors will decided that the door isn't closed. This is the second windstar I have owned and at this point I will never buy another ford. The safety of my children and myself is much more important.

Filed Jun 16, 2014 · Brakes · MN

About two years or so after purchasing our ford windstar the brakes started having problems. My husband replaced the shoes etc. The lights had to be reset. They would go out and then months later come back on. The brakes seem to be ok. A little squeaky sometimes, and then the brake and ABS lights go out. They come on and off every so often when we go over bumps, or sometimes doing absolutely nothing. It's still doing the intermittent on and off thing. The fluid levels are fine etc. We replaced brake parts twice since purchasing it.

Filed Jun 11, 2014 · Brakes · 89,000 miles · FL

My ABS light and brake light come on some days not all the time nothing wrong with brakes.

Filed Jun 10, 2014 · Brakes · 60,000 miles · MO

I have had the ABS and handbrake lights coming on for a few years. I have been told by the ford dealer in lees summit mo that there is no problem and I can just keep on driving it.

Filed Jun 10, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 99,000 miles · CA

During the course of normal driving, on a ford windstar with less than 100k miles, the ABS system failed. The ABS/tc/e-brake lights all came on, permanently. I had to have the system replaced, at extensive cost. In online research it turns out this is a fairly common problem, potentially due to leaking fluid from the scds component. The federal safety agency please make ford deal with this!

Filed Jun 8, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 130,000 miles · WI

Ecu module for ABS is shorted out and causes gauge cluster to short out. This causes ABS light & brake light to turn on and all gauges stop working and they jump around . This was diagnosed by ford dealership in wi. Said brake fluid leaks in to ecu and shorts out wires . Told me . $2000.00 to fix . These problems are a safety issue . Abs and speedometer and gauges don't work . Should be a recall .

Filed Jun 6, 2014 · Brakes · 120,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. The contact stated that the ABS and brake warning lights illuminated and that the brakes failed to function. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ABS brake module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 155,000.

Filed Jun 6, 2014 · Brakes · 86,601 miles · AR

Anti-lock brake light and brake warning light come on intermittently. Code c1185 is present.

Filed Jun 2, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 164,000 miles · AZ

We were headed home on the freeway and turned onto our exit. My husband put his foot on the brake to start slowing the van down, but the pedal did nothing. He was able to stop the van by coasting and switching into reverse. He then got out and checked fluid which was full and checked the brake lines which were fine. There was no warning signs or anything that our brakes were going to fail. I am just glad that we were already at our exit and there was no other traffic! We had our 5 children in the van with us at the time. I have been researching and reading about the ABS problems in our year windstar and am hoping ford decides to take some action on the matter!

Filed May 28, 2014 · Brakes · 143,032 miles · IN

A couple of months after the sub-frame recall (n99 11s16) work was done both the 'ABS' and 'brake' lights came on for a few minutes and then went off again for a few weeks. The frequency of this occurrence has accelerated, over time, and now these two lights are on about 60% of time.

Filed May 28, 2014 · Brakes · 185,753 miles · ME

Stopping at red lights or stop signs cause ABS to make noise and keep you from coming to a stop with out pumping brakes have tried new brakes and bleeding of brakes and new all around calipers and other brake parts and still having the same effect.

Filed May 26, 2014 · Brakes · 60,000 miles · OR

The ABS light and the brake light come on most of the time and I'm sure this means my braking system is not functioning properly. It hs been occurring with this vehicle for many years and hundreds of dollars later it is still not resolved. Ford needs to step-up and fix this issue. A.s.a.p. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 5, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 135,000 miles · TX

The ABS, brake, and trac lights come on while driving down the road. This doesn't happen every time, but has become more frequent. Have not found a reason for it to come on, like hitting bumps or wet whether. The electrical system issues is rear windows won't open all of the time. The door locks don't work all of the time. The lights in and outside the van dim in and out.

Filed Apr 28, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 100,000 miles · MI

I purchased. This car in august 2013 before I got the car has 20 miles down the road the brake light came on subsequently both the ABS and the emergency brake light has come on and off the ABS light is on most of the time and there is a noise when breaking my mechanic doesn't know what it is and I have found out that this is a recall problem on other vehicles by calling the ford dealer and looking online. This particular van is not covered but it's clearly having the same problem. The speed control stop working within three or four months of my having the car as well. And the rear wiper doesn't work and I'm very suspicious as to why.

Filed Apr 27, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · IA

Well my ABS/ brake lights have been on and off ever since I bought this van and I have keep up on everything that need keeping up on. Now I am having problems with my wipers and they don't work on any of the speeds but high and next to high and the other speeds don't work. Another problem I have been having is the electronic slidding doors don't always close or want to stay shut. The doors have even tried to open when driving down the road which is very dangerous considering I have children ridding in the back of my van. I have had codes come up on my van that sound like a manufacturing problem and I have had about enough of this. I have not felt save in my van since they called me in for the recall they fixed on it at dick withems. I still think it needs an inspection by the company and they need to fix everything that is malfunctioning due to manufacturing problems. I put my children's and my life in ford's hands when I drive this van and if anything ever happens to my children or me I will be getting ahold of ford, my lawyer. I think that when vehicle's are built they should make sure there are less manufacturing problems as possible. Please contact me.

Filed Apr 24, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 140,000 miles · KY

I didn't have a crash I noticed that my ABS brake and tire pressure light was staying on and a short time after I started hearing a loud rumbling noise in the front end every time I slow an it's impossible to make sudden stops and at times my speedometer starts flickering back and forth as well as my cruise control is currently inoperable. I have limited driving this vehicle in which I purchased due to feeling it is not in a safe manner for my children to be in. I have had several shops as well as individuals that told me these areas are common to go out on this specific vehicle and that there is possible recall. I just want to be able to drive my van with out worrying if I'm going to be able to come to a stop when needed as well as not knowing if I could possible break down or something break in the front end while I am driving at somewhat high speeds. Thank you and hope to hear from someone soon in regards to this situation!

Filed Apr 11, 2014 · Brakes · 133,000 miles · GA

I was driving my ford windstar 2001 when the brakes failed. The cruise control stop working and the ABS and the brake lights came on. The brakes became soft causing me being unable to stop the van.

Filed Apr 9, 2014 · Brakes · 155,500 miles · TX

The ABS and brake light goes off and on, mostly on all the time on the dash , will not get a state inspection like this.........what can you do to slove this for me [xxx].... Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 5, 2014 · Brakes · 81,000 miles · IN

Abs lights on dash comes on especially when its hot out. Brakes lock up when trying to stop fast. Was told its a defective ABS control module. Ford issued a revised or updated module. Its too expensive to replace right now.

Filed Feb 26, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 209,000 miles · TN

My ABS light is on and have heard it is from ecu master relay has a bad soldier joint which fails prematurely and causes the ABS light and dtc c1185. It also causes the enhanced ABS braking system to become inoperable.

Filed Feb 24, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 85,000 miles · MI

Abs trouble light keeps coming on and going off. It was checked and the mechanic said it was safe to drive if I didn't want to spend the money. I have found out that the connector is absorbing fluids and shorting out. This shorting out happens mostly in warm weather. In sub 0 weather the light pretty much stays off. There is still a chance of fire when it is shorting out. I complained to ford and was told there was no recall on this item. They gave me a case number for my complaint. It is #[xxx]. This problem is a direct cause of fluids leaking on the modgular connector and heat from engine. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 26, 2014 · Brakes · 45,000 miles · NC

Abs and brake light comes on when the temp is hot outside, turn engine off, and back on goes out for a while, then comes back on. It seems to be a big problem but ford says it is not a recall. Or I cannot find a recall.

Filed Dec 27, 2013 · Brakes · 128,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. The contact stated that the brake light continued to illuminate after the emergency brake was disengaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis however, the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact stated there was a manufacturer's recall for the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.

Filed Nov 18, 2013 · Brakes · 75,000 miles · LA

My vehicle has a ABS fault light caused by a faulty ecu master relay. This causes the ABS and brake fault lights to light on my dash board. The fault code reads c1185 from the engine diagnostics. This has rendered my ABS system inoperable.

Filed Nov 3, 2013 · Brakes · 168,110 miles · PA

Arrived at destinations and stopped. Tried to leave, brakes had not released and would not release.. Had to drive home against the brakes which were smoking upon arrival at home. Next day, brakes went back to normal. Two days later, same occurrence. Brakes would not release, overheated, brake pedal pushed hard up with all brakes applied. Nest morning after cool down, brake pedal resting on floor; would not pump up; no brakes. Since I have owned this vehicle, brake and ABS indicators come on for no apparent reason, I.e., 3 drops of rain on windshield and indicators come on. Ford dealer was made aware of this, said it was an ecu problem and did nothing about it, saying it would cost me about $700 to fix.

Filed Nov 2, 2013 · Brakes, Electrical · 85,000 miles · VA

Abs light and brake light on/ off more then 5 years every time driving , brake working fine. All the gauge moving crazy about 1 a week. Winter time the problem less.

Filed Oct 29, 2013 · Brakes · MD

My ABS lights came on as well as my brake lights don't know why my brakes are knew.

Filed Sep 27, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 162,000 miles · MN

The parking brake and ABS warning lights come on intermittently and tend to stay on when the vehicle is warm. This vehicle has already had the recall 09v399000 performed on it so the lights coming on should not be related to that issue. It appears to be the same problem that many other people are experiencing with their windstar vans which is a bad solder on the ABS control module circuit board. I have only driven the van a few thousand miles since the lights started coming on so I have not noticed any loss of function that other people have experienced.

Filed Sep 24, 2013 · Brakes · 175,000 miles · OH

Traction control engages when turning. Acceleration is limited while traction control is engaged. Anti-lock brakes engage when stopping causing extra stopping distance. Dry pavement.

Filed Sep 20, 2013 · Brakes, Electrical · 144,000 miles · ID

Intermittent increase in braking distance in an emergency situation. Due to ABS system failure related to the ECM control unit. Indicator at time of failure "yellow ABS brake light" and "red brake light" on dashboard of vehicle. Resulting in interment operating of ABS system. This becomes a large driving hazard when operating the vehicle during winter months when roadway is often covered in wet, snow and ice. These road conditions are typical for my winter driving months in the climate and area of vehicle purchased and operated. The cause of this ABS system failure is related to the ECM control unit. Root cause is identified as failure of circuit board solder joints with in the ECM unit, deactivating ABS system. Poor quality of connections, heat and stress , not robust enough for application. Need to have these quality and performance issue resolved by the oem.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2001 Ford Windstar?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history