The issue is caused by heat in the ABS (anti-lock brake system) ECM (electronic control module) (2c219) module causing expansion of a large aluminum plate (heat sink) in the ECM which is attached to the ECM main circuit board at all points. The expansion occurs when the unit gets warm especially in the summer months and causes intermittent electrical connection in the unit because the fragile board is being stretched and malformed. The code most commonly scanned by professional mechanics is code c1185. Seen by us owners as a yellow ABS brake light.
2001 Ford Windstar brakes complaints
Page 7 of 19: complaints 161 to 190 of 544, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Abs brake light on brake light on the (mostly unserviceable) 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.
Abs service brakes lights come on. Has been happening since 2006 90% of the time in the summer in moderate to high outside temperatures.
Brake and ABS lights came on during driving, can happen at any speed. It could be reset at first by stopping, turn off engine then restart. At first, it can go for a couple of weeks before it happened again. But lately it happens more often and ignition off/on to reset is only about 50% successful.
Abs light is on continuously ABS is not active. This problem seems to be a problem with the ecu master relay.
Three days this week our van brake and ABS lights came on in the morning and did not go off on my wife's drive to work. Two evenings the lights came on while running at normal speeds(55). The brakes seemed to operate properly but I don't know if my ABS will function in a emergency. We bought this van new in 2001.
My ABS light comes on and my ABS doesn't work! Also my vehicle has an issue with starting. It could happen once a week or once a month. It is so weird, I have replaced the starter, the sensors. Tested everything else and nothing is bad. Don't know what else to replace.
One year ago, both the ABS light and the brake light were turned on. Sometimes they are on and off frequently.
Brake light and ABS light for braking system come on randomly when driving. I brought my vehicle in to the ford dealership and they said my brakes were fine but the light still comes on. At the same time my vehicle. Stumbles when operating at low speeds.
The ABS and brake lights appear then disappear on dash. Unsure on the state of ABS and brakes.
We have had our brakes serviced back in 2008, and once before that in 2003 (almost a year after we purchased the car). In the past couple years, the ABS light and the parking brake light have constantly been turning on after five minutes of driving. The brakes still work, but I am unaware of why the lights continue to come on. When we had our brakes serviced in 2008, the lights have already been coming on, and replacing the brakes did not help. Brakes have been an issue for our windstar since we bought the car.
Abs light is on most of the time. Sometimes it will go off and then it is continually on.
From time to time, the ABS and brake lights come on, usually as you are just driving, which makes the ABS system inoperable. Ford has looked at this problem and actually stated they are not sure what the problem is or how to fix it. With that said, the car is not inspectable and makes it difficult. This should be a recall issue!
My brakes and ABS light stays on even after repairing brakes my ABS system is not working, one day while raining I try to stop my vehicle and it kept on going.
Abs, brake light and check engine light all on at the same time. Vehicle shakes like it is going to cut off. Despite numerous attempts at repairs, still does it as of today (2012).
Abs brakes are activating during normal braking. My ABS and brake lights started coming on about 3 years ago. My ABS brakes actually activated while I was braking in normal road conditions, no gravel, rain, etc.. My son was driving and I was in the passenger seat. We were coming to a stop at a highway and the car wouldn't stop when he broke. It just kept going. It was very scary. Didn't know what it was but just assumed it was a one time deal. The lights continued to come on off and on ever few weeks. About a year later the ABS brakes activated again while I was driving through town (30 mpg) and coming to a stop. When I was going around 5 mpg and there was a car stopped in front of me my car would not stop. It kept "pulsating" and moving forward. Scared the heck out of me. I almost rear ended the car in front of me. At this point I took it to the local ford dealer. They ran a $100 diagnostic and said it was the ABS module that needed to be replaced...$980 later. The clerk told me that this may not fix the problem but that they needed to do this *first. We did not have it replaced since they could not guarantee this would fix the problem. The lights continued to come on but at closer intervals. Last week, august, 2012 it happened for the 3rd time; the ABS light did not come on during this episode. I was coming to a stop at a highway entrance.... My car would not stop again! It kept pulsating and pulling forward towards the oncoming traffic. Very scary!! The brake and ABS lights are now coming on 2-5 times were driving trip.
The ABS system have been intermittently operating for a while and cased the are to almost rear end a vehicle. Both the ABS and brake lights are one when if fails. This fault first occurred around 78,000 miles. *tr replaced the ABS module and the second one had the same issue. Ford indicated that they wanted me to buy a new part at >1250$. Not sure that it would work any better that the two I have or felt that it would not last.
Abs and brake lights come on. Go off when vehicle is turn off and back on. Problem is intermittent. Less so in cooler weather. Front and back brakes check out o.k. No sign of fluid leak in brake system, however ABS seems nonfunctional. Had dealer check lights. Said couldn't find a problem with the brakes and that the ABS module might be bad. Read that numerous other owners have the same problem. I feel that these cars were assembled with defective ABS modules.
All recalls completed. Abs and brake lights are still on. Had tech check codes first round: c1235,c1185, c1198, c1194, c1254, c1246, c1250, c1242, & c1214 second round: c1185, c1198, c1194, c1254, c1250, c1242, c1214, & c1210 third round: c1198, c1194, c1254, c1246, c1250, c1242 fourth round: no codes present five minutes driving lights come back on.
The ABS light and exclamation point light stays on all the time. There is also a scrubbing, dull screeching sound when I apply the brakes. I've had it checked out and attempted to be fixed several times, but neither mechanic has been able to fix it. They turn the lights off, but they come right back on. Please recall and correct this problem before people get killed. I'm afraid to drive the van very much.
Abs warning light comes on along with emergency brake light. The lights stay on for varying periods and then go out only to return at irregular intervals. No change in vehicle operation is noticeable.
While driving my windstar van the ABS light came on and stayed on. At random times the brake light comes on and off. When both brake lights are on the cruise control doesn't work.
The dashboard brake light and ABS light illuminate sporadically for extended periods of time.
I have a 2001 ford windstar, I've never had so much trouble with a vehicle. This has been going on and off for over a year. The ABS and brake light comes on and stays on most of the time.
These lights stay on even after repairs are done. They go off for a couple days and then come back on. This has been going on for at least 2 years. I also have electrical problem with my speedometer and gauges. I also have been having a problem with my fuel vacuum causing the gas to spill out when pumping and tank is not full.
Brake light and ABS light continue to come on. Happens more in the warmer months. Something must be wrong because it come on all the time now. If I shut the car off and turn it back on, it will go off. Sometimes it will stay off and sometimes it comes back on after a few minutes of driving. I'm concerned that this is not safe and that there may be some bigger issue. The last thing I want is for my van to lose it's ability to brake with my family inside.
I got ABS sign somewhere in february. It pass my may inspection too. But finally I decided to get it checked and it turned out that ABS module is faulty. Because of this, I some times get brake sign also on. Dealer found that brakes are in good shape, shoes, pads and rotors are in good shape, fluid is filled up too but ABS module bring brake light up sometimes. I am concerned about in case of emergency brake is not applied properly. I would like ford to replace ABS module as a recall.
Since the beginning of 2011 the ABS and the brake light came one. I have no idea why it comes on and stays one. I am afraid to go long distance because of this.
Just recently, in the past couple months, the ABS lights go on intermittently on the dashboard, warning that there is a problem. We took it to the ford dealership, and they said it may need a new ecu or computer module, but they said it was safe to use. However, the manual says when the lights are on, the ABS system and traction control are disabled... There seems to be a recall, but no one at the dealership mentioned any issue. It seems strange for a car with 68,000 miles to have this go out - we want to make sure it is not a covered item before paying $ 1,400 for a new part. Thank you.
Abs and brake light come on at same time , this happens randomly . Stop vehicle turn off and restart and lights will go out, they will stay off for one day to one month -- no pattern -- this vehicle has had the recall done.
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