2001 Ford Windstar: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Oct 1, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · 90,000 miles · PA

My 2001 ford windstar has broken through 2 rear axles! Also the interior lights blink on and off as I am driving and sometimes come on and stay on and while turned off will sometimes drain the battery and the headlights and hazard lights will blink on and off and the horn will beep. Also at times my power windows will not function.

Filed Aug 17, 2010 · Electrical · 96,000 miles · AR

I have a 2001 ford windstar that was just cleared from the serv. Dept ford dealership about the ABS and od warning lights flashing (they said due to a blown fuse). Now the lights are back on, the remaining dash lights are going crazy and the headlights are cutting off while driving down the road. Went to start the car from work and the battery is dead. These lights come on when the van heats up or hits a bump. I have small children and work third shift so this problem needs to be corrected before something serious happens as a result in faulty equipment.

Filed Jun 18, 2009 · Electrical · PA

One day the dashboard lights, headlights went out. I have taken it in for service twice. They replaced the number ten fuse. But it blow again. Now the lights AC radio stay on even when the key is out.

Filed Jun 14, 2009 · Electrical · IL · fire

2001 ford windstar brake pressure differential deactivation switch fire. Replaced with part that has been a recall for f150's. Burnt part kept. Previous problems. Abs module malfunction causing loss of speedometer, odometer, ABS light, brake light, od light, loss of headlamp, cruise control, seatbelt warning bell, AC/heat/defrost.

Filed Oct 13, 2008 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · GA

I have a 2001 ford windstar sel. The following problems occur when the #10 fuse blows, which is everytime we replace it. The anti-theft system, interior illumination on dash board(speedometer, A/C, radio lights), and the day runners/auto headlights. Sometimes the car does not turn off....even with the keys out of the ignition and the car door open; the radio and A/C will continue working and then the headlights come on. I purchased this car in february of 07 and these things began happening shortly afterward. Also, the brake light will come on occasionally.

Filed Aug 25, 2008 · Acceleration, Electrical · 119,200 miles · TX

On 08/09/2008, the emergency brake light and the ABS light illuminated on the dashboard while driving at 60 MPH under normal conditions. The vehicle then had to be jump-started, and I noticed a faint burning smell while driving. Upon exiting the vehicle, I noticed the burning scent was extremely strong. The vehicle is now inoperative. The battery, purchased at sears on 06/04/2005, can no longer hold a charge. The electrical system has gone haywire. For example, the headlights now come on, dimly, when the switch is in the off position. The mileage at the time of this incident was 119,200. I had one prior experience with the emergency brake light and the ABS light illuminating on the dashboard. In june 2007, both warning lights came on intermittently only when the vehicle was in reverse and were accompanied by a loud squealing sound in the brakes. Twice, on wet pavement, my brakes did not function normally. Although I avoided any collision, on one occasion I was forced to proceed through an intersection where the traffic light had just turned red. An independent garage inspected the brakes and could find nothing wrong. The computer diagnostic was code c1185. As a precaution, they flushed the brake system. Thereafter, the brakes functioned normally. The emergency brake light and the ABS light came back on intermittently again in may 2008. Again, this happened when the vehicle was in reverse and was accompanied by squealing brakes. I had a ford dealership go over the vehicle and received a written report in may 2008 that showed the brakes to be in acceptable condition. There were no further incidents until august 2008. Because of the complaints I've read on the federal safety agency website, I will mention that the cruise control deactivation switch on this vehicle has not worked in quite some time. I must use the brake pedal to turn off the cruise control. I urge you to continue your investigation into this dangerous situation.

Filed Mar 10, 2007 · Electrical · 148,000 miles · AL

My 2001 windstar has been blowing driver side headlights. Not only does the light blow but the entire glass part of bulb blows completely off. This is the 6th time we have changed bulb. This time I was 60 miles from home on a road full of 18 wheelers. When the head light blows so does my tail lights. So I must drive home with 4 way flashers on. The only reason I have this van is because we have 5 children and have to use a van to go anywhere. Which means my children are always in it when it messes up. This time ,also, when trying to get the van back home, my interior lights kept going on and off by there self. And as always the motor stutters and makes it hard to go up any hill. We live in alabama. Every road I take is nothing but hills.

Filed Nov 28, 2005 · Airbags, Seat belts · 40 miles · OH · crash · 1 injury

On 11/20/05 at approximately 10:00 p.m. A deer ran in front of my van. The impact was on the drivers front left at the headlight section of the vehicle. Minor damage was done to the vehicle but the incident caused injury to my wife. The drivers airbag didn't deploy but the passengers did. This caused the airbag to break my wife's wrist in 2 places. At the same time the drivers seat belt locked but the passengers didn't causing my wife to go forward. Both of us were wearing our seat belts. This seems to me that there was some kind of defect in the system since everything happened backwards. At this time nothing has been done to the van but ford customer affairs is suppose to be contacting me.

Filed Jan 27, 2004 · Electrical, Transmission · IN

Vehicle experiencing problems with transmission, brake lights and head light equipment. *mr the light kept blowing out. The driver's side twice, rear driver and passenger brake light once and the rear center brake light twice. *sc the consumer stated the transmission failed.