2001 Ford Windstar: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Sep 9, 2014 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · MO

Power windows and door locks intermittently not working. Unable to unlock electrical or manual sliding door ....it locks up and unable to open door from inside. Passengers can't open door if an emergency. Electronic door locks don't function constantly.

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 Sep 24, 2013 · Body · 103,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. The contact stated that the rear sliding doors would not unlock. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was awaiting diagnosis of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 103,000.

Filed May 26, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · FL

The ABS light has been on but no one can tell me why. It goes out when the vehicle is shut off but will light up again after about 10 minutes of driving. The cruise control would work sometimes and not others. If finally quit working all together. The fuses are all fine. The power windows and door locks work sometimes and not others or might work on one side of the vehicle but not the other.

Filed Jul 9, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 110,000 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there were no lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was safely maneuvered to the shoulder and towed home. The vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was also informed that the actuators for the door locks were bad and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 110,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed May 31, 2012 · Body, Lights · MO

My drivers side back door will not open from the inside or outside and my passenger side back door will not open from the inside. My (ABS) light will not go off. There is a cracking noise under where my front tires are on both sides.

Filed Jun 25, 2011 · Electrical, Fuel system · 100 miles · NJ

Repeated failure and replacement of various parts of the electrical system including wiper motor, rear wiper motor, fuel pump, fuel pump fuses, alternator, repeated replacement of battery, repeated replacement of brake lights and light sockets and brake light switch, repeated failure and replacement of electric door locks, repeated replacement of coil wire, replacement of egr valve. Constant stalling of vehicle in rain or humid weather. Vehicle stall when air conditioner is in use. Rough idle and stalling when vehicle is stopped and engine is running. All of these complaints have been constant and ongoing despite repeated replacement of electrical components since delivery of the vehicle in december of 2000.

Filed Jan 31, 2011 · Locks · 125,000 miles · IN

Interior door latch on passenger side loading door is broken. Door cannot be opened from the inside to release passengers from rear section of the vehicle.

Filed Sep 13, 2005 · Locks · 57,000 miles · PA

The psd on our 2001 ford windstar opened while driving the vehicle with our two small children in the back seat. With the car off, parked and children in their seats, my wife closed the psd with door button in post. Door would not activate. After several pushes on the outside handle, the door closed with power and engaged. After driving several minutes the driver side psd tried to open while she was driving the vehicle. The door opened half way. My wife push the door button on the ceiling and it began to close again. Then it closed and reversed 3 to 4 inches and closed again. Then it repeated the 3 to 4 inches closed and could not be operated. It stayed closed until she reached her destination (10 mins). When she stopped the passenger psd opened on its own. The drivers psd would not open at all power or manual. The children left the van through the passenger psd. We took the car to ford the next day. They replaced the door switches and contact pads and the power door lock motor on the stuck driver side slider door. The car was outside of warranty (57,000) and we paid $556.44 for the repairs. By sept 12, the driver side power sliding door was opening again by itself, this time while it was in a park mode. We returned the car to ford, they could not determine a problem and suggested replacing the sliding door hinge, they thought they saw wear. But they could not say if this would solve the problem. We did not complete the second repair ($250) since it was a guess. We have the parts replaced for the recent repair. The doors worked poorly since we first bought the car. These included two warranty services for the same issue of psd opening on their own or not closing on 6/20/2003 and 9/12/2003. With the first ford replaced the b-pillar switches and the second could not diagnose a problem. Since ford has again been unable to find a problem on 9/12/2005 and we are nervous about it occurring again with the children being hurt or falling out while the vehicle is moving.

Filed Jan 24, 2005 · Locks · MD

Since about two months after receiving the vehicle, the passenger side power sliding door has repeatedly malfunctioned. There are three separate problems. The first and most common is that the door will close, only to instantly open again. Any of the three buttons used to close the door automatically cause the same problem. On these occasions, if we attempt to close the door manually, it will not latch at all. Usually after 20+ attempts the door will latch properly. Slightly less common is the second problem, when the door will refuse to unlock. The lock button can't be pulled up, and the buttons on the key fob or door will not unlock the door. Again, this problem only pertains to the passenger sliding door. The third and most recent problem is that, on half a dozen or so occasions, the door has spontaneously opened while the vehicle is moving. The most recent occasion was when the vehicle was exiting a highway and traveling at about 35 MPH, in approximately 25 degree weather, with an infant in the seat by the door. On these occasions the door will also exhibit the first noted problem, refusal to remain closed. Two ford dealerships have made the repairs authorized under warranty, but beyond that have stonewalled. One dealership referred the problem to the "regional rep", but there has been no resolution of the problem.

Filed Jan 8, 2005 · Electrical, Locks · 70,090 miles · NC

I have had problems with my 2001 windstar passenger rear automatic door since the day I bought the car brand new. The door would constantly close and reopen. I have had it checked at least 3 times for this problem. Most recently the door would not close all the way and has been rattling. The problem now is the door has closed and locked and will not open. My ford dealer needs to pry it open with some device just to check the problem. Minimum cost for this is $250.00. I cannot drive this vehicle with a jammed door because I have two small children. If I ever needed to get them out in an emergency I would not be able to. I have contacted ford motor company to see if there has been any recalls of this nature. Ford did not acknowledge this problem and dismissed it and me. I think ford should investigate this further and I think they should be responsible to fix the problem for free. An automatic door malfunctioning seems like a recall situation to me even if there is only one person whom its happened to so far there may be others.

Filed Oct 24, 2004 · Transmission · 58,000 miles · PA

Transmission failed at 58,000 miles (mostly highway miles). $3000 to replace. I only had windstar for 2 years. Purchased in nov. 2002 with 11,000 miles on it. Power door locks have failed to lock since purchase. They must be manually pushed down ($300 to fix).