2002 Ford Windstar: sudden loss of power

Filed Jan 8, 2019 · Transmission · 200,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle felt as if it shifted into neutral. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted, but failed to drive. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence where an independent mechanic diagnosed that the torque converter failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called gary crossley ford at (816) 781-4844 (located at 8050 n church rd, kansas city, mo 64158) and was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. *tt consumer stated 2002 ford windstar output shaft failed causing sudden loss of engine power without any warning which increased the risk of crash.

Filed Jul 8, 2013 · Brakes · 90,000 miles · NJ

I purchased my 2002 ford windstar as a new vehicle and I have been the only owner and driver. It has received regular professional servicing and repairs and overall, is in superior condition. Since 2007 it has only been used on the weekends and I use a smaller car for work. A few years ago, the ABS light started coming on unpredictably and intermittently in rainy weather and the brakes would lose power dramatically increasing braking distances. Because the problem with braking was sporadic at first, the mechanic thought it was merely an electrical problem causing the ABS light to come on. The ford service department said there were no recalls for such a problem. I have had the brakes replaced, and although the pads and rotors are in good condition, the braking problem has worsened. The ABS light and intermittent brake failure is much more frequent. I have recently learned that other windstar owners have experienced the same problem and that ford recalled 1999-2003 windstars for ABS because the ecu master relay has a bad soldier joint that fails causing the intermittent contacts. When I brought that information to my ford service manager, I was told the recall did not include my particular VIN. I am not sure how ford determines which vins get recalled -- but I am sure that my vehicle should have been included. It is unsafe because the brakes are unpredictable at this point. It is scary to think that ford would allow this known and serious defect in it's vehicles to go unaddressed.

Filed Jul 6, 2011 · Brakes, Electrical · 146,000 miles · OH

I purchased a 2002 ford windstar from genoa ford genoa ohio...with the ABS light and brake light on...the salseman said that we have the car priced low because it will need brakes...we purchased the brakes and still had the problem...we then had the master cylinder replaced the next day 3 days later as we where driving the van the ABS and brake light turned on and the van was not able to be started so it was towed for the second time...the day before this we had it at tireman in northwood to get radiator flushed...and new tires when we pulled away the van lost all power and then the battery was replaced...so today after this problem happened the mechanic tells us we need an alternator. In the mean time I have searched online and found that recall #09s09 deals with electrical issues as in the ABS the scds the cruise control etc... So this issue obviously has not been stopped with the recall being performed on my vehicle at genoa ford on oct 19, 2009( as the mechanic [xxx] told me on the phone)...so I have come here to file this complaint. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Dec 2, 2010 · Electrical · 103,000 miles · OK

Serious intermittent electrical issues with 2002 ford windstar. Break and ABS light have been illuminated intermittently in the instrument cluster panel since purchasing the car in october 2007. Then in march 2010, after smelling electrical burning, the battery light began intermittently illuminating and go off when gas is applied for a few moments. Assuming possible alternator or battery issue, changed out the two components. Break and ABS light and battery again began illuminating, and door locks began not working. Ford dealer performed 2009 ABS recall correction, but electrical issues remained. Then all electrical components stopped while I was driving with my children on a busy street. Lost power steering, doors all locked, breaks went out, oddly the interior lights blinked on and off like an airplane emergency lighting would during a crash landing. Unable to unlock back door to remove my toddler from the car seat, and had to pray no one would slam me from behind while I crawled into the backseat and unlatched him (because back lights were not lit) then exited the car. Had to be jumped to restart. Changed 3 batteries and 4 alternators (2 were motor craft) since march 2010. One alternator blew within moments after the car was started after changing it. Mechanic mentioned he noticed an arc flash prior to its blowing. Replaced all new wires going into and out of the alternator, all new battery cables. Replaced serpentine belt and several fuses. Battery light still comes on. Took van to ford dealership, where they witnessed and acknowledged the illuminated battery light, hooked van up to electrical test equipment, and found nothing ($100). Hooked it up to the regular diagnostics test equipment (another $100) tried to sell me an intake manifold for $500 including labor (I didn't bite). They replaced the 2 door actuators on the front doors ($300) and then told me they were unable to diagnose the actual electrical problem. Lights still lit. Car reliability gone

Filed Dec 4, 2009 · Transmission · 68,000 miles · MA

While driving on highway , my wife and two children were in a 2002 ford windstar minivan. Suddenly the vehicle lost all power, it was like it went into neutral and stayed there. After coming to a complete stop in fast lane on highway at night, they were almost rear ended by a truck. Luckily they escaped harm. The vehicle has low mileage and gave no problem of tranny problems before. Brought car to garage, it needed a complete overhaul of transmission at a significant cost. Please look into this for us, I don't feel this should happen to a minivan that has been as wall taken care of as my wife's. Thank you very much

Filed Sep 12, 2009 · Brakes, Electrical · 81,201 miles · CA · fire

I have a 2002 ford windstar, I went to park on labor day this year and parked my van. A few hours later, I went to van and tried to use my remote to get in and it would not work. Once I got directly on the van I smelled an odor that smelt like burnt rubber that was really strong. I got in van with my key and started the van. It was very hot that day so I went to roll down the power windows and they didn't work. I then went to turn on the air conditioning and it didn't work. I then looked at my dash and realized I had loss all power; nothing was work, odometer, temperature gauge, radio, headlights etc. I thought I just blew a fuse and stayed at the park. When I went home several hours later I still smelled odor but told my husband I would go to shop in morning before work to have my mechanic look at it. That morning I went to shop and they said it was not a fuse and after several hours of them doing visual and computer diagnostics they found that the ABS system caught fire and started burning into my gas line. They said we were very lucky van didn't total catch on fire. They ended replacing the whole ABS unit under the van and had to replace all wires that had burnt and rewire everything. Repair is almost 900.00 dollars. They van gave no warnings that something like this would happen. I feel very scarred to continue driving this van, even with repair being done because I feel like it can happen again and next time we may not be so lucky. I am still paying on the van and stuck. I hope ford does something before someone loses their life. I have not picked up van yet and am considering telling car dealer to pick it up at shop and taking repo on my credit.

Filed Aug 7, 2008 · Acceleration, Brakes · 70,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. While driving between 45-55 MPH, the engine began to lose power. The contact pulled into a ford dealer and was informed that the brake cruise deactivation switch was leaking into the fuse box. The failure caused the speedometer to fail and the ABS and several other lights to illuminate. Recall number 05528 (deactivation switch) was referenced regarding the ford explorer. The current and failure mileages were 70,000. Update 09/10/08 *cw updated 09/15/08.

Filed Jul 9, 2008 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · MA

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the ABS and the brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The warning light indicators remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. A diagnostic was performed by an authorized dealer and they stated that the computerized system was losing power, which could possibly be the cause of the failure. On five separate occasions, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for identical failures. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000 and current mileage was 94,470.

Filed Jul 3, 2006 · 56,000 miles · NJ

2 times over the past 3 years we have turned on the air conditioner in our 2002 windstar and the car has lost power and stalled on the highway. The compressor failed and seemed to seize causing significant loss of power and the car to stall while on the highway. This is the second time and each time the air conditioning system needed to be replaced. The first time it happened the repair was covered under warranty but this time the repair cost more than $1100. The failure caused a loss of power in the car and caused the engine to stall, the steering was stiff and brakes became difficult due to lose of engine power.

Filed Apr 4, 2003 · 812 miles · NY

When the air conditioner and windshield defroster were turned on the engine seized, which caused the vehicle to lose power steering and brakes. The dealer replaced the air condition compressor twice. Ph

Filed Feb 25, 2003 · Electrical · 9,000 miles · NJ

On the date of the incident, I engaged the front windshield defrost button on the ventilation system. The engine immediately stalled, and I lost power steering and brakes. After that, every time the same button was pushed, the engine stalled. This is the second such occurrence, the last time was in april, 2002 when engaging the air conditioner caused the engine to stall.