2002 Ford Windstar: jerking or lurching

Filed Nov 29, 2022 · Acceleration, Electrical · SC

The gauges are acting crazy which causes the engine to jerk or the transmission and then it starts making the lights flicker in the interior and the gauges start sticking. It seems to make the overflow on the radiator to empty more because it is causing the sensors in the electrical for the parts to go crazy and run hot. Sometimes it only does it every so often but after getting the reserve hose on the power steering that connects to the reservoir to the coolant the battery was drained. Then going after getting it charged down the highway it caused the interior lights radio and seat and turn signals not to work when coming to a complete stop and it was idling the dashboard and all the lights were coming back on once given a guess it winded up not working again causing the battery to become hot or warm and acid you can smell in the air like rotten eggs. It is causing the overflow tank of the radiator to evaporate more or come out quicker and it is causing other component parts to react strangely which I'm afraid will cause a fire in the vehicle and the idling is not correct also on it now

Filed Mar 5, 2018 · Body, Steering · WI

Rh back side of subframe, is rotted/corroded so bad that the metal tore all around the subframe bushing. To where it is not being held up by the bushing on the right hand lower/back is not holding up the front subframe... Now, the vehicle is making a very loud popping noise when driving and turning... And when turning fast enough (more turning left then right) can feel whole front end jerk like its about to go the opposite way the van...replaced the left front strut assembly and control arm to find out that did not solve the problem. Then after repairs and looking deeper.. Noticed right front side, sagging almost 2-4 inches lower then left front... That's when we noticed the subframe completely broken/rusted off from the body bushing (on the front right lower/rear bushing)

Filed Feb 10, 2016 · Brakes · FL

I have a code c1185 it is making my van unstable . It starts to jerk as it goes from 40 to higher speeds it's affecting . It turns out that alot of people are having this issue c1185 ABS module

Filed Apr 27, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · 155,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. While driving approximately 60 MPH in rainy conditions, the vehicle began to jerk. The entire instrument panel, headlights, windshield wipers, and power windows failed to operate. The engine warning indicator illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road until the rain subsided. After restarting, the failure persisted. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where a code was not detected. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Transmission, Wheels · 112,972 miles · MA

After driving down a major highway north of boston, ma (128/95 north) my wife and I, first heard scraping noise that became louder and began smell like burning rubber/brakes. The car lurched across the roadway/highway and we swerved and almost sideswiped car in the adjacent lane. We were in the process of exiting the highway on the off ramp to my work at rte 28 south stoneham/wakefield. We were able to pull over, gather our thoughts and continue to a gulf station on rte 28 in stoneham, ma. The gulf station mechanic/manager said he had never seen anything like it, a rear axle literally splitting in half. After viewing the rear broken axle and looking at the condition of the front right end and the overall condition of the sub frame they politely and forgivingly said they have rarely seen such a thing (cracked/separated rear axle and went on to say they have only seen this in ford windstars and went on to talk about a local women whose ford windstar lost control on the highway at 60 MPH with her 3 children and were scared to death and in conclusion would not touch the vehicle and warned that the vehicle was beyond safe driving and repair. They were shocked that although there was some kind of brace on the axle in two places that the axle had snapped in two at the reinforcement and said even without the reinforcement on the rear axle they have never seen a rear axle split in two and compounded with the fact that it actually had a reinforcement bracket fail. Reiterating axles and sub frames are not wear and tear parts and in fact had never seen broken rear axles and sub frames crack and break and corroded to this extent. Their reaction was of disturbing to say the least. They said broken axles just don,t happen and with added reinforcement it was "beyond belief" they had broken in half.

Filed May 27, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 70,000 miles · IN

Yellow ABS and red brake lights come on. O/d light flashes. Resets when car is turned off, but the ABS and brake light come on shortly after staring to drive. Had brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder and had that replaced. Brakes work and fluid level is fine. When o/d light is flashing, car jerks on first transmission shift. Have to turn off car and restart to get rid of flashing o/d light.

Filed Feb 19, 2013 · Suspension · 180,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. The contact stated that vehicle was included in and repaired under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 12v195000 (suspension). After the recall repair was performed while the contact was driving approximately 35 MPH, the driver heard a loud scrapping from the vehicle. Additionally, there was smoke coming from under the vehicle as the steering wheel began to jerk and shift abnormally. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

Filed Jun 20, 2012 · Engine · 41,200 miles · PA

As I put the heat, defroster, or air conditioning on, it jerks alot and when I stop at a red light or stop sign it stalls. I have to put my 4 ways on, shut the van off, and restart it without the heat or air on. I feel this is a very drastic safety issue due to the fact if I'm driving on a highway and I stop at a red light and it stalls, if there is traffic behind me coming rapidly I can be rear ended and cause an accident. This has happened to me in the november incident. Luckily the light was still red.

Filed May 22, 2010 · Suspension · 123,500 miles · IN · fire

While driving on a road with our three young children in the car, the car jerked, started making loud noises, and smoking. There was a significant amount of smoke pouring from the left (driver) side. We pulled to the side and saw that the driver's side rear tire was at an odd angle as was the passenger side rear wheel. When the tow-truck arrived and lifted it up, it was very clear that the axle had snapped for no reason. We were lucky that there were no injuries or a major accident, nor did the car catch fire but it smells of burned rubber.

Filed May 18, 2010 · Suspension · 140,000 miles · NC

Coming home from church one sunday, we had to brake hard & suddenly to avoid a car that was on my side of the road. The van's rear wheel left the pavement and jerked to the side. The van handled wrong after that, and we took it to ford to have it looked at. They replaced front drive shafts and said that the rear wheels were rubbing the wheel well, and I needed to have my shocks replaced. The van still made the same noises and had bad handling after this work was done, so took it back & had them look again for problem. They still didn't see any problem. My wife drove this van over 125 miles one day to take her sister for a medical procedure. She was nervous about the bad handling & swaying rear end, so drove slowly and stayed to the right on the freeway. She drove all the way to southern charlotte, nc on hwy. 85 from davidson county, nc. Huge amounts of traffic. When she got home she parked the van, & next day I came home from work and saw the tires were tilted in the rear. Went up & looked under the van, and the axle is broken in 2 places. My wife, her mother, and her sister were all in the van driving on the highway with a broken axle, because ford told us that our van was all right. Called ford and was told "what do you want me to do about it? You're driving an 8 year old vehicle! Buy something else!" and also, "there is no implied warranty. Your van is out of warranty, but we'll be glad to do the work for you if you bring it in to our service department". Or "ford makes good quality vehicles. Would you like to hear about the new car buying incentives we have in place now?" get real. I will never buy another ford in my life. Wife called ford and spoke with them, and the age of the van was mentioned. She stated that I drive a 1986 toyota truck, and the axle is not broken on it yet. She said henry ford did not have this in mind when he started making the model t. Shoddy work and inferior materials.

Filed May 7, 2008 · Electrical · WA · 1 injury

The ABS light along with the red brake light come on frequently. This has been happening for about three years. For the past year and a half these lights along with the battery light come on and the van surges, lurches and dies. This happens at any time, at lights especially but even when driving. Sometimes all types of lights on the console begin to flicker and I hear a ticking/clicking noise as it occurs. I have started my engine and seen the odometer run what appears to be some sort of diagnostic test. If I push the trip reset when this is happening it cycles through several words and codes and the gauges (fuel, speedometer and temperature) move all the way to the right then fall back to zero and the ignition clicks rapidly. Just today when I went out first thing in the morning to start my van, my electronics door opener would not work. I had to use the key, and when I opened the door the flashing/ clicking was underway. I have had my brakes replaced only to have the light issue resume before I left the mechanic. I have had the van hooked up to diagnostic computers twice which could not diagnose the problem. I am very frustrated. I haven't even paid this vehicle off yet and with these issues I won't be able to sell it in good conscience. As an american company, I expect ford to take responsibility for it's products and the american government to protect american consumers.

Filed Jan 30, 2008 · Engine, Fuel system · 25,000 miles · TN

Getting lean code p0171 and p0174. Dealer analyzed and from what I can tell it's tsb 03-16-1 (the federal safety agency sb# 16920) I have searched the internet (as you can) and it's a widespread problem (I know 2 other people personally who may have it). It is my belief that there should have been (or should be) a recall on this defect. In my case, the van will lose RPM's, then "rev" up on cold startup. When it does this, the van executes a "jerking" motion which to me could be dangerous. In other cases, it will stall or nearly stall at traffic lights.