2003 Ford Windstar: won't start

Filed Aug 14, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 157,632 miles · MT

I was driving home from whitefish montana which is about 20 miles from my home when the van just stopped, it kept running but would not move so I shut the van off and it wouldn't start unless it was jumped, so we jumped it all the way home. We ended up replacing the battery and the alternator the van ran good for one day and than my o/d light started flashing and the van was running really rough and would not shift our of first causing me to only go 35 MPH in a 70 MPH, not fun at all. Got it home and looked up some information on line and they told me to check the #19 fuse in the fuse box under the hood and sure enough the fuse was blown so I drove it around the block and it blew again. So we put in a 20 amp fuse and I made it home but this morning I went out to go to work and it started and it drove but than just stopped there was nothing there, I turned the ignition off and tried to restart it and nothing, no noise no nothing so I had to push the van to my house, just imagine what could of happened if I would of been in heavy traffic and my van did this. I love fords but this is ridiculous I can not afford to fix all these issues that continue to arise what next a fire under the hood. Please someone help me with this.

Filed Jul 7, 2012 · Electrical, Fuel system · CA

First of all there is a short located by the steering wheel around the air bag. I thought it was the battery so I changed it and a couple of days later my van would not start. I took it to the ford dealer and they couldn't find the problem, so I took it to an old man that just did electrical problems on automobiles. He said it was a bad wire in the steering column and he said to repair it would cost a lot of money, so he bypassed some wires and I have not had any problems since, but when you open the driver side door, the door chimes, like when you leave the keys in the ignition. He only charged me $75. Also I would be driving and the interior lights would turn on and off by themselves. This has been happening for a long time. Also the ABS warning lights have been on for a while and my mechanic said it is a bad ABS steering box. To replace it would cost around $1000. I have had also the head gasket replaced because the ford dealer could not find what was wrong with it while it was still under warranty. It was idling very rough while stopped at a light, also when in parked. It cost me about $600 to replace it. I took it to pep boys and they found out what was wrong with it. I also had the fuel pump replaced, because it kept shutting off while at the grocery stores and had it towed by aaa 3 times in about a year. Bottom line, I will never buy another ford vehicle while I am alive. They are good for the first couple of years, then they start failing. So sad, because I have been a ford guy for over 35 years.

Filed Apr 1, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · 90,000 miles · NY

Speedometer lights come on while driving and don't go away. Now the car wont start from what was told to me because of electrical problems. Rear driver light doesn't work but can signal,left rear passenger lights wont signal.

Filed Aug 12, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · FL

I have a 2003 ford windstar and have had nothing but problems with it. Since purchasing the car I have had issues with the electrical system or something which ford claims they can not figure out what the problem is- all they kept saying is you need to pay $ for diagnostic tests which will probably not even tell them the answer to the problems because in order to catch the problem they need to catch it just as it happens which is near impossible. Long story short-I have put nothing but $ into this van which I feel should be recalled because after doing research on all the problems there are alot of people that are complaining about the exact same issues for the exact same year and model van. As of now I am stuck with no car to get to work and to get my kids to school because the van won't start and it had to be towed to the shop once again. Events leading up to the failure- domes lights flickering on and off at random while driving even with the switch in the off position, fuses getting blown from opening windows, automatic door locks only working when it wants to, alternator and battery failure, transmission failure, and now they have no clue why it is not starting. Failures happen every year since I have had the van. I have had the alternator and battery replaced every year and had the transmission replaced as well. I have had problems with the AC and heat and the brake and ABS lights coming on and off at random. I have been stranded on the side of the road with my children and just can't afford to do this anymore.

Filed Jul 30, 2010 · Brakes · 50,000 miles · TX

2003 windstar. The brake ABS lite intermittently comes on, just bought the car, and this did not start until the weather got between 90 & 100 degrees. Sometimes does not do this for a week, and then again everytime you start the car.

Filed Jun 19, 2010 · 00

My ford windstar lx 2003 doesn't crank over, it is just silent, but all the lights, radio and windows work.

Filed Apr 18, 2008 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · CT

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start occasionally. When he would follow the instructions in the owner's manual, the vehicle would function correctly. In other instances, the vehicle would not start at all. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they wanted to charge him for a diagnostic. The dealer was unable to assist. The current mileage was 76,000 and failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 7/3/08 *cn the doors would not open when using the remote. Updated 07/03/08

Filed Mar 12, 2008 · Electrical · 60,000 miles · AL

My wife and I bought our van after owning a 2000 ford windstar. I used to work for a ford dealership and have only owned ford vehicles most of my life. This van has changed my mind and I will have to think long and hard before buying another ford. Our van has been a problem ever since we drove it off the lot. On the way home the right front door window quit working and took two trips to the dealer to repair. Like other people have said the electric side doors have a mind of there own opening a closing on there own. There is a loud pop every time the side doors open. After several trips to the dealer nothing was done. The engine keeps revving up to the point that you have to stand on the brakes at a red light to keep it from running into the intersection. The dealer again looked at the several times and nothing has been found. As a former mechanic I have been fooled by this also and have replaced the throttle position sensor hoping that would fix it with no luck. The van would not start at times and would have to be jumped off. The battery was replaced as a precautionary measure because this is my wife and kids in this car and I want to take no chances. Finely I was around one time it would not start and found the alternator to be bad. Replacing it and nightmare but that another story. Now the van still idles high and the check engine light and or loose fuel cap light is on. This van is a piece of junk and I regret the day I bought it. I am in my fourteenth year as a deputy sheriff. I do not want any thing but a ford as my patrol unit after working on and driving every kind of car out there. It will be hard to buy another ford as the vehicle my wife and children ride in.

Filed Nov 12, 2007 · Electrical · 73,000 miles · FL

My 2003 ford windstar is a nightmare. It started with the dome lights flickering on and off or just staying on. I turned the switch off but the lights still come on. Then when I would open the rear windows a fuse would blow causing all windows, radio, etc.. To stop working. I have taken it in several time to have this looked at that they were tired of me coming in and took a black marker to show me which fuse to change when this happens. I have a friend who is a firefighter who said this is extremely unsafe--for the fuse to keep blowing could cause a fire. After this, I woke up one morning and the car wouldn't start out of no where. After towing it in and a few hundred dollars later I ended up replacing the alternator and the battery. As far as the dome lights & the fuse---still flickering and the fuse still blows out--they say they don't know what is wrong with that. After this, while driving with my girls, the car just died out on us. Started with the battery light going on then the dash said low battery and then it just stopped running. Brought the car in again and they said it was the alternator again. This happened about 1 year after replacing the first one. So once again a few hundred dollars later---they still don't know what is causing this to keep happening. The lights still keep flashing, the fuse still keeps blowing and still no answers. There has got to be something wrong with the electrical system but no one knows what it is. I also found that there are other 2003 windstars with the exact same problems--lights flickering, electrical problems, replacing alternators & batteries, etc...I filed a complaint with ford motor company but they did nothing--they said all I can say is hold on to all your receipts and if a recall is made you will get reimbursed. What does it take to make ford recall these vans??

Filed Mar 27, 2007 · Electrical · 51,000 miles · TN

2003 ford windstar - problem began in october, 2006. Vehicle wouldn't start; therefore, we purchased a new battery. Same problem occurred - wouldn't start on it's own, had to be jump started each time to drive. Has had three separate repair appointments to which they could not find any problem. The vehicle was the same to them - had to jump start. Have had all diagnostics, etc. Completed with no results. Have filed a complaint with consumer affairs also. Filed complaint with ford manufacturer, dearborn, mi, as of today.