2003 Ford Windstar: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Jan 7, 2019 · Electrical, Lights · 120,000 miles · IL

Started having wiper issues (intermittent did not work) randomly for a couple weeks, then headlights went out on highway at night with no other cars, first for a couple seconds off then on then off for good after a few more seconds. After another 10 min or so they went back on and stayed on. Also wipers did not work, or radio, windows and door locks. Another time during heavy rain in daytime the system failed again, wipers went off. This was on busy highway. Luckily they went on again after 10s and I was able to see and pull over. Very scary. Happened off and on again. Turned out forward control module was bad. Dealer replaced one I got from junkyard, no more problem.

Filed Aug 13, 2017 · 177,200 miles · OH

Replaced water pump had started for about 10 minutes shut off tried to start it the next day avert nothing no clicking or humming or anything all the dashboard lights came on even I tried to start it and threw headlights are really bright but however they do not come on when I try and start my van there is a very faint clicking noise coming from the fuse box inside the van. When I realized my water pump wad about to go out because it was trickling from the waterpump so I bring it home after dropping my sister off pull in my driveway shut it off bring my things inside hip back out with my fiance and it had done leaked every bit of antifreeze out of it and it's been sitting since july 10 2017 only started once for 10 minutes shut it off ance tried to start it again an nothing it wouldn't even start with a jump

Filed Jul 17, 2017 · Electrical · 145,000 miles · SC

While driving at night on the interstate or any other road, the headlights suddenly went off for about 10 seconds. I heard a clicking sound under the left side of the dash like the sound of a relay engaging. This happened several times. I had the battery replaced and it was ok for about 2-3 weeks then started again. Driving during the day w/no lights on the A/C blower motor suddenly stopped working and then re-started. This also happened several times. I heard the clicking under the dash at that time too. I took the van to the ford dealer. They kept it for 5 days and found nothing. I was at church and came out to leave. I started the van and the wipers came on by themselves on intermittent and would not shut off no matter what I did. I turned the van off when I got home and the next time I started it the wipers were off. I was driving down the road with the A/C on and the blower motor suddenly stopped working again and also the radio, power windows, and power locks. Again I heard the relay clicking sound. It stayed off for about 10 minutes and came on long enough to open the windows (it was 92 degrees outside). A couple of minutes later it went off again and stayed off for the rest of the day and most of the next. When I noticed a storm coming, I went out and started the van. Thank god the A/C, radio, windows, and locks were working at that time so that I could shut the windows. I drove it to work the next day and all was working. I left the van with my boss (he's a mechanic) so that he can take a look at it. My rear axle was replaced under recall about 16 months ago. I'm frustrated with this problem. I bought the van used in july of 2015. It has meticulous service records and has been great up until this year. Ford really needs to do something about this.

Filed Jun 5, 2015 · Electrical · 81,415 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that the gauges on the instrument panel worked erratically and the lights on the instrument panel and the headlights illuminated intermittently. The dealer diagnosed that the wiring harness for the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 81,415.

Filed Mar 28, 2015 · Brakes, Seat belts · 175,000 miles · VA

After looking up all of the service reports on this vehicle, I am beginning to recognize that ford has some explaining to do. We have a large amount of service reports on our vehicle alone that our dealership is not reporting. We have paid more for service repairs than we did paying for the vehicle. Our AC/heat just clicks w/o working, power windows front and rear do not work, power door locks, leaking roofs, leaking doors, ABS lights on, engine lights on, traction control light on, engine sputters even after two complete old fashioned tune-ups, cowl broken, front and rear axles severely cracked, sub-frame cracked, rear wiper does not work properly, brakes need constant repairs, electrical shorts everywhere, head lights, fog lights, brake lights all need constant replacements, alternator was replaced 6 times in one day because they were all faulty, brake switch under brake pedal needs constant replacement, constant wheel alignments, wheel sensors missing or broken, power seat broke and the dealership told us that it was petty to have it fixed even with a height difference between drivers, control modules replaced, multiple expensive sensor failures, spark plugs with wires replaced at least twice, starter replaced, parking brake needs to be watched for slippage because it can't hold on hills, interior lights blink in a pattern while driving, can't haul it's own tailgate, battery replaced multiple times by dealership, power mirror switch broke, many more expensive repairs have been done at our cost, p0302, p0305, p0316, c1235, c1185, c1198, c1194, c1254, c1246, c1250, c1242, c1214, c1210, c1103, c1410, c1404, b1318. We were told by many service departments a while back that these codes were not important. They cleared the codes every time. Their response to these codes were to clear them every single time. We only have one vehicle and this is it. I am a mom w/children.

Filed Feb 4, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 113,000 miles · AK

Abs brake light will turn on and off at random times. Also, brake (e-brake) light comes on, interior lights occasionally flash, all running lights and headlights have gone out (really bad when driving down highway at night), and loss of all electrical (radio, lights, heater fan, dash illumination, headlights, running lights, etc... All go out at same time). Alternator and several batteries have been replaced. Electric windows will occasionally stop working as well. Obviously the huge issue here is the fact that the ABS system may be disabled, dash warning lights randomly come on and off, and all electrical shuts off, with losing headlights and running lights being the biggest issue!

Filed Jan 20, 2013 · Electrical · MN

The battery light comes on occasionally. When it comes on, the electrical system has reduced power. This is confirmed by the headlights dimming, wipers moving at slower speed. If I turn the ignition off and then restart, the battery light goes off and everything functions normally. If I don't turn the car off, it will die in a short time.

Filed May 6, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 174,000 miles · WI

Vehicle passenger headlight would come on in the middle of the night by itself and now passenger headlight would not work on dim. They said there was a problem with the wiring harness. So I had to pay for them to take the same materials again. I'm deciding if I should cut my losses and sell. My husband said we should never have bought a ford. I'm disabled and can't afford to be sticking this kind of money monthly into it.

Filed Feb 8, 2011 · Brakes · 180,000 miles · NY

2003 ford windstar mini van, the ABS brake cruise control light and electrical problems in my minivan. Headlights. When is going to recall and fix the ABS brake light system. The yellow ABS brake light is on and will not turn off . *tr when will ford call re call on to fix ABS lighting system in these mini van, do we have to wait until something van get caught on fire or dies.

Filed Jun 26, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · 97,000 miles · UT

I have a 2003 ford windstar. My brake light and ABS light never turn off. My warning that the door is open is always on as well so my interior lights stay so my battery dies. My head lights turn on and off as well.

Filed Feb 2, 2010 · Electrical · 35,000 miles · PA

2003 windstar electrical problems.lights flash any time at all. Headlight will flicker when driving at night. Different warning lightswill come on randomly. This has been aproblem since I bought the van used. Burns out alternator and batteries.many exact complaints on the internet. Transmissions just quit. Many electrical problems. Not only costly but dangerous. They have no solution too the problem.put in a new alternator,battery,diagnostic testing. Still the same.

Filed Jan 25, 2009 · Transmission · 126,000 miles · OH

We had to replace the transmission in our 2003 ford windstar in late 2006 to early 2007 and now we need to replace it again. The 2nd time the o/d light started flashing and within and hour to an hour and a half the car needed towed back to our house where it is sitting now. Another problem we have always had is an electrical problem. The overhead light comes on whenever it wants to and we lose the electric in the back passenger door whenever it wants to go. And recently the lock on that same door will continually lock over and over for about 10 times and then locks.