2003 Ford Windstar visibility problems

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 May 1, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 195,000 miles · TX

Battery was dead all of a sudden... Jumped it and all the lights started flickering... Dome light dash lights... Windshield wipers came on and they were turned off... Driving down the road everything shut down until the gas was pressed and then it all came back on... Called several places and no one can tell me what is wrong.

Filed Aug 22, 2012 · Brakes, Electrical · TX

Lights turn on and of inside the car. The ABS light and the brake light on and off. Windows stop working get stuck.

Filed Mar 22, 2012 · Electrical, Transmission · 115,540 miles · OH

2003 ford windstar minivan vehicle had been driven to a workplace and parked for the day. Upon entering the vehicle to travel home, driver started vehicle normal and attempted to shift automatic transmission into gear to move from the parking space. The transmission would not engage into either drive (forward) or reverse (backward). Vehicle was towed to a garage and then to a transmission shop. Estimate to repair the transmission exceeds $2500. The transmission had shown no signs of slippage or other visible, audible and/or shifting issues. Since the incident, I have done online researched and found literally hundreds of similar complaints and incidents on this vehicle model. We have also have repeated electrical problems with this van. Interior lights come on and go off for no reason. Interior lights blink while driving in daytime or nighttime. Sometimes the rear power wing windows open...sometimes they do not. Service lights come on and off including brake and ABS system lights, service engine lights, and others. We are thoroughly disappointed with this vehicle.

Filed Nov 1, 2011 · Electrical, Visibility · 70,000 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that the entire electrical system failed. The windshield wipers did not operate, the interior lights shut on and off while driving at night, the power windows would not open or close, and the power doors worked intermittently. The contact stated that there were several instances when children became locked inside of the vehicle. In addition, the instrument panel was inoperable. The dealer replaced the windshield wiper motor however, did not evaluate the vehicle for the other failures. The manufacturer had not been notified nor was the vehicle repaired. The current mileage was 105,000 and the approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Aug 31, 2011 · Electrical, Visibility · 136,789 miles · TN

There is some kind of malfunction in the 2003 ford windstars. The windows will stop working all at once or at random times. The lights will stop working and then start again. The radio will stop working and start again. These are all on random fuses. Ford says they can not fix the problem if they do not experience it. The problems will last for a few minutes or up to days at a time. The cruise control also will not engage at times. These are all getting power as the cruise control will tell you it is ready to engage and when you try to engage it , it says its been deactivated. The radio will eject or load cd but will not come on. We have not found a solution yet but feel this can be a problem if the lights go out at the wrong time. Even the windows not opening can be a problem. If a bee or something else gets stuck in the van you can not always stop to get it out. As my husband and daughter are very allergic to them it is a danger not being able to open them. In looking up solutions I have noticed a great many other people with the same problem.

Filed Feb 23, 2011 · Visibility · 135,000 miles · KS

Blend door broken and motor clicking on heater. Won't defrost and no heat.

Filed Jan 12, 2011 · Visibility · 118,328 miles · IL

I have roughly a 40 minute drive to work. It was a cold day and drove with the heat on and the roads were fine after a snow the night before, but there was no snow left on the vehicle. I came out at the end of the day to find the rear window missing about six-eight square inches and shards of glass below in the snow. The glass appeared to have been hit from the inside, but I think it exploded from within (nothing else had been broken or missing from the inside). I'd had no trouble with the rear defogger or wiper. I found out that a co-worker noticed it at lunch, so sometime between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm this happened. No one saw anything.

Filed Dec 12, 2010 · Visibility · 1,000 miles · OH

Driver side windshield wiper arm loosens about once a month in winter less in spring can do it while driving need 15mm wrench to tighten will not stay tight has been happening since new.

Filed Aug 10, 2010 · Brakes, Lights · 113,279 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that the brake and ABS lights remained illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle also leaked brake fluid from what appeared to be the master cylinder. He also stated that the dome lights flickered on and off intermittently. Occasionally the passenger side window would not open. The two bench rear windows would also open intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but the dealer could not duplicate or diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not spoken with the manufacturer. The current mileage was 113,289. The failure mileage was 113,279.