Ford Windstar battery drain problems

Filed Oct 6, 2016 · Body, Electrical · 135,000 miles · IA

I own 2000 ford windstar. The paint is flanking off the roof really bad it has some spots rusted and some is gray even in the back and front. I just replaced the hood from a junk yard. My speedometer keeps going crazy and when trying to get out of park the park and revers part broke because it got stuck with the RPM and that broke too. I have to keep the fuse unplugged that goes to the interior lighting do to battery dead by the next day.

Filed Jan 14, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · 159,000 miles · MO

I never knew about ford's recalls until last march. Before calling ford I did research and found numerous people have the same problems as me. Mine started in 2012 when out of the blue the front windows would no longer open. Next when you tried to put the heat on in the rear there was strange noise and now I'm to afraid to use it. The past 3 yrs the gauges go haywire. Sometimes if you hit the dash it'll stop but locks up and you don't know what your speed is. If I leave it alone sometimes it will stop on it's own but locks up to wherever it stops at. On numerous occasions the ABS light will come on. For over 2 yrs now the check engine light has been on. I had it checked & was told it was the o2 sensors for which I replaced, 3 days later the engine light came back on again they said it was the o2 sensors. In the past 2 1/2 yrs I've had to replace the battery because while driving the battery light will come on. If I accelerate it goes off but nobody knows why the battery keeps dying. Some say its an electrical problem draining the battery. The interior lights will come on for no reason so I had them removed as I thought it might be draining the battery. Last summer out of the blue the A/C started making a noise and just quit just like a month ago I heard this clicking noise only to find out I had no heat. I spoke to ford about the gauges, the electrical problems, the A/C and some of the other issues and their response was it wasn't on their recall list and would only fix the rear axle, cruise control and the front if there was anything wrong. When I mentioned all the info I found on the federal safety agency's site about this vehicle I was told they have no control over what is fixed. I am disabled and am living in a place for the homeless & with all these problems how does ford expect me to fix their defects? Every time I have to drive which isn't often I pray I make it to & from safely.

Filed Jul 29, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 129,300 miles · IA

For months, the ABS light and traction control lights come on intermittently. Currently the lights are staying on and it must be jumped to start. The battery was checked and was okay. Something is draining the battery.

Filed May 31, 2013 · Body, Electrical · 40,228 miles · VA

We have not been properly informed about all of the recalls or other issues with our vehicle. The vehicle does have a lot of problems from the electrical, structure, engine lights are always throwing codes needing a lot of sensor replacements at our cost, the rpms seem to run fast sitting at a light(we have to turn off the engine and then restart), and the engine seems to run hot, brakes, cruise control(cannot use), traction control(cannot use), interior light are always flickering, passenger windows(cannot use) and door locks(cannot use), both rear windows(cannot use), leaks from roof, rear door and sliding doors, the cruise control, brake and traction control lights stay on while driving(we were told by a dealership that we can still drive the vehicle, but we won't have anti-lock brakes.), the AC is always having trouble staying charged, the AC/heat control switches have malfunctioned(it has to be set away from the cold and the speed to 3/4 speed to work right), the battery keeps losing charge, the brake tail lights stay on draining the battery and had to get repaired by us because the dealership could not locate the problem, driver seat has malfunctioned(cannot use per dealership's request), cruise control and traction control does not work, suspension seems to have a lot of squeaks and popping sounds, alternator and starter had to be replaced several times, the coil packs need constant replacements, all spark plugs and wires had to be replaced before their time, cannot use the rear wiper because it goes down onto the paint and starts wiping the paint and not the rear window, constantly replacing exterior lights all around, the engine constantly cuts out, we told the dealership for several years that there was an antifreeze smell and they could not locate it until 5-28-13, replaced bad front and rear axles on 5/28/13 and many others. 12k-18k to repair everything.

Filed Feb 26, 2013 · Lights · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. The contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated. The contact mentioned that the failure would drain the battery and the vehicle would sporadically fail to start. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 180,000.

Filed Jun 8, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · WA

We came from eating breakfast to a dead battery, then we had someone help us to jump it; however, my husband noticed the electrical was not working, and it was still running, but very slow. It finally gave up and we had to tow it, and have someone look at it. We are in the middle of the problem, so hopefully ford will have a notice or something in the mail soon. We have had problems before with the battery, and thinking maybe that is the problem, but we are hearing stories from online of other issues that could of caused this.

Filed May 2, 2012 · Brakes, Electrical · CA

Regarding the 2009-2010 perform recall 09s09 of the speed control deactivation switch wire assembly replacement. It did not work - it never worked, nor did it solve the problem. Within 2 days of the installation the ABS light came on again. To this date brake fluid is still leaking into the component. It causes my brake lights to stay on upon stopping and turning the car off - which if goes unnoticed, it drains the battery. To this date the cruise control does not work. And it has also reduced my safe braking distance. I have very low miles on the van - less than 81,000 miles - so it is not cause by heavy usage. Ford has failed to fix the issue which is the leaking brake fluid onto this wiring assembly. There are many ford windstars still in use that are experiencing the same problem. Ford should fix this issue of the leaking brake fluid onto the assembly wire. Replacing this wire assembly harness did not and will not fix the brake fluid leakage issue.

Filed Dec 10, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · MN

Interior lights come on randomly and blink while driving. Sometimes they stay on after turning off the vehicle draining the battery. The door ajar stays on when the door is closed. All contacts cleaned and it still does this. Driving with a flashing light in the vehicle is distracting and could cause an accident, this seems to be a problem in all ford windstars and should be investigated.

Filed Jun 15, 2011 · Brakes · 125,000 miles · TN

All the time when I'm driving the ABS/brake light stays on, the vehicle does not stop properly. The #10 and 15 fuse blows out regularly and causes the air, odometer, overdrive to not work. I smell burning electricity, and see smoke coming from hood while driving. Some morning my van doesn't start due to battery drainage. Check engine light will not stay off causing it not pass inspection. Brake fluid leaking. I truly believe that the brake fluid leak is causing these problems, and it looks like I'm not the only person. With the speed control recall the ABS module and ECM needed to be included.

Filed May 20, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 88,000 miles · OH

While driving the o/d light blinks on and off..also the brake lights will stay on after I have turned he van off.. This has resulted in a dead battery at the end of the day. 2002 for windstar cargo van.