Recalls

CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
09V399000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 06/16/1995 to 10/24/2002V (Vehicle)450000010/27/2009ODIFORD MOTOR COMPANY10/13/200910/13/2009
Defect SummaryFord is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). the scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Consequence SummaryA vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Corrective SummaryFord will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. on 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the abs control module connector and repair as necessary. repairs will be completed free of charge. the safety recall began on october 27, 2009. owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
NotesFord's recall campaign number is 09s09.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov .
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - ACCELERATOR PEDAL
01V207000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 02/08/2000 to 12/04/2000V (Vehicle)4580007/06/2001MFRFORD MOTOR COMPANY06/22/200107/02/2001
Defect SummaryVehicle description: minivans equipped with an adjustable pedal option. the driver floor mat could interfere with the accelerator pedal.
Consequence SummaryThis can result in a stuck throttle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace both front driver and passenger side floor mats in the vehicle. owner notification began july 6, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NotesAlso contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins

BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CRUISE CONTROL
1576303/01/2002636412Some vehicles may exhibit a rolling idle upon starting the engine after a 3-7 hour soak. *tt11/08/2002

Investigations

NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
EA08021FORD MOTOR COMPANY09/17/200810/14/2009ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES09V399000
 Ea08-021 is closed with ford's actions in recall 09v-399 recalling approximately 4.5 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).with this recall ford has now recalled all of the approximate 16 million ford model vehicles that were manufactured from my 1992 through 2003 with a texas instruments scds.nhtsa will continue to monitor the recalled vehicles to ensure remedies installed by ford tomitigate the potential for scds related fires are effective.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see attached closing report for further details.
PE08035FORD MOTOR COMPANY05/13/200809/17/2008ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
 Odi has received 134 consumer complaints, 285 manufacturer complaints, and 137 manufacturer warranty claims alleging incidents of engine compartment fire in model year (my) 1995 thru 2003 ford windstar vehicles.two of the odi complaints allege the fires caused structural damage to the complainant's home.of the 134 odi complaints, 36 allege the fire occurred while the vehicle was parked, 72 allege the fire occurred while the vehicle was running and 26 of the complaints do not specify if the vehicle was running or not.further review of the odi complaints shows that 72 allege that the speed control deactivation switch (scds) caused the fire and 10 allege that the scds leaked brake fluid on to the abs module resulting in the fire.there were 52 that did not identify a cause or that identified miscellaneous other causes.odi has also received 89 complaints ( not counted in this resume) alleging that the scds developed a brake fluid leak.thirteen of these complaints say that the leak at the scds resulted in braked fluid reaching the abs module.this pe has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea) to further evaluate the cause of the fires and assess the scope, frequency, and safety consequences of the alleged defect.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CRUISE CONTROL
EA08021FORD MOTOR COMPANY09/17/200810/14/2009ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES09V399000
 Ea08-021 is closed with ford's actions in recall 09v-399 recalling approximately 4.5 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).with this recall ford has now recalled all of the approximate 16 million ford model vehicles that were manufactured from my 1992 through 2003 with a texas instruments scds.nhtsa will continue to monitor the recalled vehicles to ensure remedies installed by ford tomitigate the potential for scds related fires are effective.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see attached closing report for further details.

Consumer Complaints

Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
02/21/2013103153
 Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that brake fluid was leaking onto the wiring harness and caused a shortage with the vehicle speed control, instrument cluster and the radio. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control), which the dealer installed a connector to the brake pressure switch but the repair did not correct the failure. the dealer did not include the fused wiring harness in line with the scds. the contact stated that after the vehicle was taken to his home, he installed a number 10 fuse however, the connector was still faulty and caused smoke to emit from the wiring harness. the dealer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. the manufacturer was also notified, who advised that they had performed the required recall repair but could provide no further assistance. the failure mileage was 103,153. kmj
02/21/2013103153
 Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated the brake fluid leaked on to the wiring harness and caused a shortage with the vehicle speed control, the instrument cluster and the radio. there was a recall nhtsa campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control) which the dealer installed a connector to the brake pressure switch. the dealer did not include the fused wiring harness in line with the scds. the contact stated after the vehicle was driven home he installed a the fuse#10 in which the connector was still faulty and caused smoke to come from the wiring harness. the dealer was notified of the failure and they offered no assistance. the manufacturer was notified who stated after the recall was remedied there was no further assistance. the failure mileage was 103,153. mw
04/14/20121200001
 Abs light comes on intermittently, even in summer with no adverse driving conditions. it stays on for varying lengths of time, then disappears for some time, then out of the blue comes back on. braking a little bit harder than usual does seem to trigger it. also, recently, the cruise control just suddenly stopped working. it worked fine one day, then all of a sudden, a day or two later, i hit on, but it refused to set. i tried again on another day and it still wouldn't set. *tr
04/14/2012120000
 Abs light comes on intermittently, even in summer with no adverse driving conditions. it stays on for varying lengths of time, then disappears for some time, then out of the blue comes back on. braking a little bit harder than usual does seem to trigger it. also, recently, the cruise control just suddenly stopped working. it worked fine one day, then all of a sudden, a day or two later, i hit on, but it refused to set. i tried again on another day and it still wouldn't set.
11/27/201210538211
 I took my van in for the 11s16 recall and now problems are taking place afterwards. i got my van back and now the check engine light is on and coolant is leaking everywhere. *tr
11/27/20121053821
 I took my van in for the 11s16 recall and now problems are taking place afterwards. i got my van back and now the check engine light is on and coolant is leaking everywhere.
03/03/20121390001
 While driving my windstar van the abs light came on and stayed on. at random times the brake light comes on and off. when both brake lights are on the cruise control doesn't work. *tr
03/03/2012139000
 While driving my windstar van the abs light came on and stayed on. at random times the brake light comes on and off. when both brake lights are on the cruise control doesn't work.
06/28/2012
 Abs light, air bag light and brake light keeps coming back on while car is on.
11/15/201189000
 Brake and abs light go off and on could smell hot copper wire ....code like 11 brake codes all due to abs module
02/12/2009157500
 I am writing this to whom this may concern speed control on windstar 2001 is the idling problem when putting drive the idol goes up to 35 the 40 mile an hour running making it hard to stop until it drops if it drops vehicle likes to lunge forward when leaving a stoplight or stop sign or sitting still in line at traffic this is a real problem i have had the sensors changed twice this problem still exists soon as you touch the gas pedal the vehicle jumps to 35 to 40 mile an hour. if there's a recall for this problem i sure would like to know about it thank you very much. vehicle owner john i burke senior.
08/29/2011106000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that after having repairs under nhtsa campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control), the vehicle experienced major electrical problems and brake fluid leaking. the fluid leaked on the abs modules, causing the electronic components to have a short, including the brakes. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the dealer advised that the abs module needed to be replaced. the failure mileage was 106,000. the vin was not available.
06/07/2010110000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that the dealer repaired the vehicle under the nhtsa campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control) recall, but the failure recurred. the manufacturer denied any assistance with repairing the defect. the contact stated the recall did not give a solution to the defect, but instead slows down the failure from occurring. the failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 116,000. rvk
06/07/2010110000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that the dealer repaired the vehicle under the nhtsa campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control) recall, but the failure recurred. the manufacturer denied any assistance with repair to the defect. the contact claimed that the recall did not give a solution to the defect, but instead slows down the failure from occuring. the failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 116,000. nw
09/01/2011125000
 The check traction control system warning illuminates, as well as the abs,trac off, and the brake system warning lights on the dash.
09/01/2011160000
 While driving, the speedometer ,the odometer,the tachometer all stopped working.the abs light came on,the red brake light came on,and the o/d off light continues to flash.it is extremely difficult to operate this vehicle without at least a speedometer and i hope the brakes do not fail. this all occurred shortly after the brake master cylinder switch was replaced.
08/31/2011
 I turned in my ford windstar on to the john west ford diler , the abs, and brake lights came on 3 days before to brought it for been diagnosed. 2 days after they gave me an estimate for $ 2400.00 dollars. that really surprise me and i answer no thanks do not fix my car. they put my van together and since that moment my van i didn't start again is like a death . they said the pcm and abs module got burned. i think they made a mistake and kill my van pcm but i cant proved. i was reading the abs recall about and sounds like there is nothing releated wiht the pcm module. any way they sent my van back home onto a town truck and at this moment a can't find the problem yet. oh i almost forgot some for sure they charge me $ 200.00 for diagnosis. if you want to confirm my history you can call mr; tony albaniano telephone #; 775-745-1889 775-747-6923 reno nv.
09/01/2011160000
 While driving, the speedometer ,the odometer,the tachometer all stopped working.the abs light came on,the red brake light came on,and the o/d off light continues to flash.it is extremely difficult to operate this vehicle without at least a speedometer and i hope the brakes do not fail. this all occurred shortly after the brake master cylinder switch was replaced.
08/31/2011
 I turned in my ford windstar on to the john west ford diler , the abs, and brake lights came on 3 days before to brought it for been diagnosed. 2 days after they gave me an estimate for $ 2400.00 dollars. that really surprise me and i answer no thanks do not fix my car. they put my van together and since that moment my van i didn't start again is like a death . they said the pcm and abs module got burned. i think they made a mistake and kill my van pcm but i cant proved. i was reading the abs recall about and sounds like there is nothing releated wiht the pcm module. any way they sent my van back home onto a town truck and at this moment a can't find the problem yet. oh i almost forgot some for sure they charge me $ 200.00 for diagnosis. if you want to confirm my history you can call mr; tony albaniano telephone #; 775-745-1889 775-747-6923 reno nv.
07/18/201179000
 The abs and brake light began coming on intermittantly a couple of months ago. it seems that the abs ecu module is the problem as multiple abs codes were read. now, two months later my cruise control no longer works. if you do the research online as well as in your complaint section for 2001 winstar it is an all too common problem. it seems to be a problem that was not addressed properly on an earlier recall by ford (09s09) which included a scds wiring harness replacement only caused by brake fluid leaking onto wiring and causing a potential fire hazard. many owners believe the fluid not only ran down the wiring continuing to run onto the abs connector causing parts to short out and fail and also onto the cruise control connector causing it to fail. i truly believe this is the reason all these abs modules are failing...it's amazing how many complaints with my same problem are on your website these are very expensive parts to replace (over $1000) plus labor. the absence of the abs system does cause braking problems and can cause the brakes to lock up and skid...this happened to me...just missed having a wreck! the connector to the cruise is also being effected causing it to fail as well. i think ford should be required to at least check these vehicle and replace these parts if they are found to be faulty before someone gets in an accident. they may have already.
09/01/2011160000
 While driving, the speedometer ,the odometer,the tachometer all stopped working.the abs light came on,the red brake light came on,and the o/d off light continues to flash.it is extremely difficult to operate this vehicle without at least a speedometer and i hope the brakes do not fail. this all occurred shortly after the brake master cylinder switch was replaced.
08/31/2011
 I turned in my ford windstar on to the john west ford diler , the abs, and brake lights came on 3 days before to brought it for been diagnosed. 2 days after they gave me an estimate for $ 2400.00 dollars. that really surprise me and i answer no thanks do not fix my car. they put my van together and since that moment my van i didn't start again is like a death . they said the pcm and abs module got burned. i think they made a mistake and kill my van pcm but i cant proved. i was reading the abs recall about and sounds like there is nothing releated wiht the pcm module. any way they sent my van back home onto a town truck and at this moment a can't find the problem yet. oh i almost forgot some for sure they charge me $ 200.00 for diagnosis. if you want to confirm my history you can call mr; tony albaniano telephone #; 775-745-1889 775-747-6923 reno nv.
07/18/201179000
 The abs and brake light began coming on intermittantly a couple of months ago. it seems that the abs ecu module is the problem as multiple abs codes were read. now, two months later my cruise control no longer works. if you do the research online as well as in your complaint section for 2001 winstar it is an all too common problem. it seems to be a problem that was not addressed properly on an earlier recall by ford (09s09) which included a scds wiring harness replacement only caused by brake fluid leaking onto wiring and causing a potential fire hazard. many owners believe the fluid not only ran down the wiring continuing to run onto the abs connector causing parts to short out and fail and also onto the cruise control connector causing it to fail. i truly believe this is the reason all these abs modules are failing...it's amazing how many complaints with my same problem are on your website these are very expensive parts to replace (over $1000) plus labor. the absence of the abs system does cause braking problems and can cause the brakes to lock up and skid...this happened to me...just missed having a wreck! the connector to the cruise is also being effected causing it to fail as well. i think ford should be required to at least check these vehicle and replace these parts if they are found to be faulty before someone gets in an accident. they may have already.
09/01/2011160000
 While driving, the speedometer ,the odometer,the tachometer all stopped working.the abs light came on,the red brake light came on,and the o/d off light continues to flash.it is extremely difficult to operate this vehicle without at least a speedometer and i hope the brakes do not fail. this all occurred shortly after the brake master cylinder switch was replaced.
08/31/2011
 I turned in my ford windstar on to the john west ford diler , the abs, and brake lights came on 3 days before to brought it for been diagnosed. 2 days after they gave me an estimate for $ 2400.00 dollars. that really surprise me and i answer no thanks do not fix my car. they put my van together and since that moment my van i didn't start again is like a death . they said the pcm and abs module got burned. i think they made a mistake and kill my van pcm but i cant proved. i was reading the abs recall about and sounds like there is nothing releated wiht the pcm module. any way they sent my van back home onto a town truck and at this moment a can't find the problem yet. oh i almost forgot some for sure they charge me $ 200.00 for diagnosis. if you want to confirm my history you can call mr; tony albaniano telephone #; 775-745-1889 775-747-6923 reno nv.
07/18/201179000
 The abs and brake light began coming on intermittantly a couple of months ago. it seems that the abs ecu module is the problem as multiple abs codes were read. now, two months later my cruise control no longer works. if you do the research online as well as in your complaint section for 2001 winstar it is an all too common problem. it seems to be a problem that was not addressed properly on an earlier recall by ford (09s09) which included a scds wiring harness replacement only caused by brake fluid leaking onto wiring and causing a potential fire hazard. many owners believe the fluid not only ran down the wiring continuing to run onto the abs connector causing parts to short out and fail and also onto the cruise control connector causing it to fail. i truly believe this is the reason all these abs modules are failing...it's amazing how many complaints with my same problem are on your website these are very expensive parts to replace (over $1000) plus labor. the absence of the abs system does cause braking problems and can cause the brakes to lock up and skid...this happened to me...just missed having a wreck! the connector to the cruise is also being effected causing it to fail as well. i think ford should be required to at least check these vehicle and replace these parts if they are found to be faulty before someone gets in an accident. they may have already.
08/31/2011
 I turned in my ford windstar on to the john west ford diler , the abs, and brake lights came on 3 days before to brought it for been diagnosed. 2 days after they gave me an estimate for $ 2400.00 dollars. that really surprise me and i answer no thanks do not fix my car. they put my van together and since that moment my van i didn't start again is like a death . they said the pcm and abs module got burned. i think they made a mistake and kill my van pcm but i cant proved. i was reading the abs recall about and sounds like there is nothing releated wiht the pcm module. any way they sent my van back home onto a town truck and at this moment a can't find the problem yet. oh i almost forgot some for sure they charge me $ 200.00 for diagnosis. if you want to confirm my history you can call mr; tony albaniano telephone #; 775-745-1889 775-747-6923 reno nv.
07/18/201179000
 The abs and brake light began coming on intermittantly a couple of months ago. it seems that the abs ecu module is the problem as multiple abs codes were read. now, two months later my cruise control no longer works. if you do the research online as well as in your complaint section for 2001 winstar it is an all too common problem. it seems to be a problem that was not addressed properly on an earlier recall by ford (09s09) which included a scds wiring harness replacement only caused by brake fluid leaking onto wiring and causing a potential fire hazard. many owners believe the fluid not only ran down the wiring continuing to run onto the abs connector causing parts to short out and fail and also onto the cruise control connector causing it to fail. i truly believe this is the reason all these abs modules are failing...it's amazing how many complaints with my same problem are on your website these are very expensive parts to replace (over $1000) plus labor. the absence of the abs system does cause braking problems and can cause the brakes to lock up and skid...this happened to me...just missed having a wreck! the connector to the cruise is also being effected causing it to fail as well. i think ford should be required to at least check these vehicle and replace these parts if they are found to be faulty before someone gets in an accident. they may have already.
07/29/2011130000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar lx. while parked and unoccupied, the vehicle engulfed into uncontrollable flames which moved intensely in the direction of the nearby residence and burned the front structure of the house. the fire department extinguished the excessive flames. the fire was contributed to an electrical issue involving the speed deactivation switch. the vehicle was declared destroyed and towed to a savage facility. the contact discovered a recall after the failure occurred and was displeased to know that she was not previously notified of the recall. the recall was associated with nhtsa campaign id number 09v399000 (vehicle speed control). the contact experienced the identical consequence mentioned in the recall. the manufacturer was notified and they stated the vin was included in the recall and was unable to provide additional assistance. the approximate failure mileage was 130,000. the vin was unavailable. js
01/27/2011140000
 2001 ford windstar.i took it to the dealership to have some safety recalls done.a few days later i was driving along and smoke started boiling out from under the hood so i pulled over and by the time i got stopped and got the kids out safely it quit smoking.i raised the hood and could see some burned wiring under the brake master cylinder.we got back in and drove on then the transmission started shifting wrong and the brake pedal didn't feel right,it felt spongy.i took it to my mechanic who is ase master and ford senior master certified.he replaced the trans range sensor and told me that the fire was caused by a defective cruise control deactivation switch leaking brake fluid.he replaced the switch and advised me to take it back to the dealer and have them do the recall which is what they were supposed to have done in the first place.he said that it also had a damaged abs module and wiring and that was part of the recall.i called them and they said they only did the rear axle recall that was on the letter i got from ford.my mechanic said that they were required by law to complete all safety recalls while it was in their possesion.i am going to take it back but i'm afraid to drive it cause it hardly has any brakes.my mechanis said it was because all the brake fluid leaked out of the switch and got air in the lines.
03/13/2011115110
 Subframe broke 8/2010 and replaced. rusted badly 12/2011 ford dealer fixed , also checked real axel and fixed,recall #11s16 for the brake pressure differential switch leaking, brake light now coming on speedometer not registering odometer not registering ,abs light on, information center says trans error fuel error temp error and also cruise control surges cuts out and the braking distance change suddenly and without warning,the abs and ecm is wet with oil not covered properly. i think this is a ongoing problem with front the brake switch recall that still not fixed.
06/17/2001161000
 When i started my minivan it was an afternoon. i noticed that when i started driving the minivan it was like forcing it self then i would change the speed and it would sound different but it felt like it was heavy, i would change it to n and it still make this sound like if i was driving on a wet highway and engine was still loud. when i would speed more than 30 mph it just wouldn't respond as it did before. i purchased this minivan not to long ago -i would say close to a month-. when taking it for a test drive everything looked good, sounded ok -other than the shocks that needed to be replaced- and no lights were on. but after two days had gone by the previous owner said that the abs light would sometimes turn on and would turn off on its own. so, i had a mechanic inspect the minivan for the replacement of the shock wondering if this might take care of the problem, but after the work was done the abs and brake light started to turn on. went back to the mechanic because it came making weird sound on the left side so he told me that brake pads also needed to be replaced, so i thought to myself this would take care of the problem which it didn't happen. now after close to a month of owning this minivan and weather becoming much hotter i noticed this problem. i had a mechanic look at it again today and he suggested that a take it to a ford dealership to have the minivan inspected since he was also aware of a recall done on these types of vehicles. i am just afraid to keep on driving it because i can tell something is just not right and i feel that it's just going to brake down on me anytime soon. and since i have a baby i prefer not to drive or drive a long distance or even on a high speed.
03/13/2011115110
 Subframe broke 8/2010 and replaced. rusted badly 12/2011 ford dealer fixed , also checked real axel and fixed,recall #11s16 for the brake pressure differential switch leaking, brake light now coming on speedometer not registering odometer not registering ,abs light on, information center says trans error fuel error temp error and also cruise control surges cuts out and the braking distance change suddenly and without warning,the abs and ecm is wet with oil not covered properly. i think this is a ongoing problem with front the brake switch recall that still not fixed.
06/17/2001161000
 When i started my minivan it was an afternoon. i noticed that when i started driving the minivan it was like forcing it self then i would change the speed and it would sound different but it felt like it was heavy, i would change it to n and it still make this sound like if i was driving on a wet highway and engine was still loud. when i would speed more than 30 mph it just wouldn't respond as it did before. i purchased this minivan not to long ago -i would say close to a month-. when taking it for a test drive everything looked good, sounded ok -other than the shocks that needed to be replaced- and no lights were on. but after two days had gone by the previous owner said that the abs light would sometimes turn on and would turn off on its own. so, i had a mechanic inspect the minivan for the replacement of the shock wondering if this might take care of the problem, but after the work was done the abs and brake light started to turn on. went back to the mechanic because it came making weird sound on the left side so he told me that brake pads also needed to be replaced, so i thought to myself this would take care of the problem which it didn't happen. now after close to a month of owning this minivan and weather becoming much hotter i noticed this problem. i had a mechanic look at it again today and he suggested that a take it to a ford dealership to have the minivan inspected since he was also aware of a recall done on these types of vehicles. i am just afraid to keep on driving it because i can tell something is just not right and i feel that it's just going to brake down on me anytime soon. and since i have a baby i prefer not to drive or drive a long distance or even on a high speed.
03/13/2011115110
 Subframe broke 8/2010 and replaced. rusted badly 12/2011 ford dealer fixed , also checked real axel and fixed,recall #11s16 for the brake pressure differential switch leaking, brake light now coming on speedometer not registering odometer not registering ,abs light on, information center says trans error fuel error temp error and also cruise control surges cuts out and the braking distance change suddenly and without warning,the abs and ecm is wet with oil not covered properly. i think this is a ongoing problem with front the brake switch recall that still not fixed.
06/17/2001161000
 When i started my minivan it was an afternoon. i noticed that when i started driving the minivan it was like forcing it self then i would change the speed and it would sound different but it felt like it was heavy, i would change it to n and it still make this sound like if i was driving on a wet highway and engine was still loud. when i would speed more than 30 mph it just wouldn't respond as it did before. i purchased this minivan not to long ago -i would say close to a month-. when taking it for a test drive everything looked good, sounded ok -other than the shocks that needed to be replaced- and no lights were on. but after two days had gone by the previous owner said that the abs light would sometimes turn on and would turn off on its own. so, i had a mechanic inspect the minivan for the replacement of the shock wondering if this might take care of the problem, but after the work was done the abs and brake light started to turn on. went back to the mechanic because it came making weird sound on the left side so he told me that brake pads also needed to be replaced, so i thought to myself this would take care of the problem which it didn't happen. now after close to a month of owning this minivan and weather becoming much hotter i noticed this problem. i had a mechanic look at it again today and he suggested that a take it to a ford dealership to have the minivan inspected since he was also aware of a recall done on these types of vehicles. i am just afraid to keep on driving it because i can tell something is just not right and i feel that it's just going to brake down on me anytime soon. and since i have a baby i prefer not to drive or drive a long distance or even on a high speed.
02/22/201174000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact took the vehicle in for repairs under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields). the contact stated that the vehicle sat idle on the dealers lot for approximately three months before the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be repaired due to excessive corrosion of the front part of the sub frame. the contact was advised to have the sub frame repaired before recall repairs could be performed. the contact stated that the front and rear of the sub frame was one whole part and if the front was replaced, the entire frame would have to be replaced. the frame was not repaired. in addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was also repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control) and as a result, the entire cruise control system became inoperable after recall repairs. the contact was concerned with the potential of the vehicle catching fire. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 74,000.
02/22/201174000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar with 74000 miles. the contact took his vehicle in for the rear sub frame recall repair. after the vehicle sat on the dealer lot for three months the dealer informed the contact they could not repair the vehicle under the recall until he repairs the corrosion on the front part of the sub frame. the contact stated that the front and rear sub frame is one whole piece and if the front is repaired then the rear would be repaired as well. the contact also stated the he had the vehicle speed control recall repair done on the vehicle. as a result the cruise control stopped working and started to show the symptoms of catching fire.the vehicle has not be repaired at this time.bl
06/24/200880000
 Abs brake light comes on and disables the abs brake feature.
11/06/2010126000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle surged forward until he applied to the brakes. the failure also occurred while he was stopped. he also stated that the brake light would intermittently illuminate while the vehicle was shut off. the vehicle was not taken to have the failures diagnosed and was not repaired. both failures did not begin to occur until after the vehicle was repaired for the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 10v385000, suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly. the failure and current mileages were 126,000. sm.
10/12/201080000
 Occurence: 12 october 2010. travelling i-95 washington,dc/suitland, md. vehicle: ford windstar, 2001. speed : 60-65 mph. traffic : dense. failure of defective part : rear axcle snapped in two parts while traveling on smooth highway, northbound. explosive sound , lots of smoke, extreme consternation/fear of heart attack experienced by my wife and i ( my wife has a dangerous heart condition ihss) at occurence. i immediatly turned on hazard flashers. managed to manuever across several lanes of traffic to get to highway shoulder safely!! thank god for the alert fellow travelers behind us!!! if we were hit by any 18-wheelers on the highway, i wouldn't be writing this complaint now!!! concern for our safety was shown to us by fellow travelers; particularly, md traffic safety person, who should be commended by his superiors for his professional and understanding actions!! he looked at the damage and said that he had never seen anything like it before; and he said that we were licky to be alive!!! van was transported by professionals to the nearest ford dealership where i first became aware that a recall notice was in force for my vehical!!! at this point, i became greatly disturbed that i had no previous notification of this dangerous condition and that my wife, grand children, etal were traveling in potential rolling coffin! in my opinion, this seems to be criminal; particul;arly if greater profit motives might be involved! i certainly hope that inferior materials were not used in this regard!! i was inforrmed that my van would have to remain at the ford dealership until ford motor company decides how i will be provided with a safe vehicle , since no replacement axles were available. (nb ; i have no idea whatever other damage exists as a result of this awful failure! i certainly don't want a duplicate axle replacement to replay this horrific catastrophy! in my wife's delicate condition, i cannot expect her to travel in this unsafe vehicle! justice!!!
08/10/201092000
 Abs light on 2001 ford windstar stays on & all odometer functions & radio cease operation & freeze in place!
05/12/2010123000
 Abs light and break light are on ever since the recall (11/09) fix on the cruise switch
05/05/2010180000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the vehicle cruise control was set at 60 mph when the vehicle suddenly accelerated over 60mph on its own. when he applied the brake the cruise did not disengaged. the cruise control disengaged when the gear was placed in neutral. the contact stated he experienced the failure twice after the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the cruise control recall. he will contact the manufacturer. the vehicle will be taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. the contact husband was driving the vehicle. the failure and the current mileage was 18,000. li
02/27/20101210001
 Feb 26th 2010 2001 ford windstar perfect condition no problems no lights on dash....feb 27th 2010 car is started and smoke poured out of hood on driver side after being started after that the abs light emergency brake light and o/d light are on and the computer information center on the display is advising to check transmission and there is a fuel data computer error and the odometer is blank and the speedometer is not functioning the heater on our vehicle has stopped but the fans still blow but only regular air. i've taken it to a ford dealership today to be repaired under the recall for the vehicle speed control issue and they have done the bare minimum to fix the leaking that has occurred due to the faulty switch leaking brake fluid and starting the small fire i experienced feb 27th 2010 but are unwilling to resolve the remaining issues caused by and listed above. *tr
01/30/2010960001
 2001 ford windstar. 96,000 miles. date of incident 01/30/2010 while traveling on i95 in the baltimore area my cruise control did not disengage. instead the vehicle's speed increased to over 80 mph. this happened one time as i will not use the cruise control again. on 02/08/2010 the local ford dealer told me that the recall on my windstar was only for a leaking switch. after completing the recall repair i was told that the cruise control is ok. certainly was not ok on 01/30/2010. *tr
11/09/2009950481
 Regarding defect information report, ford recall 09s09, 49 cfr part 573, october 9, 2009, from the auto safety office, ford motor company, to the associate administrator for safety assurance nhtsa. service procedure states on windstars with a leaking switch the repair will also involve inspection and repair,if necessary, of the abs module connector. repairs will be completed at no charge to owners. my 2001 windstar was diagnosed with a faulty abs module connector on 11/09 and needs to be replaced. the service manager at my local ford dealer refuses to investigate this problem and states he has no knowledge of this potential complication as a result of the leaking switch. abs module connector has not been replaced. *tr
04/22/2009140000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford wind star. the contact noticed that he was losing brake fluid. he then proceeded to take off in the vehicle. upon further investigation he noticed that brake fluid was leaking on the wire harness. he disconnected the cruise control switch and replaced it with a 3 way valve to stop the brake fluid from leaking on the wiring harness. he went to a dealer to determine if the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign#01v207000 (vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal). he contacted the manufacturer and was informed that his vehicle was not included in the current recall for the vehicle speed control and no compensation would be offered. no repairs were made to the vehicle. the failure mileage is 140,000 and the current mileage is and the vin are unknown. bl
11/16/20071000001
 2001 ford windstar abs and cruise control will both stop working at the same time. *tr
03/15/2009900001
 The brake deactivation switch leaking break fluid down onto the cruise control. *tr
10/05/2008910001
 The cruise control stopped working and i thought it was a fuse blown. however, my wife was at a traffic light and a big puff of smoke came from under the hood of the car. we took it to a friend who worked for a ford dealership. he stated that the brake fluid from the reservoir had leaked onto the modules below and they had shorted out. he had seen this many times before and told us it would be about $1300 to get it fixed. as of today, we have not been able to afford the repair. we feel it is unsafe to drive; consequently, the car awaits a recall or a lottery win by us to get it repaired. i am thankful that my wife and other drivers were not injured when this happened. engineers pride themselves on having an engineering solution for every problem. my hope is that this complaint will help them see the need, along with the others, to bear the burden of this repair, and probably engineer cars that are not slow-ticking time bombs. *tr
10/20/20081550001
 Abs yellow warning light on, red brake light on and cruise control will not work. have replaced the abs module with unit from a salvage yard in oct 2008 and it failed june of 2009. the brake pressure switch on the bottom of the master cylinder was replaced in oct 2008 and it has failed again in may 2009 with intermittent operation of the cruise control or the cruise control kicking out intermittently. *tr
05/19/2009972001
 Loss of brake fluid, melted brake deactivation switch, brake light (red), cruise control will not activate, abs brake light (yellow), ford trouble code c1185. action regarding repair is pending; service person indicated that abs is not functional but brakes will function normally without abs capability. *tr
09/19/20081220001
 Brake pressure switch defective and leaking on to main wire harness causing fuse to short out. defective part is available. *tr
10/09/20081290001
 I have a 2001 ford windstar. i started encountering lose of cruise control about 7 months ago. then about 3 months ago, the odometer and speedometer just quit working. i paid $400.00 to have the speed sensor replaced but that still didn't work. *tr
02/02/20091500001
 I was driving down the highway, and engaged the cruise control. upon approaching an intersection, i hit the off button and the cruise control would not dis-engage. *tr
01/03/20091421
 Speed control pressure switch up under the master cylinder is linking and caused fuse #10 to short out, i had to disconnect speed control amp in order to drive my car. *tr
11/27/20081
 My brakes started getting soft and we realized there was a leak we replaced the master cylinder and the problem continued we realized that the leak is coming from the cruise control switch. *tr
06/15/20061000001
 The brake pressure differential deactivation switch (2b264) located under the master cylinder (behind the air filter) over time develops a leak. this causes a short and a fuse trip, fuse #10 if the engine is on. this leak also causes brake fluid to wick down two wires to the abs brake module (2c219). the fluid accumulates on the (always on) power connectors for the abs brake system which are powered by fuses 101 and 102 and are both 40 amp. the fluid attracts moisture, road salt and leads to a fire when the fluid and moisture act as conductor between the hot leads and ground. this switch has been the subject of other ford recalls, just not the windstar van yet. this switch will cause cruise control problems, speedometer, odometer and abs brake system problems. *tr
10/17/2008600001
 Tl*the contact's parents own a 2001 ford windstar. while the contact's parents were driving 40 mph, the vehicle completely lost power. they pulled over to the side of the road and noticed flames underneath the hood. after five minutes, the vehicle exploded four times and was destroyed. the fire department was called and a report was filed. the manufacturer has not been notified. the current and failure mileages were approximately 70,000. updated 11/17/08 *bf the consumer stated he read on the internet that his make and model had problems with the cruise control . updated 11/18/08. *jb
10/05/2008874131
 Abs and brake light came on while driving. when the car was turned off and restarted the warning lights would go off. this occurred intermittently for about 3 months. after a long driving trip in which the warning lights came on the cruise control would no longer function. i searched the web and found a web site stating possible problems if this was not addressed. i took my van to a ford dealer and they replaced the cruise control deactivation switch as well as the ecu and abs sensor. these were all mentioned in the article on the web. *tr
08/09/20081192001
 On 08/09/2008, the emergency brake light and the abs light illuminated on the dashboard while driving at 60 mph under normal conditions. the vehicle then had to be jump-started, and i noticed a faint burning smell while driving. upon exiting the vehicle, i noticed the burning scent was extremely strong. the vehicle is now inoperative. the battery, purchased at sears on 06/04/2005, can no longer hold a charge. the electrical system has gone haywire. for example, the headlights now come on, dimly, when the switch is in the off position. the mileage at the time of this incident was 119,200. i had one prior experience with the emergency brake light and the abs light illuminating on the dashboard. in june 2007, both warning lights came on intermittently only when the vehicle was in reverse and were accompanied by a loud squealing sound in the brakes. twice, on wet pavement, my brakes did not function normally. although i avoided any collision, on one occasion i was forced to proceed through an intersection where the traffic light had just turned red. an independent garage inspected the brakes and could find nothing wrong. the computer diagnostic was code c1185. as a precaution, they flushed the brake system. thereafter, the brakes functioned normally. the emergency brake light and the abs light came back on intermittently again in may 2008. again, this happened when the vehicle was in reverse and was accompanied by squealing brakes. i had a ford dealership go over the vehicle and received a written report in may 2008 that showed the brakes to be in acceptable condition. there were no further incidents until august 2008. because of the complaints i've read on the nhtsa website, i will mention that the cruise control deactivation switch on this vehicle has not worked in quite some time. i must use the brake pedal to turn off the cruise control. i urge you to continue your investigation into this dangerous situation. *tr
08/19/2008300001
 Cruise control deactivation switch leaking and causing brake lights to stay on. *tr
06/01/2008650001
 My 2001 ford windstar abs and brake warning lights have come intermittent on and my cruise control is intermittent. searching the internet revealed that there is a problem with the speed control deactivation switch that is mounted on the front of the master cylinder. i have inspected my switch and it does have a fluid leak that is running down the wires. this has not caused any other problems yet. *tr
07/29/2008960001
 Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle began to smoke under the dashboard. the vehicle was driven to a dealer and they disconnected the vehicle speed control. the cruise control relay switch was replaced in 2002. the current and failure mileages were 96,000. updated 11-19-08 *bf updated 11/20/08.*jb
05/28/2008101000104/01/2001
 Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving at various speeds, the vehicle sporadically loss excessive brake fluid. the dealer stated that the wiring harness that was connected to the vehicle speed cruise control failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired at the cost of $86.67. secondly, the technician stated that there was a recall and her vin was excluded from the vin range. the contact was in the process of notifying the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 101,000 and current mileage was 103,032. updated 09/16/08 *bf the was a leak in the brake master cylinder. updated 09/22/08. *jb
03/16/200890000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. when the contact depressed the brake pedal with the cruise control engaged, the cruise control would not activate again. the vehcile was driving 65 mph at the time. when she used the controls on steering wheel, she would be able to use the cruise control again. otherwise, until the vehicle came to a complete stop, the cruise control would not power up again. a mechanic nformed her that there was a recall for the issue; however, the dealer stated that one did not exist. the contact was also informed that there was some sort of switch on the master cylinder that could catch fire. the current mileage was 94,636 and failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
01/01/19013
 2001 ford windstar brake failure. consumer states that the brakes gave way while she was stopped. she states that the dealer would not remedy the problem. she said this past time she went over a cement strip and hit a ground fixture. *kb the panel on the vehicle was damaged. *jb
09/04/200743000105/25/2007
 Brake light on when it should not be. the dealer wanted to replace the abs control unit at considerable cost. i am concerned that the abs unit and speed control deactivation switch are defective, which could lead to fire as referenced by the attached web site http://www.2carpros.com/forum/previous-vt49767.html?postdays=0&postorder=asc&start= *jb
10/22/200667699102/29/2004
 Failure of cruise control brake switch which caused fire car was power braking, causing overheat of rotors , brakes, torque converter and transmission. *jb
09/18/200687000106/28/2006
 Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked in an idle position, smoke began coming out from under the hood. there were no warning signals prior to the incident. upon inspection, the cruise control deactivation switch and the brake master cylinder were observed to be completely burnt. the service dealer was contacted, and determined that the fire began in the deactivation switch. the dealer refused to offer a new cruise control deactivation switch and wiring for the electrical system. the manufacturer alerted the contact that replacement parts that were available were defective.
03/29/200671000102/15/2004
 Dt*: the contact stated while driving there was a burning smell coming from the vehicle. it was parked and when the hood was open, flames erupted from the engine compartment. the fire was extinguished and the vehicle was driven to a dealer. upon inspection, the fire started from the cruise control deactivation switch. there is a nhtsa recall, # 05v388000, regarding the vehicle speed control. the vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the model and vin.
09/24/2004520003
 While driving dashboard lights illuminated intermittently. the odometer went out. consumer stopped the vehicle to look under the hood. there were little sparks of fire under the hood. the wiring that were connected to the master cylinder melted. there was brake fluid leaking down on the wiring. *ak
1
 While traveling down a hill, and without any indication, the vehicle started to surge forward. the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. *jb
04/04/2003105/01/2001
 An electrical connector seal had to be installed, the seat buckles and rear wiper motor cover were replaced, the abs failed, and right before the engine shut down all the lights on the dash board illuminated, after the vehicle was repaired the intake manifold, speed sensor and brake sensor failed. *ph *jb rq04011.*pco
09/20/2002108/01/2001
 While pulling into a parking space, after removing foot from accelerator, the vehicle surged forward and could not be stopped with normal braking. the vehicle struck the side of another car before standing on the brakes finally resulted in stopping the vehicle. mr
07/11/20021
 Consumer states cruise control comes on and goes at certain speeds and will not set accurately. dealer checked speed control, but could not duplicate problem. consumer states safety recall 02s33 relating to the trailer tow connector / sealer cannot be performed due to lack of parts at dealership. *tt
02/05/20021
 Consumer states vehicle jumps forward sometimes when first start off. dealer states appears to be operating normal. *tt
04/01/2002
 Intermittently vehicle has a 6-7 second delay response to acceleration. when throttle is applied engine revs up, and jerks before accelerating. problem is more likely to happen in the morning. dealer was notified. please provide more information.*ak
06/25/2002
 While sitting at a stop with foot applied to the brake pedal and brake pedal failed and went straight to the floor. vehicle lurched forward with force and entered first lane of traffic on highway. abs light illuminated on the dashboard, and the warning chime went off. several times vehicle has been at dealer to determine problem, but nothing has been found. dealer was notified. please provide more information.*ak
11/15/2001208/06/2001
 After coming to a stop brakes were applied but engine still raced. this happened a second time on june 18, 2002. *ak the vehicle lurched foward as consumer was attempting to place vehicle in park. *yh
03/01/2002
 While at a complete stop vehicle started to accelerate and tried to go forward, but consumer was stepping on brake pedal. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak
11/01/2001511/24/2001
 While traveling on the highway, the door will unexpectedly open without prior warning, dealership is aware of problem. *ak. *jb. also the driver seat will not move, dealer replaced the fuse, the cruise control was inoperative. and the door ajar light was on.*jb
02/27/20014
 Vehicle lurches forward and revs at very high rpms while moving at slow speeds. *ak
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - ACCELERATOR PEDAL
12/20/20063800111/01/2001
 Tl* -the contact stated that while he was driving 35 mph the adjustable accelerator pedal became stuck to the floor. the contact depressed the brake pedal but, the vehicle continued to accelerate. this acceleration continued for a number of seconds. then, the contact shifted the vehicle into neutral and applied the emergency brakes in order for the throttle to disengage. the road condition on the date of the incident was fairly dry, so contact feels that the weather condition was definitely not an issue. the contact took the vehicle to the dealership and they stated that they wouldn't be able to cover his vehicle under the nhtsa recall number 01v207000 due to the fact that his vehicle wasn't built until 06-20-01.
03/18/2006650001
 Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35 mph the adjustable accelerator pedal became stuck the floor. the contact depressed the brake pedal put the vehicle continued to accelerate. this acceleration continued for a number of seconds. then, the contact turned off the ignition and shifted the vehicle into neutral. subsequently the o2 light came on. this happens when the ignition is turned off at a high rate of speed, per the owner's manual. this happened on a winding two lane road why contact's wife and children were in the vehicle. there is nhtsa recall # 01v207000 regarding the accelerator pedal. the vehicle had the same problem as indicated in the recall; however, it is not included in the recall due to the vin number.*ak
11/19/200443000103/01/2003
 Vehicle's back end swayed left and right, making it difficult to maintain control. the cause was undetermined. *ak the consumer stated that the rear control arm broke while driving. the bolt was replaced and a rattling noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. the lower rear tight side bolt was no good. the conusmer stated that the engine light was on. tests found vacuum leaking from the intake manifold. lower and upper intake manifold gaskets were replaced. idle speed control was replaced. the brakes squeaked . when taking off from a stop light the vehicle idles high. *tc
340003
 While turning into a parking space consumer removed foot from the accelerator pedal to apply the brakes, and vehicle suddenly accelerated. consumer had to apply excessive force to the brake pedal, and put the van in neutral to stop van from accelerating. dealership serviced the van twice for this issue, but the problem recurred.*ak
106/12/2001
 While driving at low speed accelerator pedal stuck in full throttle. as a result, driver hit a wall at 60 mph. no injuries reported. *ak
08/08/20031
 The accelerator jammed which caused the vehicle to surge backwards and struck some boulders.*mr *ts *jb
08/11/200352500207/20/2001
 Vechicle accelaration when foot is off gas. pumping gas pedal did not stop this action. pumping brakes or pressing hard on brakes do not stop action. only placing the car in neutral and then shifting back into drive stop this action. was on merritt parkway in ct when this occurred. this is the second occurrence for this vechile. *ak
07/16/2002
 While trying to stop consumer will press accelerator pedal instead on brake pedal due to the fact that accelerator pedal and brake pedal are too close. dealer notified. *ak
06/01/2001
 The location of the brake peddel in relationship to the gas pedal has resulted in the gas pedal being depressed when trying to brake as they are too close together.(my husband will no longer drive the van as this is a problem that occurs most often for him due to his larger shoe size.) additionally, the brake pedal is much higher than the gas pedal and my foot became tangled under the brake pedal, causing me to roll into on comming traffic when trying to stop while exiting from a parking lot. no accident occured as the on-coming traffic stopped in time to avoid my van.*ak
 Received recall notice in mail concerning throttle pedal sticking, and contacted dealership. inquired if had parts available before bring vehicle in, and was informed they did. took vehicle in, and later informed no parts were available. would need to order parts, and would have mats in a few days. owner was upset regarding issue.*ak
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CRUISE CONTROL
07/28/2009115500
 Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford wind star. he stated the brake pressure switch is leaking brake fluid and this causes his cruise control not to work. while he was driving the vehicle using his cruise control it slowed down and he could not put the cruise control back on. he took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told the brake fluid is leaking and not going into the brake pressure switch which operates the cruise control. he contacted the manufacture and was told his vehicle is not under warranty or recall. the failure mileage is 115,500. bl
05/07/20081070031
 Cruise control stopped working, and noticed intermittent abs/brake light. after researching, found that the brake pressure switch was leaking brake fluid through the connector. fluid had wicked into the cruise control module as well. even though this switch is the subject of failures and recalls on numerous models, the dealer refused to replace or apply the company designed fix to the vehicle. i am concerned that this issue has led to numerous vehicle fires, and that the company is not responding to this issue by replacing the switch, but only installing a fuse. repair charges were $210.00. *tr
04/14/2008760001
 Car produced a stong sulfer smell and immediately the abs light and brake light illuminated, the o/d off light began flashing, the speedometer died and the odometer cleared. *tr
02/01/2007980002
 Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the air conditioner, cruise control, and radio failed. the contact inspected the switch on the master cylinder and noticed that the switch for the cruise control was covered with fluid. the cruise control switch was replaced; however, the new switch also failed. he cut the wires to the switch in order to operate the vehicle. he then heard a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. the lifters were replaced, but the knocking sound continued. the upper intake was replaced as well. the purchase date was unknown. the failure mileage was 98,000 and current mileage was 119,000.
08/08/200450500108/01/2001
 Off switch on cruise control on my 2001 ford windstar does not work. it stopped working in 2004. i can disengage the cruise control by hitting the brake but it is still active and if i touch the 'resume' button by mistake, suddenly i am back at cruising speed. this has happened twice and both times i narrowly avoided an accident. i spoke to an official in the ford safety dept. and he said it was not a safety issue since the control could be disengaged. i believe he was wrong and see the potential for an accident here. additionally there is no indicator light on the dash panel to say whether the cruise control is on or not. this adds to the risk. *tr
01/01/200762500109/03/2001
 On my 2001 ford windstar minivan, at about 62,500 miles on the odometer, the amber abs light and red brake light illuminated. was told by the dealer that it was a faulty hydraulic control unit that was leaking brake fluid on the abs module (estimated repair cost was about $1,100. i had previously researched this problem online, and have found entire forums of windstar owners dedicated to this problem. users had cited a fire hazard that is created by the leaking brake fluid on the abs electronic control unit (one owners van had caught fire due to this on a long trip). i asked about this at the dealership, and they confirmed that this could indeed be a fire hazard. i have pulled the fuses to de-energize the abs ecu, but because of that, am currently operating with no abs braking capability. the leaking fluid had also damaged the cruise control cutoff switch, so i had it repaired at the dealership. *tr
07/05/200770000105/13/2003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that the cruise control feature stopped working. the vehicle was taken to the mechanic and brake fluid was found in the cruise control cylinder. the mechanic replaced the cylinder and the failure was corrected. the current and failure mileages were 70,000.
06/19/2007123000103/19/2005
 Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact heard a popping sound and noticed smoke coming from her vehicle. the vehicle caught fire. the cruise control switch shorted out and caused brake fluid to leak into the wiring harness. the leak then flowed into the abs module and created the fire. the contact filed a claim with her insurance company and they found that the vehicle had a defective part from the dealer. the claim was closed. the vehicle was towed to a ford dealer. when the contact stated that she notified her insurance company, both the dealer and the manufacturer decided not to pay for the damage. the vehicle sustained $2,197.50 worth of damage. the current and failure mileages were 123,000.
07/13/20061
 2 years ago my cruise control went out on my 2001 ford windstar and shortly after that i noticed brake fluid leaking. one morning my wife started the van and smoke poured out from under the hood and we took it to a shop in alvin texas. they replaced a fried speed control switch. when i contacted ford they said it was not under recall and would not reimburse my losses. at the repair shop they stated it is the same switch that is under recall in the other ford products. i still have the switch and have no idea what to do next. any suggestions from the nhtsa would be greatly helpful. *nm
07/03/200687000112/01/2001
 Dt*: the contact stated while turning the ignition off the cruise control caught on fire. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they determined that the vehicle was not included in the recall #01v207000 due to the vin however the cruise control onnector was faulty. the dealer disconnected the part in order to keep the vehicle from further incidents of fire. the dealer recommended the contact call nhtsa to file a complaint.
07/17/2006102/01/2004
 Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle's cruise control activation sensor caught on fire and melted the control module switch and the component caught on fire. the fire was contained in that area and extinguished before it could spread. the manufacturer has this problem on three different models and for the same component whether the vehicle was on or off. this vehicle was off the day the fire incident.*ak updated 10/25/2006 - *nm
01/06/200650000107/10/2001
 At about 8:30 at night, i was at home alone and heard strange thumping and hissing noises outside my living room window. i went outside to investigate and discovered flames billowing from under the hood of my 2001 ford windstar van, which was parked in the driveway approximately four feet from our wood frame house. it had not been driven since 4:00 pm. i immediately called 911, and neighbors helped contain the fire with a garden hose while we waited for emergency personnel to arrive. it took firemen a good 20-30 minutes to fully extinguish the flames, which disintegrated the engine, windshield and dashboard area. thankfully the fire did not spread to our house. one of the neighbors who helped that night is a ford service technician. he said that in his opinion the fire was undoubtedly caused by a short in the speed control system. since our vehicle was not one of those recalled for that problem, we had not received any type of warning that our car might spontaneously burst into flames while sitting in the driveway on a cool january night. now that's it's too late, and after doing some internet research, i recognize some symptoms that line up with speed control system failure: 1) a few weeks ago my brake light came on. we added brake fluid and the light went off. 2) four days before the fire, i tried to use my cruise control in a 30 mph zone and it wouldn't work. that speed may have been too slow to engage the cruise control, but it had worked before. 3) two days before the fire, the engine was running very rough. at first i was concerned, but it cleared up as soon as i was able to get out of stop-and-go traffic and onto the highway. after that it ran as usual. i'm grateful that no one was injured by this massive system failure. *jb
11/08/2005656431
 Dt: the contact stated while driving vehicle it caught on fire. the contact pulled over, turned off the ignition, and the fire went out. he then drove vehicle to a local mechanic. the mechanic determined the fire started as a result of the cruise control deactivation switch. the wires under the hood were burned. the cruise control on the vehicle stopped working approximately one month ago. no repairs were done to the vehicle. *ak updated 11/29/2005 - *nm
11/07/2005930001
 Cruise control sensor is malfunctioning and starting to smoke like it could catch on fire under the hood. sensor has to be replaced. *jb
01/01/2005
 Consumer experiencing problems turning the cruise control on in the 2001 ford windstar.*mr *sb
03/15/200534500105/13/2001
 Dt: caller was concerned about cruise control burning up. he might have had it fixed, but he didn't know for sure. caller said cruise control would not work, and then the horn would not work. dealer replaced the steering column. that is all the caller thinks the dealer did.*ak consumer feels vehicle had a defective cruise control and should be included in recall.*sb
12/17/2000211/15/2000
 While the consumer was trying to stop the engine revved from 1000 to 5000 rpm. the dealer replaced the idle control as a possible cause of the problem. the consumer was concerned about the danger if the problem reoccurs. *yh

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