Ford Windstar Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 178 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Ford Windstar across 8 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (35). The words owners use most often: “abs brake” (16% of reports).
- 178exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 37%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- ABS brake: mentioned in 28 of 178 complaints (16%)
- Turn signal: mentioned in 10 of 178 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 92 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 178 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Ford Windstar exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Windstar | 35 | 2% | 83,986 |
| 2002 Windstar | 29 | 2% | 101,000 |
| 2001 Windstar | 31 | 2% | 96,000 |
| 2000 Windstar | 18 | 1% | 112,311 |
| 1999 Windstar | 15 | 1% | 80,000 |
| 1998 Windstar | 20 | 1% | 123,000 |
| 1996 Windstar | 8 | 1% | 77,000 |
| 1995 Windstar | 22 | 1% | 107,829 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting
Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998
Problem: Vehicle description: mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of fmvss 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to ford, the vehicles were imported into the u.s. Erroneously.
Risk: The light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.s. Standards.
Fix: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
I needed the starter replaced, my brakes, i'm having electrical issues, my car stops when it wants to in the middle of the highway,.. It makes noises when i'm turning, i have rust coming from under my car. The signal lights flickers
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving various speeds and while stationary, the hazard lights flashed and would not turn off. The contact stated that the turn signals could not be used due to the involuntary flashing of the hazard lights. In addition, the abs and brake warning…
I was driving down the road and our and and brake lights had came on. Took it to the local shop and was told about the c1185 code was on. We were driving on the way home, and it just comes and goes with every start up and shut off. Car was in motion. To my acknowledgement i'm not positive what is…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. While driving approximately 15 mph, a continuous chime sounded inside the vehicle. The rear passenger side tail light and brake light failed to illuminate when the brakes were applied. The contact replaced the bulbs herself; however, the failure recurred…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Windstars have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 178 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Ford Windstar. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Windstar exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “abs brake”, in 28 of 178 complaints, followed by “turn signal” (10).
Other Ford Windstar problems
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (2,676)
- Power Train problems (2,595)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (2,137)
- Suspension problems (2,045)
- Electrical System problems (1,567)
- Structure problems (1,239)
- Service Brakes problems (929)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (892)
See all Ford Windstar problems.