Problems · by component
1999 Ford Windstar service brakes problems
72 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Windstar cite service brakes, 5% of all 1,547 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
72
5% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the service brakes
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE DEALER LOCATED IN THE SANDY SPRING REJECTED TO THE TAKE REMEDY ACTION ON THE RECALL 09S09. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE ODOMETER IS MALFUNTIONING WHEN IT IS IN OPERATION. IT SUDDENLY CAUSE UNKNOWN ACCELERATION WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT IS ALSO FOUND OUT THE BRAKE HOSE IS LEAKING AS RESULTS OF THE SPEED CONTROL MODIFICATION SYSTEM BY THE LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARD OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.”
“ABS LIGHT CAME ON CONTINUALLY FOR THE LAST 6000 MILES. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO FORD IN PLAINVILLE, CT AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE COST WAS TO INCLUDE A NEW COMPUTER FOR AN UNREASONABLE DOLLAR AMOUNT. STILL NOT CORRECTED AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. HAVE CHECKED OTHER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO HAVE A CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT IS NOT WORKING. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW HARNESS FOR A COST OF OVER #300. STILL NOT ACTIVATED. *TR”
“THE ABS CONTROLLER FOR THIS VEHICLE HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS MODEL. THE CAUSES ARE EITHER POOR SOLDERING ON OR DAMAGE FROM FLUIDS TO THE CONTROLLER'S BOARD. WITHOUT ABS, THE VEHICLE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS SAFE AND I'VE EXPERIENCED FIVE INCIDENTS WHERE I AND MY PASSENGERS NARROWLY ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO FORD'S AND THE NHTA'S UNWILLINGNESS TO RECTIFY THIS FLAW. *TR”
“ABS LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN AND GOES OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. LIGHT INDICATED THAT ABS IS FAILED, BRAKES BECOME POOR UNDER THIS CONDITION. BRAKES DO NOT STOP WINDSTAR WELL WHEN LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME. *TR”
“MY ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHT ARE ON ALL THE TIME CAUSING 11 ABS FAULT CODES, C1185, 1198, 1194, 1254, 1256, 1250, 1242, 1214, 1210 1410, 1404. I HAVE CLEARED ALL THE CODES AND IN A 2 WEEK PERIOD THEY ALL SET AGAIN, ALL ARE RELATED TO THE 1185 (FAILED RELAY SOLDER JOINT) MODULE FAILURE. *TR”
Showing 6 of 72 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.