Problems · by component

2002 Ford Windstar exterior lighting problems

29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Windstar cite exterior lighting, 2% of all 1,396 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
29
2% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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 CAUSING THIS ISSUE BUT I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING AND HAVE READ ABOUT MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES IN THIS PARTICULAR VAN SERIES. I'VE READ ABOUT FORD'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 09S09 AND AND MY VEHICLE IS TO BE IN THAT RECALL AS WELL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 10957471
“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. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A TROUBLE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 18, 2016Exterior lightingODI 10860085
“I JAN 2014 THE ABS & BREAK WARNING LIGHT STARTED COMING ON OCCASSIONALLY I HAS BEEN TO A MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES I AM TOLD THE BREAKS ARE FINE BUT MY ABS SYSTEM MAY NOT WORK AND IT WOULD BE A $1500 REPAIR. NOW THE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2015Exterior lightingODI 10724577
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL, HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDED. AFTER RESTARTING, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE A CODE WAS NOT DETECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 27, 2015Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10713017
“THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS DESPITE THE VEHICLE BEING CHECKED AND SERVICED, ETC. IT'S NOT THE ONLY PANEL PROBLEM. ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, ETC. FREQUENTLY FREAK OUT AND SPIN WILDLY. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE RIGHT WILL STICK, AND THE TURN SIGNAL ON ALARM WILL SOUND ENDLESSLY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2014Exterior lightingODI 10597208
“ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES HEAVILY AND ALL 4 WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE BRAKING. THE SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC. THE BATTERY IS DEAD SOMETIMES AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. THE HAZARD LIGHTS COME ON BY THEM SELVES. THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE TIRE INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO REASON. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2013Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 10553676

Showing 6 of 29 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.