NHTSA complaint: 2001 FORD WINDSTAR — SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND NOTICED SMOKE PUFF OUT FROM UNDER THE LEFT SIDE OF MY HOOD. I THOUGHT I WAS OVERHEATING, BUT MY TEMP GAUGE SHOWED NOTHING. AS I PULLED AWAY FROM THE RED LIGHT AND OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I NOTICED MY ABS LIGHT AND MY BRAKE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND MY O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. MY SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER HAD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW NO VISIBLE PROBLEMS. I DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME AND OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS I NOTICED I WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKE PRESSURE. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN DRIVING A SECOND VEHICLE UNTIL I COULD GET A MECHANIC TO CHECK OUT THE WINDSTAR. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AROUND THE BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IN FRONT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. HE SAID HE HAD HEARD THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS ON WINDSTARS AND RECOMMENDED I CHECK TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, WHICH I AM DOING NOW. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation