9.8
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$768.00
Average Mileage:
114,906 miles
Total Complaints:
18 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace rear axle (10 reports)
- not sure (5 reports)
- i went with a used rear axle (2 reports)
- repaired axle (1 reports)
suspension problem
Helpful Websites About 2000 Ford Windstar rear axle failure
2009Oct 25
Windstar SE 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 106,000 miles
click to see larger images
Complaint Photos
This is the 4th major issue with this vehicle that ford says, "oh well". no wonder American made cars manufacturers are going bust.
2009Oct 13
Windstar SE 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 112,000 miles
click to see larger images
Complaint Photos
I made a 7 hour trip in my 2000 Ford Windstar and as I was turning into my drive the rear axle broke. I have contacted Ford 800-392-3673 and NHTSA (888) 327-4236 ; both have began investigating the problem. I would encourage everyone that has had this problem to contact them as well. The more complaints that are logged the better our chances of getting some results such as a recall.
This is a very serious problem and could cause a major accident if it continues!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Oct 03
Windstar LX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 97,455 miles
Well, my wife was driving on 376 west bound. We came around a bend right before the Glenwood/Oakland exit doing 55mph and our rear axel SNAPPED! Good thing I taught my wife well, she was able to keep control of the van. Someone, including us could've been killed. She swirved all over the highway; back and forth at least four times. We both we a nervous wreck. It is in the shop now~no telling how much this sucker is going to cost. Ford really should use a more durable material. FYI 376 is known to AAA as 22/30. Dispatch had a hard time acknowledging our location.
2009Aug 18
Windstar LX 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
While driving we heard a clunk sound every time you hit a bump or made a right turn. Took it in thinking shock or a spring. After it was hoisted you seen where the axle was cracked about 75% around it. Mechanic said we are pretty lucky that it didn't snap.
2009Jul 22
Windstar LX 3.02L
- Automatic transmission
- 145,000 miles
My husband took our Ford Winstar out for what was to be a quick routine trip. While on the Meadowbrook Parkway on Long Island the rear axle split causing my husband to spin out with cars racing toward him. The car screech to a halt and he was quite shaken. Luckily no one was hurt and by the grace of a higher power no other cars were involved. We just had the transmission replaced...$2000 and then the front split axle replaced two weeks later for safety reasons $300. We were hanging on to this car for economic reason. Now were forced into either fixing this one at $1200 plus dollars... or buying something off a lot. To add to the issue they can't get it started, so other work needs to done. The fuel tank is ruined, three of the four tires need to be replaced and whatever else they may find. Financially this has drained us. I just thankful that none of our four children were in or driving that car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009May 09
Windstar
- Automatic transmission
- 78,000 miles
Our 2000 Ford Windstar was making a clunking noise when turning right. I took it in to get checked out. A couple of hours later the mechanic called and said "You have a very serious problem with your rear axle. Can you come look at it?" When I got there he had the van up on the lift and he showed me the rear axle. It is broken almost all the way through, only about an inch and a half holding. The mechanic said he had never seen an axle break like that. They are trying to find a used one from a junkyard, but I am not real comfortable with that solution. I suggested welding, but they do not recommend that, because that could weaken the metal at either end of where they welded a new piece on.
At this point, I'm not really sure what to do.
Update from May 14, 2009: Well, I went with a used rear axle from a salvage company. Bottom line - $1288
2009May 05
Windstar LX 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
VIN#2FMZA5146YBA09388
Mileage 65,000
My wife and 3 toddlers drove to a tire store Monday morning (March 5, 2009) to purchased two new tires for the back. The mechanics drove the car onto the hydraulic jacks and as soon as the car was being lifted up, they noticed right away that the rear axle of the car was splitting in half... So they tell my wife what happened and she calls me up. Well I'm roughly 30 miles away, so I had to take some time off and drove my little car to the place and couldn't believe it. The rear axle was broken with ½ inch remaining on the top portion before it completely broke in half. Unbelievable! The break was about 2 feet from the driver’s side rear tire. Had no choice but to get it fixed since it was already broken and up in the air.
The next day I called Ford Motor Company up and will do nothing about it. The mechanic even told me and my wife that he went through 4 rear axles roughly the same as my van! After hearing others with the same problems, Ford Motor Company should tell the public and have there vans checked before someone or family gets KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED!!
The Lord was with us on that day. What can be done about this?
2009Mar 21
Windstar SE 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 106,000 miles
click to see larger images
Complaint Photos
After reading what was happening with other windstars I went out to look at mine and found the same thing - a crack forming in the same place. But, I got to it before it got worse and I would like to thank all the people and this web site for saving my family and I from an unquestionable fate. But anyway, for all of those that are going through the same problem, there is a better way to fix it than buying a new axle and spending over 700.00 bucks taking it to a welding and fabrication shop. I brought mine to Blouin general welding and fabrication in Woonsocket RI they welded the crack and reinforced it, cleaned the axle of rust and coated it with special sealer to keep it from rusting again for 90.00 dollars. Now it is better than new and safer. I found that rust and bad shocks are the reasons for the failure on top of a poorly designed axle.
2009Feb 22
Windstar LX
- Automatic transmission
- 101,973 miles
click to see larger images
Complaint Photos
Drove to church Sunday morning (Feb 22, 2009) with my family and noticed the rear of the car was squirrelly when driving on snow... like I was on ice, my family thought we were going to roll over. The next day I took the Van up to Bell Tire thinking I had a bad belt in one of the tires or something with the rear springs. After inspection the service tech (shaking he head) told me the rear axle is broken with ½ inch remaining before it is complete broke in half. Unbelievable! The break was about 2 feet from the driver’s side rear tire. I talked to a Ford rep at Bill Brown and he said because it has over 100 thousand miles on it that Ford will do nothing about it. We were on the expressway when going to church; The Lord was with us on that day. What can be done about this?
VIN#2FMZA5141YBC74610
Mileage 101973
After seeing others with the same problems, Ford of someone should tell the public and have there van checked before someone or a family and others get KILLED!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Feb 27
Windstar ES 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 177,000 miles
I have maintained this car fully. It was just in the repair shop getting new tires and a
month ago had a full tune up and everything it needed. This past week I start hearing a
scrapping sound and both my neighbor and myself felt maybe I needed new shocks.
Even though the car was not bouncing and was holding the road very well. Then the
last two days I am smelling burning rubber and the noise is getting louder. I had
brand new snow tires on this car, only a couple weeks old. Well after work saw the
tire did not look good, it looked bent in. I pretty much knew the axle was probably
bent, but why? Tried to make it home slowly. Got about two miles and the axle broke
in two. The tow guy said he never saw a broken axle before. He said they are made
of heavy steel. He could not believe it. The car is not old. I am not driving the car
that much. I really think Ford used very cheap steel on their cars. No wonder they
are going broke now. The car has just been towed and I do not know what this is
going to cost me. My new General snow tire turned to shreds, its a goner also. I
am not happy about this.
2009Jan 30
Windstar SE
- Automatic transmission
- 135,000 miles
We drove the car 340 miles to Ohio and noticed it was kicking out in the rear when we would hit any obstruction on the road surface. We had had snow and ice so we figured the tires were bad. We had the tires replaced thinking it would be better. Its not better, the new tires are wasted and we discovered the crack about 2 feet from the left rear wheel. I drive the vehicle five days a week with my three children and to learn this really ticks me off! My children and I could have been killed not to mention others seriously injured! Time for Ford to step up and fix the problem. I currently own a Ford Taurus as well and if Ford doesn't step up I will get rid of both. My family needs a safe vehicle to ride in and right now I am questioning safety.
2009Feb 03
Windstar SEL 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 124,274 miles
car started handling really bad a couple of weeks ago, thought i had a low tire,drove wife to work and myself to work was almost put into the snowbank 3-4 times on my way to work, i am glad i went thru town and not the highway . dropped into my mechanic at lunch time and it was discovered the rear axle was split all the away around all that was left was a 1.5 inch strip left, my jaw dropped it is up on a hoist awaiting a replacement axle from somewhere. if this let go on the highway .... i do not want to think of the outcome.
2008Nov 30
Windstar SEL 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 102,600 miles
Drove to church this morning and noticed the rear of the car was squirley... Seemed to be swaying around a bit. Also noticed the car was taking the bumps in the road awfully hard. At the bottom of the bridge I was on at the time, I pulled over and inspected the tires. Everything looked ok. On the way home noticed the same thing. I got home and checked the card over, tire pressure ok, lug nuts tight, no separated belts in the tire. When I looked under the car I was floored to see the rear axle broken in two about 2 feet in from the left wheel. It was 3/4 of the way through and only about one inch if remaining metal attached. Unbelievable! I am not even sure who to call about this.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Nov 29
Windstar SEL 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 83,000 miles
I took my vehicle in for a checkup before going to DMV inspection and was told by my auto repair shop that the rare axle was broken, my first response are you joking!? I told him not to do any thing until I arrived because I could not believe what I was hearing.
When I arrived I could not believe my eyes it was only a matter of time before everything came apart. This car is use on the Parkway on a daily basis and this could have broken while traveling over 60mph, God only knows what serious accident was waiting to happen if this was not discovered. Ford Company should take FULL RESPONSIBILITY for the replacement part and labor cost. Echoing the complaints of other people on this site THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FAILURE ON A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CAR MY LAWYERS WILL BE CONTACTING FORD ON THIS.
2008Aug 16
Windstar LX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 127,000 miles
Windstar Broken Rear Axle strikes again (See Ford site Vee)
We were on our way to dinner with retired Ford employee and his lovely wife. We were in Dearborn on Michigan Avenue when bad noises, and smells came from the rear of the van. We pulled over and discovered a totally broken axle cover. My husband works in steel. If we had been on the Southfield as we had planned and this happened there would have been disastrous results not only for us but we could have placed other families in danger as well.
Both men. the police who stopped to help and the tow truck driver agreed that axles don't just break there was a crack that broke apart. From the Vee entry at the Ford site, others have had the same problem. Please share your experience before someone is really injured.
2008Aug 09
Windstar LX
- Automatic transmission
- 147,000 miles
This is really bad the axle broke completely in half. This is a very dangerous thing. Thank God I was not going fast or on the parkway. Ford needs to look into this I think this should be a recall item.
2008Jun 11
Windstar SEL 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 137,000 miles
click to see larger images
Complaint Photos
Our Windstar is in EXCELLENT condition I never expected a problem like this. My Ford dealer offered me a decent discount on the work which should have been about $1100.
FORD would not offer any help or acknowledge this very serious failure.
I have reported this to NHTSA . I hope everyone with this failure will do the same. Check your Windstar!!
Thank goodness my tire dealer caught this before the axle completely broke; as others have in 1996 - 2001 Windstars.
THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL IT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE FAILURE OF A MAJOR COMPONENT.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Nov 20
Windstar SE 3.8L V6
Cracked 3/4 the way around. Bottom is still together but about 1/2 inch above that its cracked and the rear tires are tilting inward. Will update on cost...
hudsm9589
Prairie Du Sac, WI, USA
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