This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While driving 35 mph, the contact heard a noise on the floorboard and the check engine and brake indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the subframe was rusted beyond repair. The technician stated that the option was a complete replacement of the frame. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the recall expired after three years. The failure was not remedied. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 30 mph, the front end frame fractured and disengaged from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the shock absorber, front end spring, and frame were fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Hoping they have a repair for the subframe passenger rear mine is badly rotted and afraid to drive it as it can cause a major accident or be possibly hazardous Ford please cure this.
In March 2015, I reported to Ford that the rear axle broke in half while driving. We had been driving down the interstate 10 minutes before going 70 mph. If it had broken then, my husband and two daughters (13, 15) would have most certainly been killed. However, god spared us because we were only going 30 mph on a side street when the axle failed. When I reported it, Ford told me that the rear axle recall ( I had performed in 2012) warranty had expired. Also, any private mechanics I approached said it was a Ford recall and would not perform the repair. So, at 137,000 miles we junked the vehicle at a junk yard because we couldn't get it repaired.
After noticing wobbling of my back tire driving my daughter home from school my father looked at me vehicle to not only see that my rear axel had cracked (in process of insepction for recall repair on that) but also notuce the the front sub frame is rusting so much that everything attached to it is starting to detach.
- Cleveland, OH, USA
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The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a knocking noise emitted from the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the frame engine cross member was corroded. The contact was informed by the dealer that the remedy for NHTSA campaign number: 11V030000 (structure) was performed approximately 4 years ago. The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced additional failures related to the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,400.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the rear passenger side tire was bent and noticed that the sub frame was rusted. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign id number: 11V030000 (structure). However, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
Our van has a rusting subframe. We brought it in to a mechanic because of a scraping sound we heard when making sharp right-hand turns, especially when driving down an incline. The mechanic told us of a potential recall on a rusting subframe so we brought it into a Ford dealership. They refused to take responsibility of the subframe at their cost.
In 2011 Ford recalled over 400000 vans (1997-2003) due to serious corrosion of axles and other components. Special repairs were done at Ford expense. Recently my mechanic informed me that the rear motor mount and the van sub frame had continued to rust badly to the extent that the unit was a safety risk. A search of the internet indicates that many, many repaired Ford vehicles have experienced very serious corrosion of the sub frames and the repaired axles with serious results including failure of sub frames and or axles when driving!!
The rear axle broke in the place that was "fixed" by the recall work in 2010. Noticed squeaking noises (tire was rubbing) and a large clunk and wiggle when turning into a parking lot. Took a photo when I got to the parking lot. My rear driver's side tire was at an angle to the vehicle and the rear axle was broken under the collar that had been attached by a dealer for the recall. The weld held up, but the axle snapped underneath the fix-up job. Apparently the recall fix wasn't really a fix. Towed it into a dealer, who took photos and talked to Ford. Ford said they wouldn't do anything. Cost me $$ to tow it to the dealer and back home again. Don't have $1,000 to pay the dealer for a new rear axle. Very disappointed that they didn't stand by their work. Very thankful that I was not on the freeway, and that all my children were not with me at the time. It could have been so much worse!
I was driving on interstate 39 towards Wisconsin dells with my wife and daughters. About 15 miles out of madison Wisconsin my daughters began screaming I looked back and there was smoke everywhere. I immediately pulled to side of highway and got everyone out of the vehicle. Both my rear tires had collapse. I had to get towed into a Ford dealer in madison Wisconsin. The rear axle on the van had split in half. Calling Ford was no help. They stated that a recall had been on that vehicle a couple years back and that the warranty on that recall had expired. Luckily nothing happened to my family but if these issues on this recall which was done two years ago hasn't fixed the problem someone is going to get seriously hurt! even if I fix this problem I will not be able to trust this vehicle. Please look into this someone. There are many Windstar that were repaired around the same time because of recall that will begin to fall apart again. Problem not fixed!
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the rear sliding doors would not unlock. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was awaiting diagnosis of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 103,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the sway bar bracket became fractured as a result of the sub-frame being corrosion. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection, who informed the contact that the entire sub frame would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000. Returned by usps on 9-12-2013. Second attempt on 10-31-2013 failed.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into drive, the frame became fractured and the engine detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician verified that the sub frame was fractured and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 95,000.
I have a 2001 Ford Windstar that was serviced for the safety recall 11S16, (11V030000 NHTSA campaign number) 04/11/2011. My vehicle was grounded do to significant subframe rot but it was deemed repairable by Ford. On February 2, 2013 I noticed a 2 inch long crack/perforation on the top part of the sub-frame where the repair bracket was attached when I was rotating the tires. I took it back to the Ford dealership and they said they were unable to help because it was repaired once and they wont pay to have it repaired again. Im not sure if they missed this the first time it was fixed or what. I do know that according to Ford's specs for determining if a subframe is repairable or not this crack would deem in non-repairable because its within the 2 inch mark from the tooling hole. Now im just waiting for the subframe to completely crack while im driving down the road. The repair bracket that was supposed to solve the problem to begin with will not hold the subframe together if it completely cracks at the spot at which its located in. I also believe that due to downward force on the subframe body mount and the fact where the U shaped bracket is sitting on the subframe that holds the bracket on the subframe, it is acting like a fulcrum point where the subframe is bending and cracking.
I heard loud clunking sounds in the front that were more pronounced when I went over bumps. The sway bar has broken off from the front sub-frame passenger side of the car. The dealer said the sub-frame is so rusted that the only way to reattach the sway bar is to replace the entire front sub-frame at a cost of $3,500. It is not covered under previous recalls, since the prior 2 recalls in 2010 and 2011 only specifically covered the rear axle and the separation of the front lower control arms attaching brackets and body mount attachments at the rear of the front sub-frame. This problem is so similar to the Jan. 2011 recall w/a part breaking off from a rusted sub-frame. It's the corrosion of the sub-frame that is at the root of these problems. They should have just replaced the sub-frame at that time instead of doing a patch job w/ brackets. The dealer deemed my car unsafe to drive, as I won't have control of my car on quick turns or be able to make fast maneuvers in the event of an accident or to avoid potential accidents. Another risk is that my engine may fall out the bottom of my car while driving (which I see has happened to others with my same problem), endangering my family and others on the road. I plan on parking this car in my driveway and waiting for Ford to be forced to recall these vehicles. In the meantime, if any of you have a similar problem, please report them to Ford corporation and the NHTSA, so what I believe to be an inevitable recall will be expedited. Even the Ford customer service rep encouraged me to file a report with the NHTSA because she has gotten calls with other similar complaints. She was very sympathetic to my situation but said there is nothing she can do until enough complaints get filed with the NHTSA so they open an investigation. What happened to companies wanting to help their customers w/O being forced by a governmental Agency?!
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an inspection. The technician informed the front portion of the frame was completely rusted. There was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 11V030000 (structure: Frame and members:underbody shields); however the VIN was ineligible. In addition, the vehicle was not originally sold or registered in the states mentioned in the recall defect. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving he heard a noise underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnose that the sub frame of the front passenger side of the vehicle needed to be replaced due to corrosion. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle had already been repaired under recall NHTSA campaign id number: 11V030000 (structure: Frame and members: Under body shields). The failure mileage was 142,023. The consumer stated the recall part was not replaced in front or rear subframe. A bracket was put in front of sub frame just in case it breaks. Rear sub frame was covered with foam. It will break later. Updated 12/28/2012
The exterior and underpart of the van has tons of rust on it. The exterior is the least of my worries, but all the metal pieces under the car continue to rust like no other.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- New Philadelphia, OH, USA