10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
127,735 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2001 Ford Windstar suspension problems

suspension problem

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2001 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 1 of 10)

problem #187

Feb 092023

Windstar

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Rear axle cracked in multiple locations causes car to sway and tires to turn inward and bald

- Sioux City, IA, USA

problem #186

Jan 182023

Windstar

  • 159,000 miles
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the rear axle was previously replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V608000 (Suspension). The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving approximately 10 MPH and making a left turn, a loud bang was heard from the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact's girlfriend was able to veer to the side of the road and became aware that both the rear driver-€™s and passenger-€™s side tires were tilted inward, and the rear axle was fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained with the mechanic awaiting the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 159,000.

- Halfmoon, NY, USA

problem #185

Nov 302022

Windstar

  • 132,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH and crossing railroad tracks that were flush with the road surface, the contact heard the passenger-€™s side rear tire making a loud screeching noise. The contact could hear rubbing or friction and then noticed that smoke was coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled off the road safely and inspected the vehicle and saw that the wheel was tilted into the wheel well and was rubbing the top and inside of the tire against the wheel well. The contact had the vehicle towed back to his residence. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V608000 (Suspension). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

- Tazewell, TN, USA

problem #184

Aug 292022

Windstar

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I pulled up to a stop sign having been traveling at less then 20 mph, and only while the vehicle is in drive but not moving, it was shaking like the motor was going to jump out of the vehicle. I assumed it was the motor mount broken and took it to the mechanic and found out it was the subframe on the front passenger had corroded and had detached from the frame.I need it repaired but I don't know where to begin. Was told that there is a active recalls on this part..

- Odessa, MO, USA

problem #183

Dec 092021

Windstar

  • 159,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, there was an abnormal sound, and the vehicle felt as if it had a flat tire. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear driver's side tire was tilted inward and the rear axle was fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V608000 (Suspension). The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that in 2016, per the recall, the brackets were inspected to verify their proper installation however, the recall repair was not performed. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

- Rewey, WI, USA

problem #182

Oct 292021

Windstar

  • miles
ABS light, brake light came on. The seatbelt unhooks while I-€™m driving, I was told I had a cracked axle, the wheel bearing was very noisy, I-€™ve paid a lot of money to get things fixed. The labor was at a ridiculous amount on $25 parts. I-€™m wondering if I-€™ve paid to have parts fixed that were under recall. I fix one thing and then there-€™s another issue. Oil is leaking under the hood and I-€™m afraid it will catch fire so I-€™m scared to drive.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

problem #181

May 022021

Windstar

  • 136,397 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed when they heard a loud popping sound coming from the vehicle. The driver looked out the rear-view mirror and saw smoke coming from the vehicle. The driver pulled over to the side of the roadway. The driver called the contact to come to where the vehicle was pulled over to inspect the vehicle. The contact became aware that the driver-€™s side rear axle was fractured. The contact had the vehicle towed to his residence. The contact had the vehicle towed to the local dealer to be inspected. The mechanic confirmed that the driver-€™s side rear axle was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired because the manufacturer denied that the rear axle bracket matched the measurement for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage 136,397.

- Woodville, OH, USA

problem #180

Apr 042021

Windstar

  • 166,185 miles
Rear axle broke when driving slowly pulling into our driveway on street.

- Kingsport, TN, USA

problem #179

Jan 052021

Windstar

  • 170,100 miles
On my 2001 Ford Windstar Ford installed these brackets on rear suspension subframe and almost 2 years later my axle has split from one side all the way around to the other and any tiny bump you hit the van jumps all over the roadway. They won't repair the axle because the "brackets " were installed "properly".

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #178

Jan 012021

Windstar

  • 150,000 miles
While traveling at 60 M.P.H., the rear axle broke on the right side of the vehicle where the axle is welded, recall number 10S13 was completed on the vehicle, where they installed the support brackets so the axle wouldn't break, the axle broke an inch away from where the support bracket was installed, there wasn't an accident with the vehicle and no one was hurt, but this could have easily been an accident,

- Bovey, MN, USA

problem #177

Sep 122020

Windstar

  • 164,952 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the rear axle detached from the vehicle. The contact rented a truck and towed the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 15V608000 (suspension) regarding the rear axle however, the failure occurred after the recall repair was performed. Jordan Ford (609 E jefferson blvd, mishawaka, in 46545; (574) 259-1981) was contacted and informed the contact that the rear axle needed to be replaced however, the repair was no longer covered under the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed what the dealer stated. The approximate failure mileage was 164,952.

- South Bend, IN, USA

problem #176

Jul 292020

Windstar

  • 126,000 miles
The rear axle split/broke while driving 5 mph turning onto a street. Both wheels are now rubbing against the frame.

- Tayllor, MI, USA

problem #175

Jun 192020

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 172,000 miles
Rear axle snapped while driving, recall repair was done less than 5 years ago (10/2015). Ford will not fix it. An axle should last the life of the vehicle, not just 4 1/2 years.

- La Crosse, WI, USA

problem #174

Jan 302020

Windstar

  • 143,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 51 mph, the contact noticed a burning odor entering the vehicle. In addition, the contact and passengers heads was hitting towards the windows. The contact stated that the rear driver side tire was bent in and noticed that the axle was fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was holes and cracks in axle causing the axle to be fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact contacted evansville Ford 428 N union rd, evansville, wi 53536 where they informed the contact that they were aware of the hole and cracks but unable to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact mentioned that a year ago that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 15V608000 (suspension). The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.

- Evansville, WI, USA

problem #173

Jan 132020

Windstar

  • 165,000 miles
The axle was part of recall #11S16. As part of the recall the axle was patched, but the axle is now broken because the "repair" did not correct the structural flaws in the axle.

- Shavertown, PA, USA

problem #172

Oct 222019

Windstar

  • 154,000 miles
I was driving my vehicle and the rear axle crack I was driving on a on a city street and was scared my tires was rubbing and smoking.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #171

Oct 142019

Windstar

  • 155,000 miles
The rear axle broke where Ford repaired it in 2011. They are saying that my van is out of warranty on the recall because it is over 150000 miles. If they had replaced my rear axle in 2011 instead of a bad patch job on that recall I wouldn't be having this trouble. I feel that since Ford had it under recall in 2011 they should have fixed it right at that time. I went into town on Monday 10/14/19 and when I came out of the store I noticed that the rear wheels were leaning in against the body.

- Mimbres, NM, USA

problem #170

Sep 232019

Windstar

  • miles
Most important is the brakes have been changed and checked. On several occasions the brakes have just failed and I would pump them enough just to get in a safe location. Aaa has had to pick me up and when the brakes where checked they were find and the fluid full. Also the rear just fell but I had that repaired by a local reputable shop on candler rd, Decatur/ there is a residue all around where I put the gas in. I've had the same mechanic for almost 30 years and he says the anti-lock brakes may be faulty. The brake and engine light will not go out even when repairs are made according to the codes that come up. The scariest time was when I was driving on university ave in atlanta and the car would not stop at the light at a normally busy intersection. I began blowing the horn and thank goodness no one was ahead of me. Aaa took their sweet time coming and by the time they got there the pedal was back up but I had them to tow me home anyways. My mechanic checked it and all was find but he was concerned and so was I. I did not contact Ford but it has happened again as I started it yesterday morning and the brakes were on the floor. This is just too dangerous. I told my mechanic not to come check it before contacting Ford.

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #169

Aug 262019

Windstar

  • 100,607 miles
Ford axle recall in certain states. I took my vehicle to the Ford dealership approximmently 5 months ago. They said brackets were ok. Axle broke 08/26/2019 mileage on vehicle 100607. Vehicle was in motion, van almost flip. Tires are angled out and ruined.

- Redford Township, MI, USA

problem #168

May 312013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • miles
Ford=fix or repair daily!!!!!!!!!!! I am writing to try and get Ford to do the right thing. My mother's ex-husband told me to never buy a Ford and I did not listen. I bought a Windstar 2001. I took it in for the recall on the axle. They inspected and told me it was fine. I was unaware that they did anything to it. Three weeks ago, I was driving home from the gym when my car started sounding odd. I... pulled over and noticed my tires were leaning in. My axle had snapped. I called the Ford dealership and they said they would indeed fix it due to the recall. I had it towed to the dealership in taylor. That next Monday was memorial day so I did not hear anything from them until they called on Tuesday and stated they will not fix it because they had placed brackets on it 2 year ago. They said they had complied with the recall and they were not responsible for this repair. What I do not understand is how they believe this is acceptable. If Ford had fixed the problem in the first place this would not have been an issue. I could have been driving on the freeway or my kids could have been in the car. I have contacted Ford and asked for them to reconsider this to no avail. Thank you

- Southgate, MI, USA

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