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.

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.

We were traveling on Interstate 76 going 60mph on the left hand side as the loud noise occurred from the rear end of the car. Immediately the car became uncontrollable. Luckily there were no cars behind us at the time. And we were able to instantly force the car over to the right shoulder. When we got out to look, both rear wheels appeared slanted and the metal stuff that looks like a pipe that holds the wheels together was not connected at all. I don't know how we got so lucky to not suffer any injury or death. I mean the car could have flipped over or something, and being that we were in the middle of the highway, other cars would have crashed into us also. I don't even know how much this is going to cost. Or if it is even worth it to spend the money fixing it. I don't even want to imagine if some other structure would break when I get to drive the car again. I definitely will think hard when it comes to buying a car from Ford.

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

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?

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.

The first time my axle broke, I was driving down RT.45 and the van felt like it had a low tire or something, it was swaying in the rear end. It was difficult to keep on the road. Twice I stopped and walked around van but I couldn't find the problem. I just drove real slow, and I did make it home safe. It hadn't broke all the way through just approx. 3/4 of the way. The break was near the center of the axle, on the passenger side. clean, smooth break, no rust on the axle. The roads had been horrible shape and assuming that it was from them I notified my insurance company. They were replacing it with a used axle, which you will see broke just 10 months later.. see next complaint.

This is the second time I have had a broken rear axle!! It has not been quite 10 months since this axle was replaced. Neither time was the axle rusted. The first break was not clear through the axle, and toward the center passenger side. This time it broke clear through, on the drivers side. My daughter-in-law was driving the van at the time and had she not been going slowly to make a turn, who knows what could have occurred! I really believe an axle should not break just driving down the road. You trust a car company to make a vehicle safe. This is not one but two axles broke in under one year on the same van. Ford has a real problem here, and they need to look into it. Someone is going to get hurt or killed and they will be responsible. The first time I blamed it on road conditions, but I truly believe this is a fault in the axle and Ford needs to correct it. This time I do have pictures of the van. I found this site searching for answer. If anyone knows someplace else I should report this, please let me know. It is difficult to know what to do about fixing the van. I haven't had any other real problems with it, except the interior lights flash on and off sometimes which is weird. But other than that, no problems.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, AND I WAS ACTUALLY GOING JUST UNDER 55MPH, THANKFULLY, AS I AM USUALLY DOING 70+. ALL OF THE SUDDEN I FELT A TERRIBLE VIBRATION, AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND BARLEY GOT OVER INTO THE LEFT LANE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BLOW OUT. THERE WAS A BIG PUFF OF SMOKE AROUND THE DRIVER WHEEL. I LOOKED AT THE TIRES, AND FOUND NOTHING. I THEN TRIED TO MOVE IT OFF THE ROAD AND THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE MOVED. I COULD CLEARLY SEE, BY THIS TIME THAT THE AXEL WAS SNAPPED IN HALF, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, AND THE TIRES, WHERE TILTED INWARD. BEING 40 MILES FROM HOME, I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED, AT 11:30PM HAD TO WAIT 90MIN ON TOW TRUCK, ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. TOW BILL 45.00 FOR HOOK UP 4.25 A MILE X 40 = $135.00 PLUS 700.00 FOR NEW AXEL PLUS LABOR, I MISSED NITE OF WORK. THEN TO FIND OUT THIS IS A KINDA COMMON THING AND THERE IS NO RECALL. NOW I AM PISSED! AS ONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE HAD SAID THIS IS A MINI VAN, MOST POPULAR CAR FOR MOM'S WITH KIDS, I BEING A MOM OF FOUR, AM JUST THANKFUL MY KIDS WHERE NOT WITH ME, OR THAT IT WASN'T ANY WORSE. THIS WAS VERY TRAMATIC. AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THANKS FORD!!

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.