10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
127,056 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 2 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #168

May 312013

Windstar 6-cyl

  • miles

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

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

problem #167

Aug 012001

Windstar

  • miles
My vehicle was manufactured in 2001. There was a recall put out for the suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly. In 2011, according to sunset Ford dealership (where I took it for axle repair and was denied) the recall was remedied in 2011. However, as stated along with the recall notice, the time that the brackets were mis installed caused damage to the rear axle, corrosion and fracturing. This is exactly what is happening to my vehicle right now and the dealership along with Ford corporate is saying this axle repair will be fully at my cost. According to their automated recall phone information, up until 2016 they were offering to replace the axle for $300 ( a discounted rate) for customers affected. I do not at all feel I should be responsible for this repair. I contacted Ford corporate a few times now and have been told no its not their fault. I was also told by sunset Ford, that I would need to pay them $140 an hour for them to diagnose it and tell me specifically what is wrong. It has already been there once to check the recall where they took pictures ( included) and sent them to Ford corporate where I was told no they will not fix it unless I pay for it. This repair should be fully covered and I need help getting Ford to agree.

- St Louis, MO, USA

problem #166

May 222019

Windstar

  • 182,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While driving at an unknown speed, the rear driver's side wheel started to rub against the body of the vehicle. The driver was able to coast into a parking lot and could not be driven. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V608000 (suspension) by heller Ford (located at 700 w main St, el paso, tx 61738, (309) 527-6050); however, the repair did not correct the failure. The vehicle was not towed to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer informed the contact that the recall was no longer active and did not offer further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 182,000.

- Bloomington, IL, USA

problem #165

Apr 152019

Windstar

  • 230,000 miles

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

Driving under 30 mph and noticed a strange sound pulled off the street and inspected rear drivers tire was leaning and discovered rear axle was broken

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #164

Jan 242019

Windstar

  • 132,596 miles
1. rear axle fractured severely & broke making the car un-drivable on 24 Jan 2019 while in motion driving in city traffic. Ford put braces on this vehicle under recall# 10S13, but they failed to prevent further corrosion and metal fatigue. The axle was a bad engineering design from the drawing board combined with not E-coating the metal during manufacturing to prevent corrosion of the metal due to road salt. The axle fractured next to the brace on the driver side as shown in the 4 images below. I have one tow bill (flat-bed) to get the car off the downtown street to my home & will have another tow bill to Transport it to where I can replace the axle. 2. front cradle frame's mount rusted off that anchors the stabilizer bar so the stabilizer bar had to be removed. This happened several years ago. The cradle frame probable was not E-coated during manufacture either. I can take a pic and probable have the repair invoice detailing the date and the mechanic's work to remove the stabilizer bar. To fix the car will need a new front cradle frame, stabilizer bar, and possibly mount brackets.

- Xenia, OH, USA

problem #163

Nov 262018

Windstar

  • 280,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While driving at an unknown speed, the driver heard a noise coming from the rear driver's side tire. The contact coasted the vehicle into a parking lot and noticed that the rear driver's side axle had detached without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V385000 (suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 280,000.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #162

Apr 012015

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 122,983 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 the dealer (gurley leep Ford Lincoln, 320 E ireland rd, South bend, in 46614, (574) 291-6910) indicated that they serviced an unknown recall from the manufacturer for the reinforcement brackets and that they had not been required to provide any additional repairs. The dealer replaced the rear axles due to the reinforcement brackets fracturing while the vehicle was being driven below 25 mph. The dealer stated that they were not required by the manufacturer to reinstall reinforcement brackets. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and suggested replacing the same oem rear axles. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was not available. Consumer stated I feel the rear axles fail even with the recall brackets on, so I feel Ford should pay for the bill. The tires went bad and out when this happened. The recall did not work and put new recall parts on new axles. Updated 10/16/18

- South Bend, IN, USA

problem #161

Jun 172018

Windstar

  • 165,000 miles
Rear axle break due to corrosion of acknowledged inadequately designed axle. Break happened in the reinforcement bracket installed do to initial axle recall for potential break due to corrosion.. car was on city street in motion to freeway onramp fortunately the axle broke prior to entering freeway. Axle break resulted in sagging axle and a wheel tilted inward at about 20 degrees and wedged against the inner wheel well. Tire started to smoke. Car is undriveable. The repair is estimated to $1400. Ford will not accept any financial responsibility for this break in the brackets installed to prevent the break. Additional components are also needing repair and replacement due to the break of the axle.

- Bloomington, MN, USA

problem #160

Mar 012018

Windstar

  • 104,000 miles
Removed subframe to replace faulty torque converter. Found substantial rusting at firewall end of subframe on both "arms", requiring replacement of subframe. Called local dealers, no "open" recall (over 15 year-old van) and $4,900 new subframe quote provided, with no dealer or manufacturer coverage, after calling national and Canadian mfctr recall numbers. Mfctr/dealers of no assistance, whatsoever. Part not actually available.

- Carrizozo, NM, USA

problem #159

Nov 112017

Windstar

  • miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While driving 35 mph, the axle fractured. The vehicle was towed to ricart Ford (4255 S hamilton rd, groveport, oh 43125) where it was diagnosed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. The repair was no longer covered under NHTSA campaign number: 15V608000 (suspension). The local dealer contacted the manufacturer and was informed that they would cover the inspection; however, the vehicle repairs would be the contact's responsibility. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #158

Oct 102017

Windstar

  • 141,588 miles

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

Sub frame

- North Lima, OH, USA

problem #157

Sep 262017

Windstar

  • 29,500 miles
2001 Ford Windstar rear axel cracked while driving on the city streets. I see recalls for other similar vehicles for the same problem.

- Tifton, GA, USA

problem #156

Sep 012017

Windstar

  • miles
A major crack in the rear axle beam was discovered during routine maintenance rendering the vehicle unsafe for use. Ford had a recall to fix this problem, but my vehicle was not included in the recall because the vehicle was not sold in a state that used salt on the roads in winter (I live in Florida where there is a lot of salt in the air - all the time!) I believe that all Windstar should have been included in the recall because it is obviously a major design flaw and therefore a major safety issue.

- St. Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #155

Aug 062017

Windstar

  • miles
The rear axle is broken during drive to 45 mph with my family.

- Hanover Park, IL, USA

problem #154

Jul 012017

Windstar

  • 196,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While backing out of the driveway, the rear passenger wheel suddenly buckled inward. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the failure was due to severe rusting and corrosion of the axle, which caused the brackets to also separate. The vehicle was towed to schicker Ford in St. Louis, Missouri where it was diagnosed that the axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 196,000.

- St.Louis, MO, USA

problem #153

May 042017

Windstar

  • 127,000 miles
Rear axle needed to be replaced, due to rust corrosion from road salt. There was apparently a recall on this that also failed. The axle was about to break in half.

- Macungie, PA, USA

problem #152

Mar 312017

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 18,000 miles
Takata inflators;I Ford denying my request F VIN #[xxx] I have an obvious crack (see photos) directly under the bracket a band-aid that Ford issued in an earlier recall on my rear axle with the sole purpose of this band-aid to prevent such cracking. Apparently my bracket part was deemed installed correctly, effectively causing a denial for a replacement part on my Windstar. Clearly this bracket failed and did not stop my rear axle from experiencing cracking! Ford clearly new exactly where this cracking would occur because the crack appears directly under the bracket installed to create a stronger part. The only thing holding this rear axle together is this bracket. This particular part in question is directly below the gas tank, should this crucial part experience failure while driving on a 70mph highway what would happen? also looking at my Windstar on a lift we noticed the center of the Windstar seems to be sagging (see photos) from what appears to be the under carriage breaking down from rust and corrosion, this appears to be causing extreme structure failure. I do reside in one of the stated salt belt states as being the state of Iowa. What would the full criteria for this recall and buyback program on certain Windstar"S in 2011 thru 2013 be? why was my Windstar limited excluded in this recall? I still have not been advised not to drive my Windstar by any current Ford representatives. However former Ford mechanics have advised me not to drive my Windstar, these same mechanics" are adamant my Windstar is unsafe! I have been attempting to fix the concerns that moffitts Ford in boone Iowa wanted me to repair at the time of the axle inspection. Only having more concern brought to my attention about the axle. I wrote [xxx] a letter 2/15/17 asking to overturn and allow repair [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Clinton, IA, USA

problem #151

Mar 102017

Windstar

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving at a very slow speed, the front passenger side coil spring fractured also causing damage to the brake line. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was discovered that both the driver side and passenger side coil springs had been cracked. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also indicated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS and brake sensor warning lights would illuminate. The cause of the failures were not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,000.

- Brookfield, WI, USA

problem #150

Feb 152017

Windstar

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer for a recall related to the lower control arm. The contact stated that the repair for the lower control arm was completed; however, the subframe was rusted. The rust was within the connection between the control arm and the subframe. The dealer determined that the rust was part of the recall repair that was completed. The recall information was not provided. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Schaumburg, IL, USA

problem #149

Jan 122017

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
Rear axle snapped while driving on normal roads.

- Springfield, IL, USA

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