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 bracket that holds the passenger side front suspension lower arm to the subframe failed while driving the car. This bracket that holds this arm to the subframe was completed corroded away, causing the failure. All that is left on the subframe is corrosion and weld marks. The arm is completely disconnected from the subframe. Without this lower arm, the wheel on the passenger side, toed out and had negative camber which popped out the drive shaft from the transmission. Fortunately, this happened at a low speed, 10 mph and there were no injuries. At a higher speed, I speculate that this was a very dangerous condition since the vehicle pulled very hard to the right and you didn't have adequate control over the steering. I have talked to a Ford representative and he indicated that they had no information on this type of failure, and that there isn't any recall. I understand that your department is looking into it.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the right front passenger wheel assembly was corroded and rusted from the frame which caused the wheel to fall off. The vehicle was repaired at a local repair shop. The dealer stated that there were no related recalls. The contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 87,160.
I am not a mechanic but will attempt to relay my best interpretation of what I believe happened. While my wife was driving a total loss of steering occurred. Very luckily she was not on a major highway travelling at high speed or in the process of navigating a turn. After inspection by our mechanic it was determined that the cradle that supports the front suspension fractured. This occurred on the front passenger side of the vehicle and the front axle connected to passenger side wheel was then disconnected from the transmission this was either caused by lower control arm disconnected or the vice/versa. The vehicle lost the ability to turn and luckily there was nobody tailgating as she was forced to park the vehicle stranded in the middle of the road. It is my opinion that an existing open defect investigation, PE10026, is an exact match to the problem encountered. I tried to resolve with Ford but at this time they do not consider the 100+ instances of this occurring as sufficient cause to warrant a recall and I guess that over the next year or two as this component of the vehicle continues to age we will see more incidents like this. I just had the vehicle serviced and my mechanic knew to check for the rear axle failure but had there been proper notification already in place they may have been able to check for this defect before the vehicle was put back on the road at risk of human life.
- Flanders, NJ, USA
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While backing out from a parking space, the passenger side lower control arm mount separated from the subframe due to extensive corrosion. The front passenger wheel was turned outwardly and the right half shaft was disengaged from the differential. While researching this issue on the internet, I realized the subframe should last longer than the life of the vehicle. Fortunately for some it has been detected while in a repair shop for some other reason such as brakes, alignment or other front end work. Unfortunately for others it has been discovered by malfunctioning to the point of breaking and causing other structural/mechanical damage, as well as personal injury. I would like to believe that Ford stands behind its product and is willing to issue a recall for repair.
Took my 2001 Ford Windstar to the local Ford dealership for rear axle recall. I was advised by the service manager at my Ford dealership that rear axle was cracked, and that the metal was rusted and pitted. It was determined by the service manager that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. Apparently there are several Windstar with this problem. While performing the rear axle inspection, the dealership found that the front subframe assemblies on both sides of the vehicle are severely rusted and cracked. This also appears to be a common problem. However, Ford has yet to issue a recall on this problem. Have your dealership check your subframe assemblies, and if problems are found, file a complaint with NHTSA so we can also get this unsafe condition remedied. There is an ongoing investigation, and it appears there are more and more cases arising. There needs to be sufficient number of claims in order for Ford to recall these vehicles.
2001 Ford Windstar with a cracked rear axle. No letter has been received to address this matter. Our van made creaking noises and we had heard through the media that a recall was beginning. The dealership and the Ford customer relations dept. Will not give us a definite answer as to when we can expect a resolution. We were given a 30 day rental and 14 days have passed and no answers. We are given $30 a day for a rental car by Ford but must pay taxes totaling $3.30 a day. The voucher is $38 daily with $8 used for insurance if needed. We pay through our private insurance company for such coverage. Why cannot Ford use the additional $8 a day to cover our taxes? the explanation for the recall was to be no expense to the owner for correcting the problem. We did not create this problem and bought our van in good faith of the Ford Motor Co. Reputation. This certainly doesn't make for good customer relations. No definite deadline for repairs and giving up the van to use a 4 door car has been very inconvenient. I am requesting a deadline be established and for Ford to use the additional $8 we are not using but was allocated for coverage of this problem to be covered for those customers who already have insurance for rental cars under their private insurance carrier.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While driving at 70 mph, the contact heard a loud, unusual explosion. The contact was able to exit the vehicle and found that the front sub frame and axle had fractured from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was awaiting repairs. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileages were 110,000. Updated 11/19/10. Also, the oil pan gaskets was leaking. Updated 11/24/10
My axel broke on my 2001 Ford Windstar and I almost got killed on a highway. I had to pull on narrow shoulder lane. I had it towed and had to pay 625. To have it fixed. I just read this week they are investigating and their is class action suit about these axles how do I get recall info and report this?
I have a 2001 Ford Windstar. In December 2009 my rear axle snapped in half while driving at about 30 - 40 mph. No injuries occurred. Repairs cost about $600 (in addition to a car rental cost of $250) as this occurred about 2 hours from my home. I called my Ford dealer and they claimed to have no knowledge of similar problems with Ford Windstar, however, I read today that the NHTSA is investigating this very problem. At the time of the repair the garage doing the work indicated that "Ford Windstar are notorious for this problem" it was the second axle replacement he had done on a Ford Windstar in a week. Please add my name/experience to the list of complaints related to this problem. If it is determined that a recall is in order I would appreciate the opportunity to recoup part/all of my expenses associated with this problem ($850). Thank you very much and if you have any questions or need further information please feel free to contact me.
I own a 2001 Ford Windstar. We are the original owners and have performed all routine maintenance on the vehicle. It began making a grinding noise in the back when turning into our driveway which has a slight ridge at the end of it. We had our mechanic check it and he found that the rear axle is cracked half way through. Fortunately we found this before it broke while traveling on the highway. I don't know what we are going to do to fix it yet because we can't afford an $1100 repair bill.
The rear axle on my 2001 Ford Windstar broke in half as I was backing up out of a parking spot. I had to have the rear axle replaced. U have heard from many people that this is a common problem with Ford Windstar.
I own a 2001 Ford Windstar van. While coming home today from work we lost control and was fishtailing (I am so glad that this happened when no cars where coming the other way or 15 mins earlier when we were on the highway) when we were able to safely stop and get out to see what happened we noticed the rear passenger tire was back about 2 to 3 in, compared to the other tire. When my husband got down and looked underneath he found out the rear axle broke in 2. right now the van is sitting in my parents driveway as we are unable to pay to get it fixed.
On November 3rd, 2009, the rear axle failed in my 2001 Ford Windstar while I was on the highway. The car had begun performing erratically so I was not traveling at high speed, but even at low speed it was essentially uncontrollable when the failure happened. In the weeks leading up to the actual failure, I had experienced handling problems with the vehicle. After my mechanic replaced the front struts and rear shocks the car still didn't handle right. They thought this might be because the rear alignment was not a little out of spec - they were waiting for shims to come in to correct that when the axle failed. In addition to my unhappiness about the complaints - the vehicle kind of swerved when going around corners, especially highway on/off ramps - the only warning the car gave in the weeks up to the failure was seemingly-random indications from the tire-pressure warning light. In end end, the garage I took the car to ended up replacing the rear axle assembly and the two rear tires - when the axle failed the tires had rubbed against the tire wells. When searching online for other reports of this problem I came across several here, and posted my own. (my own description as well as four pictures of the failed part are on the site under November 3rd 2009: www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Windstar/2001/drivetrain/rear_axle_snapped_in_two.shtml.
While driving 2001 Ford Windstar on a 1-hour trip toward home, I noticed the back wheels fish tailing that occurred in every rough spot in the road. I immediately thought the tire was going flat and pulled over to check it. Since the tires visually looked fine, I drove to the next exit to a gas station and checked the tire air pressure and found it was at proper levels. I was still unsure what could cause the "fish tailing" or "hydroplaning" feeling, yet I was able to make it the rest of the way home without a major accident; although my car kept "fishtailing".. the next morning, my husband took the Windstar to a service mechanic to inspect the tires. What he found was a rear axle that was "rusted from the inside out" about 3/4 of the way. The mechanic's initial estimate is $1000 (for replacement of new axle and labor). We are relieved that the rear axle didn't break while we were driving as the car could have flipped and killed all of us. What could cause corrosion on the inside? the rear axle should be made to never corrode or break under normal road driving conditions. After researching on the internet, I have found other 8 year old, same make/model Windstar owners reporting the same conditions. This is an unsafe part especially noting that people are keeping their cars longer due to economy. Ford should own up to this part failure and recall and replace this part at no charge to the owners immediately!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Arlington Hts, IL, USA