10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
121,777 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.

2002 Ford Windstar miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2002 Ford Windstar Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #41

Aug 012021

Windstar

  • 185,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle experienced severe vibration when the rear axle fractured causing the driver to almost lose control of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA campaign number 12V194000 (Suspension). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 185,000.

- Salina, KS, USA

problem #40

Jan 292021

Windstar

  • 200,000 miles
Rear axle cracked through on the driver's side, even after a recall patch/repair was made. No collisions, no hard driving. Not a corrosion issue. Metal is cracked perpendicular to the axle..across the grain. Axle was heard to make noise while backing out of driveway, then vehicle felt fish-tailing while drive down paved neighborhood street. Turning to the right made noticeable grinding noises from the rear driver's side wheel well. On closer inspection, the rear wheels were severely tilted in at the top, and the axle was clearly, obviously very cracked open on the driver's side, and appears ready to break into 2 halves. The vehicle was recalled in 2010 for axle defects, but the repairs made seem inadequate. The vehicle was dealership maintained.

- Clay, MI, USA

problem #39

Apr 172019

Windstar

  • miles
I took my vehicle to Ford and they say my bracket guard near rear axle is defected and was under Ford recall and that it is a safety hazard, though when terry hendricks Ford sent in a claim they sad it had expired although I need it recalled for repair

- Fayette, OH, USA

problem #38

Mar 062020

Windstar

  • 125,000 miles

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

Engine cradle rusted through and snapped while backing out of a parking spot leaving me stuck with tires in two different directions

- Kiel, WI, USA

problem #37

Sep 202019

Windstar

  • 900 miles
This 2002 red Ford Windstar is reported stolen out of Kansas City

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #36

Jul 052019

Windstar

  • miles
Rear axle cracked in two while driving 25mph

- Marine City, MI, USA

problem #35

Aug 032019

Windstar

  • 1,344,855 miles

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

Rotted rear axle beam, 2002 Ford Windstar, this vehicle was taken to a near by town Ford dealership : ace motors in woodbury NJ, for the rear axle recall in 2015 not sure if anything has been repaired or not I was just told by the dealership that the vehicle was inspected and passed and ok to drive but when the axle broke on the driver side I took pitchers and it looks like someone has put on some kind of slave clamps on both sides of the axle that I don't see on other Ford Windstar mini vans ( see pitchers ) called up the dealership ace motors and they said to bring it up to them and they will have a look at it and maybe it can be put in a claim ticket but again maybe not, it's hard enough to put on a flatbed tow truck with the damage that it has and if some reason they don't put a claim ticket in I can't afford to keep towing this vehicle all over the place so dealership gave me the Ford I.N.C company phone number : 800-392-3673, so I called them and more less they told me there is nothing they can do, one thing I'm happy about is we was going slow in my home town pulling off the main road onto a side road heading to the house when it happened and nobody got heart when it happened even though it was so loud and nosy think it broke a shook and brake lines. 8 / 8 / 2019

- Thorofare, NJ, USA

problem #34

May 022019

Windstar

  • 0 miles
This 2002 Ford Windstar is reported stolen out of Kansas City

- Raytown, MO, USA

problem #33

Apr 102018

Windstar

  • miles
2002 Ford Windstar. Consumer writes in regards to safety recall notices never received for vehicle.

- Whitehall, PA, USA

problem #32

Feb 202018

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 147,000 miles
I learned today there was a recall on the suspension:rear axle non powered axle assembly in 2010. The fix was to place reinforcement brackets (recall # 10V385000), and this was done. Since I purchased the van in April 2016 I've had to replace the rear tire 4 times! I asked the tire shop attendant how could this be and upon further inspection he pointed out there seemed to be some repair done on the axle and it appeared to have a crack in it now. He said the tire is leaning slightly inward because of this. He went on to say he's seen many Ford Windstar with this issue and I should reach out to Ford about recalls. I searched online first and found that there was a second recall on the axle assemble (recall # 15V608000). This was about the repair bracket, that it could be installed improperly. I called Ford and to my surprise the operator (ralph) said my VIN was not apart of the newer recall. I don't believe that to be true if it was apart of the initial recall and had the reinforcement bracket placed on the axle. Please help. I was driving when I noticed the problem. I hadn't hit any major pot holes or anything! normal bumps in the road but nothing major. I noticed the issue more when I turned a corner eventually my tire blew out (making a loud noise) and I had to call for a tow. The tire repair attendant said it even looked as if the tire was leaning inward. The picture attached is of the inside of the tire. The part you can't see by looking at the vehicle.

- Montclair, NJ, USA

problem #31

Feb 082018

Windstar

  • 176,000 miles

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

Rear axle assembly snapped yet our VIN is not on recall list. This was not due to any accident or damage on our behalf this was simple daily in town five miles driving then snapped and not usable. We were driving and turned left and. Or even two blocks the vehicle made a snap sound almost like a popped tire. Both tired are inward and the vehicle ian now parked due to the snapping of this.

- Freeport, IL, USA

problem #30

Nov 102017

Windstar

  • 175,000 miles
The rear axle started to snap in November 2017 when I was driving with my wife and kids in the van. We smelled burning rubber and pulled over. If we had drove any further the axle was going to snap with all of us in the vehicle. Ford is refusing to cover all the costs of the repair because the previous owner had the bracket/support put on. We did not purchase this vehicle till March 2017. We want the full cost of the repair covered and the Ford dealership's storage fees erased. Our bill is currently $1,809.65. We should not have to pay for the repair and the time it has been sitting there while we fight Ford to pay the bill. This was not an act of wear and tear but an act of a recall on the manufacturer.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

problem #29

Nov 152017

Windstar

  • 150,000 miles
The sweigh bar links have been replaced twice. Breaks and rosters too! the tires are new with inlinement and rotation done! I have went through several sets of tires! the vehicle just doesn't drive correctly! the vehicle is also missing with no found reason and will randomly die! it feels very lose and unsafe on the road! the coil pack, plugs and plug wires replaced! all new fluids including antifreeze, break fluid, power steering fluid, oil and transmission fluid! the air filter and other filters! new fuel pump and it's still not right! break light comes on and off and emergency break isn't set nor is it low on fluid! new breaks and caliber and rotor! seriously have invested slot of money in this vehicle! also motor for windows being replaced now! gage hand will periodically go all the way to the right the after a few seconds go back to normal! this started in April of 2017 and is still continuing

- Bowling Green, KY, USA

problem #28

Mar 152017

Windstar

  • 150,000 miles
We got a recall on our Ford Windstar for the rear axle. The axle snapped while we were driving and we contacted yankee Ford in South portland in so. Portland me. And we had aaa tow it there jame at Ford Motor Company approved the axle to be replaced and yankee Ford replaced it and now Ford won't pay for it and we haven't had a vehicle for 3-4 weeks. Yankee Ford is 207-799-5591 and ask for dan brubach. The state of Maine attorney general's office tracy thompson 207-626-8851 said I should make a complaint through you. We could have been killed. We can't have our vehicle now as the part had been put on and Ford says that this jame never had the authority to request. This. She had spoken with ernie bodman 1-207-799-5591 and authorized it. We are beyond upset and would like to have our vehicle. Yankee has tried but Ford won't pay them. We were on the road when it happened. Luckily we weren't on a highway. Yankee Ford has the pictures that was taken when jame requested them. Dan brubach spoke with randy arnoldi who is the service manager for the boston and above division and randy said most likely it wouldn't be paid. It is not our fault jame approved the work to be done. It had been a federal recall. The last recall was sent out in Feb. It said but we didn't get it until March.

- Gorham, ME, USA

problem #27

Jan 232017

Windstar

  • 170,000 miles
My 2002 fors winstar on passenger side had the axle bracket break off and in the letter that was recieved, there was a recall after axle was fixed on the assembly of the brackets. Which Ford is not honoring

- Davenport, IA, USA

problem #26

Feb 032015

Windstar

  • 120,000 miles
The ABS and brake light indicators turn on sporadically and remain on until the car is restarted. I have watched for some patterns, but seen few. Cooler weather keeps them off longer and when it is hotter out, then they turn on quickly. I might also drive the car for 30-45 minutes before they turn on, and when I restart the car, it is inconsistent on if they come back on or stay off. This has been happening for quite some time and is now happening more routinely than when it first started.

- Columbus, MT, USA

problem #25

Apr 162016

Windstar 6-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
Vehicle currently at the dealership for more than two months awaiting from Ford customer relationship center to resolve the issue as the dealer wont fix the corroded sub frame instead they want the crc dept send the parts to them, according to crc dept they escalated the issue to the second level but no action until now has been taken...I feel that they're ignoring my request or has been sitting there without taking any action. We almost died on this as the passenger side wheel fell off..I'm trying my luck if you can help us to resolve the issue with them...thanks [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bergenfield, NJ, USA

problem #24

May 012016

Windstar

  • 25,000 miles
2002 Windstar recall I was driving down the road one day to find out all off all the shifters but neutral the van suddenly had stopped going we could not go in drive reverse or anything find out stuck in middle of intersection with cars coming our way this problem is still unknown

- Shrlbyville, TN, USA

problem #23

Nov 252015

Windstar

  • 129,637 miles
Leaving parking lot at work my car fully accelerated, lost steering and crashed into steel post. Inspection revealed both rear engine cradle mounts were completely rusted through causing rear engine cradle to drag on the ground. Which caused loss of steering, full throttle and crashed right front of vehicle.

- Emporia, KS, USA

problem #22

Oct 042015

Windstar

  • 100,000 miles
Our van had a recall on the rear axle in 2010. The repair was made by an authorized Ford dealer. While returning from a weekend trip on October 4, 2015, and driving on a busy Pennsylvania interstate, the rear axle broke in the exact spot of repair. I initially lost control of the car, but was able to guide it to shoulder of road. I subsequently learned there is an extended recall on the rear axle, as the initial repair may not have been correct. Car was inspected, and now Ford motors said they are not responsible. They will authorize a new axle at a discounted rate of $300 to us, and we are responsible for replacing our shredded tire. We also must pay tow fees.

- Union Beach, NJ, USA

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