1,278 of the
19,460 complaints filed about the Ford Windstar
are about the body and structure —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-20 MPH, the steering wheel was shaking abnormally. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure). The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that after the recall repair was performed the procedure was that the dealer would inspect the vehicle and escalate the findings to the special support center. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the warranty on the repair had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
NHTSA complaint #11753134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE) and 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). The contact stated that while approaching a traffic signal and driving slowly, the vehicle shook, and the engine shifted. The contact stated that the engine shifted to the right. In addition, the contact lost control of the steering wheel. The contact stated that the RPMs became elevated. The contact pulled over into a parking lot and turned off the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle, and upon inspection, became aware that the subframe had detached and was dragging. The contact believed that the motor mounts were fractured. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic, and the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle remained at the tow yard unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.
NHTSA complaint #11720212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Axle broke on rt side just underneath the bracket that ford installed for recall.i was only going 10mph when it happened no warning I was able to gain control and stop was towed into a shop not driveable if this seems to be a problem mine looked fine they must filled it up with expand foam I would think that would trap in more moisture but these are dangerous they should all be fixed or bought back from the customer
NHTSA complaint #11660690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact’s son owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the exhaust pipe was punctured. The contact was advised that the front subframe was severely corroded; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle would not be repaired due to the corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact parked the vehicle and the vehicle was no longer driven due to the safety concerns. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11653439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the front end of the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was a fracture due to corrosion on the front sub frame. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
NHTSA complaint #11532671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rear axle on my vehicle snapped while I was driving causing me to lose control and leave the roadway. I contacted Ford who told me there was a recall for the rear axle of my vehicle and that I would have no out of pocket expenses for the repairs and the towing of the vehicle to the service center. After they set up the towing I received a message saying I had to pay $381 for the towing before they would dispatch the tow truck. I called Ford customer service and they told me that now they can't find in their notes where they told me towing was covered. After asking to speak with a supervisor and being told they're not going to transfer me because they know their supervisor can't do anything more then what they can do I was placed on hold for an hour just to be told they can't find it in their notes and then I was hung up on. I shouldn't have to pay almost $400 to have my vehicle that just had a catastrophic failure causing me to wreck towed for servic after I was lied to about the towing being covered
NHTSA complaint #11527143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V385000 (Suspension) and 11V030000 (Structure) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the subframe was severely corroded. The failure mileage 59,839.
NHTSA complaint #11504440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The driver and passenger side sliding doors tend to not open or close correctly sometimes you have to manually pull them open or they do not completely close and you have to bump the back end of it to close right
NHTSA complaint #11495404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact's husband owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while in reverse, she heard an abnormal noise. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the control arm was cracked. The contact was then informed by the mechanic of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V03000 (Structure). The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that no recall was affiliated with the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11492307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact’s son owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while her son was driving 10 MPH and making a turn into a parking lot, the vehicle stopped as the rear tires collapsed inside the wheel well. The contact was able to park the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle had fractured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would cover the repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle as the subframe was severely corroded. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure) in 2011. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11491221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle was wobbling. Once the contact arrived at her residence, her husband noticed that the rear of the subframe was fracture. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V385000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 136,000.
NHTSA complaint #11491046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rear wheel well is corroded and the corrosion is into the structure that the seat belt is mounted to and it ruined the REM(rear electronic module) there is supposed to be a recall on it but all the ford garages say its been done but it hasn't and now I have no way to work or to take my kids anywhere and the van only has 96000 miles and we just bought it
NHTSA complaint #11429900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LX. IT WAS AT THE MECHANIC FOR SOME REPAIRS AND HE POINTED OUT THE ISSUE WITH MY REAR AXLE BEING CRACKED AND CORRODED. WHICH ITS VERY DANGEROUS TO KEEP DRIVING LIKE THIS. *LN
NHTSA complaint #11387689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON SATURDAY AUGUST 29, 2020 I WAS DRIVING IN MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR DOWN A ROAD THAT WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE SPEED LIMIT OF THE ROAD IS 35 MPH AND THERE IS A CURRENT BUMP IN THE ROAD AT AN ASPHALT ELEVATION CHANGE. AS SOON AS I WENT OVER THE BUMP IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING WAS SEVERELY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A LOUD "BANG" AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING WILDLY AND MAKING SEVERE NOISES. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT HAD OCCURRED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL ONTO A SIDE STREET SHORTLY THEREAFTER. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE WHEEL WAS ANGLED INTO THE BODY OF THE VAN. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, PEERING UNDER THE VEHICLE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE WAS THAT THE VEHICLE'S REAR AXLE HAD FRACTURED NEARLY COMPLETELY THROUGH (SEE PICTURES). IN THIS CONDITION BOTH REAR TIRES COLLAPSED INTO THE VEHICLE FRAME. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD ALREADY BEEN RECALLS RELATED TO THE REAR AXLE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. AFTER THE INSPECTION, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE TO INSTALL BRACKETS ON THE AXLE HAD BEEN PERFORMED IN DEC 2010 AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN INSTALLED CORRECTLY. DUE TO THIS, FORD'S POSITION WAS THAT THE RECALL WAS DONE ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS RELATED TO THE RECALLS AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SAFETY FAILURE ON THEIR VEHICLE. I TRIED TO CONTEND THAT THE INTENT OF THE RECALL WAS TO PREVENT THE AXLE FROM FRACTURING, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THEIR PREVIOUS RECALL "FIX" DIDN'T APPROPRIATELY ACCOMPLISH. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE TO HAVE AN AXLE FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, AND FORD'S PREVIOUS RECALL "FIX" FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM MAKING THE VEHICLE A HAZARD TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #11352877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY MY REAR AXLE BROKE I SAFETY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER BUT WHILE DOING THAT MY TIRE BLEW AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGH WAY.
NHTSA complaint #11324389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNKNOWN PART DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION) AND 11V030000 STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO METRO FORD CHICAGO (6455 S. WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60636, (773)776-7600, TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN BUSHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR BEING PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000.
NHTSA complaint #11322732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11299013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.