2000 FORD WINDSTAR Structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL WAS TILTED INWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V080000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V030000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAILED REINFORCEMENT PLATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 146,000.

AFTER EMPLOYING THE STANDARD ISSUED FORD WINDSTAR SCISSORS JACK AND RAISING THE LR SUBFRAME AT THE DESIGNATED JACK POINT TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE, THE SUBFRAME STARTED TO SNAP AND BUCKLE. THE VAN THEN STARTED TO LOWER IN HEIGHT WITHOUT OPERATING THE JACK. THE VAN LOWERED IN HEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 1-2 IN. AFTER REMOVING THE JACK, THE ASSIGNED JACK POINT WAS BENT. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY EMPLOY(AND STILL CAN NOT SAFELY EMPLOY) THE ISSUED JACK AND REPAIR THE FLAT WITHOUT POSSIBLE HARM OR INJURY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 11V030000 STRUCTURE FRAME AND MEMBERS UNDER BODY SHIELDS, AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 10V385000 SUSPENSION REAR AXLE NON POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND WERE COMPLETED ON APRIL 4, 2011. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLES FRONT END MADE A RUBBING SOUND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THE DEALER STATED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WOULD NEED TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 94,000.

RECALL # ID 10S13 REAR AXLE INSPECTION AND AXEL ON WINDSTAR 2001 MY HUSBAND FIRST NOTICED THE REAR AXEL CRACKED IN TWO PIECES AND TOOK THE CAR TO OUR MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THE CRACKS AND HE SAID HE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL ON THE WINDSTARS. WE RECEIVED NOTICE IN OCTOBER AN CAR WAS DUE FOR INSPECTION IN NOVEMBER. THE FORD DEALER SAID IT WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND WE COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT. DEALER SAID IT COULD TAKE THREE TO FOUR MONTHS TO GET THE PART AND REPAIR THE WINDSTAR. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE REAR AXEL TO BE REPAIRED AND FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN 2002 AND FAILURE TO RECALL EARLIER THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS FOR THE WINDSTAR. WITH A SAFETY CONCERN WHY THE INSPECTION STATIONS WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALLS ON THE WINDSTARS AND DRIVERS LIKE...

AFTER RECEIVING INFO ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF A REAR AXLE DEFECT I BROUGHT MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR TO MY LOCAL DEALER. UPON INSPECTION I WAS TOLD I WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE OFF THE LOT. THE REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT OR THAT I DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. FORD NOW ONLY WANTS TO COVER A SMALL RENTAL CAR BUT NOT A MINIVAN. THERE IS A REASON I HAD A MINIVAN! I NEED THE SEATS! FORD SAYS THEY UNDERSTAND MY CONCERN YET THEY OFFER NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN CORPORATE IS LOOKING INTO YOUR CONCERN! NO OWNER SHOULD HAVE ANY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE DUE TO THIS RECALL. THERE SHOULD BE A URGENT LETTER SENT TO EVERY OWNER OF THIS CAR SAYING BRING TO A DEALER IMMEDIATELY. THE RISK IS TOO GREAT! *TR

2000 WINDSTAR 96K MILES ? OWNED SINCE 2002 ? JUST TOOK MY CAR IN TODAY FOR THE BRAKE LINE POTENTIALLY CAUSING FIRES RECALL AND ANOTHER RECALL, THE DEALERSHIP(TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD, EVANSVILLE, IN) DIDN'T FIX EITHER RECALL I TOOK THE VAN IN FOR, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT MY REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED ( I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT RECALL LETTER YET), THE THING THAT REALLY IS PAINFUL IS THAT I PUT A NEW TRANNY IN LAST WEEK TO THE TUNE OF $3,200, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE WOULD GIVE ME KBB VALUE OF $3,600, HAD I ACTUALLY KNOWN ABOUT THE RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER, THEN I WOULDN?T HAVE JUST PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE TO ME. *TR

DURING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING UNIT, TIE ROD ENDS, AND RACK ASSEMBLY, THE MECHANIC, [XXX], FROM STONE'S AUTO SERVICE, INC., LOCATED AT 350 NORTH MAIN ST.; MIAMISBURG, OHIO 45342. THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (937) 866-3674, NOTICED EXCESSIVE RUST DETERIORATION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED, ON THE INVOICE STATEMENT, THE FRONT FRAME IS UNSAFE. HE RECOMMENDED WE NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE, DUE TO THE RUSTED FRONT SUBFRAME. WE WERE TOLD THE ENTIRE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD FALL OFF AT ANYTIME. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED WE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS INTERSTATE FORD, INC. THE DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED AT: 125 ALEXANDERSVILLE ROAD; MIAMISBURG, OHIO 45342. THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE DEALERSHIP IS (937) 866-1737. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO INTERSTATE FORD, INC., WHICH THEIR MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED US NOT TO DRIVE THE...

I BROUGHT MY FORD WINDSTAR IN TO THE DEALERS BECAUSE OF THE REAR AXLE RECALL. I HAD THEM INSPECT THE SUBFRAME WHILE IT WAS ON THE LIFT, AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT NOT ONLY WAS MY REAR AXLE BROKEN, BUT MY SUBFRAME IS SEPARATED AS WELL. (ALONG WITH THE CAR HAVING AN EXHAUST LEAK). AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE THE REPAIR AND RENTAL FROM FORD FOR THE AXLE, THE REMAINING REPAIRS WILL COST ME AS MUCH AS THE CAR IS WORTH. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 75000 MILES ON IT, AND IS GARAGE KEPT. THE SUBFRAME PROBLEMS NEED TO BE ADDRESS BY FORD IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. *TR

HAD THE FRONT SUB FRAMED CHECKED. IT IS BADLY RUSTED AND FOUND NOW TO BE UNSAFE AND NEEDS A NEW SUB FRAME TO HOLD FRONT END TOGETHER. WE FIRST HAD THIS VAN IS BUFFALO THAN NEBRASKA. WE NOW LIVE IN FLORIDA. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL (STEERING) WITHOUT WARNING ON A PROPERLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE. RIGHT "A: FRAME DETACHED, WELDS AND METAL PULLED APART ON REAR TIE POINT. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITH NO WARNING AT 55 MPH. PULLED ME OFF THE ROAD TO RIGHT, (ABOUT 10 FEET) WHEN LEFT FRONT TIRE AGAIN HIT PAVEMENT I WAS PULLED ACROSS THE ON COMING LANE - REGAINED CONTROL AND COASTED PARTLY OFF THE ROAD ON THE RIGHT. THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL. IT IS NOT A NORMALLY SERVICEABLE PART. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR HAVE CAUSED INJURY TO SOMEONE ELSE, LUCK WAS WITH ME OR I WOULD NOT BE WRITING THIS! IT WAS ON A FAIRLY BUSY STATE ROUTE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY FORD WINDSTAR 2000 ON A HIGHWAY IN MARYLAND WITH MY FAMILY, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO THE SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER. UPON CHECKING WE REALIZED THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE INCLINED INWARD. A SUBSEQUENT CHECK UNDER THE VEHICLE REVEALED THAT THE REAR BEAM WAS BROKEN. I HAVE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT REAR BEAM . *TR

REAR AXLE ON 2000 FORD WINDSTAR COMPLETELY FAILED AND CRACKED TODAY WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AFTER COMPLETING A 300 MILE TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY. RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. *TR

I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH A REAR AXLE THAT IS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. NOTICED INSTABILITY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND BELIEVED IT TO BE AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, BUT TECHNICIANS DISCOVERED REAR AXLE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS PARKED AND HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN SINCE AXLE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. ESTIMATES FOR REPLACEMENT RUN FROM $1000 TO $2200. REAR TIRES ARE WORN UNEVENLY AND TIRES ARE NOTICEABLY TILTED INWARD IN REAR. *TR

LARGE CRACK ALMOST ENTIRELY AROUND REAR AXLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DISCOVERED CRACK WHEN INVESTIGATING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. APPEARS CRACK STARTED ON INSIDE OF FORMED CHANNEL. ALSO NOTICED A SHORT APPROX. 1 INCH CREASE LINE IN THE CENTER OF THE FORMED CHANNEL NOT FAR FROM WHERE THE CRACK STARTED. CORROSION APPEARS TO HAVE OCCURRED ON THE INSIDE OF THE AXLE BEAM. WHILE INVESTIGATING THE OTHER SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) NEAR ANOTHER CREASE LINE, POKED A HOLE IN THE AXLE BEAM WITH A SCREWDRIVER. NO SEVERE CORROSION IS EVIDENT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE AXLE BEAM. ATTEMPTS TO FIND A USED AXLE BEAM HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFULLY DO TO SIMILAR DAMAGE. REPAIRING THE AXLE SEEMS ILL ADVISED CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE INTERNAL CORROSION AND A NEW AXLE IS BEING LOOKED INTO. LUCKILY MY WIFE PAYS ATTENTION TO THOSE LITTLE ODD NOISES AND WASN'T GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT TOTALLY FAILED....

2000 WINDSTAR REAR AXLE RUSTED THRU. *TR

THE REAR AXEL OF MY VAN BROKE IN TWO. I WASN'T DRIVING VERY FAST. I WAS DROPPING OFF SOME KIDS AT THE MOVIE THEATER AND IT WAS A GOOD THING I WAS ALREADY IN THE PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE ROAD WHERE IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO ONE HURT AND NO CAR ACCIDENTS. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR LX, 2 WEEKS AGO THE REAR AXLE CRACKED AND COST ME $350.00 IN PARTS AND $175.00 IN LABOR...1 WEEK LATER THE REPLACEMENT AXLE CRACKED IN THE SAME SPOT. THANKFULLY MY MECHANIC COVERED IT, MY REAR TIRES ARE SHOT FROM THE 2 OCCURRENCES AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED WHEN I CAN AFFORD IT. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON VACATION TO TENNESSEE I NOTICED A SWAY FROM THE REAR END. WHEN ARRIVING I NOTICE BOTH REAR TIRES WERE LEANING INWARD AND THE INSIDE OF EACH TIRE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL BELTS. I TOOK THE VAN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE COMPLETE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY AND BOTH REAR TIRES. *TR

I OWNED A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES. FOR ABOUT A WEEK, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES, ESPECIALLY WHILE BRAKING ON AN UNEVEN OR BUMPY SURFACE BECAUSE THE REAR END WOULD SHIFT TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. .A FEW DAYS LATER, THE FRONT END BEGAN TO JERK AND I TOOK IT INTO THE GARAGE. UPON REVIEW, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE REAR AXLE WAS BROKEN ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH. *TR

LOCAL NEWS ARTICLE BROADCAST YESTERDAY REGARDING REAR AXEL PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTAR. MY 2000FORD WINDSTAR LX WAS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE/CONTROL, SIMILAR TO DRIVING WITH FLAT TIRES & UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VAN WAS"DRIFTING" FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I LOOKED AT THE REAR AXEL & THERE IS A VISIBLE CRACK ON DRIVER SIDE OF REAR AXEL. PASSENGER SIDE OF REAR AXEL IS ALSO STARTING TO CRACK. *TR

THE REAR AXLE BEAM OF MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR SPLIT IN 2 WHILE I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN CAUSING THE REAR WHEELS TO FLARE OUT. THE SERVICE STATION SAID THEY HAVE MADE REPAIRS TO OTHER WINDSTARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. LUCKY FOR ME I WAS NOT GOING FAST AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I LEARNED LATER THAT THE BEAM RUSTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE AS WATER HAD INFILTRATED THE BEAM. *TR

MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH APPROX 140000 MILES HAD ITS REAR AXLE SNAP IN TWO. AS I REVIEW OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN ISOLATED CASE. *TR

I HAD BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT A BAD SHIMMY AT 50 MPH ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR, AND I HAD SPOKEN TO MY DEALER ABOUT IT WHEN I HAD THE OIL CHANGED. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, AS I PULLED FROM MY DRIVEWAY, THE REAR AXLE BROKE COMPLETELY IN TWO. WE HAVE TRIED TO GET FORD TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, AS THERE MUST BE MILLIONS OF THESE VANS STILL ON THE ROAD, AND MOST OF THEM CARRY CHILDREN. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY RESPONSE SO WE ARE FILING THIS COMPLAINT. WE HAVE HEARD OF OTHER FAILURES AND AS YOU KNOW THEY COULD BE DEADLY. WE PAID TO HAVE THE AXLE REPLACED. *TR

IN 2004/2005 THE PAINT ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR BEGAN FLAKING OFF. IT STARTED ON THE HOOD, THEN THE LIFTGATE AND THE ROOF. AT THIS POINT IF WE HAVE A WIND STORM I FIND CHIPS OF PAINT ALL OVER MY DRIVE WAY. FORD SAYS "PAINT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER" AND BASICALLY THE PROBLEM IS ALL MINE. *TR

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE. VEHICLE GOT NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT THEN TWO DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. I WENT BACK TO THE TIRE DEALER, THE MECHANIC CHECK THE ALIGNMENT AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD A CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE CRACK WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE AXLE WAS ALMOST IN TWO PARTS AND AT THE BASE THERE IS A QUARTER INCH SEPARATION IN THE CRACK. THE TIRE IS NO LONGER LAYING FLAT. THE BOTTOM OF THE TIRE IS FACING OUT. IF THE MECHANIC DIDN'T FIND THE FAILURE THERE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. *TR

EVERY TIME WE GET HEAVY RAINS MY FRONT WINDSHIELD LEAKS. WHILE CHECKING RECALLS I HAVE COME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM WHICH MY MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME EXACTLY AS THE RECALL READS. FORD WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THEIR SITE. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS TOO OLD OR IT WAS ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A FORD DEALER ALMOST A YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT MY WINDSHIELD MAY COME LOOSE BECAUSE OF THE BONDING AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS AT THE SUBFRAME OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING OR PRIOR SYMPTOMS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 95K MILES. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE THE DRIVER WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A CURB WHEN THE CONTROL ARM MOUNTS BROKE CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SWING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVE AXLE TO PULL OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION WHERE IT WAS EXAMINED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO IN TURN INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY DIRECTLY. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT IN THE AREA AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. FORD HAS REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. A SEARCH OF...

JOINTS ARE NOT CONNECTED UNDER QUARTER WHEEL WELD. ONE WELD IS COMPLETLY MISSING, AND 3 ARE NOT PROPERLY CONNECTED. AUTOMOBILE STARTED WITH SQUEAKING NOISE WHICH LED TO A VERY LOUD NOISE. AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES. THE 1ST AND 2ND TIME, DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF DEFECT. THE 3RD TIME, DEALER FOUND THE DEFECT, BUT STATED THAT ANY AUTHORIZED FORD REPAIR CENTER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE DEFECT. DEALER WOULD ALSO NOT ALLOW CONSUMER TO DRIVE THE AUTOMOBILE OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP.