2000 FORD WINDSTAR Structureframe And Members Problems

DROVE VEHICLE TO DESTINATION AND WHEN WE ARRIVED THE AXLE SNAPPED IN HALF ON THE 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. VEHICLE JUST TURNED 100,000 MI WHEN REAR AXLE SNAPPED. TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY, WAITING FOR REPAIR ESTIMATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY, AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FRAME HAD SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 182000.

2000 FORD WINDSTAR, 125,000 MILES TOOK TO MECHANIC AFTER ALMOST WRECKING ON HIGHWAY AND FOUND REAR AXLE ALMOST CRACKED IN TWO. 700.00 LATER STILL CANNOT BELIEVE FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PROBLEM AFTER ALL THE COMPLAINTS. *TR

MY REAR AXLE SNAPPED IN HALF, AT ABOUT 40 MPH CAUSING THE WHEELS TO BUCKLE. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE FAILURE - DRIVING WITH MY MOTHER AND MY GRANDCHILDREN THE REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF. WE ARE LUCKY IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE MAJOR HIGHWAY ON THE WAY. I HAD TO BE TOWED, AND HAD THE REAR AXLE REPLACED. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXEL SPLIT IN HALF. JUST DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND HEARD CRUNCH AND FELT SWAY. GOT HOME AND FOUND REAR WHEELS TILTED. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR SE 98,020 MILEAGE ORIGINAL OWNER ONE DRIVER I NOTICE SHARP, LOUD SOUNDS WHEN BREAKING IN REVERSE AND WHEN RIDING ACROSS ROUGHER STREET AND HIGHWAY PAVEMENTS. I INSPECTED UNDERNEATH CAR AND FOUND A CRACKED REAR AXLE, LEFT OF CENTER (ON DRIVERS SIDE). CRACK IS HALF WAY THROUGH AXLE , COMPLETELY CRACKED THROUGH FROM BOTTOM TO TOP, AND IS ON REAR FACING SIDE OF AXLE. I DON'T RECALL AN EVENT WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRACK. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP MY SON FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CRACK. THE VAN BEGAN TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPEN AND THE REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN ABOUT TWO FEET THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW AXLE SO THERE IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY UNDRIVEABLE. I'M NOT SURE IF I WANT TO REPLACE WITH A USED AXLE IT MIGHT JUST HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT THE REAR AXLE OF MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR SEL SNAPPED IN TWO. WE JUST PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY THANKFULLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY IF WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT HAS 119,230 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

REAR AXLE READY TO SNAP IN HALF FROM A CRACK NOT SALT ROT 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE FAILURE - *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT. VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 90,000 MILES IS SUFFERING FROM SUBFRAME ROT. *TR

WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD . WHEN MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR BEGAN TO SHAKE. THEN MY REAR AXLE SNAPPED IN HALF. I HAVE NOT YET GOTTEN MY CAR FIXED. *TR

DRIVING STRAIGHT ON ROAD APPROX. 35 MPH IN TOWN NORMAL STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, AND REAR AXLE BROKE COMPLETELY IN HALF. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. NEED TO REPLACE THE AXLE. WILL COST AROUND $1000.00. NO ONE WAS HURT BUT IT COULD OF BEEN TRAGIC IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR GOING AROUND A CURVE. VAN HAS APPROX. 142,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

I WAS BACKING UP IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE REAR AXLE OF MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR BROKE IN HALF. *TR

I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR SE. I NOTICED MY CAR SHUDDERING A BIT ON THE EXPRESSWAY LATE LAST WEEK (5/20/10.) I SLOWED A BIT AND THE MOVEMENT STOPPED. I PULLED OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AND CONTINUED DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I TRIED INCREASING MY SPEED BUT COULD NOT RECREATE THE 'SHUDDERING.' OVER THE WEEKEND, I FELT THE MOVEMENT ONCE MORE SO I STAYED AT LOW SPEEDS ON CITY STREETS AND PLANNED ON TAKING THE CAR IN ON MONDAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE MOVEMENT HAD NOT RETURNED. ON SUNDAY, MAY 23 I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 7 MILES TO WORK. ABOUT 1 MILE SHORT OF MY DESTINATION THE SHUDDERING RETURNED, BUT MUCH WORSE AND AT LOW SPEED. I SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND SAW MY LEFT REAR TIRE WAS TILTED. THINKING THE TIRE WAS LOOSE (I HAD NEW REAR SHOCKS PUT ON ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO...

HI..ON JANUARY 25,2010 ,I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN I RECEIVED A FLAT TIRE ON MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL. AAA CAME OUT TO REPAIR FLAT AND WHEN THE TECH WAS FINISHED HE SHOWED ME THE CAUSE OF THE FLAT. THE REAR AXLE WAS RUSTED AND BROKEN, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO TOW INWARD AND MAKE THE TIRE RUB ON THE CAR BODY, CAUSING A BLOW OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, KELLY FORD ,OF MELBOURNE ,FLORIDA. I REQUESTED A RECALL CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION ON THIS FAILURE AT THIS TIME. THE REAR AXLE AND THE TIRE WERE REPLACED BY THE FORD DEALER ON JANUARY 28, 2010. MY REPAIR BILL WAS $1030. DOLLARS.. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE NOW INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP.. *TR

I HIT A SMALL POT HOLE AND WHEN I GOT TO THE PARKING LOT I WAS TOLD MY REAR TIRES WERE SIDE WAYS. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME 2/10THS OF A MILE. WHEN THE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT HE SAID THE POT HOLE WASN'T THE PROBLEM. IT WAS ALREADY CRACKED. HE SAID HE HAD REPAIRED A NUMBER OF AXLES ON FORD. ALSO, MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN SKIPPING AT THE SAME TIME THIS WHOLE INCIDENT STARTED. WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THE VAN, I WAS IN LINE IN THE CAFETERIA AND A GENTLEMEN ASKED ME IF I WAS PICKED EACH DAY IN A WINDSTAR AND I SAID YES. HE INFORMED ME THAT WINDSTARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I KNOW HE IS RIGHT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN WITH 3 CHILDREN IN CAR, THE REAR END OF VEHICLE WAS SWAYING SIDEWAYS. THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THEN CAR WOULD JUMP SIDEWAYS. DROVE CAR HOME SLOWLY WITH FLASHERS ON. MY HUSBAND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH CAR TO FIND REAR AXLE RUSTED AND CRACKED IN HALF AND REAR TIRES TILTING INWARD. MY HUSBAND SAID I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. CAR DEEMED TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR

HAVE 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 120K MILES ON IT. WHILE SERVICING LAST WEEK, MECHANIC WAS CHECKING REAR BRAKES AND NOTICED REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH ABOUT 10 INCHES FROM RIGHT SIDE. ALSO A HOLE AROUND 10 INCHES FROM LEFT SIDE END. *TR

RUSTED RIGHT REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT WHICH I FOUND BEFORE COMPLETE FALIURE. *DT

ON THIS DATE, REAR AXEL OF MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR BROKE AND BOTH REAR WHEELS WERE BOWED OUT AND A LARGE CRACK WAS DISCOVERED. *TR

SNAPPED REAR AXLE LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS AXLE HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN CRACKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BASED ON CORROSION IN THE CRACK. THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS SUCH THAT LIVES WERE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HIT A SMALL DIP IN ROAD AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT SOMETHING SLAM INTO MY CAR FROM UNDERNEATH IT. I STOPPED DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. BUT AS I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN I KEPT HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND FROM FRONT END. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE FOUND THE UNDERCAR FRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH BY THE RIGHT FRONT SHOCK. HE SAID THIS CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITH THIS DEFECT AND I WAS LUCKY THAT ENGINE DIDN'T FALL OUT AS I WAS DRIVING. THE CAR IS STILL THE SAME, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR THE CAR. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH APPROX 102,000 MILES AND REAR MAIN AXLE BEAM BROKEN ALMOST INTO. HAVE DONE SOME INTERNET SEARCHES AND FOUND SEVERAL CASES OF THIS. THERE IS NO RECALL FROM FORD AND THIS IS EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE WITH WINDSTARS. LOST ALMOST TOTAL CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND THANK GOD I WAS TRAVELING AT ONLY 10 MPH. AT INTERSTATE SPEED THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ALMOST CERTAIN CATASTROPHE. WILL BE CONTACTING FORD IN MORNING TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY BUT FROM ALL ONLINE ACCOUNTS THEY SEEM TO BE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR EVEN OFFER TO REPAIR. I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE A STICKY GAS PEDAL THAT I CAN SOMEWHAT CONTROL THE TO HAVE AN AXLE SNAP INTO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

THE REAR AXLE ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR JUST SPLIT WHILE DRIVING IT! THERE IS NO RUST OR WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE ALL MY MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS AND MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. MY CHILDREN AND I COULD'VE BEEN KILLED IF WE WERE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY INSTEAD OF A LOCAL ROAD. *TR

ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 1ST,2009 MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR STARTED MAKING LOUD SQUEAKING NOISES FROM THE REAR OF MY VAN WHEN I WOULD MAKE TURNS AND ALSO STARTED SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHENEVER I WOULD GO OVER BUMPS .ALMOST FELT LIKE MY REAR WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF FROM VERY LOOSE LUGNUTS, BUT THEY WERE TIGHT. AS THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WENT BY THE PROBLEMS BECAME WORSE. TODAY(1/2/2010)I DECIDED TO LOOK UNDERNEATH THE REAR OF MY VAN. I WAS IN DISBELIEF TO SEE MY REAR AXLE CRACKED ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH ABOUT 2 FEET IN FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I HAVE 4 SMALL CHILDREN AND WE JUST WENT ON A TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY 2 DAYS PRIOR TO ME CHECKING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTAR . I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND...

AFTER HAVING TROUBLE STEERING TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. WAS TOLD THAT THE RIGHT SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND CRACKED AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CAR IS JUST 10 YEARS OLD AND 85000 MILES. MECHANIC SAYS THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH A CAR OF THIS AGE. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. IN ADDITION TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER WHO SAID THAT THE STARTING PRICE TO FIX THE CAR WAS 1600 AND COULD ONLY GO UP. *TR

THE 2000 FORD WINDSTAR HAD BEEN HAVING SOME HANDLING ISSUES SUCH THAT IF THERE WAS WATER OR SAND ON THE ROAD WE WOULD FISHTAIL AND FEEL LIKE DRIVING ON BLACK ICE. I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT GOT TO A POINT THE VEHICLE COULDN'T BE DRIVEN SAFELY IN WET OR SNOWY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS PRETTY MUCH DRIVEN IN SMALL TOWN CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL TOP WAS ANGLED INTO THE VEHICLE (I.E. CAMBER OFF BY 2-3 INCHES). MECHANIC INSPECTED THE SUSPENSION AND FOUND A CRACKED REAR AXLE WITH NO SIGNS OF RUST OR DAMAGE NEARBY. THE AXLE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

WHILE BACKING UP TO PARALLEL PARK MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR THE REAR-AXLE SNAPPED IN HALF, AND THE REAR TIRES BENT IN!! *TR

BROKEN REAR AXLE BEAM, 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. *TR

MY BACK AXLE BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING AND LUCKILY WE WERE NOT KILLED OR ON ANY MAJOR HIGHWAY AT A HIGH SPEED. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTARS, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. MOST REPAIR CENTERS SAY THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND THIS SHOULD NEVER OCCUR. HOW MANY LIVES NEED TO BE LOST BEFORE FORD RECALLS THESE AXLES? MY NEIGHBOR WHO ALSO HAS A FORD WINDSTAR HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM 3 MONTHS AGO. *TR

THE K-FRAME(SUB FRAME) IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT IT CANT BE WELDED, MUST BE REPLACED. ON A VEHICLE THAT IS 9 YEARS OLD WITH 80000 MILES AND IN PERFECT SHAPE. I WAS TOLD BY NUMEROUS GARAGES THAT THIS SHOULD OF NEVER RUSTED OUT THIS FAST. I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED, CAME LOOSE OF FRAME, CAUSED STEERING ISSUE. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY ACCIDENT OR DEATH IF HAPPENED AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. *TR

CRACK IN REAR AXLE. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR VAN BROKEN REAR AXLE, HAD TO COMPLETELY INSTALL NEW REAR AXLE DEALER PART ONLY ALE BROKE COMPLETELY IN HALF! VAN CREAKED LIKE IT WAS BROKEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN HAD REAR SHOCKS REPLACED AND AXLE BROKE. I HAVE PICTURES AND THE ORIGINAL PART. *TR

WINDSTAR BROKEN REAR AXLE STRIKES AGAIN. WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO DINNER WITH RETIRED FORD EMPLOYEE AND HIS LOVELY WIFE. WE WERE IN DEARBORN ON MICHIGAN AVENUE WHEN BAD NOISES, AND SMELLS CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VAN. WE PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED A TOTALLY BROKEN AXLE COVER. MY HUSBAND WORKS IN STEEL. IF WE HAD BEEN ON THE SOUTHFIELD AS WE HAD PLANNED AND THIS HAPPENED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS RESULTS NOT ONLY FOR US BUT WE COULD HAVE PLACED OTHER FAMILIES IN DANGER AS WELL. BOTH MEN. THE POLICE WHO STOPPED TO HELP AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AGREED THAT AXLES DON'T JUST BREAK. *TR

THE CAR SEEMED AT FIRST TO BE HYDROPLANING DUE TO THE RAIN, BUT THEN IT GOT MUCH WORSE. WHEN I REMOVED THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL, I SAW THE REAR AXLE BEAM HAD SNAPPED AT THE WELD POINT. THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD IT TOWED IN BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE WHEELS WILL SHEAR AWAY FROM THE SUSPENSION WHEN THE BEAM IS BROKEN. THIS CAR HAS ONLY BEEN IN ONE MINOR ACCIDENT, WITH MINIMAL BODY DAMAGE AND NO DAMAGE AT ALL TO THE BODY STRUCTURE, SO THIS WAS WITHOUT QUESTION A MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN THE PART. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR SEL. DISCOVERED A CRACK IN REAR AXLE. IT WAS LOCATED NEAR THE CENTER OF SPAN BETWEEN REAR WHEELS. THE CRACK RAN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF THE AXLE ABOUT 3" AND WAS SPREAD APART APPROXIMATELY 1/8" ON BOTTOM. THERE WAS ONLY 50% OF THE AXLE REMAINING. FORTUNATELY I DISCOVERED IT JUST PRIOR TO A VACATION TRIP WITH OUR FAMILY OF 5. THERE HAS BEEN NO KNOWN EVENT TO EXPLAIN THE CAUSE. *TR

1- THERE WAS NOT ANY SYMPTOM LEADING UP TO FAILURE. 2- THE FAILURE WAS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. THE WELD ON ONE OF THE CONTROL ARMS ACTUALLY BROKE OFF THE FRAME. AS A RESULT THE WHEEL WAS ALLOWED MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THEN THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THIS FORCED THE VEHICLE OFF THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A VERY IMMEDIATE UNCONTROLLED MANNER. 3- THERE WAS NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AS OF YET. DEALER DOESN'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN FIXING THE VEHICLE UNLESS WE PAY FOR IT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, AND AVOIDING TO HIT A DEER, THE SUB FRAME OF THE ENGINE MANIFOLD FELL OUT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SUB FRAME RUSTED COMPLETELY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VIN # DID NOT FIT UNDER ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE BODY SHOP WAITING FOR REPAIRS. THE BALL JOINTS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I NOTICED CREAKING NOISES FROM THE REAR OF MY WINDSTAR MINIVAN. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED A SEVERE CRACK IN THE REAR CROSS BEAM (FRAME); THERE IS ONLY ABOUT 2 INCHES OF METAL REMAINING HOLDING THE REAR FRAME TOGETHER. THE CRACK HAS RUST AROUND IT. THERE IS A SECOND CRACK AT THE SAME LOCATION ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CROSS BEAM, ALSO WITH A LINE OF RUST THAT WRAPS AROUND THE CROSS BEAM. THE COMPONENT IS APPARENTLY NEAR THE FAILURE POINT, AS THE REAR WHEELS STARTED TO SPREAD APART (LIKE WINGS) DURING THE DRIVE TO THE MECHANIC. IF THIS PART HAD FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE LEAD TO A FATALITY. I PLAN TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. *JB