2000 FORD WINDSTAR Suspension Problems

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE CHICAGO INTERSTATE I-290 AT AROUND 3:30 AM WHEN MY REAR AXEL SNAPPED ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2010 ON A CLEAR DAY WITH IDEAL ROAD CONDITIONS BUT IN A LONG TERM CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND IN LIGHT TRAFFIC WHEN THE AXEL SNAPPED ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE CAUSING ME TO JERK VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT AND THROUGH CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS INTO AN OPEN LANE AND ONTO THE SHOULDER A SHORT DISTANCE LATER. ANY OTHER TIME, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC BUT GIVEN THE EARLY HOUR OF MY TRAVEL TO WORK AND THE REDUCED SPEEDS DUE TO ONGOING CONSTRUCTION I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VIOLENT MOVEMENT TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT INJURY OR MISHAP. THE CAR WAS TOWED A SHORT TIME LATER TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND I SEARCHED FOR...

REAR AXLE SNAPPED AT ABOUT 30 MPH. DESTROYED BOTH REAR SHOCKS AND DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL. *TR

I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR LX, MY PROBLEM IS THAT MY WIFE, DAUGHTER AND HER TWO CHILDREN, AND ONE OLDER ADULT WAS MINUTES AWAY FORM GETTING INTO A SERIOUS HIGHWAY ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THEY WERE LESS THAN 1,000FT FT OF GETTING ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE REAR AXLE OF THE VAN SNAPPED ALMOST INTO TWO PIECES FOR NO REASON AT ALL. AFTER GETTING THE VAN TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE WHICH WAS A 1/4 MILE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION THE REAR AXLE SEAMED TO HAVE ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, THERE IS NO RUST ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF THIS HOLLOW AXLE THAT WOULD OF SHOWN SIGNS OF BREAKING. I CONTACTED A COUPLE OF USED AUTO PARTS DEALERS AND THEY HAD STATED THAT THEY HAVE MY SAME MODEL VAN BUT ALL OF THE AXLES ON THEM ARE GONE DUE TO BEING SOLD TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD NEEDED THEM....

2000 FORD WINDSTAR - BROKEN REAR AXLE - FORTUNATELY DISCOVERED WHILE CAR WAS IN A PARKING LOT - HEARD ONE LOUD NOISE EARLIER IN THE DAY AND A LOUDER NOISE AT TIME OF DISCOVERY. AXLE IS VISIBLY BROKEN AND WAS TOWED. *TR

THE REAR AXLE ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR BROKE APART WHILE TRAVELING ON I-96 AT ABOUT 60 MPH, I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A SAFE STOP ON THE MEDIAN. THIS COULD HAVE ENDANGERED ME AS WELL AS OTHERS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *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...

REAR AXLE SNAPPED IN HALF GOING 45 MPH. *TR

ON FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2010, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK FOR LUNCH AND THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED ON OUR 2000 FORD WINDSTAR SLE MINIVAN. THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THE "DIFFERENTIALS" WERE DAMAGED. THE TOTAL COST WAS $795. FORTUNATELY, MY HUSBAND WAS NOT ON A BUSY STREET AND HE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL WE COULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. ALSO, HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AXLE TO SNAP. IN JULY 2009, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS SAME VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING TO MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., ON VACATION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM MY VAN WAS SHAKING, I THOUGHT I HIT A PUDDLE WRONG AFTER DRIVING A BIT MORE MY CAR STARTING SHAKING AND IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL, I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED TO A GAS STATION, WHERE MAN SAW ME LOOK AT MY TIRES, AND ADVISED DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF RAIN IT WAS PROBABLY HYDROPLAINING. I CONTINUED ON. THE NEXT DAY WHEN IT WAS DRY I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY VAN WAS SHAKING, AND AT TIME HARD TO CONTROL, I WAS SO SCARED AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT HOME. I TOLD MY HUSBAND, HE NOTICED THE INNER PORTION OF THE 2 BACK TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO THE METAL BELTS, AND DID NOT ALLOW IT TO BE DRIVING AGAIN. I HAD A RETAIL FIX IT SHOP ADVISE IT WOULD BE 650.00 FOR NEW TIE RODS AND SHIMS...

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2000 FORD WINDSTAR LX THE REAR AXLE CRACKED IN HALF. IF IT WOULD OF BEEN MINUTES LATER THE VAN WOULD HAVE BEEN BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND WE COULD OF POSSIBLY GOT KILLED. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER FORD OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE 1998 WITH THE WINDSTAR'S. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE REAR AXLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXEL FAILURE. *TR

I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR THAT HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH SWAYING AND CONTROL. THINKING IT WAS JUST BAD SHOCKS I'VE REPLACED THOSE AND ANYTHING ELSE I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM, TO NO AVAIL. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A STATE HIGHWAY I TOOK A CORNER AND THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIDING ON ICE. I THOUGHT IT WAS ROAD CONDITIONS SO I SLOWED DOWN AND WE MADE IT SAFELY HOME. THE NEXT DAY MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS FOLLOWING MY WIFE AND HE SAID THE BACK AXLE LOOKED TO BE BENT. NOT BELIEVING THIS COULD HAPPEN I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND ABOUT A FOOT AND A 1/2 FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL I FOUND A TEAR THAT WAS A 1/4 INCH WIDE THAT EXTENDED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE AXLE TO UP AND OVER IT. I REALIZE THAT DUE TO THE AGE...

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

PURCHASED A VEHICLE OFF OF THE WHITE ALLEN LOT WITH ADDITIONAL COVERAGE WITH WYNN'S PLUS EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MAY 31, 2009. IN AUGUST 2009, THE VAN IS VERY LOOSE AND UNSTEADY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO GRISMER ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 TO FIND THAT THE FRONT TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. STILL UNSTEADY ESPECIALLY IN THE REAR. ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 THE REAR AXLE BEAM BROKE IN TWO! THE WARRANTY COMPANY WILL NOT COVER, AND I COME TO FIND OUT THROUGH RESEARCHING THAT ACROSS THE U.S. THOUSANDS OF PERSONS HAVE HAD THIS AXLE BREAK ON THEM NEARLY MISSING DEATH ON HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. FORD IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE AXLE BEAM YET HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO MY KNOWLEDGE TO RECALL. LIVES ARE HANGING IN THE BALANCE AND IT SEEMS THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING MONEY. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN ESPECIALLY WITH THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS....

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. HE STATES THAT WHILE BACKING OUT HE NOTICED THAT THE THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED. A WEEK BEFORE THE VEHICLE DEVEOLPED A UNDER STEER . THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO HELP THE CONSUMER WITH THIS PROBLEM. HE STATES THAT THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE. HE NOTICED THAT THERE MANY OTHER VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE RESIDENCE AND IS NOT DRIVABLE.THE HAS NOT DECIDED YET TI REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146000.

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

DRIVING MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR (85,000 MILES ON IT) ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON SUNDAY 3/15/09. THE BACK END OF THE CAR GAVE WAY AND STARTED FISH TAILING. TURNS OUT THE REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF ON ITS OWN. I HAVE THE CAR AT BILL BROWN AUTO CLINIC IN CANTON, MICHIGAN. THEY HAVE ORDERED A NEW AXLE. THEY ORIGINALLY WERE GOING TO GET A USED ONE FROM A SALVAGE YARD BUT INDICATED THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTARS AND SO THEY ORDERED A NEW AXLE. EVERYONE I TALK TO SAYS REAR AXLES SHOULD NOT GIVE WAY THE WAY THIS WINDSTAR DID. THE INDICATION IS IT HAD A LONG TERM CRACK AND RUSTED THROUGH UNTIL IT GAVE WAY. THE CAR DID FISH TAIL WILDLY BUT DID NOT FLIP OVER BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT. *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

CAR DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT FELT LIKE BACK END SWAYING. MADE NOISE. BROUGHT TO REPAIR SHOP, NEED NEW REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY, OR ALSO CALLED REAR I BEAM ASSEMBLY, IT HAS A MAJOR CRACK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THIS PART IS ON BACKORDER. *TR

I NOTICED THAT THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS "BOUNCING" AS I WENT AROUND A CORNER. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES WERE BOWING OUT AT THE BOTTOM. I PUT THE CAR UP ON A JACK TO INVESTIGATE AND SAW WHERE THE REAR AXLE HAD SEVERED HALF WAY THROUGH IN TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS. RUST WAS VISIBLE AT ONE LOCATION. THE WORSE OF THE TWO SEVER POINTS WAS ON WHAT APPEARS TO BE ON A VERTICAL SEAM IN THE METAL. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENED TO ME AS I WAS RUNNING TO THE STORE JUST PRIOR TO MY WIFE TAKING OUR THREE DAUGHTERS TO BALLET - FOR WHICH SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE. I HAVE NOW SEEN AT LEAST 4 OTHER COMMENTS OF THE SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND NEEDS TO...

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

2000 FORD WINDSTAR TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED WHEN ONE OF THE COIL SPRINGS BROKE. THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE COIL SPRINGS. *MR *NM

I COMPLAINED OF A RATTLING NOISE SOUNDING LIKE CHAINS UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VAN , STARTING FROM 7,700 MILES TO THE PRESENT. EACH TIME TAKING IT IN AND BEING TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, TO THEM FIXING SOMETHING AND THE NOISE STILL BEING THERE. I STATED TO THEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE VAN WAS NOT RIDING RIGHT. I COMPLAINED OF A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. AGAIN, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE BRAKES WHERE ALWAYS RUBBING AND THEY REPLACED THE PADS. I WAS TOLD SEMI-METALLIC PADS MAKE NOISES. THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER, BECAUSE I COMPLAINED THAT UPON ACCLERATION THE VAN WOULD MAKE A PINGING NOISE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS COMBUSTION WITH THE GAS. I FOLLOWED THERE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHAT GAS TO USE, AND OTHER THINGS TO DO. IT STILL CONTINUED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ELSE ABOUT...

TRANSMISSION WILL DOWNSHIFT VERY ROUGHLY, DRIVER GETS THROWN FORWARD. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE.*AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS DOWN SHIFTING WITH A TERRIBLE JOLT AT LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START WHEN COLD AND DAMP, ALSO WHEN THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED OFF AND THEN BACK TO START THE ENGINE FIRES AND RUNS. THE VEHICLE STALLING WAS DETERMINED TO BE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE GAS MILEAGE DROPPED FROM 23 MPG TO 16 MPG AND THE VEHICLE BURNS MORE OIL. THE LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND A/C IS ON, ALSO THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHILE IDLING WITH THE A/C ON. THE DRIVER?S SEAT CUT AND SLASHED THE CONSUMER?S CLOTHING. THERE WAS A WEAK GREEN LIGHT FROM THE BATTERY. VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER?S DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO SHUT. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START TO VIBRATE. AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO DECELERATE.*JB

ON THE DAY CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE AND DROVE IT HOME THERE WAS SOME NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK CONSUMER STATES BELLS GO OFF RANDOMLY FOR NO REASON, AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND WHEN IT RAINS BOTH SLIDING DOORS LEAK INSIDE, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS LOOSE AND SHAKES AND RATTLES, WILL OPEN BY ITSELF. *JB

SUSPENSION WALLOWS ON THIS THING. 1998 WINDSTAR I TRADED IN HAD 82,000 MILES AND RODE MORE CONTROLLED THAN THIS AND STILL HAD ALL ORIGINAL COMPONENTS. YOU HAVE TO HOLD ON TO THE ARMRESTS TO KEEP IN CONTROL IN YOUR SEAT. WIFE AND KIDS GET SEASICK RIDING IN IT. DEALER STATES IT IS NORMAL AND ALL OF THEM ARE THAT WAY.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH OVER BUMPS VEHICLE SWAYS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN VIBRATED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK