2000 FORD WINDSTAR Suspensionfront Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE FRONT AXLE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 136,000.

ON 4 OR 5 OCCASIONS OVER SEVERAL DAYS IN EARLY DECEMBER, WE LOST CONTROL OF THE VAN'S STEERING WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VAN WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO CAREEN IN WHATEVER DIRECTION IT WAS HEADING. I SCHEDULED SERVICE WITH MY FORD DEALER, BUT WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN, THEY SAID MY REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED AND THEY COULDN'T TEST THE STEERING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE AXLE COULD BE REPLACED. I NOTICED THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO FRONT END PROBLEMS ON WINDSTARS AS WELL, AND THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT MY PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING 55MPH ON DIXIE HIGHWAY IN GROVELAND TWP., MI. MY MOUNTING BRACKET THAT IS A FACTORY WELD TO THE ENGINE CRADLE BROKE AWAY FROM THE ENGINE CRADLE AND PULLED MY DRIVE SHAFT OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS ON A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE WELD BROKE DUE TO CORROSION FROM SALT EATING AWAY THE WELD ITSELF. MY VEHICLE IS UNDRIVABLE, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. I HAD MYSELF AND MY 3 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 7 IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY TO TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP OR TO FIX IT. I AM APPALLED BY THIS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT AND NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX. THE DETROIT FREE PRESS HAD AN ARTICLE ON THIS VERY PROBLEM ON DECEMBER 23,...

HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE SUBFRAME ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. COULD NOT DRIVE TIL REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE AND CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND REFERRED HIM TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE REFERRED LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLES FRONT SUB FRAME CRACKED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME, FRONT STRUTS AND THE FRONT AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE HAVING THE TIRES ROTATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED WITH RUST AND NEARLY CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BROKE. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED WITH RUST AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE AND WHEEL MOUNTS. THE DRIVER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144000. UPDATED 02/17/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUBFRAME ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE MOUNT HAD SEVERE CORROSION. UPDATED 04/27/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE FRONT TIE ROD BROKE. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT TIE ROD, STRUT, UPPER STRUT AND UPPER BEARING BECAUSE THEY WERE COVERED WITH RUST. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND HEARD SOMETHING SNAP IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING SOUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAUSE OF RUST. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT BECAUSE SALT WAS NOT USED ON THE ROAD NEAR HIS RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75224 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84199. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ UPDATED 05/31/11

THE SUBFRAME, LOCATED AT THE FRONT UNDERSIDE OF THE 2000 WINDSTAR, IS SUPPOSED TO HELP KEEP THE ENGINE AND OTHER INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE WINDSTAR IN PLACE AND STABLE. IT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED ON THIS VEHICLE WITH 185,000 MILES, AND BROKE DURING A TURN INTO A PARK AFTER CHURCH ON THE AFOREMENTIONED DATE (10-10-10). FORTUNATELY THE RESULTS WERE NOT DEADLY BUT COULD HAVE BEEN IF WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHICH WE FREQUENTLY DO. WHAT HAPPENED WAS A DETACHMENT OF THE DRIVE AXLE (HALF SHAFT) FROM THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH OCCURRED WHEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO PULL FREE FROM THE DRIVE AXLE. FURTHERMORE THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED FAILURES. THE AREA OF THE SUBFRAME AFFECTED BY THIS CORROSION IS LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BACK PAINS DUE TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

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

THE PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR BROKE OFF WHILE MY WIFE WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT. IT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND SNAPPED OFF AT THE FRAME. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO COLLISION AND NEITHER MY WIFE AND DISABLED DAUGHTER WERE INJURED. I HAD THE SUB FRAME AND RELATED COMPONENTS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1045.00. I TOOK PHOTOS OF THE RUSTED OUT SUB FRAME. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. TWO YEARS AGO, WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. IT DAMAGED THE TIRE AS WELL. HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE AND THE WHOLE COIL SPRING ASSY. TODAY, WHILE PARKED AT A FRIENDS HOUSE, PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. THIS TIME DIDN'T PUNCTURE THE TIRE, BUT HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ANOTHER COIL SPRING ASSY. *TR

I OWN A 2000 FORD WINSTAR, THE REAR AXLE BEAM TWICE NOW FOR CRACKING/SPLITTING ,BOTH HAPPEND IN THE SAME SPOT,WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THAT? BAD METAL ! I REPLACE IT WITH A 96 REAR AXLE WHICH HAS SUPPORTS AND A SUPPORT BEAM UNDER THE AXLE, WISH WHEN I CHANGED IT THE FIRST TIME I CHANGED IT WITH THIS YEAR AXLE!! NEXT I JUST NOTICED THE OTHER DAY THAT THE SUB-FRAME (ENGINE CRADLE ) IS ROTTED OUT ON THE PASSANGER SIDE! WHEN GOING TO THE JUNK YARDS I HAVE NOTICED HIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY WOULDN'T FORD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? AFTER ALL THESE ARE FAMILY VANS THAT HAUL CHRILDREN 99% OF THE TIME! THESE THINGS COULD CAUSE DEATH VERY EASY! IF THEY FAIL ON A HWY GOD HELP THEM !!!

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

MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. I FOUND PART OF THE SPRING ON THE GROUND COVERED IN BRIGHT ORANGE RUST. THE SPRING COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF. I NOTICED THAT THE 1995-1998 WINDSTAR HAD A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01I007000 ) I AM CERTAINLY GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING WITH MY 3 CHILDREN! *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR LX VAN WITH APPROX 97,000 MILES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND SHE COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VAN. ONE WHEEL IN THE FRONT WAS STRAIGHT AND THE OTHER FRONT WHEEL WAS TURNED AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS THE SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE TRANSAXLE TO PULL AWAY FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND DROPPING THE ENGINE. THE REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACING THE SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY,TRANSAXLE, SEALS ETC. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.... I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO COVER ANY PORTION OF THE COST. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE BECAUSE IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING...

MILEAGE ~122,000. AFTER SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED 2 MONTHS AGO, A GRINDING AND POPPING WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING AND DRIVING OVER 20 MPH. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK PLATE WAS GOING BAD. YOU COULD PLACE YOUR HAND ON TOP OF THE SHOCK PLATE WHILE THE WHEEL WAS TURNING AND FEEL IT GRINDING. REPLACED SHOCK PLATE ON 11/5/08; NOISES GOT WORSE. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN ON 11/11/08 AND AT FIRST THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE NEW PLATE WAS BAD AND THE OTHER PLATE WAS GOING OUT. YOU PUT YOUR HAND ON BOTH PLATES AND FELT THE GRINDING AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. REPAIRMAN DECIDED TO SEE IF A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED BY FORD ON THE PROBLEM; IT WAS. FORD STATED THAT A SPACER NEEDED TO BE PLACED BETWEEN THE SHOCKS AND THE SHOCK...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE BRACKET THAT SUPPORTS THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM FAILED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND WENT OVER A MINOR DIP WHEN I HEARD A THUMP IN THE FRONT END. I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE HIT SOMETHING AND PULLED OVER. THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND AND I LOOKED UNDER THE VAN TO FIND NOTHING OBVIOUS. SINCE THEN WE OCCASIONALLY HEAR A GRINDING NOISE WHEN WE HIT A BUMP. I FINALLY NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED. *TR

VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIHGWAY SPEED AND CAN'T BE RESOLVED BY WHEEL BALANCING ETC. *JB

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE TAKING OUT FRONT BREAK LINES,FRONT STRUT AND FRONTAXIL DAMAGE $1610.00

DT:THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE CAR ALIGNED TWICE AND TIRES CONTINUE TO WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT TIRES. THE 1ST ALIGNMENT WAS AT 18,000 MILES, THE DEALER REPORTED HE NEEDED NEW TIRES AGAIN. *NM THE CONSUMER NOW HAS 78,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND IS ON 4TH SET OF TIRES. THE CONSUMER CHANGED BRAND OF TIRES BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. THIS IS THE CONSUMER'S 2ND WINDSTAR AND WITH THE PREVIOUS CAR WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING WITH THE TIRES.*SB *NM

VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN FIRST BOUGHT. TOOK BACK AND DEALER REPLACED TIRES, DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM. HAD TSB #002110 FIXED IN VEHICLE. SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION IN THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. DEALER HAS CLAIMED IT IS A NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. WILL NOT FIX VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.*AK

POP/LOUD HITTING SOUND IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING SLOW AND HITTING A BUMP OR DIP IN HI-WAY. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN NEVADA, MO. AND THEY SAID THAT IS IT MADE THAT WAY A STOP IF YOU HIT SOMETHING THAT IT WILL NOT TEAR UP SOMETHING ELSE...I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT. ALSO, DUST, COMING IN ALL OVER INSIDE THE 2000 WINDSTAR AND YOU LITTERALY HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO BREATHE. THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS FOR PASSENGERS IN BACK OPENS VERY SLOW AND SOMETIMES WONT OPEN WITHOUT FORCE. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-50 MPH VEHICLE WILL START TO PULL TO RIGHT. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME THAT CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

RECALL NUMBER 00V164000-FUEL LINE FITTINGS. RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT PREFORMED, AND VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO BAD, THERE IS A BAD VIBRATION, ALSO THERE IS A HEAVY PULL TO THE RIGHT.*SLC

WHILE DRIVING COULD FEEL VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE AND HARD VIBRATION FROM STEERING WHEEL. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD HER THAT WAS NORMAL ON MAKE/ MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE.*AK AN ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED AS WELL AS NEW TIRES AND RIMS,BUT THE VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VIBRATION WAS CAUSED BY STEERING PROBLEM AND STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *YH