2001 FORD WINDSTAR Suspensionfront Problems

I TOOK MY 2001 WINDSTAR SEL INTO A DEALERSHIP UPON RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOR SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY IN MARCH OF 2011. OUR VEHICLE PASSED THIS INSPECTION. AT THE TIME OUR VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS RECALL NOTICE THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL RELATING TO STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS ALTHOUGH WE WERE UNAWARE OF THIS RECALL. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE SECOND PROBLEM TO DATE. THE RECALL WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY A FRIEND WHO WATCHED A NEWS PROGRAM REGARDING THE RECALL WHICH PROMPTED A PHONE CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICED OUR VEHICLE IN MARCH. HIS STATEMENT WAS IF OUR VEHICLE WAS ONE OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES AND IT WAS JUST IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR ANOTHER RECALL THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THE MOST RECENT RECALL ALSO. HE ASKED FOR OUR VIN WHICH AT THE TIME WAS NOT AVAILABLE BUT...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ENTERING ONTO THE INTERSTATE, THE SUBFRAME FROM THE ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP UNTIL THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT HAD RUSTED OUT CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE ARM OF THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ

2001 FORD WINDSTAR 280,000 MILES NE OH 10-11-10. RIGHT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM FRAME. 65 MPH FROM LEFT LANE CROSSED 3 LANES RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. NO WARNING SIGNS SOMEHOW NO COLLISION. AXLE PULLED FROM TRANSMISSION. REPLACED: TIRE, AXLE, BOOTS. FRAME SHOP REINFORCED AND STRAIGHT FRAME, ALIGNED FRONT END. REPAIR DAMAGED TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *TR

WHILE SWITCHING FROM REAR DRIVE TO FORWARD DRIVE, BIG NOISE WAS HEARD. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR AFTER DUE TO FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION BREAK, PASSENGER SIDE. FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED. *TR

THE FRONT END OF MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR MAKES A LOT OF NOISE LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL APART. I'M AFRAID BECAUSE MY REAR AXLE BROKE IN 2 PIECES GOING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. I'M SURE SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH MY FRONT SUBFRAME. HOW DO WE GET THIS INVESTIGATED? *TR

I OWN A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR THAT I RECENTLY HAD THE SUBFRAME REPLACED AS IT HAD CORRODED THROUGH ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME. I NOTICED THE FAILURE OF IT WHILE DRIVING. I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND THEN MY STEERING WHEEL ABRUPTLY TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND THE FRONT END STARTED VIBRATING SIMILAR TO WHEN THE FRONT END IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND ID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH, BUT MADE THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE.

WE HAD JUST LEFT THE EXPRESSWAY. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND WENT TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE SHAFT WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL CONNECTING IT FROM THE FRAME TO THE WHEEL, BROKE AT THE POINT OF THE FACTORY WELD CAUSING THE WHEELS TO DO THE "SPLITS"AND PULLING OUT THE DRIVESHAFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER CALLED THE CAR "TOTALLED" .THIS CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE METAL SOCKET HOLDING THE TIE ROD FROM THE WHEEL TO THE FRAME ALLOWING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO BE YANKED OUT. THIS IS A FACTORY WELD THAT BROKE AND IF IT HAD BROKEN WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. FORD MOTOR REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. *TR

THE FRONT SUB-FRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAS SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION WHERE THE SUB-FRAME MEETS THE CONTROL ARM. I TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS NOTIFIED BY THE MECHANIC THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS WITHOUT REPLACEMENT AND WAS NOT EVEN SAFE TO DRIVE OUT OF HIS SHOP. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS SURPRISED THE CAR PASSED INSPECTION AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP LAST YEAR. THANKFULLY, IT WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE THE SUB-FRAME DETACHED. *TR

THE SUBFRAME IS RUSTING AND CORRODING WHERE THE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES TO IT. MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND HAVE LEARNED THAT NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THIS ON THE FORD WINDSTAR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR ON M-20 NEAR REMUS, MI I HEARD A LOUD BOOM FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKEN. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SPRING AND STRUT ASSEMBLY ON THAT SIDE. I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD REPLACE THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL. BOTH FRONT SPRING/STRUT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED AT MY PERSONAL COST. *TR

CLUNKING NOISE FROM R/F OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING LEFT, AND SEVERE PULL WHEN ACCELERATING. FOUND FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTED THRU AND CRACKED AT PASSENGER SIDE REAR MOUNT. HAD TO REPLACE FRONT SUBFRAME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS POINTED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE; IT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 132,000. THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE GARAGE, HE COULD SEE THAT THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF THE FRAME. WHEN THE CONTROL ARM LOST THAT ATTACHING POINT, THE WHEEL WAS ALLOWED TO PULL AWAY AND ALSO PULLED THE AXLE SHAFT AWAY FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE SUBFRAME AND TRANSMISSION SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED EVOQ 02/15/11

I WAS DRIVING A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN WITH 154K MILES ON A RAINY NIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A 3 LANE INTERSTATE WITH 5 CHILDREN ABOARD. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE AND LOST ALL CONTROL AS THE STEERING AND BRAKING WASN'T WORKING RIGHT. AS I TRIED TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER, IT KEPT SWERVING TOWARD THE LEFT, BACK INTO THE LANES. WHEN IT FINALLY STOPPED MOVING, WE WERE STICKING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND I FEARED WE WOULD BE HIT. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SHOWED ME THAT THE RIGHT TIRE WASN'T EVEN POINTING STRAIGHT AHEAD ANYMORE AND SAID THAT THE AXEL PROBABLY BROKE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME CRACKED AND IN HIS OPINION, HE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND FIXING THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT ROTTED OFF WHICH PULLED OUT AXEL AND BROKE TIE ROD END AND SO ON, DUE...

I HAVE A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH IS SHOWING SIGNS OF A SUB-FRAME CORROSION FAILURE SIMILAR TO THE ONE DESCRIBED IN INVESTIGATION PR 10-026. THERE IS A "U-SHAPED" SUBFRAME ELEMENT WHICH CONNECTS TO THE MAIN FRAME NEAR THE OUTBOARD SIDE OF BOTH FRONT SEATS AND EXTENDS FORWARD AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT DOES APPEAR VARIOUS SUSPENSION AND STEERING MEMBERS ARE CONNECTED TO THIS SUB-FRAME. THE PASSENGER-SIDE END OF THIS SUB-FRAME WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE VEHICLE FRAME SHOWS SEVERE RUSTING AND METAL DELAMINATION AND A CRACK HAS FORMED ON THE END. THE DRIVER-SIDE END OF THIS SUBFRAME SHOWS NORMAL WEAR AND IS NOT IN IMMEDIATE RISK OF FAILURE. THE CORROSION TO THE PASSENGER-SIDE END IS EXCESSIVE AS COMPARED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND OTHER FRAME ELEMENTS IN THE VICINITY. SOMETHING IS ACCELERATING THE CORROSION ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IT MAY BE DUE TO THE CONDENSATE DRAIN FROM THE...

FAILURE/BRAKING OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. *TR

MY HUSBAND WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT WORK, WHEN THE TIRES WERE TURNED INWARD BECAUSE OF THE BREAK IN THE REAR AXLE. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED MY HUSBAND BOUGHT A REAR AXLE FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE BROKEN ONE. *TR

FAILURE OF BRACKET HOLDING UPPER CONTROL ARM TO FRAME ON 2001 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 58,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. FAILURE CAUSED WHEELS TO GO THEIR OWN WAY CAUSING TOTAL LACK OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. VAN HAS 60K MILES AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED

THE MOUNTING EARS ON THE RIGHT FRONT SUBFRAME (H-FRAME THAT ALL THE SUSPENSION, STEERING , AND DRIVETRAIN) THAT CONNECTS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME ROTTED OFF THE FRAME ALLOWING THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ASSY. TO SWING OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT AT A INTERSECTION AND NOT ON THE FREEWAY. THE WHOLE FRONT H FRAME HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS AN 01 FORD WINDSTAR WITH APPROX. 61,000 MILES, ALWAYS TAKEN GOOD CARE OF AND GARAGE KEPT. ORIGINAL OWNER NEVER ANY ACCIDENTS. *TR

COIL SPRING ON PASSENGER SIDE STRUT BROKE, HAS DRIVER'S SIDE BREAK THE YEAR BEFORE, HAD TO REPLACE WHOLE STRUT / SPRING ASSEMBLY, COULD'VE CAUSED ACCIDENT IF THE PIECES WOULD HAVE HIT THE TIRES INSTEAD OF WRAPPING AROUND REST OF SPRING. *TR

MY WIFE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, 2001 WINDSTAR, 71,000 MILES, RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ROD BROKE LOOSE FROM ENGINE CRADLE AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF STEERING. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP. SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT AT RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ROD MOUNTING, VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN IN WINTER,DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAVE RUSTED OUT AND CAUSED A POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. SUBFRAME HAS BEEN ORDERED, ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS FROM FORD DEALER IS $2,000.00. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, IT APPEARS THAT THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THIS FAILURE JUDGING FROM OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. IF THIS IS CAUSED BY WATER DRIPPING FROM THE AC COMPRESSOR OR A DEFECT IN THE SUBFRAME METAL, FORD SHOULD BE ASSISTING IN THESE REPAIRS. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER FOR 30 YEARS AND CAN NOT BELIEVE THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THIS TYPE OF SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I OWN A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR IN THE SPACE OF LESS THAN THREE WEEKS, BOTH OF MY FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN AND GONE THROUGH THE FRONT TIRES. FORTUNATELY BOTH TIMES WE WERE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, IT WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I CHECK THE INTERNET FOR RECALLS ON THIS , BUT DIDN'T FIND ANY FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR

MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR HAS A CRACK IN THE REAR AXLE. I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET ABOUT SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING AND THE AXLE CRACKS IN TWO PIECES CAUSING AT LEAST THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN EVEN AT MODERATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS THERE COULD BE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES. SO FAR I DON;T SEE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT FROM FORD. THE MILEAGE OF MY FORD WINDSTAR IS 71,000 MILES. IT SEEMS THAT THE AXLE IS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE BUT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SAFETIES SAKE. I THINK ALL WINDSTARS WITH THIS AXLE DESIGN SHOULD BE RECALLED AND HAVE THE AXLE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND PROCEEDING TO A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS AT THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

FAILURE OF THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS AT THE SUBFRAME OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING OR PRIOR SYMPTOMS. MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 71K MILES. MY CHILDREN AND I WERE ON A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP APPROACHING HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SWING OUT FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE AXLE SHAFT TO PULL OUT OF THE TRANSAXLE. THE VAN SWAYED AND BUCKED WITH THE REAR END BOUNCING UP AND DOWN OFF THE GROUND NEARLY FLIPPING THE VEHICLE. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED FOUR OR FIVE SECONDS LATER AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION WHERE IT REMAINS ABOUT 100 MILES FROM MY HOME. MY LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE SERVICE WRITER SAID I WOULD NEED TO CONTACT THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER WHO IN TURN INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS NOT WITHIN FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S...

WE OWN A FORD WINDSTAR (2000) WITH 68000 MILES, THIS MORNING AS MY WIFE WAS LEAVING FOR WORK THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE CUTTING THROUGH THE TIRE SIDE WALL. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VAN OR TO SAFELY STOP. THE SPRING COIL WAS RESTING ON THE TREAD AND THE TOTAL SUSPENSION DROP WAS SO LOW THAT I HAD TROUBLE GETTING THE JACK UNDER THE FRAME RAIL. *NM

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS VIBRATION IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TIRES IN FEWER MILES THAN WHAT TIRE WERE WARRANTED FOR HAS TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, MECHANIC STATED NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. ALIGNMENT WAS DONE, TIRE WEAR WAS STILL OCCURRING. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, MECHANIC INDICATTED THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE. CONSUMER HAD NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER, AND REPRESENTATIVE STATED THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE IF ALIGNMENT MET SPECS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH FRONT LEFT SIDE AXLE BROKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK