2003 FORD WINDSTAR Structure Problems

The contact’s son owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the exhaust pipe was punctured. The contact was advised that the front subframe was severely corroded; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle would not be repaired due to the corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact parked the vehicle and the vehicle was no longer driven due to the safety concerns. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact’s son owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while her son was driving 10 MPH and making a turn into a parking lot, the vehicle stopped as the rear tires collapsed inside the wheel well. The contact was able to park the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle had fractured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would cover the repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle as the subframe was severely corroded. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure) in 2011. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

REAR AXLE RECALL WAS INSPECTED IN 2/17/2011 BY THE DEALER AND WAS NOTED NO CRACKS AND JUST PUT SOME BRACKETS. TODAY 3/23/2015 WENT FOR A STATE INSPECTION TO THE SAME DEALER AND FAILED DUE TO CRACK IN THE REAR AXLE(THAT WAS ONCE RECALLED). NOW DEALER/FORD STATES THAT THE RECALL WAS ONCE MANAGED, AND NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR FURTHER ISSUES... IF AN ITEM WAS RECALLED, IT SHOULD BE FIXED WITHOUT COST. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS WITH FORD. THANK YOU *TR

THE FRAME CRACKED ON THE REAR FRAME UNDERNEATH THE BRACKET THAT WAS PUT ON FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE BRACKET DIDN'T HOLD. *TR

FORD CAME OUT AND TOOL MY CAR TO [XXX] CUNNINGHAM TO FIX MY CALL ON A SAFETY RECALL DATED 2/28/2014 THEN REFUSE TO FIX MY CAR STATE FORD REFUSE TO PAY HOME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR HE SAID I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. ALL REPAIR ARE FREE OF CHARGE MY CAR STILL AT THE SHOP AT THE SHOP BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEEL CAUSE BY THE POWER TRAIN AXLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA 12V193000 AND 11V030000 11S16 AND 10S13 3/11/2014. CAN I GET A COPY OF THESE RECALL MAIL TO ME THANKS MY CAR IS STILL AT [XXX] FOR 3 WEEKS NOW PLEASE HELP NO RENTER WAS GIVEN TO ME AS PART OF THE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE FRONT AXLE FRACTURED AND RESULTED IN THE DETACHMENT OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V194000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/22/14 MA

WE HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY INFORMED ABOUT ALL OF THE RECALLS OR OTHER ISSUES WITH OUR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS FROM THE ELECTRICAL, STRUCTURE, ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS THROWING CODES NEEDING A LOT OF SENSOR REPLACEMENTS AT OUR COST, THE RPMS SEEM TO RUN FAST SITTING AT A LIGHT(WE HAVE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN RESTART), AND THE ENGINE SEEMS TO RUN HOT, BRAKES, CRUISE CONTROL(CANNOT USE), TRACTION CONTROL(CANNOT USE), INTERIOR LIGHT ARE ALWAYS FLICKERING, PASSENGER WINDOWS(CANNOT USE) AND DOOR LOCKS(CANNOT USE), BOTH REAR WINDOWS(CANNOT USE), LEAKS FROM ROOF, REAR DOOR AND SLIDING DOORS, THE CRUISE CONTROL, BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS STAY ON WHILE DRIVING(WE WERE TOLD BY A DEALERSHIP THAT WE CAN STILL DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT WE WON'T HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES.), THE AC IS ALWAYS HAVING TROUBLE STAYING CHARGED, THE AC/HEAT CONTROL SWITCHES HAVE MALFUNCTIONED(IT HAS TO BE SET AWAY...

FORD WINDSTAR WAS RECALLED FOR REAR AXLES. I HAD THAT REPAIRED. I GOT ANOTHER RECALL FOR THE FRONT AXLES. DEALER SAYS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND VAN "SHOULD BE OKAY" UNTIL PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. "SHOULD BE OKAY" IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!! IF THERE IS A RECALL, THE PART SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL, NOT WEEKS OR MONTHS LATER. *TR

OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR HAS BEEN HAVING MECHANICAL FAILURES FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS. WE HAVE HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR PASSENERS SIDE OF THE CAR THAT NEITHER OUR LOCAL MECHANIC NOR FORD COULD FIX. WE REPLACED SHOCKS AND MOST RECENTLY THE TIRE RODS ON 9/24/10. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRONICAL "BUGS" INCLLUDING ABS LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF FOR 2 YEARS REQUIRING MULTIPLE FUSE CHANGES AND ELECTRICAL TESTING. OUR TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 2009 AT 59,000 MILES. THE POWER LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS DO NOT OPEN REMOTELY OR WITH POWER LOCKS, ONLY KEY OR MANUAL LIFTING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PERSON INJURIES, WE HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE TO KEEP THIS CAR RUNNING IN WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS SAFE MANNER. *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, STEERING CONTROL WAS COMPLETELY LOST AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. THE VEHICLE TURNED TO THE LEFT, THEN RIGHT, AND RAN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE. FRONT WHEELS WERE POINTED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME, AND THE RIGHT FRONT HALF-SHAFT HAD PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSAXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY FORD DEALER. AS OF DECEMBER 6, THE DEALER HAS NOT YET INVESTIGATED THE VEHICLE. *TR

OUR FORD WINDSTAR VAN THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY 2003 WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THE REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES AND HAD RUST/CORROSION HOLES IN IT. THEY SAID WE COULD NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE AND THEY COULD NOT GET A REPLACEMENT PART UNTIL APRIL 2011. WE LATER FIND OUT THAT FORD WINDSTAR VANS FROM 1999 THRU FEBRUARY 2003 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. BECAUSE OUR VAN WAS MANUFACTURED MAY 2003 (TWO MONTHS OUTSIDE THE RECALL TIME) THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. WE NOW HAVE A CAR WE CAN'T DRIVE BECAUSE OF SAFETY HAZARD AND EVEN IF WE WANTED TO PAY TO FIX IT, WHICH WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO, THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVEN MORE MONTHS LEAVING US WITHOUT A VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. IN APRIL 2010 MY REAR AXLE SUDDENLY BROKE. I PAID A SMALL FORTUNE TO TOW AND FIX THE PROBLEM. IN JULY MY FRONT AXLE SUDDENLY BROKE LEAVING ME WITH ANOTHER LARGE TOWING AND REPAIR CHARGE. AND NOW THE CAR JUST DOESN'T DRIVE NICE AND MY TRACTION AND BRAKE WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIGHTING UP ON MY DASHBOARD. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR VAN, FOR A COUPLE WEEKS I OCCASIONALLY HEARD A CREAKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED A SHARP CORNER. THEN ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING, THANKFULLY NOT AT A VERY HIGH SPEED MY VAN STARTED TO GO ALL OVER THE ROAD EVERY TIME IT WENT OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT FELT AS IF THE TIRES WERE GOING TO FALL OFF THE VAN. WHEN MY HUSBAND LOOKED UNDER THE VAN YOU COULD SEE THE BACK AXEL COMPLETELY BROKE IN HALF. WE TRAVEL A LONG DISTANCE EVERY FEW MONTHS TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, GOD WAS REALLY WATCHING OUT FOR MY FAMILY AND I, THAT THE AXEL DIDN'T GO WHILE WE WERE ON THOSE LONG STRETCHES OF HIGHWAY. *TR

MY CIGGARETTE LIGHTER POPS OUT ONTO THE FLOOR EVERY TIME IT IS PUSHED IN. THE DISTRACTION OF A POSSIBLE FIRE CAN CAUSE A WRECK.*AK

EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE IN FRONT SEAT AREA AT 65 MPH OR FASTER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR. CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM BUT RECOGNIZES THAT IT EXISTS. *NM

THE REFLECTION OF THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE SUN SHINED OVER HEAD CAUSED A GLARE. THE GLARE DRASTICALLY REDUCED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *JB