1998 Ford Windstar Suspension Problems

Which parts fail

• Front › Springs › Coil springs
  86
• Front
  41
• Rear
  27
• Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle assembly
  9
• Front › Macpherson strut
  4
• Front › Springs › Torsion bar
  3

Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  11%
• 25k–50k
  78%
• 50k–75k
  67%
• 75k–100k
  1821%
• 100k–150k
  3440%
• 150k+
  1821%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering significantly. The vehicle was taken to a Tire Store, where it was diagnosed that the rear axle was corroded and had fractured from the upper side to the lower side. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V385000 (Suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact heard a hissing sound coming from the vehicle, but could not identify where the sound originated. The contact also began to smell a burning rubber odor. The contact pulled into a nearby driveway and placed the vehicle in park. The contact was unable to identify any failures with the vehicle. The contact called a certified mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failures were similar to NHTSA campaign number: 10V385000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

1998 Ford Windstar Mini van rear axle broke ...vehicle was state inspected two months previous and passed without issue .. Noticed a vibration in rear area .. Replaced shocks thinking that was culprit .. Issue got worse ... Less then 700 miles after completed passed state inspection axle broke allowing rear tires to rub inner wheel well .. Van became uncontrollable at 55 MPH ... Was lucky to get it slowed down to 25 and limped into my driveway .. I was sole occupation when this happened .. Looked underneath and found issue. Went online and found recall notice for vehicles of this year for salt use areas .. These included west virginia .. 8 miles from where I live ... Maryland .. 12 miles from where I live and the district of columbia .. 50 miles from where I live .. But virginia was not covered ... Even though this area uses salt as a regular ice and snow removal tool. …

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. While driving, the steering wheel shook and the vehicle pulled to the left and right. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front driver side subframe was rusted due to corrosion and the subframe needed to be replaced. The contact called john kennedy Ford- pottstown at [phone] (located at 3189 w ridge pike, pottstown, pa 19464) where the dealer referenced NHTSA campaign number: 10V385000 (suspension), but not for the subframe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. No further assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 100,197.

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving at 57 MPH, the contact heard a noise coming from the front of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the sub frame in the front of the vehicle had corroded and fractured. In addition, the contact stated that the arm of the sub frame behind the driver's side front tire had corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V385000 (suspension). The failure mileage was 141,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine service, it was informed that the bracket support for the suspension was corroded and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 15V608000 (suspension). The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to repair and was unsafe to be driven. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure was 158,000.

Loud crackin and popping from sway bar attached fo rusted out cradle drivers side rear cradle that has rusted out and broken and has dropped down 1/2 inch and also rusted rear axle just tagged and registered it in va then noticed all the rust to subframe and rear axle van has manufactured in Canada on door and a vermont car dealer emblem on back dangerous vehicle am icovered by recalls on this safty hazards

My front cradle at steering area has completely rusted into from ac leak and road salt van was sold in vermont now is located in virginia unsafe almost undrivable to Ford dealer for a rear axle recall for axle braces please investigate this

Broken axle while driving. Thankfully was not driving at highway speeds or this could have been devastating. Ford will no longer honor 3rd recall after installing safety plates and saying axle looked OK.

Reading on-line because my mechanic's puzzled about the noises, I find that it's not only the 1999+ windstars that have had a problem, but -- if you would look at #2 and #3 here at this link: http://www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/1998/Ford/Windstar/suspension it's apparent that this axle breakage has occurred in 1998's as well. That is what I have, in which I'm hearing similar noises. Living in a salt-belt state, this is scary; don't even dare take it on the freeway! Hard to get out of town (such as to a graduation this weekend) without freeways. Very sad ... & hard to replace it, too, while on only social security. Something should be done to include 1998s (see link above) in this investigation, too, it appears. I didn't pay nearly $4000 to only drive a vehicle in town, and not be able to go anyplace! …

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Suspension complaints in other Windstar years