Ford Windstar Body Problems

Body complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Frame and members
  489
• Body › Door
  259
• Body
  227
• Frame and members › Underbody shields
  86
• Body › Door › Hinge and attachments
  23
• Body › Hood
  21
• Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Hinge and attachments
  4
• Body › Hatchback/liftgate
  3

Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  192%
• 25k–50k
  243%
• 50k–75k
  688%
• 75k–100k
  17722%
• 100k–150k
  35144%
• 150k+
  16320%

What owners report

The rear axle on my vehicle snapped while I was driving causing me to lose control and leave the roadway. I contacted Ford who told me there was a recall for the rear axle of my vehicle and that I would have no out of pocket expenses for the repairs and the towing of the vehicle to the service center. After they set up the towing I received a message saying I had to pay $381 for the towing before they would dispatch the tow truck. I called Ford customer service and they told me that now they can't find in their notes where they told me towing was covered. After asking to speak with a supervisor and being told they're not going to transfer me because they know their supervisor can't do anything more then what they can do I was placed on hold for an hour just to be told they can't find it in their notes and then I was hung up on. …

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.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE) and 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). The contact stated that while approaching a traffic signal and driving slowly, the vehicle shook, and the engine shifted. The contact stated that the engine shifted to the right. In addition, the contact lost control of the steering wheel. The contact stated that the RPMs became elevated. The contact pulled over into a parking lot and turned off the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle, and upon inspection, became aware that the subframe had detached and was dragging. The contact believed that the motor mounts were fractured. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic, and the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle remained at the tow yard unrepaired. …

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V385000 (Suspension) and 11V030000 (Structure) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the subframe was severely corroded. The failure mileage 59,839.

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the front end of the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was a fracture due to corrosion on the front sub frame. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

The contact's husband owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while in reverse, she heard an abnormal noise. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the control arm was cracked. The contact was then informed by the mechanic of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V03000 (Structure). The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that no recall was affiliated with the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

I was driving my 2000 Windstar on the skuykill expressway on Monday, July 19, 2010 at 12:33 pm on my way to an appointment. About a quarter mile befor the gilph mills exit heading east, I was in the passing lane traveling about 55-60 MPH, when there was a load "pop" from the rear of my van. I immediately lost controll of the van and it slid across the highway . I first hit the embankment off the shoulder, was thrown back into the highway as the van slide on the drivers side and then flipped upside down. The van came to rest in the middle of the skuykill expressway upside down, facing the traffic. Thank god all traffic stopped and no one hit me, and I didn't hit anyone.. The van was totalled. I suffered head injuries, as well as broken and bruised ribs in my back, as well as severe muscle damage. I was able to unhook my seat belt and crawl out the window, and I waited till help came. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. While driving 15 MPH and veering to the right, the contact heard a loud metal scrapping noise. The contact pulled over and noticed that the rear axle was fractured. The vehicle was towed to a friend's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V608000 (suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 133,000. Consumer stated I have attached the images of my 2000 Ford Windstar se's axle breakage to this email.

Related recalls (2)

NHTSA investigations