Investigation of Ford Windstar Problems Expanded

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Federal investigators are expanding an ongoing investigation into problems with Ford Windstar minivans, more than half a million of which were recalled in August due to a risk of rear axle fractures. Investigators now say that the issues may extend to the front axles as well. 

The Ford Windstar recall impacted minivans from the model year 1998 through 2003 in about two dozen states, known as the “Salt Belt,” where hard winters require the heavy use of road salt. An investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that road salt may cause the rear axles to corrode, and now say that problem may affect front axles as well.

According to the NHTSA, the design of the axle allows road salt slush to collect and linger on the axle, promoting rust and eventually raising the risk of a broken axle. A fractured axle could lead to a loss of control of the vehicle and increases the risk of an accident that could cause property damage, severe injury or death.

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The recall affected 463,000 cars sold in the U.S. states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia. An additional 112,000 vehicles were sold in Canada.

Now NHTSA officials say they have received another 346 complaints of corrosion and broken axles in the same vans, but the reports involve problems with the front axles of Ford Windstar minivans. Inspectors say they are investigating the alleged defect and possible causes. The incidents include three reports of auto accidents, one of which involved an injury. Most of the complaints are again from so-called Salt Belt states.

Since the August 2010 Ford Windstar recall was announced, nearly 100 people have posted comments on the story published on this website, outlining problems they have experienced. Several describe instances where the Ford Windstar axle broke while the car was in motion, and many describe problems where Ford is failing to make reasonable offers for their vehicles or promptly perform necessary repairs.

Photo Courtesy of IFCAR via Wikipedia Commons Public Domain

Tags: Accident, Auto Accident, Ford, Ford Minivan, Ford Windstar
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12 Comments

Mary
we also are having problems with our 1999 Windstar van we had to have a new transmission when we bought it new back in 1998 I think it had less than 50 miles on it.and many things have went wrong with it since. we now have a noise we can’t figure out we been told it’s the motor mounts but changed two so far and the same noise if the third one is not it we just don’t know what it is.
kisha
I have a 2000 ford windstar. the engine will not stay running in the mornings and has a bad jerk when driving. have changed the o2 sensor, idol controll sensor, ran sea foam through and still no luck. I have read over a 1000 posts of the same problems and more. We are hard working american citizens with families who have put our trust into ford and for what? It is no wonder so many americans are chosing to buy hondas and toyotas. At least they hold up. Ford should be held accountable for these problems and forced to correct them.
Cindy
I have a 2001 windstar van had band aid repair on subframe and a few months later it welds broke were the sandwich it together and welded it. Ford Co. said not cover under their warrinety. The are putting peoples life in danger with their shotty repair.The eingen is flopping around in car.I will never buy a Ford when they do not stand behind their product and fix them so they are safe.
Emmett
I had a 1998 Windstar and while driving home late one night hit a pothole on the freeway and the van took off up on two wheels. I knew it was going to roll . I travelled about 700ft before it righted itself. I was shaken and got out the rear axel had split i two. I’m lucky to be here. The tow truck guy said he had never seen an axel split. He towed it and I had the rearend replaced, once that was done the transmission failed and four days later after that was fixed the engine went. I felt the van was jinxed so I sold it to a scrap dealer. I did like the van so much I bought another and now I got the recall notice. Seems like I have made a big mistake.
jo
my van was inspected in Oct. 2010FORD dealership said it was OK to drive,then in Feb.2011 reinspection ,dealership said i SHOULD NOT be driving it at all, very bad when transporting young children to /from school in winter every day.
james
i have a 2000 windstar and ford said it is not repairable they made a offer for the car cant replace the car on what they offer.can anybody help?
Patricia
I own a 2002 Ford Windstar, I purchased the vehicle in October 2009. In March of 2010 the rear axle broke in half – the van had 52,000 miles on it.I attempted to contact For about the problem and I filed a report with the ODI Office of Defects Investigation) and, Low and Behold, a few months later, a recall was issued on the rear axle for these models. What I consider the real kicker is that Ford will not include my van in the recall because I don’t reside in any of the states or Canada (which is a foreign country) where there is high salt concentration salt build up on the axle to cause the corrosion. I do live on an island in the US Virgin Islands (which, mind you, is surrounded by saltwater 365 days of the year -duh – and during the rainy season, water (mixed with salt) is washed down the mountains and we have to drive through it.To me, a broken rear axle is a broken rear axle no matter where you live – it is obviously a design flaw which Ford should repair at no cost to the owner. However, they have refused to repair my vehicle and the ODI office says they can’t do anything about it – that “Ford controls which states that they will offer the repairs in”. To date, I have not been issued any recall notices on this van – not one – though it is leagally registered and insured (by a US company) here in a US owned territory. What exactly is the responsibility of the Ford Corporation to insure that the vehicles that they sell are safe for people to drive? Would they have done something if I had been injured?- Thanks goodness I wasn’t but I now own a vehicle which really isn’t safe to drive – it sits in my driveway without repair. I wonder…still waiting for some help here.
Keith
I waited till the beginnig of Oct 2010 to have my Windstar inspected, and yes the dealer told me I had a crack in the rear axle, They asked if I needed a rental, since this is my only vehical, I said yes. But I no longer had full coverage. I was told Ford would pay for collision. I recieved a call from Enterprise car rental, they picked me up the same day and got me a comperable vehical. (minivan). after 30 days I needed to redo the paperwork, at that time the reg expired so they got me a Dodge Journey. 30 days later service was needed so I got a Chevy Tahoe. Great in the snow. But all in all Ford is paying $38.00 a day for car rental and $8.00 a day collision. I think it would have been cheaper for Ford to buy back or give a cash voucher for any new or used vehical. They at least kept me on the road. THANKS FORD
andrea
We received our notice on a Saturday mid October 2010. On Monday it brokw while I was driving with 3 of our 4 kids in the car. THANK GOD we were not hurt at all. Our local Ford dealership has the van and cannot give us a time frame in which we will be getting it back other than 1st qtr 2011. NOw with this new investigation I wonder if they should just buy it out. We would need more than the $2000.00 I have been told people are being offered. Sure they put us in a long term rental they are paying for but we had a van for a reason. NOw we are stuck in a 5 passanger car and having to take 2 cars if everyone needs to go. HAve not heard if a class action lawsuit is being talked about. Anyone else?
Raejeania
My van’s been sitting in a Ford parking lot since October. My axle did break. I was told that I should expect my van back in February 2011. I was just recently informed not to expect my van back ’til June.
Anna
After having the Van inspected, I found out that the recall notice was one of the SECOND wave of notices, evidentally it had been a problem long before I got my notice. My van does have a fracture in the rear axle and the anticipated time of getting the van back is a possible “end of February” 2011. Yep is sits idle in a Ford parking lot waiting for parts, while I have nothing comparable to the van to drive. All winter I have to be without “my” vehicle. Yes I am glad about the rental, but we have a VAN for a reason, yet it doesn’t get replaced with a Van. The thoughts of going all winter season without the comfort of my own vehicle makes me a little stressed about winter driving this year. I can only hope that they get the parts and fast. Today I just read that this may also involve the front axle…does that mean even longer repair time?
Sharron
I own a Ford Windstar Minivan, and never heard anything about this until a friend made the comment: “Didi you get you’re recall notice”? Interestingly, no I didn’t!

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