Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | ||||||||||||||||
| 12V193000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | from 09/01/1997 to 07/03/2003 | V (Vehicle) | 27000 | MFR | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 05/03/2012 | 05/03/2012 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from september 1, 1997, through july 3, 2003, and currently registered or originally sold in virginia. over time, corrosion can weaken the rear axle making it susceptible to torsional stress. corrosion and stress can lead to cracks which, if undetected, can increase and result in a complete fracture of the axle. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | A fractured axle can affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install rear axle reinforcement brackets, or replace the axles, as necessary. this service will be performed free of charge. the recall is expected to begin on or about june 18, 2012. owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Ford's recall campaign number is 10s13.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov. | |||||||||||||||
| 10V385000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | V (Vehicle) | 462750 | ODI | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 08/26/2010 | 08/26/2010 | |||||||||
| Defect Summary | Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from september 1, 1997 through february 28, 2003 and currently registered or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, district of columbia, 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. after many years of vehicle service in these areas, corrosion can weaken the rear axle, making it susceptible to torsional stress. corrosion and stress can lead to cracks which if undetected can propagate and result in a complete fracture of the axle. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | A fractured axle can affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | As parts become available, dealers will inspect and if necessary install the rear axle reinforcement brackets free of charge. this service will be performed free of charge. the safety recall is expected to begin on or before september 27, 2010. owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Ford's recall no. is 10s13.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov . | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||||
| 17358 | 08/01/2004 | 17963 | 10008183 | Groan/buzz/vibration when the gear selector is in park with the vehicle parked on an incline. *tt this bulletin updates previous bulletin 17358, dated 11/01/2003 to include 2005 models. *tt | 07/22/2004 |
| 15820 | 04/01/2002 | 637556 | Some vehicles equipped with an ax4n/4f50n transaxle may exhibit a shudder during a 3-4 shift. *tt | 12/02/2002 | |
| 15370 | 11/01/2001 | 630351 | Some vehicles may exhibit a groan/buzz/vibration when the gear selector is in park. *tt | 04/16/2002 | |
| 15392 | 11/01/2001 | 630356 | Some vehicles may exhibit a park pullout clunk noise when shifting from park to another gear position. *tt | 04/16/2002 | |
| 14867 | 04/01/2001 | 619303 | Subject regarding speedometer calibration tolerance specifications. *tt | 05/23/2001 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||||
| 042107 | 12/13/2004 | 042414 | 10014086 | General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures. *tt | 04/28/2005 |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES | |||||
| 03148 | 07/21/2003 | 10003748 | New transmission cooler flusher - service tips. 2003 escort and super duty f series included. *tt | 10/29/2003 | |
| 15288 | 10/01/2001 | 630186 | Some vehicles may exhibit transmission fluid leaking at the quick connect for the transmission cooler lines. *tt | 04/15/2002 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH | |||||
| 01181 | 09/17/2001 | 625715 | Brake shift interlock.*jb | 11/30/2001 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER | |||||
| 03123 | 06/23/2003 | 10002684 | Torque converter clutch not engaging when commanded and/or diagnostic trouble codes p0741 or p1744 stored in memory. models from 1996 to 2003. *tt | 09/10/2003 | |
| 14773 | 03/01/2001 | 619462 | Information on indexing orange dot on torque converter to flexplate. *tt | 05/31/2001 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 15059 | 07/01/2001 | 621059 | Concerns with vehicles equipped with a ax4n / 4f50n transaxle exhibiting a shudder during a 3-4 shift. *tt | 09/06/2001 | |
| 14911 | 05/01/2001 | 620222 | Some vehicles equipped with ax4n or 4f50n transaxle may exhibit a fluid leak from the main control cover area. *tt | 07/20/2001 | |
| 14920 | 05/01/2001 | 620184 | Subject regarding ax4n transaxle diagnostic pint point test c3 error. *tt | 07/19/2001 | |
| 01T01 | 03/01/2001 | 619444 | Special service instruction for ax4n transaxle inspection / replacement on certain 2001 model year vehicles. *tt | 05/31/2001 | |
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE | |||||
| 05145 | 10016808 | Erratic fluid level reading on transaxle dipstick-leaks-4f50n, ax4n, ax4s transaxle. *sc | 10/11/2005 | ||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 15559 | 01/01/2002 | 630095 | Subject regarding shudder while in reverse. *yh | 04/12/2002 | |
| 14630 | 01/01/2001 | 618001 | Exhibiting shudder while driving downhill in manual 1st. *jb | 04/03/2001 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 03/11/2013 | |||
| Stopped to get my oil changed, they showed me where the entire right front subframe has rusted away making my windstar unsafe to drive. i looked online and found this is an ongoing problem with this model with 1000's of these having the same problem with the passenger side right front. this can cause you to loose steering control or in an extreme the engine to fall out going down the highway, ford recalled the same problem on the rear axel,,why not fix the front also. i live in arkansas but bought the windstar from a person in missouri where i see ford list as a state with a rust problem but doig nothing to fix it. | |||
| 07/03/2012 | 152000 | ||
| Me and my family were on our way to new york for vacation. maybe about an hour into driving me and my husband started to smell something burning so i pulled off the high way and little do we know mg van was up in smoke we checked our oil that was good but i told my husband to check the transmission. fluid and it was empty but before we left we had the right amount of transmission fluid in the van. we had to add about 5 or 6 quarts of fluid in order for the van to switch from reverse to drive we were able to make to sn auto part store they tested the van on there computer everything passed except the torque converter. *tr | |||
| 07/03/2012 | 152000 | ||
| Me and my family were on our way to new york for vacation. maybe about an hour into driving me and my husband started to smell something burning so i pulled off the high way and little do we know mg van was up in smoke we checked our oil that was good but i told my husband to check the transmission. fluid and it was empty but before we left we had the right amount of transmission fluid in the van. we had to add about 5 or 6 quarts of fluid in order for the van to switch from reverse yo drive we were able to make to sn auto part store they tested the van on there computer everything passed except the tourque convertor. | |||
| 07/08/2012 | 1 | ||
| On sunday july 8th, 2012 i was driving my 2001 ford windstar i stopped at a light and as the light changed i began driving and then heard a loud noise, my wheels began to squeel and pull all over and my van came to a complete stop in the road and would not move.. the front passenger side wheel was turned outward but my wheel was straight. thank god i was not on an expressway or highway with all my kids in the vehicle.. i called a tow truck the driver inspected it and said something underneath the front frame had snapped off.. so today i had it towed into a ford dealer to find out it is a new recall how can these windstar vans have so many frame and axle issues and be safe to drive exspecially with all these brackets they are having to put on them for the recalls.. if i was on an expressway me and my son would of been hurt badly if not killed.. not to mention if i would of hit someone else i could of injured others too..i will never trust another windstar with my family this is crazy.. it is the subframe front lower control arm rear attaching flages completely broke/snapped off while i was driving down a basic 40 mph road..when it broke it messed up the underneath of my vehicle it ripped the drive shaft right out of the transmission.. and who knows what else is damaged now.. people need to know about this now before someone is seriously hurt.. *tr | |||
| 11/10/2005 | 79018 | ||
| The minivan is equipped with a button on the gear shift. this button enables you to shift out of overdrive when you do not want the vehicle to be in overdrive mode. about this time the fuse in the fuse box would blow. replaced the fuse a number of times but the problem is still there. the fuse may last for 5 to 10 miles and then it would blow. tried a larger amp fuse but it would also blow. transmission will leave the overdrive only if you accelerate going up a hill. | |||
| 08/07/2008 | 85985 | ||
| When driving van in hot weather or going up steep hills or grades the transmission will start leaking out transmission fluid. enough will be coming out to create a visible cloud of smoke behind the vehicle as it is hitting the exhaust system. had new trans axle seal installed but the problem still is there. if you park the van for about 45 minutes it quits leaking and you can proceed. for some reason the fluid gets so hot it is basically boiling out of the transmission. | |||
| 11/10/2005 | 79018 | ||
| The minivan is equipped with a button on the gear shift. this button enables you to shift out of overdrive when you do not want the vehicle to be in overdrive mode. about this time the fuse in the fuse box would blow. replaced the fuse a number of times but the problem is still there. the fuse may last for 5 to 10 miles and then it would blow. tried a larger amp fuse but it would also blow. transmission will leave the overdrive only if you accelerate going up a hill. | |||
| 08/07/2008 | 85985 | ||
| When driving van in hot weather or going up steep hills or grades the transmission will start leaking out transmission fluid. enough will be coming out to create a visible cloud of smoke behind the vehicle as it is hitting the exhaust system. had new trans axle seal installed but the problem still is there. if you park the van for about 45 minutes it quits leaking and you can proceed. for some reason the fluid gets so hot it is basically boiling out of the transmission. | |||
| 11/10/2005 | 79018 | ||
| The minivan is equipped with a button on the gear shift. this button enables you to shift out of overdrive when you do not want the vehicle to be in overdrive mode. about this time the fuse in the fuse box would blow. replaced the fuse a number of times but the problem is still there. the fuse may last for 5 to 10 miles and then it would blow. tried a larger amp fuse but it would also blow. transmission will leave the overdrive only if you accelerate going up a hill. | |||
| 08/07/2008 | 85985 | ||
| When driving van in hot weather or going up steep hills or grades the transmission will start leaking out transmission fluid. enough will be coming out to create a visible cloud of smoke behind the vehicle as it is hitting the exhaust system. had new trans axle seal installed but the problem still is there. if you park the van for about 45 minutes it quits leaking and you can proceed. for some reason the fluid gets so hot it is basically boiling out of the transmission. | |||
| 11/10/2005 | 79018 | ||
| The minivan is equipped with a button on the gear shift. this button enables you to shift out of overdrive when you do not want the vehicle to be in overdrive mode. about this time the fuse in the fuse box would blow. replaced the fuse a number of times but the problem is still there. the fuse may last for 5 to 10 miles and then it would blow. tried a larger amp fuse but it would also blow. transmission will leave the overdrive only if you accelerate going up a hill. | |||
| 08/07/2008 | 85985 | ||
| When driving van in hot weather or going up steep hills or grades the transmission will start leaking out transmission fluid. enough will be coming out to create a visible cloud of smoke behind the vehicle as it is hitting the exhaust system. had new trans axle seal installed but the problem still is there. if you park the van for about 45 minutes it quits leaking and you can proceed. for some reason the fluid gets so hot it is basically boiling out of the transmission. | |||
| 10/12/2011 | 132000 | ||
| Ford windstar seems to be a good vehicle at first. with age numerous problems continue to happen. service shops reguard problems as common for a ford windstar.i think ford ignores the problems. my husband and i are loyal ford owners, i don't know how much longer we will continue. currently the abs& brake lights are on. transmission leaked out all of the fluid while driving, had to rebuild trans. speedometer does'nt work properly when brake lights are on. engine light is on, numerous codes for this problem. | |||
| 04/26/2012 | 108000 | ||
| Tranmission | |||
| 10/12/2011 | 132000 | ||
| Ford windstar seems to be a good vehicle at first. with age numerous problems continue to happen. service shops reguard problems as common for a ford windstar.i think ford ignores the problems. my husband and i are loyal ford owners, i don't know how much longer we will continue. currently the abs& brake lights are on. transmission leaked out all of the fluid while driving, had to rebuild trans. speedometer does'nt work properly when brake lights are on. engine light is on, numerous codes for this problem. | |||
| 04/26/2012 | 108000 | ||
| Tranmission | |||
| 09/03/2011 | 105000 | ||
| There was a problem with the transmission which required the vehicle to be pulled to the side of the road and towed to a dealer for service. the van only has 105,000 miles on it and has had regularly scheduled maintenance. after having a couple transmission places look at it, the problem was determined to be internal and the transmission needed to be replaced. at the same time that i had my van into the transmission shop there were 3 or 4 other ford windstars in for similar problems. | |||
| 10/15/2011 | 155000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving approximately 35 mph, the contact smelled a burning odor. the contact stopped the vehicle and after exiting and inspecting under the hood, the contact noticed that the smell was coming from the transmission fluid. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. the approximate failure mileage was 155,000. kmj | |||
| 10/15/2011 | 155000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving at approximately 35 mph the contact smelled a burning odor. the contact stopped the vehicle. after exiting the vehicle and inspecting under the hood the contact noticed the smell was coming from the transmission fluid. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 155,000. ds | |||
| 06/26/2001 | 62000 | ||
| We took a 300 mile trip to chicago in our windstar that we just purchased less than 2 months previously. while we were out of town, the van started acting up. when we would take off from a stop, the van would jerk and bounce like maybe the brakes were locked. we stopped driving it while we were up there until we had to leave. on our drive home, we were about 100 miles from home the o/d light came on. then a little later, i noticed some type of liquid coming out the back. we tried to get home but at 90 miles from home the van totally quit moving. we were able to coast to the side of the road. under the van was a large puddle of transmission fluid. after having it towed home ($240) we took it to a transmission shop. they had to replace a front seal and torque converter ($950). i'm filing this complaint because i have seen on the internet where the transmission seems to be a problem with the windstar. now the brake light and abs light come on occasionally and won't go off until it's turned off and restarted. this also seems to a big problem with the windstars. i haven't taken it in for that yet but dreading it. this is a very nice vehicle and i am rather disappointed in it. | |||
| 03/21/2011 | 132918 | ||
| I was driving my van down the road at about thirty five. heard a loud thunk and realized i was not accelerating anymore. the van stopped almost immediately after. called a tow truck because i thought it was the transmission. after evaluating the damage we realized that the frame had broken where the wheel stabilizer arm mounts to the frame on the passenger side. also my passenger drive shaft pulled out from the transmission. so in this repair it is going to take a sub frame. and the half shafts from transmission to wheel. | |||
| 12/11/2010 | 92431 | ||
| While backing out from a parking space, the passenger side lower control arm mount separated from the subframe due to extensive corrosion. the front passenger wheel was turned outwardly and the right half shaft was disengaged from the differential. while researching this issue on the internet, i realized the subframe should last longer than the life of the vehicle. fortunately for some it has been detected while in a repair shop for some other reason such as brakes, alignment or other front end work. unfortunately for others it has been discovered by malfunctioning to the point of breaking and causing other structural/mechanical damage, as well as personal injury. i would like to believe that ford stands behind its product and is willing to issue a recall for repair. | |||
| 10/12/2010 | 80000 | ||
| Occurence: 12 october 2010. travelling i-95 washington,dc/suitland, md. vehicle: ford windstar, 2001. speed : 60-65 mph. traffic : dense. failure of defective part : rear axcle snapped in two parts while traveling on smooth highway, northbound. explosive sound , lots of smoke, extreme consternation/fear of heart attack experienced by my wife and i ( my wife has a dangerous heart condition ihss) at occurence. i immediatly turned on hazard flashers. managed to manuever across several lanes of traffic to get to highway shoulder safely!! thank god for the alert fellow travelers behind us!!! if we were hit by any 18-wheelers on the highway, i wouldn't be writing this complaint now!!! concern for our safety was shown to us by fellow travelers; particularly, md traffic safety person, who should be commended by his superiors for his professional and understanding actions!! he looked at the damage and said that he had never seen anything like it before; and he said that we were licky to be alive!!! van was transported by professionals to the nearest ford dealership where i first became aware that a recall notice was in force for my vehical!!! at this point, i became greatly disturbed that i had no previous notification of this dangerous condition and that my wife, grand children, etal were traveling in potential rolling coffin! in my opinion, this seems to be criminal; particul;arly if greater profit motives might be involved! i certainly hope that inferior materials were not used in this regard!! i was inforrmed that my van would have to remain at the ford dealership until ford motor company decides how i will be provided with a safe vehicle , since no replacement axles were available. (nb ; i have no idea whatever other damage exists as a result of this awful failure! i certainly don't want a duplicate axle replacement to replay this horrific catastrophy! in my wife's delicate condition, i cannot expect her to travel in this unsafe vehicle! justice!!! | |||
| 05/15/2010 | 83807 | ||
| 1. vibration in steering wheel. 2. rear axel broke in 2 places on the new jersey turnpike. the car veered uncontrollably almost causing a serious accident. 3. the car was towed 90 miles to our local service station where axel was replaced with a used part. | |||
| 08/22/2010 | 150000 | ||
| 2001 ford windstar 150,000 miles, driving on highway approx. 55 miles per hour, vehicle starting swaying then heard a load crash and a lot of smoke coming from under vehicle, thought it was a blow out. pulled on to a side road both rear tires were bowed in and rear axle had split. | |||
| 08/31/2009 | 100000 | 1 | |
| I heard a squeaking noise in my vehicle,i took it to local garage for inspection of problem they found my rear axel is about one inch from snapping in half. i then called a few other local places that fix these type of problems and found out that this is a recurring problem with this vehicle and that it has been reported many times. i then checked to see if there was a recall on the rear axel and found that ford has done nothing about this. i did a search on the web on this vehicle and found several stories just like mine only some more severe where accidents have been caused from this same break in the rear axel. i am still in the process of getting this fixed.i will need to replace my rear axel it can't be welded for safety purposes. this problem is very serious and needs immediate attention. my family and i have escaped serious injury but how many more complaints need to be made before something is done. *tr | |||
| 04/06/2009 | 154000 | 1 | |
| While driving 2001 ford windstar on a 1-hour trip toward home, i noticed the back wheels fish tailing that occurred in every rough spot in the road. i immediately thought the tire was going flat and pulled over to check it. since the tires visually looked fine, i drove to the next exit to a gas station and checked the tire air pressure and found it was at proper levels. i was still unsure what could cause the fish tailing or hydroplaning feeling, yet i was able to make it the rest of the way home without a major accident; although my car kept fishtailing.. the next morning, my husband took the windstar to a service mechanic to inspect the tires. what he found was a rear axle that was rusted from the inside out about 3/4 of the way. the mechanic's initial estimate is $1000 (for replacement of new axle and labor). we are relieved that the rear axle didn't break while we were driving as the car could have flipped and killed all of us. what could cause corrosion on the inside? the rear axle should be made to never corrode or break under normal road driving conditions. after researching on the internet, i have found other 8 year old, same make/model windstar owners reporting the same conditions. this is an unsafe part especially noting that people are keeping their cars longer due to economy. ford should own up to this part failure and recall and replace this part at no charge to the owners immediately! *tr | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 07/13/2012 | 150000 | 1 | 07/21/2011 |
| 7/21/2011 bought van from private party. recall completed in march of 2011 regarding back axle. on 7/13/2012 8pm, my 18yr old son, while driving home from lacrosse practice, nearly killed. upon pulling out onto the main road, he lost all controls, no steering, no brakes and no power. he coasted and prayed it would stop. i arrived, we called aaa. flatbed to my home driver could not believe his eyes. the engine had fallen out. 7/16/12 called ford in mich and spoke to rep. to be towed 13 miles away to route 23 auto at our expense. really? route23 wanted nothing to do with me (they did recall). went back and forth then per rt23 it will be a month until we can look at it getting know where. 7/18-22 borrowed friend car for tournament. 8/1/12 called magarino ford and with great concern had a flatbed that night. this tow truck driver could not believe it. fluids raced out and double stabilized for engine sliding during transport. 8/2/12 magarino called 9am, pictures sent to ford and awaiting reply. 8/5/12 t/c from m stating ford refuses to buy back and sending a subframe. you mean a recalled one? magarino caught in middle i questioned whether he would put his children in this van. he softly replied, no what am i to do, out of work 2 years, single parent with no car to find work. 8/8/12 i questioned ford why this van ever left rt 23 auto, according to researched paper a part was waiting on. you mean to tell me that upon this fixed axle nobody noticed the subframe was rotted from inside out causing the engine to fall out the next summer nearly killing my son! but they signed it was fine! really? now we have case # 1373091992 8/10/12 picked up van. broke= a/c, r-window, heater engine, airbag, brake light on, runs hot steering= thumps makes noise (full fluid) skip gears, sways, barely can get up a hill. 11yr old scared to drive in it | |||
| 01/27/2011 | 140000 | ||
| 2001 ford windstar.i took it to the dealership to have some safety recalls done.a few days later i was driving along and smoke started boiling out from under the hood so i pulled over and by the time i got stopped and got the kids out safely it quit smoking.i raised the hood and could see some burned wiring under the brake master cylinder.we got back in and drove on then the transmission started shifting wrong and the brake pedal didn't feel right,it felt spongy.i took it to my mechanic who is ase master and ford senior master certified.he replaced the trans range sensor and told me that the fire was caused by a defective cruise control deactivation switch leaking brake fluid.he replaced the switch and advised me to take it back to the dealer and have them do the recall which is what they were supposed to have done in the first place.he said that it also had a damaged abs module and wiring and that was part of the recall.i called them and they said they only did the rear axle recall that was on the letter i got from ford.my mechanic said that they were required by law to complete all safety recalls while it was in their possesion.i am going to take it back but i'm afraid to drive it cause it hardly has any brakes.my mechanis said it was because all the brake fluid leaked out of the switch and got air in the lines. | |||
| 06/22/2011 | 51686 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph the automatic transmission failed, causing the vehicle to stall in the middle of the highway. the vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 51,686. sm. | |||
| 06/22/2011 | 51686 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving 60 mph the automatic transmission fail causing the vehicle to stop in the middle of the highway. the vehicle was pull to the side of the road. the vehicle was not service for the transmission prior to this failure. the dealer was not called nor the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 51,686 | |||
| 05/21/2010 | 40163 | ||
| I bought this vehicle in march of 2010. two months after buying it i was driving home from l.a. and didn't notice until to late that the od off light was flashing. i had it towed to ammco and was told that the torque converter went out and that the trans had to be replaced. so this is what i had done. since i had this replacement done with the transmission i have had the od off light flash on and off periodically. every time the light comes on i run it back over to ammco and they test it to find the same code over and over, torque converter/clutch error. they have since replaced the transmission a second time, contacted the manufacturer on several occassions and spoke with several sources of theirs and they cannot find the problem. they have since told me that there is nothing else that can be done and think that it may be caused by the abs/brake light occassionally coming on. | |||
| 09/09/2010 | 194500 | ||
| My 2001 windstar had been making a scrunching noise each time i went off a curb. i took it to a tire place as that's when i found the crack in the axle in august 2010. the tire dealer didn't make that kind of repair so i call ford dealership who told me to bring the car in and that a recall had just been issued. my car sat for six months. on 1/26/2011 the dealer called and said my axle had been repaired and that i could pick the car up. i couldn't pick it up that day. on 1/27/11 i heard the news state a new recall and i looked it up. turns out my car is involved in that recall too. i went to the dealer and i communicated to them that i do not want that vehicle back under any circumstances. the abs light has been malfunctioning for three years or more. since i got the vehicle i had had many problems with sensors and i have had to replace the transmission after having only around 78,000 miles on the vehicle. i completed all maintenance on my vehicle as suggested by ford, yet i have had so many problems. i called ford on 1/27 and told them i do not want the vehicle back. they said a buy back isn't being offered for this recall at this time. it may be offered when the letter is distributed. i still do not want this vehicle back. i have three children and i cannot trust that this vehicle is safe. | |||
| 02/01/2010 | 70000 | ||
| When the transmission got hot, after about 30-40 miles of driving the steering wheel starts to shimy like the wheels are going to fall off. was told that there was a flaw in the design of a bearing that rides on the main shaft of trans, the one that connects the trans to the torque converter and engine. it was not able to handle to load and cuts a groove in to the shaft. this allows the trans to leak. once the grove gets deep the bearings can fall out and cause more damage to the transmission. the affects of the transmission getting hot could cause the driver to lose control of vehicle or become stranded in the roadway, causing a collision. was told the cost of repair would be $1500-$2500 depending on the amount of damage done to internal components. | |||
| 07/15/2010 | 20500 | ||
| 2001 ford windstar se sport, 20,000 miles abs, brake, & tire pressure lights come on after first starting car and running for a while.. abs and brake lights go on and off, tire pressure light stays on even with all 4 new tires equally filled at 35psi. just bought this van. transmission slips, had it drained and serviced 1 month ago with no problem reported. | |||
| 05/25/2008 | 154000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the contact restarted the vehicle and drove to his residence. the dealer stated that there was no recall for the vehicle and repairs would only be made at the contact's expense. the transmission was the cause of the failure. through online research, the contact found numerous reports from consumers who were experiencing the same failure. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 154,000. | |||
| 05/23/2009 | 107148 | 1 | |
| I was driving my mother-in law to a restaurant with my husband and 3 children. on the way there was a squealing sound from the rear of the vehicle and we assumed it could have been a low tire. we stopped added air and went on but the squealing continued. we went around a very winding curve at 25mph [way below the recommended] and the van was almost uncontrollable. as though someone covered the road with oil [by the way, it is 92 degrees and very sunny here]. my husband thought that maybe we had a busted shock. when we came home, my husband removed the rear, driver's side tire to find that the tire had been rubbing the fenderwell - alot [which explains the burning tire smell on our way home]. upon inspecting the rear end of the van, the rear axle is almost in two!!! we never had any problems with the rear of the van before and actually just had tires put on 3 months ago and it was not noticed!!! i cannot drive this vehicle until it is fixed and don't know when that will happen because of the cost of this major repair. we could have all been killed if this would have happened on our way home, or on our way out-of-town tomorrow!! thank god we found the problem today!!! i find it very irresponsible that ford has not recalled this - they have recalled seatbelts, airbags and gas pedals due to safety concerns - why not this? i am not the only windstar owner this has happened too. there are others and their complaints i'm sure you have also received- they are posted on numerous sites on the internet. i would understand it not being recalled if i was the only one it happened to - but i'm not!!! *tr | |||
| 01/07/2009 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Abs light, brake light, and traction control light come on at once. | |||
| 03/15/2008 | 124000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. from time to time he was unable to shift gears out of park without some maneuvering. the dealer stated that there was a safety recall and that it was performed with the first owner. the current mileage was 129,500 and the failure mileage was 124,000. updated 06/25/08 *bf the dealer informed the consumer the problem he experienced was not due to the recall, and that his problem was originated from somewhere else. the consumer wished to withdraw his complaint. updated 06/25/08 | |||
| 07/07/2007 | 65000 | 2 | 09/01/2005 |
| Mid-summer vacation trip from west virginia to north carolina. within a few miles of return to west virginia the transmission started to leak and eventually lost approximately 8 quarts of fluid. major slippage started within 6 miles of home. we managed to limp to our driveway before the slippage was so bad we could not move the vehicle forward. i installed 8 quarts of fluid and drove it to repair shop -- no sign of leakage on that 15 mile trip. i subsequently drove the vehicle to a transmission repair shop, another 15 miles with no leakage. the transmission repair shop pulled the transmission, replaced the front seal and replaced the torque converter (slight groove on shaft that repairman said would cause the new seal to fail if the torque converter was not replaced). vehicle had just under 65,000 miles on it when failure occurred. note: the seal failure appears to be related to an overheating condition. this is made obvious by the fact that no leaks occurred during two 15-mile trips subsequent to failure and before repair was conducted. anothe downside to this experience is that after spending $1100.00 for the repair there is no warranty because the transmission repair shop did not disassemble and inspect the transmission, which would have been another major expense. the transmission function appears to be ok but i won't be trusting this vehicle again for long trips out of town. given the 65,000 mile failure and internet history of low-mileage transmission failures without resolutions from ford, this will be the last ford i will own. *tr | |||
| 08/26/2006 | 48000 | 1 | 01/05/2001 |
| I have a ford windstar van with less than 50,000 miles and the transmission has failed. transmission and vehicle have been maintained. noticed other complaints on the internet concerning transmissions in windstars. *nm | |||
| 08/20/2006 | 31066 | 1 | 10/01/2001 |
| On a recent road trip, i noticed the transmission jumping from high gear to low gear. i took it to a ford dealer and was told the transmission needed replacement at a cost of over 1400.00. i bought my windstar new and it only has 32,000 miles on it. i have always owned fords and was looking at a fusion for my next vehicle. however, i think i will see what chevy has to offer. *jb | |||
| 03/18/2006 | 1 | 12/11/2004 | |
| I was at a busy intersection when my 2001 ford windstar jerked a little and when i gave it the gas to go , it would not hardly move. it took a while to get it to move, very slowly. i had it towed to the transmission repair shop. he has checked it out and says the reverse gears were melted together. *jb | |||
| 01/08/2006 | 46500 | 1 | 11/15/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while driving at various speeds there was a noise coming from the front end. as the vehicle accelerated the noise increased. upon inspection the dealership found the differential unit needed replaced. the dealership determined the transmission normally does not need preventive maintenance at such a low mileage. the repairs have not been made. | |||
| 12/27/2005 | 51000 | 1 | |
| My wife was driving home from picking up the kids when the transmission failed without warning. she was able to put the car in neutral and roll backwards to the side of the road. had the transmission failed 5 minutes earlier, she would have been turning off a busy street and could have been hit by oncoming traffic with two kids in the car. the dealer diagnosed the problem as a failure of the tourque converter and valve body due to excessive wear on the rod leading into the valve body. the van has 51,000 miles on it. the replacement will cost $3,000. i don't believe that the transmission should go at this point in the cars life. *nm | |||
| 08/12/2005 | 1 | 05/02/2001 | |
| I was getting ready to leave work, put my car in reverse and heard a loud bang. my car wouldn't move. the transmission just died. no warning in advance. the car is a 2001 ford windstar with 51,000 miles on it and cost my $ 3000 for a brand new transmission. ford stated no warranty over 30,000 miles sorry. should this be happening to a van that is only 4 years old and that cost me $27,000. the garage that installed my transmission stated that the parts melted together and we were lucky it didn't start on fire. *jb | |||
| 05/13/2005 | 59343 | 1 | 02/26/2004 |
| During preparation for an out of state trip, the transmission warning lights came on. the vehicle had 59,000 miles on it and was flushed at 40,000. previously, a whining noise had been evident and was said to be a normal occurrence for that transmission by a ford mechanic. a stop into a local lincoln-mercury dealer popped up codes relating to a solenoid and another part of the transmission. when the vehicle was serviced, the transmission pan had needle bearings and metal shavings evident. this lead to the entire transmission being replaced at a cost of $2800.00 out of pocket. at this time, no recalls have been found for this problem. | |||
| 06/06/2005 | 76500 | 1 | 08/10/2004 |
| While on vacation this past week,my wife, kids (5), and myself, the transmission went out with warning nor were there any symptoms to indicate that our family vehicle would leave us stranded on our first family vacation. we purchased a 2001 windstar sel from university ford in durham, nc. we purchased the extended warranty for $1500, and just when the vehicle barely surpassed the 'expiration date', the transmission, just suddenly quit. my wife and son were exchanging sandals at the local beach shop, and when she returned to the van, and tried to move it, there was no gear at all.......just park and neutral, (the two 'no' gears). they walked 3 miles in 90 degree weather back to our 'place'. i have called the university ford, and since my warranty was out by less than 2500 miles, i am stuck. the vehicle has less than 78,000 miles on it, and has been serviced from the very first day we have owned it. it was bought 'slightly used', only to be driven before by a top salesman/manager, before we purchased it. i have a fairly decent sized family and am middle class, not rich!! the transmission is supposed to be $1500-$3000 to replace, and i cant afford to replace and really dont feel responsible for a transmission that should have lasted, with normal driving, well into 100,000-150,000 miles. i have a pontiac bonneville that has almost 215,000 miles that has never given one seconds trouble out of the transmission. i have checked online and there are so many unfortunate people as myself, that this has happened to. i would like someone from your dept. to please check into the durability of the windstars transmissions, as ford, have told us (myself and other disgusted windstar owners) there is no such thing as ford making a design flaw in a transmission. thank you for your valuable time in reading this, i am very appreciative. with kindest regards, i am johnnie wilkins | |||
| 01/19/2005 | 30000 | 1 | |
| While driving 55 mph transmission lost power. consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 02/07/2005 | 64000 | 10 | 03/29/2002 |
| Consumer stated the power doors locked on their own. consumer was concerned that in an emergency they will be trapped inside . *ak the transmission was difficult to move from park. once it was pulled out of park it made a loud bang. *nm | |||
| 12/28/2004 | 10 | 1 | |
| Our 2001 ford windstar's transmission stopped working in the middle of a road. the warning light came on only moments before and said check transmission. my concern is two fold. first, their was not adequate time to respond when the check transmission light appeared and the vehicle broke down. luckily my wife was just pulling out of a parking lot onto a side street and was going at a low rate of speed. secondly, the van has only 55,000 miles and the transmission malfunctioned. this is not the norm for a vehicle that is regularly maintained. *ak | |||
| 10/07/2004 | 52000 | 1 | |
| The vehicle jerked forward when the gear was shifted to drive. please provide more information. *jb | |||
| 07/24/2004 | 51000 | 1 | 03/25/2001 |
| Towards the end of the month of july during a trip to maine my pump seal on my transmission blew and i had to get a new transmission installed in the van. the van was just over 3 yrs old and the mileage was just at 51,000 the mechanic at the repair shop said at this mileage this problem never should have happened, after phone calls to my dealership they said that their was nothing they could do because it was out of warranty. i feel that the van never should have needed a transmission at this time and that i should be reimbursed my $1800.00. *ak | |||
| 10/21/2004 | 58000 | 1 | 11/10/2002 |
| Transmission failed at 58,000 miles (mostly highway miles). $3000 to replace. i only had windstar for 2 years. purchased in nov. 2002 with 11,000 miles on it. power door locks have failed to lock since purchase. they must be manually pushed down ($300 to fix). *ak | |||
| 10/16/2004 | 98000 | 1 | 08/23/2004 |
| The transmission made a grind noise and engaged and slammed into my garage. while my foot was on the brake. and now the vehicle will not move.*ak | |||
| 08/17/2004 | 45000 | 2 | |
| While driving 45 mph vehicle lunged forward twice. as a result, transmission failed. *ak the consumer stated that the vehicle gave no warning prior to the incident. the mechanic stated that the transmission gears broke causing the case to crack. *tc | |||
| 07/08/2004 | 1 | ||
| Numerous things have gone wrong since we bought the vehicle. items covered under warranty: electric seat stopped working twice, and transmission wouldn't shift when it was supposed to. items not covered under warranty: brakes replaced at 30,000+ miles-told was normal for them to wear out so quickly; rack and pinion replaced at around 55,000 miles; months after brakes replaced, brakes grind loudly when coming to a stop (brakes checked numerous times, but was told they were ok); abs brake light comes on and stays on after driving (not illuminated on start up, but comes on later); back dome light not secure-falls out; dome lights sometimes come on when braking; check engine light on for months, didn't have it checked, but turned off by itself; sliding door drags-rusted on vechicle frame.*ak | |||
| 03/02/2004 | 75763 | 2 | 05/28/2003 |
| Golf mill ford dealership induced transmission failure. vehicle taken in for a recall and the dealership recommended a transmission flush, injector flush, throttle body service,power steering flush and fuel filter. on feb.19, 2004 had a transmisson flush and throttle body serviced at golf mill ford. it was never written or verbally told to me that i had any transmission problems prior to this service. after having this service i experienced a number of problems on the way home. the car ran rough, it hesitated will stopping a stop light, there was a mist that came from the front vent, the car started but then quickly cut off, and lastly when i went start the car i could hear a loud whosh sound which scared me. on feb 26, 2004, i took the car back to gold mill ford where i did inform them of all the problems i was having. after inspecting the car they stated nothing was wrong. the car was safe to drive. on march 1, 2004, while on the road i noticed fluid was leaking from the car. i went to a ray skillman ford dealership in grenwood indiana they stated that there was a leak around transmission seal & the pan was not tighted properly. tony at ray skillman ford also stated that golf mill did not place enough transmission fliud in the van. golf mill ford instructed tony to put some liquid transmission sealer in transmission & send us on our way. at the time tony told us he did not feel comfortable with doing so. golf mill felt as though they did nothing wrong. however after waiting eight hours at the dealership tony descided to put the sealer in because he did not want to keep us any longer. after leaving indiana, 4:oo am on march 2, 2004 the car stopped on the highway. the car had to be towed 600 miles at my expense. i have contacted the ford motor customer care and golf mill ford, they feel that because i am not in warranty that there is nothing that they are going to do. it has been two months and i am paying for a car i can not drive. *ak | |||
| 03/01/2004 | 3600 | 8 | 02/27/2004 |
| When reversing vehicle stalled. vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer this was normal. *ak | |||
| 7 | |||
| Vehicle experiencing problems with transmission, brake lights and head light equipment. *mr the light kept blowing out. the driver's side twice, rear driver and passenger brake light once and the rear center brake light twice. *sc the consumer stated the transmission failed. *jb | |||
| 01/26/2004 | 49100 | 3 | |
| While driving 30 mph consumer heard a loud noise coming from the transmission. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 01/16/2004 | 39000 | 1 | |
| While driving at 60 mph the engine revved the automatic transmission suddenly failed. the dealer replaced the transmission at the owner's expense. please provide any additional information. *nm | |||
| 12/05/2003 | 46640 | 1 | 10/26/2002 |
| I purchased a 2001 ford windstar in october 2001. i have had to have the transmission rebuilt in december 2003. i only have 46,640 miles on this vehicle. it has cost me $2158 to have this repaired. the transmission should not have been giving me problems with this few of miles on it. the transmission starting changing really hard and starting making loud clunking noises when shifting. it began to start slipping into neutral while driving down the road. the dealership has not helped me at all and ford motor company has been informed of my problem. the state attorney general has also been notified. i think ford motor should have a recall and pay for the repairs for these vehicles that have failed for those of us who trusted these to be reliable family vehicles. go to www.carsurvey.org and see all the consumer complaints for the ford windstars. the windshield wiper motor had to be replaced just shortly after i purchased this vehicle. floor to seat safety latches have been replaced due to recall in december 2003. windshield has constant crackling noise as i am driving. *la | |||
| 27000 | 1 | ||
| Consumer had difficulty shifting from park to drive. vehicle was taken to an independent transmission shop where the mechanic found excessive metal in the pan and on the magnet. mechanic suggested removal of the transmission for inspection. *ak | |||
| 01/03/2004 | 35000 | 2 | 11/14/2001 |
| We purchased our 2001 ford windstar with approximately 24,000 miles on it. one week after we purchased the van the indicator light for the air bags would not go off. we took the van to the dealer and they fixed the problem. shortly after that incident the rear heat and a/c would not operate. we took the van to the local dealer again and they repaired the problem under warranty. a few weeks after that the check engine light came on and they tried to fix it but it came back on. they charged us for that visit. the check engine light is still on we now have around 70,000 miles on the van. when the van had accumulated about 35,000 miles the transmission started shuddering. the van would shake all over during driving. recently i had to have the transmission replaced. there is a leak around the passenger door on the left side of the van. there is a clicking noise when i brake that no one seems to know what it is or how to fix it. now there is a loud humming noise coming from the automatic power steering fluid pump. it is so loud that it can be heard even when the radio is turned on. it used to be loud when i turned a corner or onto another street but now it is loud when i am sitting at a stop light. when we first purchased the van there was a foul odor coming from the venting system. i asked the service tech at the local dealership about this but he did not know why this was happening. we still have an odor even after changing the filter twice for the vent system. we are very unhappy with our purchase and would never consider buying another windstar.*ak | |||
| 12/19/2003 | 37500 | 30 | 11/01/2001 |
| Over thirty separate warranty repairs over two years. faulty electrical door locks (kids couldn't exit), transmission leakage, transmission failure, front-end defects with loud thumping noises and several body problems. most notable body problems are wind noise and water leakage through doors and windows. most recently, the fuel pump failed (@ 37,000 miles). ford has all along refused to acknowledge the problems. now that the vehicle is out of warranty, they have again said they will not doing anything. the vehicle is unreliable and unsafe to operate.*ak | |||
| 12/16/2003 | 45000 | 1 | 02/16/2001 |
| I have a 2001 ford windstar with 45,000 miles. our transmission failed with a complete rebuild to be done. 2,100.00. my biggest complaint is that ford's dealership was not willing to help us in getting a loaner car and with only 45,000 miles, you would think that these should not be failing so soon.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Vehicle was placed in reverse gear and car would not move in reverse.*mr the consumer was told the transmission would cost 1800-2000 miles. *jb *nm | |||
| 06/27/2002 | |||
| After starting vehicle abs light stayed on and overdrive light was flashing. vehicle not taken to dealer yet.*ak | |||
| 1 | 06/30/2001 | ||
| Transmission rolls or slipswhen on any incline when in any gear (d,1,2 or r) | |||
| 1 | 07/01/2001 | ||
| While driving, and upon upon coming to a stop on an incline car rolls backward very freely, when on steep incline car rolls backward as if it is in neutral. contacted manufacturer.*ak *slc | |||
| 09/02/2001 | 6 | 08/23/2001 | |
| Consumer stated arm rest on the passenger side of the vehicle is broken, cause unknown. *ak clunk noise in front end while turning or accelerating from a stop, can also be felt with vibration, passenger side dash area hanging. both sliding door rubber stops missing, driverside sliding door stop replaced. grinding noise in rear when applying brakes. when heat is on vent smells like something is burning. wipers will not clear windshield, washer solvent sprays in one spot. normal operation. *tt | |||
| 01/26/2002 | |||
| While driving 65mph vehicle lost power. prior to loss of power overdrive light illuminated. dealer has been notified. please provide additional information.*ak | |||
| 1 | 06/30/2001 | ||
| Transmission rolls or slipswhen on any incline when in any gear (d,1,2 or r) | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH | |||
| 03/01/2002 | |||
| While at a complete stop vehicle started to accelerate and tried to go forward, but consumer was stepping on brake pedal. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER | |||
| 09/24/2005 | 42770 | 1 | 05/03/2001 |
| On 9-15-05 my wife made a round trip of 70mi. the next day there was a large pool of transmisssion fluid on the garage floor. i had my auto repair check out the sourse of the leak,looked like a front seal on the transmission, i called sunland ford was told its was out of warranty,this van only has 42,770 mi. the torque converter caused the trans to over heat and , blow the seal, the tranmission shop said this should never happen at this mileage,the trans had been serviced at the required time ,when they pulled the pan it was full of steel shavings,i had to have it rebuilt at a cost of $ 1554 this is real hard when you are retired, i sent ford a letter w/ repair invoice on 9-24-05 they called on a friday about month after i sent the letter said there were no recalls for my problem, and that is the way it stands as of now ! i see on the complaint search this is not the only complaint ,for trans problems and more, they should have to stand buy their claim of built ford tough sorry i bought a ford. *nm | |||
| 06/23/2004 | 1 | 12/19/2000 | |
| My 2001 ford windstar van had its transmission replaced at 47,400 miles. the reason that it failed was that the torque converter went and the transmission overheated. i spoke to the service manager and transmission technician about this and the technician said that it was a problem common to this model. i called ford and was told that there wasn't anything that they could do for me. transmissions should not go with less than 48.000miles on them. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 05/18/2010 | 74000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving at 30 mph, the contact noticed that the rear of the vehicle swayed back and forth. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the contact was informed that the rear axle was broken. the mechanic did not mention rust but stated that the axle was hanging by a thread. the current and failure mileages were approximately 74,000. | |||
| 05/13/2010 | 106000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving at 40 mph, the contact noticed that the rear end of the vehicle was swaying left to right. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the contact was informed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. the current and failure mileages were approximately 106,000. | |||
| 01/26/2009 | 123822 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle began to sway right to left when driving at 40 mph. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the rear axle was cracked and needed to be replaced. the contact called the manufacturer who stated they were unaware of such a failure. the failure mileage was 123,822. | |||
| 03/15/2010 | 116000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving at various speeds and reaching 60 mph, the contact noticed vibrations on the seats, head restraints and rear window. the vehcile was taken to a local mechanic who stated that there was a crack in the right rear axle and another forming on the left side axle. the contact called the dealership but the dealer statted that the vehicle was no longer under warranty and it was repaired at the contacts expense. the failure mileage was approximately 116,000. the current mileage was 118,273. | |||
| 05/03/2010 | 100000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated while replacing the brakes, he noticed the right rear axle had cracked 12 inches from the tire. he stated if he had been driving, the failure could have potentially caused a crash. the manufacturer had not yet been contacted. the failure and current mileages were 100,000. | |||
| 01/23/2010 | 104000 | ||
| Tl* the contact has a 2001 ford windstar. the contacted stated that while driving the rear axle broke off of the vehicle. the vehicle was traveling 65mph. there was no accdent, but the vehicle slid across the highway. the contact feels this is serious safety issue. the failure and current mileage 104000. | |||
| 01/28/2010 | 204000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving 35 mph the rear axle broke. the vehicle began to sway back and forth prior to the failure. the current and failure mileage was 204000. | |||
| 12/16/2009 | 125000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving, she noticed that the vehicle was not stable when she made left and right turns. after examining the vehicle the contact also noticed that the rear axle was broke. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer and there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileages were 125000. | |||
| 12/15/2009 | 92000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. during vehicle inspection, a technician stated that the rear axle had developed cracks. the technician stated that it would cost $7000.00 to repair the vehicle. no repairs were made. she filed a complaint with the manufacturer. the failure and current mileages were 92,000. the vin number was unavailable. | |||
| 10/22/2009 | 78000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving 25 mph his rear axle fractured. the manufacturer was notified, but because the warranty expired no assistance was provided. no repairs were made. the failure mileage was 77,000. | |||
| 01/16/2008 | 68200 | 1 | 12/19/2001 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving between 5-10 mph, the vehicle dropped and came to a stop. the contact noticed that both rear wheels were folded inward. the vehicle was towed to the mechanic and they stated that the rear axle snapped due to a defective part. the part was not rusted. the mechanic replaced the rear axle. the current and failure mileages were 68,200. updated 07/15/08 *bf updated 07/15/08 | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT | |||
| 03/01/2008 | 59000 | 1 | |
| While driving down my street i heard a noise, it sounded like my tires were rubbing against the wheel well of my car, i pulled over and noticed my tires were leaning inwards, i looked under my van and noticed that the axel was hanging down and broken almost in half. i called ford company they said the van was no longer under warranty and i would have to pay for the repair (1,000.00- 1500.00) i don't feel this is a normal wear and tear to this car , the manager at the dealer ship said this is the 3rd one he has seen within this year on the same van. the tow truck driver said this should have never have happened. *tr | |||
| 02/15/2008 | 67000 | 1 | 07/09/2001 |
| Rear axle of my 2001 windstar cracked and split in half while driving approximately 50 mph. significant safety issue. no warning signs. only 67,000 miles on well-maintained vehicle. *tr | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT - SEAL | |||
| 01/04/2008 | 72380 | 1 | 07/25/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving approximately 35 mph, the rear of the vehicle swerved to the right. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they discovered that the rear housing was rusted and cracked. the current mileage was 72,413 and failure mileage was 72,380. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE | |||
| 08/18/2007 | 139000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that the constant-velocity joints on the passenger side were repeatedly replaced and the speedometer was also broken. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who stated that there were no recalls addressing the failures. the manufacturer was notified and offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 139,000. sm. | |||
| 08/18/2007 | 139000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated the cv joints on the passenger side has to be replaced constantly. the speedometer gauges was also broken. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated there are no recalls and ran a diagnostic test but the codes that are showing are the same failure codes each time the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 139,000. mw | |||
| 03/02/2011 | 117000 | ||
| Upon replacing shocks and struts on my 2001 ford windstar my mechanic noticed a crack on axel took it in to local dealership to verify sure enough crack had me set up with enterprise to recieve small loaner of a familly of 6 sad need bigger vehical ford not budging will wait for rep to further persue.. ford saying approx. 2mths before repair... sad situation all around i wish i would never bought this vehicle exspect more problems after sitting for two months | |||
| 09/16/2010 | 57000 | ||
| I have windstar 2001.my brake light and abs light were on. i searched the internet and found that there was a recall on the axle, that may have something to do with the lights being on. this was in sept.2010.i went to the dealer,they toldme the axle was cracked and that they would have to hold my van. it is now dec.2010,i am driving a rental. no word as to when i will be getting my van back. ford wants me to look at new cars. monthly payments of about $400.00. i am sr.citizen and cannot afford this. my van has 57000 miles, how safe will this be when i get it back? do i need to look for another vehicle. my husband is desabled and needs a large van to get in and out of. please advise, since they don't want to give me much for my van,i am stuck.the dealer said that they are going to install brackets,not a new axle. can this be safe? i have never had any major problems with this vehicle,til now. | |||
| 11/26/2010 | 82000 | ||
| 2001 ford windstar rear axle recall. i brought my van in for inspection for the rear axle recall (1os13) the ford dealership condemed the vehicle and i was provided with a rental car. ford has no parts to fix this concern and also has no timetable when this will be resolved. this is unacceptable to me and ford needs to stand behind there products and show loyalty to there customers. | |||
| 10/12/2010 | 80000 | ||
| Occurence: 12 october 2010. travelling i-95 washington,dc/suitland, md. vehicle: ford windstar, 2001. speed : 60-65 mph. traffic : dense. failure of defective part : rear axcle snapped in two parts while traveling on smooth highway, northbound. explosive sound , lots of smoke, extreme consternation/fear of heart attack experienced by my wife and i ( my wife has a dangerous heart condition ihss) at occurence. i immediatly turned on hazard flashers. managed to manuever across several lanes of traffic to get to highway shoulder safely!! thank god for the alert fellow travelers behind us!!! if we were hit by any 18-wheelers on the highway, i wouldn't be writing this complaint now!!! concern for our safety was shown to us by fellow travelers; particularly, md traffic safety person, who should be commended by his superiors for his professional and understanding actions!! he looked at the damage and said that he had never seen anything like it before; and he said that we were licky to be alive!!! van was transported by professionals to the nearest ford dealership where i first became aware that a recall notice was in force for my vehical!!! at this point, i became greatly disturbed that i had no previous notification of this dangerous condition and that my wife, grand children, etal were traveling in potential rolling coffin! in my opinion, this seems to be criminal; particul;arly if greater profit motives might be involved! i certainly hope that inferior materials were not used in this regard!! i was inforrmed that my van would have to remain at the ford dealership until ford motor company decides how i will be provided with a safe vehicle , since no replacement axles were available. (nb ; i have no idea whatever other damage exists as a result of this awful failure! i certainly don't want a duplicate axle replacement to replay this horrific catastrophy! in my wife's delicate condition, i cannot expect her to travel in this unsafe vehicle! justice!!! | |||
| 08/30/2010 | 93929 | ||
| Rear axle on 2001 ford windstar is cracked. noticed a banging sound while going over bumps. took it to a repair shop that identified the problem. | |||
| 05/27/2010 | 144000 | ||
| Driving my ford windstar se 2001, it felt like the rear axle was about to fall apart. indeed, the ford dealership service department diagnosed a rear axle crack today, may 27, 2010. this is a serious safety hazard. the service department will not let me drive it off the lot unless it is repaired. | |||
| 05/23/2010 | 135000 | ||
| Backing out of driveway, the rear axel of my 2001 ford windstar cracked in half. i may repair the vehicle. | |||
| 06/02/2009 | 127573 | 1 | |
| During a routine oil change on our ford 2001 windstar our mechanic noticed that the rear axle was cracked about 12 from the drivers side tire. if the axle had failed catastrophically while driving my family would have been seriously injured or killed. an internet search revealed numerous identical failure on windstars of the same model year. *tr | |||
| 05/23/2009 | 107148 | 1 | |
| I was driving my mother-in law to a restaurant with my husband and 3 children. on the way there was a squealing sound from the rear of the vehicle and we assumed it could have been a low tire. we stopped added air and went on but the squealing continued. we went around a very winding curve at 25mph [way below the recommended] and the van was almost uncontrollable. as though someone covered the road with oil [by the way, it is 92 degrees and very sunny here]. my husband thought that maybe we had a busted shock. when we came home, my husband removed the rear, driver's side tire to find that the tire had been rubbing the fenderwell - alot [which explains the burning tire smell on our way home]. upon inspecting the rear end of the van, the rear axle is almost in two!!! we never had any problems with the rear of the van before and actually just had tires put on 3 months ago and it was not noticed!!! i cannot drive this vehicle until it is fixed and don't know when that will happen because of the cost of this major repair. we could have all been killed if this would have happened on our way home, or on our way out-of-town tomorrow!! thank god we found the problem today!!! i find it very irresponsible that ford has not recalled this - they have recalled seatbelts, airbags and gas pedals due to safety concerns - why not this? i am not the only windstar owner this has happened too. there are others and their complaints i'm sure you have also received- they are posted on numerous sites on the internet. i would understand it not being recalled if i was the only one it happened to - but i'm not!!! *tr | |||
| 07/18/2008 | 105000 | 1 | |
| The right front axle broke without warning while i was driving to the movies with all my kids in the van. luckily no one was injured but my mechanic said that should not have happened without warning. he also said if we would have been on the freeway it would have been bad, really bad. *tr | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | |||
| 09/12/2002 | 1 | 03/01/2002 | |
| I feel that these component failures have caused a safety risk for my family and i. i bought a windstar based mainly on it's safety ratings. this disappoints me. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 12/16/2002 | 1 | 12/29/2000 | |
| We have leased a 2001 ford windstar and have had it for approximately 2 years, taking out 15,000 miles per year. several days ago, we could not move the car after we stopped at a light. we finally had to have it towed at our expense and found out that the whole transmission had been blown. (only after 40,000 miles.) we felt that our safety was at stake, since no warning signs within the van, told us that the problem existed and we were at a major intersection, which could have resulted in some serious injuries. | |||
| 02/05/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states transmission shifts rough and jerks. the indicator doesn't line up. dealer adjusted indicator, and now appears to shift correctly. *tt | |||