1999 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

1999 FORD WINDSTAR SUBFRAME CRACKED LESS THAN A 100,000.00 MILES MECHANIC CONFUSED AND SURPRISED SAYS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED ON SUCH A YOUNG CAR. *TR

99 FORD WINDSTAR, SCDS SWITCH REPLACED,NO BRAKE LIGHTS, CANT GET SHIFTER OUT OF PARK, BLOWER WONT SHUT OFF WITH KEY REMOVED, HEADLIGHTS COME ON WHEN YOU SHUT THE DOOR WITH KEY REMOVED AND SWITCH OFF. NO SPEEDOMETER OR TACH. *TR

MY REAR AXEL IN MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR BROKE THIS AM WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS PULLING OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY. WE HAD NO WARNING THAT IT WAS BROKE. NO ONE WAS HURT AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT FIXED YET BUT WENT OUT AN LOOKED AT IT AN IT LOOKS TO BE ALMOST DEAD CENTER OF THE AXEL THAT IS BROKE IN HALF. *TR

REAR AXLE RUSTED AND BROKE IN HALF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE STOPPED THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE A USED REAR AXLE WAS INSTALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,548.

I HAVE A 99 FORD WINDSTAR. I WAS READING ABOUT A REAR AXLE PROBLEM AND WHEN I CHECKED MINE, I FOUND THAT IT WAS CRACKED ALMOST THROUGH. I WANTED TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS FAILURE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW AND IT HAS LESS THAN 80K MILES ON IT. THESE VANS ARE DRIVEN BY MOMS WITH KIDS FOR THE MOST PART. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS CAR FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ABS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 114,000 MILES DESPITE HAVING ABSOLUTELY NO PRIOR ISSUES OF THIS NATURE. I WAS AT A RED LIGHT APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE ON-RAMP OF I-25 WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND JERKED BEFORE ACCELERATING; AFTER PULLING OVER TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE (AS I WAS SURE I HAD HIT/RUN OVER SOMETHING), I FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL AND PROCEEDED ONTO THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES AT FREEWAY SPEED UNTIL I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. UPON TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE WOULD ONLY REV REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR I USED, AT WHICH TIME I CONTACTED AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP TO TOW THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, I AM AWAITING A CALL FROM THE SHOP AFTER THEIR FULL DIAGNOSIS, WHICH I WILL UPDATE THIS COMPLAINT. A SUDDEN PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS PERPLEXING AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY COSTLY. AFTER READING PAGES OF COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE HIGH(ER) MILEAGE OF MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT SPEAKS TO THE LEVEL OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE I HAVE PROVIDED. PLEASE CONSIDER SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE BEFORE A LIFE IS TAKEN AS A RESULT. *TR

THE ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES AND WE WERE TOLD THEY ARE FINE. HOWEVER, THE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. THIS WOULD MAKE ANY DRIVER NERVOUS TO CONSTANTLY WORRY IF THERE IS A BRAKE ISSUE ESPECIALLY WITH THE FAMILY WITH YOU. ALSO, THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE TACHOMETER HAS STARTING RANDOMLY BOUNCING AROUND LIKE CRAZY. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT A CERTAIN MILEAGE EITHER. AFTER A MINUTE OR SO, THEY START TO FUNCTION AGAIN. THIS BEGAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I HAVE READ SEVERAL BLOGS OF MANY FELLOW WINDSTAR VAN OWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM FOR YEARS. I BELIEVE THAT FORD NEEDS TO STEP IN AND RECTIFY THE PROBLEMS. FORD SHOULD STAND BY THERE PRODUCT AND FIX THE FAILING PARTS. DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 60-65 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE REAR TIRES WERE TILTED INWARDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE REAR AXLE SUPPORT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

I TOOK MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR IN FOR RECALL WORK . THEY JUST PUT IN A FUSE LINK. SINCE THEN MY SPEEDOMETER AND TECH HAVE BEEN GOING WILD AND I AM GETTING AND MY ABS LIGHT ALWAYS COMES ON. MY CRUISE CONTROL DON'T WORK RIGHT EITHER AMONG OTHER ISSUES LIKE LEAN CODES! *TR

THIS WAS A FORD 1999 WINDSTAR RECALL ON THE ABS SYSTEM. THE RECALL STATED THAT A FIRE MAY OCCUR IN CONNECTION WITH THE ABS. I TOOK THE CAR IN, HOWEVER THE BRAKE FLUID LEAK INSIDE THE CAR HAS GOTTEN WORSE. FROM TIME TO TIME THE CAR SMOKES UP, AND THERE IS A BURNING SMELL. THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS IS STILL A HAZARD WITH ALL THE FLAMMABLE BRAKE FLUID IN THE CAR. I LOOKED IT UP AND OTHERS HAVE CALLED THIS PROBLEM "BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC". BRAKE FLUID LEAKING INTO THE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR CONSTANTLY. I HAVE CLEANED MY CAR WITH THE THOUGHT THAT I SPILLED OIL, HOWEVER AFTER READING UP FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE RECALL, THIS WAS NOT MENTIONED AT ALL TO ME BY THE FORD DEALER. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER THAT FIXED IT TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO OR SAY. I GUESS I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE TO DO. *TR

WE WERE MAKING THE NORMAL TURN INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD BROKEN. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON MAY 17, 2010 I HAD TWO OCCASIONS WHEN IT FELT LIKE I HIT SMALL PATCHES OF ICE AND THE VAN SWERVED ON ME EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A WARM SUNNY DAY WITH DRY ROADS. I CALLED TRAGESSER FORD OF ROSS OHIO AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE VAN IN ON MAY 19, 2010. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE REAR AXLE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN AND THAT I WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THEY SAID ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE A SAFETY PROBLEM THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE AXLE. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON MAY 26, 2010 WITH A COST TO REPLACE THE AXLE OF $817.82. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) ON SATURDAY MAY 15TH, AROUND NOONTIME, I WAS TRAVELING ON I-91 NORTHBOUND IN HARTFORD. THE VAN STARTED PULLING AND SWERVING LIKE I HAD FLAT TIRES. THE VAN HAS 124,210 MILES, AND HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN REAR AXLE. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST FOR A 'USED' AXLE IS AROUND $900.00. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING, THIS IS AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW. VIN # [XXX] . *TR

SUBFRAME ON 1999 FORD WINDSTAR SNAP SAW REVIEWS ON OTHER WINDSTARS. FOUND OUT THIS A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR, DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR BUT TO NO AVAIL. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS COVERED IN AN UNKNOWN OIL EACH TIME IT WAS RETRACTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR ANY OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WE HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A BROKEN AXLE BEAM ON A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THANK GOD NOTHING HAPPENED AND NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR WAS SWAYING AND KNOCKING FROM THE REAR END AND WHEN WE GOT HOME THE REAR WHEELS WERE CANTERED OUT. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR TO FIND THE BROKEN AXLE BEAM AND THE ONLY THING LEFT HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER WAS A THE TORSION BAR. I AM VERY GLAD THAT WE WERE NOT ON A HIGHWAY OR TOO FAR FROM HOME, SINCE WE USE THE CAR TO TRAVEL TO OHIO AND FLORIDA . WE THEN LOOKED ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO RECALLS. ALTHOUGH OUR CAR HAS 150,000 MILES ON IT OTHERS HAD UNDER 100,000. OUR MAIN CONCERN IS THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH OUR FAMILY. WE TRAVEL A LOT WITH OUR WINDSTAR AS DO SO MANY OTHER FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN DO AND IT SEEMS AS IF FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE DANGER. I HOPE THAT FORD DOES NOT WAIT FOR A DEATH TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM AS THE PART THAT FAILED SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. THIS PART IS A MAIN STRUCTURE OF OUR VEHICLE AND SEEMS TO BE POORLY DESIGNED. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY OTHER WINDSTARS ARE OUT THERE WITH AN AXLE BEAM READY TO BREAK AND HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE UNAWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL DANGER. THE YEARS OF WINDSTARS THAT I SAW ON COMLPAINTS.COM VARIED FROM 1999 TO 2003 AND ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. I ASK YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. [XXX] *TR

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON ROUTE 81, THE CAR STARTED REACTING TO BUMPS MORE SEVERELY THAN USUAL, AND THEN THERE WAS A SHARP NOISE AT THE REAR OF THE CAR. AFTER PARKING THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY, WE SAW THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN, BASICALLY DOWN THE MIDDLE. THE REPAIRING OF THE CAR COST $960.12. *TR

ENGINE SUB-FRAME/CRADLE FAILURE AT RIGHT SIDE REAR BODY MOUNT RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. REPLACE SUB-FRAME. YES OLD SUB-FRAME IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR

OUR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED A CRACK IN THE SUBFRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE DUE TO RUST. TO REPLACE WITH A USED SUBFRAME, IT WILL COST APPRX $1,000, A NEW ONE IS MORE THEN THE CAR IS WORTH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND I HAD MY THREE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL RECURRING PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THE VEHICLE AND FROM READING OTHER POSTS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE SUBFRAME DUE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM ON FORD'S PART. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 1999 FORD WINDSTAR- BROKEN REAR AXLE BEAM STEERING ARM AT DRIVER SIDE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO FOUND ANOTHER CRACK ON THE BAR ARM. VIN # [XXX] .

REAR AXLE BREAKS IN HALF! FORTUNATELY NO OTHER CARS WHERE AROUND WHEN THIS HAPPENED, ONLINE FOUND VERY COMMON, FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING! *TR

FRONT A SUBFRAME WAS ALMOST COMPLETE RUSTED OUT AND DETACHED FROM FRONT END. THIS WAS NOTICED BY MY REGULAR MECHANIC DURING AN OIL CHANGE. THE COMPLETE FRONT A FRAME ("SUBFRAME") HAD TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING CONTROL ARMS, ALIGNMENT; FRONT BRAKE PADS. COST WAS $1687. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED A RUST HOLE IN THE FRONT SUB FRAME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 173000.

I HAD RECALL # 09S09 PERFORMED AT LITHIA FORD IN ROSEBURG, OREGON ON 4/16/10/. SINCE THAT DATE THE FOLLOWING ISSUE HAS CONTINUED TO ARISE, BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. THE ABS WARNING DASH LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THIS ISSUE WAS NOT ADDRESSED WITH THE RECALL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR AND MY REAL AXEL BROKE IN HALF. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR THE ABS DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND STARTING IT AGAIN MAKES THE ABS WARNING LIGHT GO OFF AND IT USUALLY STAYS OFF. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND OCCURS EVERY FEW WEEKS. WHEN THE ABS DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT IS ON I EXPERIENCE INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCE. *TR

SMOKING FROM UNDER HOOD, LEAKING FLUID, NON-WORKING SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, GAS SENSOR, AND OIL SENSOR. FLICKERING DOME LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING. SCDS IS UNDER RECALL, BUT THE FLUID THAT WAS LEAKING FROM THIS MALFUNCTIONING SENSOR HAS CAUSED ALL SORTS OF ISSUES. FLUID LEAKED ON TO ABS BOX AND THE WIRES CAUSING SHORTS AND BLOWN FUSES. ALL DAMAGE HAS BEEN SAID TO STEM FROM THE ORIGINAL RECALL, BUT THE RECALL DOESN'T COVER THE FULL DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE FAULTY SCDS'S. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDLES WERE FLUCTUATING INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL LEVEL GAUGE AND RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WERE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED AND THE COST TO REPAIR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS $900. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 06/02/11

REAR AXLE BROKE ON FORD WINDSTAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD UNUSUAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS WERE FOLDING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SHE FOUND THAT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE REPAIR SHOP WAS AWAITING APPROVAL FROM AN ADJUSTER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

1999 FORD WINDSTAR RIGHT FRONT STABILIZER BRACKET RUSTED OFF FRAME. NOTICED LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET RUSTED BAD AND READY TO COME LOOSE. *TR

THE REAR AXLE CRACKED ON THE LEFT SIDE LAST YEAR. I HAD IT WELDED. THIS YEAR IT CRACKED IN THE SAME SPOT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR

REAR AXLE OF THE CAR BROKE AS WE DROVE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. *TR

BROKEN REAR AXLE ON A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35 MILES PER HOUR AND THE AXLE JUST SNAPPED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS AROUND 85000 MILES ON IT. THE REASON I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE HAD TOWED THREE OF THESE SAME SITUATIONS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND TOWS ABOUT 12-15 A YEAR. THE MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED IT SAID THAT HE HAS FIXED 4 OF THEM. NOW THIS IS JUST IN MY LOCATION SO I CAN'T IMAGINE COUNTRY WIDE THAT FORD IS NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS AND I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE WAY TO REPAIR IT IS TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT SUBFRAME BROKE LOOSE FROM THE MAIN CHASSIS WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING FORWARD AT A STOP LIGHT. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION DROPPED, DISCONNECTING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE STEERING RACK AND RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING AND CONTROL. SUBFRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AT THE POINT OF FAILURE. I KNOW OF ANOTHER PERSON WHOSE 1999 WINDSTAR DID THE EXACT SAME THING ONE WEEK EARLIER. CAR ENDED UP BEING SCRAPPED AS REPAIR COSTS FAR OUT WEIGHED THE CAR'S VALUE. THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURIES OR FATALITIES IF THE CAR WERE MOVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. FORD IS AWARE THIS IS HAPPENING BUT IS NOT ADVISING OWNERS TO HAVE THEIR CARS INSPECTED. LOTS OF POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS, THERE ARE PLENTY OF OLDER WINDSTARS ON THE ROAD. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR REAR DEAD AXLE CRACKED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. CHECKED INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM AND SAME LOCATION OF CRACK. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR REAR DEAD AXLE CRACKED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. CHECKED INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM AND SAME LOCATION OF CRACK. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR

THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE BRAKES MAKE A LOUD NOISE (SOUNDS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE)WHEN STOPPING. I CHECKED THE PADS AND ROTORS AND THEY APPEAR FINE. I HAVE BLEED THE BRAKES TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BUT IT DIDN'T HELP. NOT SURE OF THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT DATE AS I BOUGHT THE VAN USED A FEW MONTHS AGO. *TR

VAN WAS MADE AN OCCASIONAL THUMPING SOUND THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY I HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AND WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE VAN THE REAR AXLE WAS BROKEN ALMOST ALL OF THE WAY THROUGH ABOUT 1 TO 2 FT. FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE; HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. HE THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE SUPPORT BAR WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 102,000.

1999 FORD WINDSTAR SEL VAN BROKE REAR AXLE BEAM EARLIER THIS SPRING. WE HAVE MORE THAN NORMAL SNOWFALL IN SIOUX FALLS SD AND OUR STREET DEPARTMENT USED MORE SALT THAN IN A NORMAL YEAR. AXLE BROKE AT LOW SPEED WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY APPROACH. AXLE WAS BROKE OR TORE IN TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE AXLE WITH A USED ONE NOT KNOWING OF THIS ISSUE FORD HAS. *TR

I AM A RETIRED FORMER TECHNICIAN/MANAGER FOR FORD DEALERS FOR 41 YEARS. TO KEEP MYSELF BUSY, I WORK ON FRIENDS VEHICLES. RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED A CONCERN WITH FORD WINDSTARS. THE REAR AXLES (I-BEAM ASSYS) BREAK IN HALF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE REAR OF THE VEH TO LOSE CONTROL. THE FIRST ONE I SAW ( A 2001 MY VEH) WAS ONLY CRACKED HALF WAY, I REPLACED IT BEFORE IT BROKE. LAST WEEK I HAD ONE ( A 1999 MY VEH) TOWED TO ME BROKEN IN HALF. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS GOING SLOW & WAS PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. I ALSO NOTICED THE CRACK & THE BREAK OCCURRED AT ALMOST THE SAME LOCATION ON THE AXLE (APPROX. 12" FROM THE LEFT SIDE). IN BOTH CASES I REPLACED THEM WITH USED PARTS FROM AN AUTO WRECKING YARD. THIS WAS DUE TO THE OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH PRICE OF A NEW PART FROM FORD. I ASKED AROUND AT LOCAL SHOPS & EVEN WITH SOME OF THE TECH'S WHERE I USED TO WORK & WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD INDEED SEEN THIS CONCERN BEFORE. I WAS WONDERING IF THE NHTSB WAS AWARE OF THIS CONCERN. AS A FORMER FORD DEALER EMPLOYEE, I KNOW MANUFACTURERS HAVE PROGRAMS ASKING CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR A "SAFETY CHECK" & POSSIBLE REPAIR. I BELIEVE THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO "SUGGEST" TO FORD BEFORE ONE OF THESE AXLES BREAKS AT SPEED CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE OR LOSS OF LIFE. I HAVE ACCESS TO THE BROKEN AXLE IF ANYONE CARES TO INSPECT IT. I ALSO CUT THE CRACKED SECTION OUT OF THE FIRST AXLE & GAVE IT TO THE OWNER TO RETAIN SHOULD ANYTHING PROGRAM-WISE EVER OCCUR. NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THE CONSUMER PORTION OF THIS FORM IS MINE, NOT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLES REPAIRED. SINCE THERE IS MORE THAN ONE VEH INVOLVED I LEFT THE VIN SECTION EMPTY. IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY I CAN SUPPLY BOTH VINS. BUT SINCE THE YEAR OF PRODUCTION DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER THE VIN SEEMS IRRELEVANT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR SEL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ALL THE GAUGES WHERE FLUCTUATING BACK AND FORTH INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND PERSISTED FOR EIGHT MONTHS. ON OCCASION, THE CONTACT COULD CORRECT THE FAILURE BY STRIKING THE DASHBOARD WITH FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ABS ELECTRONIC STABILITY MODULE UNIT WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,119.

TOOK MY VAN INTO MIDAS FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC CALLED ME OUT AND SHOWED ME THE K FRAME IS ROTTED AND HANGING OFF THE VEHICLE ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS IS ALSO CAUSED ADDITIONAL FRONT END DAMAGE. MECHANIC TOLD US DO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE FRONT OF OUR HOUSE SINCE. *TR

I HAVE A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR, WHICH HAS BADLY RUSTED K CRADLE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FALL DOWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN AS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC. I TRIED TO FIND AN USED ONE BUT COULDN'T GET AS THEY WERE ALL RUSTED OUT. LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BAD MATERIAL OR BAD DESIGN. ITS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE HAZARD OF NOT KNOWING HOW FAST HE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO A RECALL (NOT LISTED IN THE NHTSA DATABASE) IN MARCH 2010 BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 113,000. UPDATED 10/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS RUSTED AND WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY CRACKED. THE MECHANIC STATED HE OBSERVED THE FAILURE OFTEN IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000 MILES AND THE CURRENT WAS 132,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR END WAS COVERED WITH RUST AND REPLACED IT FOR $700. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 187,000.