2003 Ford Windstar Body & Structure Problems

The contact’s son owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the exhaust pipe was punctured. The contact was advised that the front subframe was severely corroded; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle would not be repaired due to the corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact parked the vehicle and the vehicle was no longer driven due to the safety concerns. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact’s son owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while her son was driving 10 MPH and making a turn into a parking lot, the vehicle stopped as the rear tires collapsed inside the wheel well. The contact was able to park the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle had fractured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would cover the repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle as the subframe was severely corroded. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure) in 2011. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The rear wheel well is corroded and the corrosion is into the structure that the seat belt is mounted to and it ruined the REM(rear electronic module) there is supposed to be a recall on it but all the ford garages say its been done but it hasn't and now I have no way to work or to take my kids anywhere and the van only has 96000 miles and we just bought it

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A CLUNKING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE SUBFRAME AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME MOUNTS SEPARATED DUE TO RUSTING. THE CAUSE OF THE RUST WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. TOYCEN FORD (1000 CHIPPEWA CROSSING BLVD, CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE REAR PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WAS RUSTED AND BECAME STUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BE OPENED. THE CONTACT HAD TO LIFT UP THE DOOR AND PUT IT BACK ON THE DOOR TRACK SO THAT IT COULD CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FAIR OAKS FORD LINCOLN (1351 E OGDEN AVE, NAPERVILLE, IL, (630) 357-7100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR HAD A RUSTED HOLE THROUGH THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,595.

THE PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE DEALER HAD DONE THE RECALL REPAIR AND STILL RIGHT IN THE SPOT OF THE REPAIR THE SUB FRAME CRACKED AND SPLIT. FORD SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THEIR REPAIR DIDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE A CLUNKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD CRACKED AND SEPARATED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER A RELATED RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 236,000. *TR

OUR ENGINE CRADLE RECENTLY BROKE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE JUST FOUND OUT THIS FALLS UNDER RECALL NUMBER 15V608 (FORD RECALL # 15S27). WE WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE RESOLVED AT LITTLE OR NO COST TO US, BUT WE ARE UNSURE HOW TO START THE PROCESS WITH A RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

THE REAR AXLE ON OUR 2003 FORD WINDSTAR CRACKED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT. THANK GOODNESS IT DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AND SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A NEARBY LOT. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND IT HAS BEEN RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND NOW THE AXLE. WE DID HAVE THE RECALL "BRACKETS" PLACED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THEY DID NOT WORK! FORD NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH ITS CUSTOMERS AND NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND A VEHICLE PURCHASE IS A DIFFICULT EXPENSE FOR MOST INDIVIDUALS. NOT ONLY DO MOST OF US EXPECT THE VEHICLE TO LAST, BUT WE DO NOT EXPECT TO BE IN DANGER BECAUSE OF NEGLIGENCE AND COST-CUTTING MEASURES THAT SAVE THEM MONEY, WHILE SCREWING THE CONSUMER FINANCIALLY. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND I CAN ONLY HOPE FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THE CONSUMERS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS NEGLIGENCE, THERE IS SERIOUS CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO THE LITIGATION OF THIS ISSUE ON BEHALF OF HARD-WORKING PEOPLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE INSPECTED BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO USE A LIFT TO INSPECT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR FRAME EXHIBITED CRACKS. IN 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V195000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 231,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2-3 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE SHAFT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE SUB FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE SUB FRAME DUE TO SAFETY HAZARDS DURING THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE IS WITH ITS SUBFRAME. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE PORTION OF IT IS RUSTING OUT. I TOOK IT IN ON 11/4/13 TO A LICENSED VEHICLE SERVICE PLACE FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE, ONLY TO HAVE THE MECHANIC TELL ME THE SUBFRAME IS RUSTING OUT. AFTER LEARNING THIS NEWS (AND VIEWING THE SUBFRAME MYSELF TO OBSERVE THE CONDITION), I TOOK IT INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FURTHER INSPECTED. THE SECOND INSPECTION WAS ON 11/7/13. AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY ALSO INSPECTED THE REAR AXLE (WHICH WAS PART OF A FORD RECALL IN THE PAST). THE DEALERSHIP COULD SEE WHERE AN ATTEMPT TO APPLY SOME TYPE OF COATING TO IT ANOTHER TIME DID NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NOW A SIX-INCH CRACK RUNNING DOWN THE CENTER OF THE AXLE. A SERVICE CONSULTANT FROM THE DEALERSHIP TOOK MANY PICTURES TO SEND TO FORD. I DID NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE HOME THAT DAY. A FORD REP CAME IN THE NEXT DAY, AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE WAS TO DO WAS TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE. FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD, AND FROM WHAT THE INITIAL FORD SERVICE CONSULTANT SAID, WAS THAT IT WAS A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION TO FORD TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME. FORD, HOWEVER, REFUSED, EVEN AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE "WHY" QUESTION ANSWERED, AND THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE AN ANSWER. BEFORE OUR OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE INITIAL SUBFRAME RECALL EXISTED, THE VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME APPARENTLY WAS NOT CORRODING PROFUSELY IN 2011. BRACKETS WERE INSTALLED, AND THE PROBLEM WAS CONSIDERED "FIXED." LESS THAN A YEAR AND A HALF INTO OUR OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, THE SUBFRAME IS ROTTING, AND FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO REPAIR IT AS SHE TOLD ME TODAY (11/12/13) IN MY CONVERSATION WITH [XXX] FROM FORD (1-800-392-FORD). THOUGH THEY HAVE THE PICTURES SOMEWHERE IN THEIR SYSTEM, THEY HAVE CONSIDERED THE CASE CLOSED. OUR FAMILY VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SAFELY USED FOR THE FAMILY. PLEASE HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUB-FRAME EXHIBITED A HOLE DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SUB-FRAME. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO THEN ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE SUB-FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO FILED A COMPLAINT FOR THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,379.

THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS SHUT ALL THE WAY. IT ALSO DOES NOT USUALLY OPEN WITHOUT PULLING THE LOCK AT THE SAME TIME AS TRYING TO OPEN IT. *TR

MY DEALERSHIP JUST CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT (PASSENGER) SIDE ENGINE MOUNT THAT IS PART OF THE SUBFRAME HAS CORROSION TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE ARE TWO PERFORATIONS COMPLETELY THROUGH THE ENGINE MOUNT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL FOR THE SUBFRAME HAS CLOSED AND THAT THERE IS NO RECOURSE FOR GETTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH THIS. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE MANAGER ([XXX]) ALSO ADMITTED THAT THE EXTENT OF CORROSION AND PERFORATION DID NOT OCCUR IN ONE YEAR ( I HAD THE ORIGINAL RECALL SERVICE DONE IN MAY OF 2011). THEREFORE, I QUESTION WHY THEY DID NOT BRING THIS TO ATTENTION OF THE RECALL AND INCLUDE THE REPAIR ACCORDINGLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THE SERVICE PERFORMED IS ROY O'BRIEN FORD IN ST. CLAIRE SHORES MI AND THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS 586-776-7600. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS: UNDER-BODY SHIELDS) HOWEVER, THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE SUB-FRAME ALSO BE REPLACED, DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEALER 'S RECOMMENDATION TO REPLACE THE SUB-FRAME, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE DOORS FROM THE EXTERIOR SO THE PASSENGERS COULD EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED TO THE REAR LIFT GATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V030000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS: UNDERBODY SHIELDS. THE REMEDY REPAIR CONSISTED OF ATTACHING A BRACKET TO THE REAR SUBFRAME. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY AND THE BRACKET PROTRUDED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED A HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE PERTAINING TO THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.