2001 Ford Windstar complaints

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE IN THE NEXT LANE. *TR

2/26/2010: WE DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED ON OUR 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THIS AXLE MIGHT HAVE CRACKED OVER 2 YEARS AGO BASED ON THE LENGTH AND AMOUNT OF RUST. WE HAD OUR VEHICLE SERVICED AT FORD AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS OR 70,000. OUR VEHICLE IS AT 61,400 MILES NOW. IF THERE WAS A CRACK WE WERE NOT TOLD. IF THIS WAS DISCOVERED UNDER WARRANTY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH SAFER AND LESS EXPENSIVE. THE BILL WAS $961.30 AND ONLY $252. WAS LABOR. WE HAVE MAINTAINED OUR VEHICLES PRISTINELY WITH PROPER SERVICING THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR FAMILY'S LIVES WERE ENDANGERED AS A RESULT OF THIS FRACTURE/CRACK OF THE REAR AXLE. *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. THROWING ABS CODES 1185, 1194, 1198, 1210, 1214, 1242, 1246, 1250, 1254. *TR

MY AXEL BROKE ON MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR AND I ALMOST GOT KILLED ON A HIGHWAY. I HAD TO PULL ON NARROW SHOULDER LANE. I HAD IT TOWED AND HAD TO PAY 625. TO HAVE IT FIXED. I JUST READ THIS WEEK THEY ARE INVESTIGATING AND THEIR IS CLASS ACTION SUIT ABOUT THESE AXLES HOW DO I GET RECALL INFO AND REPORT THIS? *TR

2001 WINDSTAR WAS FISHTAILING WHEN I HIT BUMPS. LOOKED UNDER THERE AND THE REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED. ONLY HANGING TOGETHER BY LESS THAN 1" GOT ANOTHER FROM A JUNKYARD AND IT IS CRACKING NOW TOO. SAFETY ISSUE!! FORD SHOULD PAY!!! *TR

MY VAN WINDSTAR 2001 REAR AXLE BROKE DURING DRIVING. FORD ASKED WHAT DID WE DO TO DRIVE SO POORLY TO CAUSE THIS? GAVE US A PRICE OF $1,500.00 AT LEAST TO REPAIR. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR THAT HAS THE REAR AXLE CRACKED ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH. I CANNOT DRIVE THE VAN BECAUSE IT'S MAKING A LOT OF CREAKING SOUNDS AS IF THE AXLE WILL BREAK. I'VE CONTACTED FORD AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY RESPONSE. *TR

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.

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.

2001 FORD WINDSTAR - RECALL 09S09 COMPLETED - ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD STILL COME ON. PER INTERNET RESEARCH - ABS ECM BRAKE MODULE 2C219 AND "BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED." *TR

THE REAR AXLE COLLAPSED, JUST AS MY FAMILY WAS HEADING TO THE HIGHWAY FOR A ROAD TRIP. WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE TO THE COST OF $900. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR AS IT WAS THE ONLY CAR WE HAD THAT COULD TRANSPORT MY FAMILY OF SIX TO A CHRISTMAS VACATION. I HAD READ ABOUT REAR AXLE FAILURES IN THESE MINI VANS TWO YEARS AGO FROM THIS WEBSITE WHEN I RESEARCHED AND FILED A COMPLAINT AFTER THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN THIS SAME VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. IN DECEMBER 2009 MY REAR AXLE SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 - 40 MPH. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. REPAIRS COST ABOUT $600 (IN ADDITION TO A CAR RENTAL COST OF $250) AS THIS OCCURRED ABOUT 2 HOURS FROM MY HOME. I CALLED MY FORD DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH FORD WINDSTARS, HOWEVER, I READ TODAY THAT THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THIS VERY PROBLEM. AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR THE GARAGE DOING THE WORK INDICATED THAT "FORD WINDSTARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM" IT WAS THE SECOND AXLE REPLACEMENT HE HAD DONE ON A FORD WINDSTAR IN A WEEK. PLEASE ADD MY NAME/EXPERIENCE TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT A RECALL IS IN ORDER I WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOUP PART/ALL OF MY EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM ($850). THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. *TR

ON MAY 7, 2010 MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR THE AXLE BROKE ON ME COMING FROM PICKING UP THE KIDS FROM SCHOOL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VAN FLIPPING OVER TWO TIMES. *TR

2001 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT HAD A RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED IN RELATION TO A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. SHE WAS NOT SURE OF THE RECALL INFORMATION AND STATED THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS A VOLUNTARY RECALL. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OVER THE ENGINE (IT WAS NOT CLEANED UP AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR) AND THE LEAK RUINED THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR AND THE ABS SENSOR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.

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. UPDATED 11/03/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. FORD ISSUED A RECALL. UPDATED 11/04/10

I WAS DRIVING ON A SNOW/ICE COVERED ROAD ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. THE ROAD WAS NOT PLOWED. I LOST MY BRAKES AND STARTED TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS DOWN A HILL. I TRIED TO STEER THE 2001 FORD WINDSTAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST. I WAS PETRIFIED. I FINALLY CAME TO A STOP MY BUMPER HIT A DRAIN PIPE. ALL AXLES WERE BENT. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE WINDSTAR WAS TOTALED. I RECEIVED 18 STITCHES IN MY MOUTH. MY TOP TEETH BIT THROUGH MY BOTTOM LIP. I HAVE A SCAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I FILED COMPLAINTS AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES AND AS ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING I NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER. I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR

MY HUSBAND WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT WORK, WHEN THE TIRES WERE TURNED INWARD BECAUSE OF THE BREAK IN THE REAR AXLE. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED MY HUSBAND BOUGHT A REAR AXLE FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE BROKEN ONE. *TR

2001 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. 118K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. NO PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS. NO WARNING SIGNS THE AXLE WAS ABOUT TO BREAK. *TR

REAR AXLE BROKE, CAR WAS TOWED (FLATBED) TO REPAIR FACILITY. BROKEN AXLE ASSEMBLY REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW AXLE. *TR

2001 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF ABOUT 16 INCHES FROM LEFT REAR WHEEL. ISN'T IT FUNNY HOW THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR ALL MODEL YEARS OF THE WINDSTAR AND NO COMPLAINTS WITH THE FREESTAR'S REAR AXLE. THIS IS DUE TO FORD KNOWING THAT THE AXLE ON THE WINDSTAR WAS FAULTY AND RE-DESIGNED THE AXLE FOR THE FREESTAR. I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE POST A COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE; BECAUSE IF THERE ISN'T A FIRE OR A CRASH THEY COULD CARE LESS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE THAT ISN'T WORTH LOOKING INTO. I AM SO TIRED OF THESE GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT ARE IN BED WITH THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS. DO YOUR JOBS AND SAVE SOME LIVES. *TR

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. UPDATED 07/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/03/10*JB

2001 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN REAR AXEL BREAK. WENT ON-LINE AND HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT REAR AXLES BREAKING IN HALF. NO OTHER CARS AXLES ARE BREAKING. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR SEL WHICH WAS CURRENTLY SERVICED FOR THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL. PLEASE NOTE THE SWITCH WAS FINE AND NO FLUID WAS FOUND ON CONNECTORS.THE ABS UNIT IN THE VAN HAS ISSUE WITH ACTIVATION AND DEACTIVATION PRIMARILY IN WARM WEATHER. WHEN TEMP EXCEED 70 DEGREES. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ABS UNIT, SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND EMISSIONS SYSTEM RESULTS. THE FUSE LOCATED IN THE NUMBER 10 SLOT WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL, AND IN MY CASE WONT ALLOW ANOTHER FUSE TO WORK PROPERLY UNTIL THE TEMPS OUTSIDE ARE COOLER. HERE IS THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN THIS WHEN THE FUSE WILL ACCEPT, WHILE I'M DRIVING AND THE WEATHER STARTS TO WARM UP THE ABS ECM STARTS TO EXPAND THUS CREATING CONTACTS OR BREAKING CONTACTS INSIDE THE ECM. WHEN TALKING TO THE SERVICE DEPT AT CURRIE FORD ILLINOIS THEY ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS IS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD AND INCLUDED IN THEIR CURRENT RECALL. AS I STATED BEFORE, THE RECALLED ITEM IN MY CASE WAS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER.. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE HEART OF THE REAL PROBLEM AND THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME FROM THE WALLETS OF THE CONSUMERS. THE REAL ISSUE IS POORLY DESIGNED ELECTRONIC WERE PLACE IN THEIR VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

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.

HAD FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL 09S09 THAT WAS ISSUED IN OCTOBER OF 2009 PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. WIRE HARNESS WAS REPLACE, NO LEAKS FOUND, HOWEVER THE YELLOW ABS AND RED BRAKE DASH LIGHTS REMAIN ON. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE YELLOW AND RED LIGHTS ON THE DASH INDICATE A POSSIBLE ECM FAILURE WHICH HAS RESULTED IN FIRES IN SEVERAL INSTANCES. *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. *TR

2001 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE BEAM ABOUT TO BREAK IN HALF. *TR

REAR AXLE ON MY SON'S 2001 FORD WINDSTAR CRACKED ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. ABOUT 14 INCHES FROM THE WHEEL. BOTH REAR TIRES WERE WRECKED BECAUSE OF RUBBING INSIDE OF WHEEL WELL. *TR

HAD FUSED WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED BY FORD DEALERSHIP AS PART OF RECALL 09S09 24/11/09. 12/04/10 AM NOW HAVING BRAKE/ABS/TRAC OFF DASH LIGHTS COMING ON AFTER VEHICLE RUNNING FOR 20 MINUTES OR SO. BRAKING DISTANCE HAS SINCE INCREASED. *TR

WITH NO WARNING THE REAR AXLE OF OUR 2001 FORD WINDSTAR BROKE IN HALF AT 120,000 MILES. THERE WAS SMOKE. THE NEIGHBOR CAME RUNNING AFTER US TO TELL US. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE LUCKY. WILL THE NEXT PEOPLE BE SO LUCKY? THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. ALL 2000 & 2001 FORD WINDSTARS SHOULD NOT BE USED UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS TAKEN CARE OF. *TR

NO RECALL NOTICE SENT TO ME REGARDING CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH RECALL THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE WHILE DRIVING OR IDLE. MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM ON 04/21/2010 AND AT 10:57 THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND BLEW UP. THE FIRE ALSO MELTED THE SIDING ON THE HOUSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT EXPLODED AND BURST INTO FLAMES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACTS HOME ALSO CAUGHT FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED AND WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPORT ANY INJURIES. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

WINDSTAR 2001 BROKEN DOWN REAR AXEL O REAR COMPLETE SUSPENSION, THIS PART BROKEN IN THE LEFT SIDE . *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. *TR

MY FORD 2001 WINDSTAR HAS HAD THE ABS/BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FOR FIVE YEARS NOW. I HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH IT. IS THERE ANY RECALL. *TR

REAR AXLE SNAPPED ON 2001 FORD WINDSTAR LX VAN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD WHENEVER SHE ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION WHILE TURNING LED ME TO LOOK UNDER THE REAR END AND FIND THE REAR AXEL HAD A CRACK APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY THROUGH IT IN THE CENTER. *TR

DURING NORMAL DRIVING THE "CHECK TRACTION CONTROL" MESSAGE COMES ON AND THEN DEACTIVATES BOTH ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING THE DRIVABLE IN WINTER CONDITIONS. I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY SIGNIFICANT EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. THE MESSAGE ISN'T ALWAYS ON, JUST PERIODICALLY ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS. *TR

MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR'S BRAKES WERE LOCKED AND I COULD NOT DISENGAGE THEM. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES, MOST RECENTLY IN JANUARY OF 2010 WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE REAR SPEED SENSOR. THEY REPLACED IT AND TOLD ME IT WAS ALL SET AND WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. YESTERDAY (4/6/2010) WHILE I WAS TRAVELLING IN INTERSTATE 95 SOUTH IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITH DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES. I PUT MY BRAKES ON TO SLOW DOWN BUT INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN MY CAR CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT IN THE LEFT LANE OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. WE WERE HIT TWICE AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED ALONG WITH THE OTHER CARS INVOLVED. I AM WONDERING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH OTHER 2001 FORD WINDSTARS. *TR

THE CAR WAS MAKING NOISE THAT I COULDN'T PIN POINT. THEN IT STARTED FEELING LIKE IT WAS SWAYING SIDE TO SIDE INTERMITTANTLY. THEN IT FELT LIKE THE CAR SKIPPED OR SKIDDDED ON A TURN, I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR BOUNCED, LURCHED AND JOLTED TO A STOP. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AND MY REAR TIRES LOOKED LIKE THIS / \ INSTEAD OF | |. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR BROKEN REAR AXLE AND IT AUTO FILLED IN WINDSTART. THIS IS THE 4TH PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. TWO OF THE OTHERS INVOLVED THE ABS SYSTEM. ONE OF THOSE WAS FINALLY RECALLED BUT ONLY AFTER I FIXED IT MYSELF. I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE TO JUNK THE CAR. IT'S UNFAIR THAT I'VE HAD TO POOR SO MUCH INTO THIS CAR THAT I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RECOUP OR BE MADE WHOLE. I JUST THANK GOD NOBODY GOT HURT W/ THIS OR THE ABS PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE REAR AXLE CROSS MEMBER ON MY 2001 FORD WINDSTART LX FAILED. NOTHING UNUSUAL OCCURED PRIOR TO THIS IN TERMS OF DRIVING OR ON THE ROAD. REAR AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $1,300.

VEHICLE: 2001 FORD WINDSTAR LX; MILEAGE APPROX. 113K TODAY, I HAD A SCHEDULED APPT. FOR MY LOCAL GARAGE TO INSPECT A NOISE/VIBRATION ISSUE WITH THE FAMILY MINIVAN. THIS IS THE VEHICLE WHICH MY WIFE AND KIDS USE ROUTINELY. WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO GET TO THE GARAGE, I HEARD A LARGE SNAP AND THE REAR-END OF THE VAN SLUMPED ONTO THE DRIVER'S REAR TIRE. THE REAR AXLE BEAM HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. IN REVIEWING ONLINE FORUMS WITH OTHER FORD DRIVERS, THIS IS FAILURE IS A FREQUENT OCCURANCE WITH FORD WINDSTARS AFTER 100K MILES. THAT IS NOT A LARGE NUMBER OF MILES, CONSIDERING THE "INVESTMENT" TYPICAL MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES NEED TO MAKE IN ORDER TO HAVE A VEHICLE FOR COMMUTING. I SHUDDER WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY FAMILY WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON AN EXPRESSWAY. IT IS TO A POINT THAT ONE CAN NOT FIND REPLACEMENT REAR AXLE BEAMS FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT NUMBER OF REPAIRS REQUIRED IN THE MARKET. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS TREND WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR... THIS CAN BE ANOTHER TOYOTA LYING IN WAIT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THE SUB FRAME AND CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED OFF OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

I OWN A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE PERFORMED ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. IT BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE IN THE BACK WHEN TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A SLIGHT RIDGE AT THE END OF IT. WE HAD OUR MECHANIC CHECK IT AND HE FOUND THAT THE REAR AXLE IS CRACKED HALF WAY THROUGH. FORTUNATELY WE FOUND THIS BEFORE IT BROKE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TO FIX IT YET BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD AN $1100 REPAIR BILL. *TR

THE REAR AXLE ON MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR BROKE IN HALF AS I WAS BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. I HAD TO HAVE THE REAR AXLE REPLACED. U HAVE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD WINDSTARS. *TR

BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED EVEN AFTER THE LATEST RECALL, MY CAR ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. I HAVE HAD THE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED AND THE WHEEL SENSOR CLEANED AT THE DEALERSHIP YET PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

FRONT WHEEL ON PASSENGER SIDE DISCONNECTED FROM FRAME WHILE MOVING. FRAME RUSTED. *TR