Front spring fractured for no reason other than it was a manufacturer's defect.fortunate for us the van was parked when the spring broke .had we been driving when the spring broke ,it would have puctured the front tire and possibly cause me to loose controll of the van .I purchased a new spring from a ford dealer and replaced the fractured spring .my concern is I have learned this is a common occurrence with the front springs and that nothing is being done to hold ford accountable to replace the defective springs.this seems to be a major problem. Thank you. I look forward to hear from you in regards to this problem.
1996 Ford Windstar suspension complaints
Page 3 of 5: complaints 41 to 70 of 111, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The front suspension spring on driver side snapped and went into tire, however the tire was not damaged.
On june 6th as I was leaving my driveway to go to work the front drivers side spring broke off causing the left front to drop down on the tire. After calling the dealership (artino ford in huron, ohio) I found out this was not covered under warranty. I asked them if they have had this problem with other windstars and they said "a few". I called our local garage to see if they could get my van in to repair it and they said yes but don't drive it because they had another one there just like it and they drove it in and tore the brake line off. I called ford motor customer service and was told they were not doing any warranty on this problem "at this time"., she also said that they are having a problem with the front springs. Also, I had to replace both front springs because after 5 years and 55,000 miles, the right side sat lower than the left side after replacement, creating another safety problem. Besides, who knows how long before the other spring fails. The tow truck driver informed me that this was the 3rd windstar witrh the same problem he has had to pick up just in our area. I think this is a satety problem that ford should address right away. We already have 5 in our area alone. I wonder how many more have the same problem across the u.s. Please keep me informed.
Problem 1- engine blew a head gasket as backing out of our driveway, we have only 72000 miles on it and were told that there is a recall on the 1995 ford engine for the same problem. This repair is going to cost $1,000.00. Ford has given us no options. 2nd-problem- on the same vehicle a month before, again as I was backing out of my drive the front spring broke, punctured my tire and collapsed the shocks, that cost $600.00. Again, when we called ford we were told that there had been a recall on the taurus for the same problem but it wasn't for the windstar. Now ii have a problem believing that thay can recall one product without covering the other when the same exact problem occured with my vehicle. Please advise what further action I can take. Thanks.
Consumer stated that ford will not reinburse for passenger's and driver's coil springs repairs that were needed. Please provide furthur details.
Vehicle was parked when consumer noticed that front left was lower than right. Dealer informed consumer left front coil spring needed to be replaced.
Ea 00 027/ suspension coil spring breakage: while backing out of the driveway right side coil spring broke. Vehicle towed to a independent repair shop for repairs. Dealer / manufacturer werenot notified at this time. .*ak front coil spring broken twice while driving.
While driving 35 MPH heard a loud clunking noise. Had vehicle towed to dealer, replaced passenger front coil spring. There was no prior warning.*ak the consumer pointed out to a defect story an internet (1-30-2001) that said the us government was investigating 926,000 ford windstar minivans about spring breaking and puncturing tires.
While backing into a parking space, left front coil spring broke and punctured tire. Manufacturer was notified. Provide any further information.
Both of front coil springs are broken. I have been hearing a noise in front end, driver's side. I took the windstar to a mechanic and he showed me t broken spring. We looked at the right-side spring, and that one was broken also. I went to a local ford dealer, the rochester auto collection. They said they don't have many problems with the springs on the windstars. But my mechanic said that he has been doing a lot of spring jobs on 1996 windstars. My search on the internet turned up many incidents of problems with these springs. I also saw that the federal safety agency is also investigating this safety problem. It looks like ford doesn't think this is a safety issue. Are they waiting for people to die before they issue a recall? The metal is obviously inferior and defective. Please let me know of any updates. Thank you.........sante dicarlo.
Front-left suspension coil spring broken, poked into tire, vehicle loss control immediately!!!!!!!
While driving 65 MPH coil spring on passenger's side broke and punctured tire, no collision or injuries occurred. *ak
This is the second report for this vehicle. The right front spring broke on 4/15/2001. Now on 6/05/2001 the left spring broke. The cause of failure is as follows. The original spring is plastic coated, any type of imperfection in this plastic coating is a site for corrosion, the corrosion"pit" becomes a stress riser which starts the fatique failire. Bothe springs have the same type of failure.
Consumer was moving out of a parking lot and rear of vehicle dropped. Consumer got out of vehicle, thinking it was a flat tire. Rear coil spring on left side broke and punctured tire. Dealer diagnoised that vehicle needed rear coil springs and struts. A mehanic repaired vehicle using ford parts ordered by the consumer. Both sets of coil springs needed to be replaced.
Front left macpherson strut spring broke. Dealer was inspecting vehicle.*ak
The front right coil spring broke while backing out of the driveway. Due to the low mileage and reported problems with spring coils on other ford models I am bringing it to your attention.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Driver heard bang, then rubbing noise. Smelled and saw smoke and pulled over thinking car was on fire. After coming to a stop, driver and passenger heard explosion. Front left coil spring broke and rubbed inner tire side wall causing blowout.
Spring broke as the car was being jacked up to do a brake pad replacement.
While driving and having any movement in steering wheel there comes a loud spueaking noise from wheel, contacted dealer, and dealer noted that there could be some problems with ball joints.
While driving and turning wheel or with any movement in steering there comes a loud squeaking noise, contacted dealer, and dealer stated that there could be a problem with ball joints.*ak problem began about 50000 miles. Also this vehicle has a faulty speedometer.
The coil spring around the drivers side strut broke. The vehicle was parked at the time the spring broke. The repair shop I called about repair said this is the third windstar in a few weeks he has repaired with the same problem. The other two were 1995 windstars. I am grateful that I was not driving when this happened. The repair shop informed me that when these springs break they usually also puncture the tire. My concern is that if someone is not as lucky as I to have this happen in thier driveway , that this could cause a serious if not fatal accident. If this is a common occurance I feel that other windstar owners should be notified. Thank you.
While traveling and without any indication front coil spring had broken, causing front end of vehicle to drop to ground. *ak
When drivers side coil spring (of the strut) broke I asked the dealer if they should replace the pass. Side. They said the warrenty would not cover it. Luckly when the coil spring went, both times the car was parked. The spring could have popped the tire while driving thus causing an accident. The coil springs should not have failed with less than 60,000 miles, their must be something wrong in the metal of the spring.
Both coil springs broke while parked; towed to dealer shop and repaired under extened warranty. Please provide any further details on this matter.
Front suspension spring broke going over a small (1") bump. Now springs, struts and mounts need to be replaced.
When coil of the spring fractured, it rubbed on the tire, removing approximately 1/8 inch of sidewall material all around the top inner sidewall. The opinion of the service persons was that if it had happened at highway speed, it would have resulted in catastrphic failure of the tire with subsequent loss of control of the vehicle. Ford would not accept full resonsibility for the failure (although I have an extended warranty).
Suspension spring broke and blew right front tire. Also, struts collapsed, and consumer lost control and came to a full stop.
Consumer could hear a weard noise, then smelled something burning, front tire blewout because of a coil spring puncturing tire.
Ea oo 027/ suspension coil spring breakage; right front coil spring broke while driving at 55-60 MPH and punctured tire. Repairs made at an independent repair shop. *ak repairs have been made.
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