1998 Ford Windstar: broken coil spring

Filed Oct 18, 2013 · Suspension, Wheels · 205,760 miles · IA

My wife was taking my youngest two children to school in our vehicle when smoke started pouring in through the vents of the vehicle and at the same time she lost control of the steering sliding off onto the shoulder of the road. Once my wife made sure everyone was out of the smoke filled vehicle she noticed the tire was completely shredded on the passenger front side of the vehicle. She notified me and we had the van towed to a mechanics shop where we found out that the front passenger spring had busted causing the tire to be shredded. The mechanic advised buying two new tires for the front of vehicle, he also advised buying two new springs and replacing both of them on the front. The van was fixed and we paid for the bill and tire cost out of our own pocket. The manufacturer of the vehicle informed me today that they will not compensate for any of these costs even when a recall letter 01s19/01m03 states "we will install protective shields around the front coil springs of your vehicle. These shields will prevent the possibility of tire puncture should the spring fracture. ---- motor company will also pay for any repairs directly relating to the front coil springs of your vehicle free of charge ( parts and labor) so to me this is a failure of the respected company from full filling what I see in my eyes as a obligation to the consumer. I also feel the recall should have been to replace the springs..not install shields which I am sure was a much cheaper route.I have all receipts that concern this matter. Thanks!

Filed May 16, 2013 · Suspension · 144,000 miles · MO

No recall on my VIN # but I am having this issue. Suspension:front:springs:coil springs rubbing tires.causing to use up tires fast. Make a rubbing noise when turning.

Filed Oct 27, 2011 · Body, Suspension · 80,000 miles · PA

Upon inspection of vehicle for inspection, it was determind vehicle was unsafe to drive because of badly corroded subframe on passenger side of vehicle. Also, coil spring on passenger side was broken posing a driving hazard. Vehicle has approximately 80,000 miles.

Filed Jun 9, 2011 · Steering, Suspension · 142,000 miles · IL

Popping in front end when turning or hitting bumps. The popping sound was often. Had new tires put on, and when I took it in to have front end aligned. Ford tech. Said front springs were broke. Was an est. Of $1200.00 on it can't afford. This was 5/20/2011. Contacted mfr about the recall that was issued on this part 7/12/2001. Was told there was nothing they could do, because of a time limit. How can they put a time limit on safety & peoples lives because the springs are broken,they can puncture the tires and cause an accident. Now we are without transportation. And my son is disabled and has numerous dr. Appts. Miles away. But my hands are tied. The mfr. Did advise to have another recall checked out which is the speed control because it can catch fire. When I asked why, you just told me it was unsafe to drive.he advised it could catch fire just setting in the drive not running. I was not notified of either one of these recalls by mail or other wise until I called to complain about the front coil springs. How does these billion dollar company's keep getting by with negligence? There are lots of recalls on this vehicle. Please help!

Filed Apr 27, 2011 · Suspension · 150,000 miles · VT

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 01v199000 (suspension: front:springs: coil springs). The technician stated that they heated and sprayed penetrating oil onto the sway bar in order to remove the bar to complete the recall but they were unsuccessful in doing so. The technician stated that the sway bar links would need to be cut out in order to perform the recall repairs and the removal costs of the sway bar links would not be covered under the recall. The manufacturer was contacted and stated they could not override the decision made by the dealer and provide no assistance because the part was not covered under warranty or the recall. The vehicle was repaired at the contacts expense. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Jan 27, 2011 · Body · 99,634 miles · PA

My family owns a 1998 ford windstar minivan which is already subject to the axle recall and which did suffer a completely cracked axle. We have been told by the ford dealer that has possession of our vehicle that the front coil spring has fractured. This is despite the fact that the vehicle was previously subject to a recall that placed a cover over the coil spring. That recall only protected ford for replacement for a period of 10 years which has expired. Also, this vehicle has been experiencing very hard steering and a front end clunking noise but no cause has been found. We feel the latest 1999 and beyond recall of brackets should also apply to our 1998 ford windstar as it's basically the same exact vehicle. We fear that the clunking and hard steering could be from corroded brackets which is not being relayed to us.

Filed Dec 22, 2010 · Suspension · 222,000 miles · AR

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact was driving approximately 40 MPH when the vehicle exhibited an abnormal noise from the rear. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 01i007000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs) and beleived the rear suspension had experienced the same failure. The approximate failure mileage was 222,000.

Filed Feb 22, 2010 · Suspension · 140,000 miles · WI

The vehicle was driving normal and began to make noises in the front end. I had the vehicle inspected at a service garage and told the front coil springs are fractured.

Filed Sep 28, 2009 · Body, Suspension · 83,000 miles · IL

1. Ford sent recall notice (01s19/01m03) in september, 2001. Vehicle was taken in for service (11/7/01) and the receipt indicates that safety shields were installed 'to prevent a front spring failure from puncturing the front tires'. The notice also stated that 'what ford will do for you': "ford motor company will also pay far any repairs directly relating to the front coil springs of you vehicle free of charge (parts and labor)." it was at that time (2001), the owner received an 'extended coverage transferable warranty notice' on the front springs for 10 years from the warranty start date, regardless of mileage". 2. The springs may have fractured at a later date, or were broken at that time and not replaced. The vehicle has always had very low front ground clearance. Because of the low ground clearance and the installed shields, the spring failure was not noted even when new tires were installed. Returning the vehicle to the dealer in 2009, after a front break line failure, the owner inquired about checking for broken front springs under the recall campaign mentioned in the notice from 2001. That is when he leaned that the safety recall issue was satisfied with the "shield installation". This action apparently also removed the VIN from the safety recall data base. Thus, assuming that this is no longer a safety issue, the owner continues to drive the low mileage vehicle (less than 100,000 miles). 3. The cost of replacing the springs was estimated at $400 to $600 dollars by the dealer and no corrective action is being taken as apparently this is no longer a safety issue. The vehicle is a 1998 ford windstar that was purchased on 10/16/97, with five miles on it. 4. Is this vehicle safe to drive as there are nearly 100 similar complaints on this safety complaint web site? 5. As this vehicle did not qualify in the clunker program, is spring failure a lemon law issue?

Filed Aug 25, 2008 · Suspension · 168,000 miles · MO

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the coil springs failed and punctured the tires. She felt that this was a safety issue because a serious crash could have occurred. The vehicle has not yet been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 168,000.

Filed Jul 23, 2008 · Suspension, Transmission · 110,000 miles · OH

I bought a 1998 ford windstar 3.0 l in 1999. In 2002 I received a recall to install front shields over the coil spring so I did. Yesterday the front coil spring punctured the front tire and broke the struts as well. When calling ford, they inform me that they can not tell me when my vehicle was manufactured, just that they will do nothing about it. They issued the warranty for 10 years from manufacturer date even though the recall did not take place until 3-4 years after manufacture date and I took my vehicle in for the recommended cure to the problem.

Filed Apr 1, 2008 · Suspension · 80,000 miles · 00

My wife was driving our 1998 ford windstar on the highway when she heard a loud noise and scraping sound coming from the front driver side tire area. The sound stop shortly and a six inch long curved rod of metal had fallen out onto the road way. The front coil spring had cracked and a piece of it had come loose and eventual fell out under the vehicle. I was fortunate that the collapsed spring had not damaged the tire or the brakes. The vehicle is currently being serviced to replace the broken coil spring and inspection for further damage.