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] .
1999 Ford Windstar body complaints
Page 7 of 10: complaints 161 to 190 of 275, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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.
Recent news reports have lead me to believe that I am not alone with the following problem: the rear axel of my 1999 ford windstar broke in half while I was driving onto I-93, north of boston, on december 5, 2009. Fortunately the vehicle skidded to a stop on the on ramp just before merging with fast moving traffic. The windstar was towed to a garage, then donated to charity on december 7, 2009. Two people were in the van, however, there were no injuries as a result of the structural failure.
Subframe on 1999 ford windstar snap saw reviews on other windstars. Found out this a ongoing problem with this model.
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.
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.
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.
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]
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.
1999 ford windstar right front stabilizer bracket rusted off frame. Noticed lower control arm bracket rusted bad and ready to come loose.
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.
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.
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.
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.
While driving thru an intersection, there was a loud clunking noise. The steering wheel turned hard itself, and the van was undrivable. The mechanic told us that the engine cradle was rusted thru an had broke off from its mounting point. He said this was a design flaw from ford, and that he has seen several windstars with the same problem. There are no recalls yet, and ford will not help, yet. After searching the internet I was surprised at how many other people have had the same problem. Coincidently all the other windstar mounts broke in the same exact place. The mechanic has quoted us $750.00 to replace with a used part and $1300.00 for a new part. So far all of the used parts are rotted (rusted thru), in the same place as mine and not worth using. If we cannot find a quality used part soon, we will have to replace with new.
Chassis rusted out around mtr mounts: car makes noise and steers crooked: I just found out why but, it's been doing it for about 6 months.
The car started pulling really hard to the right while driving causing a loss of control and almost an accident. The frame of the vehicle rusted in one spot on the subframe where it joins the frame around the mounting bolt. This is on the front passenger side of the vehicle. This has broken loose and there is subframe/control arm and other damage. Dealer said when a job like this is done there is usually a snowball affect with the damage. Atleast $2000. The rest of the vehicle is in good condition with a new transmission just pu in last year. Car is only good for scrap now. Definite safety issue. I have two kids ages 3 and 5 that were in the vehicle at the time.
The rear axle (or rear support beam)broke in two on my 1999 ford windstar. We had heard some noise from the back of the car and had an appointment to have it checked the day after this incident occurred. I had thought that maybe the rear shocks were going. I was driving the car on sunrise highway in rockville center,new york when the car started bucking and there was a loud bang. Immediately the car started swerving to the right and I started t smell a burning odor. It was quite a terrifying experience and I thank god that neither I or anyone else was hurt. I was able to get the car to the side of the road as I noticed the look of horror on the faces of the few bystanders on the sidewalk. I could not believe what I saw when I got out. The rear wheels were both spread eagle apart and the axle was broke in two and scraping on the ground. There was a distinct scrape mark in the road from the axle that traced my path to the side of the road. As I searched the internet I was disturbed to see that this is an ongoing problem and that ford has done nothing to take responsibility for it. I just got my car back today, august 4,2009. I had to pay $870.00 for the repair and that is with a used rear axle support from a junk yard. This is a real safety issue and before someone is killed ford should step up to the plate and recall these cars!!! To make things just a little worse, it just happened to be my 50th birthday on the day of the incident. What a birthday present from the ford motor company. I had purchased this car new in 1999 and am the only owner. The car has not been in any accident. This is not the first major problem with this car and ford sold me an extended service contract at a significant discount after I had the car for two years because of all the problems I had with the car from day one. The car has 97,000 miles on it and has had the transmission rebuilt,new intake manifold,master cylinder,brake booster,struts,rack and pinion,and more.
My sisters 1999 windstar had a rusted subframe. I took my 1999 windstar to a mechanic , the subframe was starting to rust on the right side. Within 4 weeks , the frame split while driving with my 2 kids in the car. It is undrivable. I call ford on 7/22/09 to let them know of a design problem (the A/C draintube drains on the subframe on the right. There is no other rust on the car, but ford said my car was out of warranty and there is nothing they can do. Its not a warranty issue, its a design issue. I am having it fixed and I think ford should reimburse me . They will need to replace the subframe.
Rear axle broke on my 1999 ford windstar without warning. Thought I was hydroplaning, as it was raining. At 60 MPH, I started to loose control and I slowed down to 40mph. I drove 5 miles, thinking I was getting a flat tire. As I pulled off the road, rear tires were scraping the fender and I discovered the axle had broken in half.
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. When the contact took the vehicle in for service, the mechanic noticed rust in the subframe coming from the air conditioning. Condensation from the air conditioning on the passenger side was dripping onto the subframe, which caused the rust. The dealer stated that there were no failures and the contact would have to pay for the repair. The manufacturer also stated that the contact would be liable. The vehicle will be repaired at the contact's expense for a little more than $3,000. The failure mileage was 107,547 and current mileage was 107,560.
When having the ball joints replaced and an alignment done, our mechanic noted that the engine cradle is severely rusted and needs to be replaced. He claimed that it was far worse than it ever should be and if this was a gm, they would take care of it. However, this is a ford and they will do nothing.
1999 ford windstar- was hearing a lot of deep sounding squeaking from the passenger front side. Also some cracking sounds when accelerating from a stop. Had a mechanic look and found the subframe was very badly rusted. We replaced the subframe. The repair shop took pictures for us and we were horrified to see how severe the situation actually was. It was very close to rusting completely through. 1999 windstar with 98,000 miles. Cost to repair was aprox. $1500. The car rides very smooth now that it has been repaired. Big difference in the feel. Was not aware how bouncy the car was riding. Now it feels almost like a new suspension.
On may 22 my 1999 ford windstar van started to make a squealing/whining noise at approximately 10:30 in the morning during what should have been a 40 minute drive to my mothers house. Due to the weird noise I stopped and checked the air pressure in my tire (right rear) where the sound seemed to be originating from. The pressure was a little low so I topped it off and continued on my trip. The sound continued and I decided to stop at a service station about 20 more miles into the trip. The service station was little help, they checked my power steering fluid, drove the van around the parking lot a couple of times and it made no noises. The attendant told me he didn't have any idea as to what the sound might be and asked if I could return in an hour when his superior would be there. I agreed to return after dropping off my kids at my mothers. After going on down the road about another ten miles I felt the steering wheel start to float and drift and my brakes became useless and the van came to an abrupt halt and there was a huge bang as the entire rear end of the vehicle became disabled. As we all piled out to see what was wrong we found the rear wheels pointing inward under the van at a backwards angle. Some men came to help me who were nearby they informed me my axle was snapped. Looking under the vehicle I could clearly see they were right. My van will be repaired this weekend. I called ford they basically told me to eat the repairs myself. In wv a yearly inspection is required, I passed inspection at the beginning of april which tells me there was nothing visually wrong with my axle less than two months ago. I find it hard to believe that without any outside damage or force (accidents, force ect) an axle can just snap in two. If I had been traveling any faster my 4 children and myself would have been killed or harmed as at the moment it broke I had little control over the vehicle and the brakes were failing. Only people with children buy mini-vans, this is scary.
We have a 99 windstar with a broken engine cradle. My wife was driving the van along with my son to a local retailer. She was in the middle lane when she heard a loud bang under the van. My son who was sitting ton the passenger side said he felt it under his feet. She was able to get the van to the side of the road even though the steering was very difficult. She was about 5 miles from home so decided to take it back home. Surprisingly she was able to get it home. I crawled under the unit and immediately saw that the engine cradle had snapped on the passenger side rear. It was then that we stopped driving the van due to safety concerns. I did some research on the web and they were several complaints identical to ours. It seems that the AC drain hose is situated over the exact location of the break. Apparently over a period of time this causes the frame to rust out. I called ford to complain and they said that there was nothing they could do. I called my local ford dealer and passed on buying a new part due to the cost. I had to take a day off from work and go junkyard shopping to find a replacement part. I located one and we had the unit towed to lucas ford in burlington, n.j. Where my wife works part time. The part was delivered and the dealer did the replacement along with a bad rack and pinion unit that was discovered at the same time. The unit had 77,817 on the odometer at the time the work was done. I can understand mechanical items going bad but this was a structural item. This situation could have been so much worse say had she been on the interstate doing 65 MPH instead of on a local road doing 40 MPH. I could see if this was an isolated incident but it isn't. I contacted ford one more time and complained again to no avail. I have always owned fords and probably always will but this experience along with one I had concerning my 1985 thunderbird control module has left a bad taste in my mouth as to how they take care of their customers.
The engine cradle has rusted out on my 1999 windstar van. This has occurred due to a faulty design by ford. After research I found that the air conditioner leaks on the cradle creating a common problem of the cradle rusting out. This can be and has been resulting in car accident deaths. I was lucky. I had the car at the ford dealership in englewood florida(bay harbor ford) for another problem and they went to put my car on the lift and the cradle broke because of the rust. They are replacing the cradle and then continuing on the repairs. The cost to me is expected around $2,200 or more. They have ordered a used cradle. Ford inspected my car before I purchase it and never told me about this rust problem. I purchased the van in 2007- oct based on their blessing that it was a sound, safe vehicle and would last me for at least anther 200,000 miles.
While driving in a residential area, steering wheel jerked to the right and transmission seemed to enter neutral. Upon inspection, found that the weld that anchors the control arm to the engine cradle/subframe had broken. Control arm pulled away from the cradle and dislodged the right halfshaft leaving vehicle immobile. Vehicle has not yet been repaired. A non-moving, frictionless part should not break under normal use.
Paint peeling off 1999 ford windstar.
The front subframe rusted through on back passenger side. The rest of the vehicle is rust free for the most part. The car has 80,300 mi . Its a 1999 ford windstar.
1999 ford windstar se failed pennsylvania state inspection,due to rotting metal on front subframe,located near were connection to uni-body exist. Subframe has rotted a hole and is continuing to deteriorate. Passenger side.
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