2000 Ford Windstar: pulls to one side

Filed Jun 1, 2013 · Steering, Suspension · 137,000 miles · MI

While having new tires installed, I was made aware that the sub frame was rusted and had holes in it. I had got a recall notice the day after ford put a new rear axle in the windstar. (did they not know about the new recall?) after having the sub frame kit parts installed, the passenger side sub frame was perforated, the noise from the right side under passenger feet started. I went back to dealer that did the repairs (bill brown in livonia, mi>) they said everything was tight and vehicle is safe to drive. The noise has got worse and louder. I called ford in dearborn and they said if bill brown says its safe then it is safe? I have to drive this car and the fact that is makes noise has me concerned. Ran it by bill brown after 6 months and took the service guy for a ride and he said he should look at it. The car started to pull to left and I went to the tire shop. Went by for a tire rotation and alignment, was informed the sub frame is cracked and only has 10 percent of metal left holding it together. Going to dealer this week...................lets see if it is safe to drive still!

Filed Apr 18, 2010 · Suspension · 141,024 miles · MI

The rear axle beam on my 2000 ford windstar van broke in half suddenly shortly after exiting the freeway. Just prior to exiting the freeway the van shuttered and vibrated bad enough to cause me to slow down to about 50 MPH before exiting the freeway. Fortunately I was only traveling about 30 MPH when the incident occurred. Although both rear wheels collapsed against the inside rear wheel wells and the vehicle swayed from side to side I was able to safely get it stopped with causing an accident. During the past couple of weeks the van had an on and off vibration and seemed to wander in its lane on occasion. I took it in for front end service work last week and had the inner tie rod ends replaced as well as some front end bushings. Although the steering was tightened up, the periodic vibration was still there. It took about 5 minutes on the internet to discover this is not an isolated incident. I found about 130 similar issues/complaints by googling "ford windstar axle problems." this is clearly a very serious safety issue. At this point I don't know if anyone has been killed or injured but I intend to find out. The problem appears to involve 2000 & 2001 windstars with mileage ranging from 70k to 160k. Based on the inspection of my vehicle and review of other posted complaints it appears ford uses a double walled u shaped steel beam to support and connect the rear wheels and springs. The axle beam is not totally enclosed around the spring mounts. Water enters the axle tube and has no where to drain. Over time the water promotes rusts and weakens the axle tube from the inside out until metal fatigue sets in and the axle eventually fails. I suspect this problem will bleed into the 2002/2003 models as they age and eventually rust out. This situation is a virtual time bomb for unsuspecting ford windstar van owners.

Filed May 10, 2009 · Body · 93,722 miles · NJ

There were no events leading to the failure. Vehicle got new tires and alignment then two days later the vehicle started pulling to the left. I went back to the tire dealer, the mechanic check the alignment and noticed that the rear axle had a crack on the driver side and was rusted through. The crack was so severe that the axle was almost in two parts and at the base there is a quarter inch separation in the crack. The tire is no longer laying flat. The bottom of the tire is facing out. If the mechanic didn't find the failure there certainly would have been a tragic accident.

Filed Jun 12, 2002 · Steering · MD

The rack and pinion system lost a nut, causing the vehicle to sway and wander. Consumer states it was almost impossible to stay in the lane.

Filed Nov 6, 2001 · Fuel system, Suspension · FL

Recall number 00v164000-fuel line fittings. Recall repairs were not preformed, and vehicle was still experiencing the problem.*ak consumer stated the transmission is also bad, there is a bad vibration, also there is a heavy pull to the right.