On june 18th my wife and son returned from a trip to youngstown, we live in cleveland. My wife ask me to take a look at the car she said it was driving funny. While driving at 70 to 80 MPH, she said she was all over the road and at one point almost lost control of the car, when she pulled in I noticed the rear tire was low so I put air in it and took it for a test drive around the block. I kept hearing the wheels making a chirping noise as if I was in a skid. When I got back I had her drive it and I followed in our other car to see what I might notice, it was obvious there was a problem with the rear end. I made her return home and looked under the car to find a huge crack in the axle. I don't understand how ford could let this happen to a major part of the van. I was going on a vacation the next day and was planning on using this van! I can't imagine traveling down to myrtle beach with my family with a loaded van doing 70 MPH. Someone is going to die from this defect and I am very lucky my wife didn't when she was driving it. Please make ford do a recall or I am sure we will be reading the in the news of someone's death when it does happen and you did nothing!
2001 Ford Windstar suspension complaints
Page 11 of 15: complaints 281 to 310 of 416, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was driving about 55 MPH on a highway when the back end started to sway side to side. I slowed down, heard a loud noise, smoke and burning rubber was noticed and I pulled over. As I got out I noticed the drivers rear tire tilted in. I walked behind the van and noticed the axel was snapped in two. I called my mechanic and he stated this seams to be a common occurrence with this vehicle. Miles are 118,000.
After reading of numerous occurrences of rear axle cracking, I examined my 2001 ford windstar on 6/27/2010 and found a 2 inch crack in the rear axle on the drivers side. Contacted ford dealer for repair cost and was quoted approximately $1300. I am having axle replaced with new axle by reliable independent shop for $1000. Car was taken to ford dealer early march 2010 for oil change and to be checked over for expected extensive travel this summer. Repairs performed at ford dealer came to over $2000 and included replacing driver side rear axle seal. No mention was made of the crack at that time, however the amount of rust on the crack appears to indicate the crack started quite some time ago. Vehicle has never been in an accident and has always been registered in the new york area. Mileage is 113,854 at time of repair.
While driving the van (2001 ford windstar) it began to handle erratically. This was an intermittent experience, but at times quite sever. After arriving home, I inspected under the vehicle for any odd drips, hanging parts, etc. When pushing on each wheel I noticed the right rear was canted inward. Upon further look under the van, I could see a large crack under the right side axle. I have stopped driving as it is unsafe at this point. There is no rust, and was no warning of trouble, it simply appears to have failed. The crack is nearly complete with only about 1 inch near the front of the axle holding it together.
I was driving my 2001 ford windstar when I noticed that the rear of my car seemed to be swerving. I was having difficulty being able to control the car. The tire pressure indicator came on so I assumed that I needed to inflate the tires. Fortunately I made it home and after inspecting the tires came to find that my rear axle was almost completely broken apart. You can almost completely see through the axle and there is rust around the break. The tires were leaning inward toward the wheel well. I had to have a flat bed tow truck tow it to our mechanic. Ford told us that this is not a known issue however I have found hundreds of complaints for the exact same issue for this vehicle. Ford has told us that it will cost $497 for a new axle. Our mechanic called around looking for a used part at junkyards and was told that they have been selling a lot of these for this same issue and an old part would run $400. So obviously this is a known issue that ford is not acknowledging. I can't believe that a recall has not occurred. I really hope that it doesn't have to take serious accidents possibly causing death for them to acknowledge it.
I heard a clunking noise for about a month my husband looked under vehicle and seen rear axle was broken in half. The van was towed and a used rear axle was put on. We do have old axle.
Failure/braking of the front coil springs.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. He stated that while driving over a bump at unknown speeds, the rear end of the vehicle swerved and produced an abnormal noise. Upon further investigation, the contact found that the rear suspension had fractured. The dealer advised the repairs would be at the contact's expense. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were 106,000. Updated 10/27/10.
I had been hearing a clunking noise after my wife reported it to me when she was backing up. It took a few days before I heard it as well. I couldn't figure out if it was the exhaust or suspension. A few weeks goes by and it got worse. Managed to look under it at a gas station and saw a crack on the back side of the axle from bottom to almost the top. Normal driving, no towing. I haven't fixed it yet because I don't want to spend $1000 on a repair using another failure prone part, same reason I haven't attempted the ABS repairs on the van.
2001 ford windstar rear axle failure.
As I was driving home from work, the vehicle began to wobble from the rear, resembling a flat. I immediately pulled over to the side of the road. After having the vehicle towed to my home a few days later, I looked underneath and saw a deep fracture in the rear axle. I called a ford dealer and was told that there is no recall regarding this defect and if I had the vehicle brought in for repair that I will be charged.
The rear axle of my 2001 ford windstar has snapped in two pieces while riding at 45 MPH. The van swayed violently but I was able to bring it to a safe stop. Prior to axle snapping I heard and felt cracking metallic sound from the rear of the vehicle. I investigated this on the internet and found that have been numerous incidents involving ford windstars and broken rear axles. I could not imagine what would happened if my family was in this vehicle at the time the rear axle snapped in two. The extra weight in the car may have caused the vehicle to go completely out of control and cause serious injury or death to my passengers and myself. I am wondering why the 2001 ford windstar has not been recalled to fix this very serious defect. This is a very expensive repair and is a result of poor design and defects in manufacturing. Please don't wait for a family to be killed in one of these vans before you recalled them. This a very real problem and the consequences could be deadly.
Been driving my 2001 ford windstar. And the back started making noises and shifting. Everytime I apply the brake or back up it makes the loudest sound. Well after putting it up on the jack to look underneath the car. We noticed a crack about 8 inches long and continues around the bottom of the axel. Estimate to repair is going to be over a $1000.00. There needs to be something done about this.
This is on a 2001 ford windstar with less than 100,000 miles. It started when my wife was complaining about a rubbing noise in the rear that seemed to be worse on corners. I was driving the car during a light rain shower on a right curve at about 35 MPH. The back of the car felt like it was about spin out on me. I backed off the gas and it felt better. The next day while driving it again I notice that there was tire squeal mostly on right turns. When I got home I could see that the top of the left rear tire was leaning in. I could also see where the tire was rubbing on the inner wheel well. After removing both rear wheels and looking around I found the axle beam cracked almost all the way around. I have since found out that this is not uncommon in 2001 ford windstars, and probably other years of this model. We were planning on taking this vehicle on vacation duringthe july 4th weekend. I can't imagine what would have happen if this broke all the way through at highway speeds with a load of luggage and my family at highway speeds. I will not even drive this vehicle to turn it around in my driveway let alone take it on the road. I have not started to see what can be done to fix this because nothing is open today, but atleast I can fix it myself if I can find the parts.
2001 my ford windstar limited rear axle (non-driving) broke in half and the rear wheels were rubbing the wheel well. Luckily while the vehicle was not driving well, I did not get in an accident. However, 5 miles earlier I was on the highway at highway speeds. The vehicle had to be towed and the part was available at the closest ford dealership to my location??? This was a $975.00 repair at the firestone dealer in canton, mi. I have the paperwork if you need the documentation.
Rear axle cracked in half causing further damage to the van.
2001 ford windstar se sport rear axle broke in half with no warning. Fortunately, the car was coming to a stop at a traffic light, not at highway speeds, when a loud clunk was heard. Managed to pull into a parking lot nearby, and the rear tires were tilted inward. The axle was snapped in half towards the driver's side. Tow truck driver said he has seen several of these the past two years and doesn't know why a recall hasn't occurred. My ford dealer said this was the third one they saw.
We had our 2001 ford windstar being checked by a garage before a long trip and were told our rear axle is cracked almost in half.
Rear axle on 2001 ford windstar ltd. Broke in 2 pieces. Vehicle is at mechanic who stated never saw anything like that before.
My 2001 ford windstar minivan was in for air conditioning service and a tune-up on june 1, 2010 and the vehicle was diagnosed with multiple cracks in the rear axle. The mechanic issued a stern warning about driving the vehicle, especially at highway speeds because the axle was in danger of splitting and could cause loss of control. He indicated that it looked like the u-shaped axle design collected water and road salt and caused rust, which LED to the cracks.
On may 29, 2010, my wife was driving her 2001 ford windstar van at 55 MPH on the highway when the rear axle suddenly cracked in two pieces. The broken end of the axle then began digging into the highway and caused a loss of control. Luckily she was able to avoid concrete barriers and other vehicles of the construction area that she was in and ended up in the ditch. The rear tires went out of alignment and the tops of the tires were angled in causing them to rub against the wheel wells. We are still in the process of assessing the total damage caused by the rear axle failure.
2001 ford windstar rear axle broke about 18" in from drivers side tire. My wife was pulling out of a parking lot when it happened.
My 2001 ford windstar was making an abnormal sound and 'swaying'. When I looked underneath, I saw a large crack in the rear axel. Further inspection by my mechanic revealed approximately a 70-75% crack through the axel. I was told it could be replaced with either a new axel (on backorder from ford) or with one from the junkyard. I chose neither as I was concerned over the safety of my children.
2001 ford windstar mini van with about 80,000 miles. Rear axel snapped in half while driving my kids to soccer. We were lucky that we were in a residential area close to home. It cost us close to $900 to fix. We have the old part which showed rust. Mechanic said he had never seen anything like it and recommended we report it. We would like a recall and reimbursement for the repair.
Rear axle cracked.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2001 Ford Windstar?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history