2001 Ford Windstar: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Mar 14, 2017 · Suspension · 119,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. While driving in a parking lot, a clunking noise was heard. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front coil springs fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

Filed Sep 29, 2016 · Body · 120,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. While operating the vehicle, a clunking noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cradle mount fractured due to corrosion and rusting. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Body, Suspension · 142,000 miles · WI

The rear axle broke in the place that was "fixed" by the recall work in 2010. Noticed squeaking noises (tire was rubbing) and a large clunk and wiggle when turning into a parking lot. Took a photo when I got to the parking lot. My rear driver's side tire was at an angle to the vehicle and the rear axle was broken under the collar that had been attached by a dealer for the recall. The weld held up, but the axle snapped underneath the fix-up job. Apparently the recall fix wasn't really a fix. Towed it into a dealer, who took photos and talked to ford. Ford said they wouldn't do anything. Cost me $$ to tow it to the dealer and back home again. Don't have $1,000 to pay the dealer for a new rear axle. Very disappointed that they didn't stand by their work. Very thankful that I was not on the freeway, and that all my children were not with me at the time. It could have been so much worse!

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Steering · 147,880 miles · IL

I was driving my ford windstar at approximately 30 MPH when I heard a clunk. Shortly thereafter I heard a metal-on-metal clanking noise. I then drove home, parked the van until the next day. On saturday, october 25, 2014, I removed the front right tire to find the sway bar bracket completely rusted away from the subframe. The rust was so extensive, the subframe also had a rust hole, the size of a quarter right through the subframe directly beneath where the sway bar bracket "was" located. The following monday, october 27th, I called and made an appointment at willowbrook ford. They had my van for two days before calling me with their decision. They told me that they will not cover the cost to fix my vehicle despite ford having a recall on the subframe. They also called they sent the ford district manager various photos showing so the corroded sway bar bracket and subframe. They told me the dm at ford also rejected paying for the repairs. I am very disappointed since this 2001 windstar has received several recalls, many of which were associated with corrosion around the subframe and rear axle. My windstar is now not safe to drive! Very disappointed with this ford windstar and with ford in general.

Filed Jan 31, 2013 · Body, Suspension · 185,400 miles · WI

I heard loud clunking sounds in the front that were more pronounced when I went over bumps. The sway bar has broken off from the front sub-frame passenger side of the car. The dealer said the sub-frame is so rusted that the only way to reattach the sway bar is to replace the entire front sub-frame at a cost of $3,500. It is not covered under previous recalls, since the prior 2 recalls in 2010 and 2011 only specifically covered the rear axle and the separation of the front lower control arms attaching brackets and body mount attachments at the rear of the front sub-frame. This problem is so similar to the jan. 2011 recall w/a part breaking off from a rusted sub-frame. It's the corrosion of the sub-frame that is at the root of these problems. They should have just replaced the sub-frame at that time instead of doing a patch job w/ brackets. The dealer deemed my car unsafe to drive, as I won't have control of my car on quick turns or be able to make fast maneuvers in the event of an accident or to avoid potential accidents. Another risk is that my engine may fall out the bottom of my car while driving (which I see has happened to others with my same problem), endangering my family and others on the road. I plan on parking this car in my driveway and waiting for ford to be forced to recall these vehicles. In the meantime, if any of you have a similar problem, please report them to ford corporation and the federal safety agency, so what I believe to be an inevitable recall will be expedited. Even the ford customer service rep encouraged me to file a report with the federal safety agency because she has gotten calls with other similar complaints. She was very sympathetic to my situation but said there is nothing she can do until enough complaints get filed with the federal safety agency so they open an investigation. What happened to companies wanting to help their customers w/o being forced by a governmental agency?!

Filed Mar 5, 2012 · Body · 167,500 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. The contact stated that while turning right into a parking space, a loud clunking noise was heard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the front sub frame was corroded and needed to be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since there were no recalls related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 167,500 and current mileage was 168,000.

Filed Jan 25, 2011 · Body · 124,246 miles · NY

My wife's 2001 ford windstar has had a persistant clunk in the front passenger side. While doing some work on the vehicle this evening I discovered severe rust on the rear body mount of the front subframe. The area to the rear of the bushing is corroded through and cracked. I have good digital pictures and will provide them to you if you desire. This problem has been described repeatedly by many windstar owners. Frankly, I find ford's claim that this doesn't present "an unreasonable risk" infuriating. I am calling on you to recall this vehicle before someone gets killed.

Filed Jan 23, 2011 · Body · 138,585 miles · MN

1/23/11 while driving to baptism van all of a sudden started to clunk in the right front suspension. While driving home clunking kept happening on right hand turns. Got home, jacked up van, pulled passenger front tire, found excessive rust and sway bar completely broken from subframe. Also noticed front a arm excessive rust not safe to drive. Vehicle will be parked and only 10 years old. Don't know what to do next???? Wife and kids are not safe to drive in. Van is super clean and well maintained and no rust elsewhere. Now what do we do??? ? Please help!!!!

Filed Jan 2, 2011 · Body · 140,000 miles · CT

We observed clunking in the front end prior to the failure. While turning the wheel to the right to park, a loud noise was heard in the front end. After that, the steering wheel was turned right while the car was going straight down the road. After inspection, the passenger side attachment point for the sub-frame was rotted off and separated from the mount. Substantial corrosion was also noted on the drive and passenger side control arm attachment points.

Filed Dec 22, 2010 · Suspension · 118,000 miles · WI

I own a 2001 ford windstar that I recently had the subframe replaced as it had corroded through on the right side of the subframe. I noticed the failure of it while driving. I heard a loud clunk and then my steering wheel abruptly turned to the right and the front end started vibrating similar to when the front end is out of alignment. I was traveling at a low rate of speed when this occurred and id not result in a crash, but made the vehicle undriveable.

Filed Nov 14, 2010 · Body · 125,000 miles · IL

I have a 2001 ford windstar that the front subframe failed on. I was sitting at a stop light waiting for it to turn green. When the light changed I took my foot off the brake and pushed on the gas. I heard a big clunk sound and the steering wheel began to spin freely. I slowly drove the vehicle into the center median and found that the front subframe had failed right under the floorboards. Had this occurred at a high speed the outcome could have been grave. I had no way to steer the vehicle. This failure needs to be addressed asap. The vehicle has been driven in the salt belt as they say all its life.

Filed Oct 12, 2010 · Body, Suspension · 136,120 miles · PA

Clunking noise from r/f of vehicle when turning left, and severe pull when accelerating. Found front subframe rusted thru and cracked at passenger side rear mount. Had to replace front subframe.