2001 Ford Windstar: jerking or lurching

Filed Aug 26, 2015 · Suspension · 182,000 miles · NE

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. While driving approximately 35 MPH, there was a whistling sound coming from the passenger side. The failure recurred each time the vehicle was driven. While driving approximately 30 MPH over a man hole cover, the vehicle jerked to the left and right. The failure recurred on several occasions while driving at various speeds when the vehicle drove over any type of bumps, cracks, and man hole covers on the road. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear axle fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). The approximate failure mileage was 182,000. Ma 10/16/15

Filed Feb 20, 2013 · Brakes · 122,000 miles · AZ

Illumination of the ABS and brake lights on the dash, they do not go out until vehicle is restarted, I have had the vehicle to several mechanics and none seem to be able to correct the issue. Recently the front brakes seem to be warped resulting in jerking motion while stopping, brakes and rotors just replaced 1 month ago.

Filed Aug 21, 2011 · Brakes, Transmission · 62,000 miles · IL

We took a 300 mile trip to chicago in our windstar that we just purchased less than 2 months previously. While we were out of town, the van started acting up. When we would take off from a stop, the van would jerk and bounce like maybe the brakes were locked. We stopped driving it while we were up there until we had to leave. On our drive home, we were about 100 miles from home the o/d light came on. Then a little later, I noticed some type of liquid coming out the back. We tried to get home but at 90 miles from home the van totally quit moving. We were able to coast to the side of the road. Under the van was a large puddle of transmission fluid. After having it towed home ($240) we took it to a transmission shop. They had to replace a front seal and torque converter ($950). I'm filing this complaint because I have seen on the internet where the transmission seems to be a problem with the windstar. Now the brake light and ABS light come on occasionally and won't go off until it's turned off and restarted. This also seems to a big problem with the windstars. I haven't taken it in for that yet but dreading it. This is a very nice vehicle and I am rather disappointed in it.

Filed Aug 8, 2011 · Suspension · 65,000 miles · OH

I took my 2001 windstar sel into a dealership upon receiving a recall notice for suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly in march of 2011. Our vehicle passed this inspection. At the time our vehicle was at the dealership for this recall notice there was another recall relating to structure: frame and members:underbody shields although we were unaware of this recall. We have not received a recall notice about the second problem to date. The recall was brought to our attention by a friend who watched a news program regarding the recall which prompted a phone call to the dealership that serviced our vehicle in march. His statement was if our vehicle was one of the recalled vehicles and it was just in the service department for another recall the service technician would have addressed the most recent recall also. He asked for our VIN which at the time was not available but reassured me both recalls would have been addressed since they were both open recalls. On august 1, 2011 I was driving at 65-70 MPH on a freeway when my steering wheel started to jerk and turn counter-clockwise (the last time I looked at the steering wheel the area that encloses the horn was vertical). I thought my right passenger wheel was punctured at first but knew it was more than that within the next few seconds. Something from the van kept hitting the freeway and jerking me around and the back end of the van on three occasions seemed like it was coming off the ground. Once I slowed down enough the safely brake that is exactly what I did wherein the rear end of the vehicle jerked to the left. I exited the vehicle and called 911. Not only did the subframe break due to rust but the axle came apart from the vehicle as did the right arm holding the wheel in place. At this point the dealership where the car was towed to said ford is offering to replace the subframe and have offered to pay for two days for a rental vehicle.

Filed Oct 26, 2010 · Body · 120,604 miles · IN

My family (7 members) was returning home from a vacation day. We were 2 1/2 hours from home when suddenly our van jerked to the right very hard and I lost all control of the steering. Our vehicle was heading straight for a guardrail and concrete bridge wall. Somehow we managed to miss both and ended up in the ditch over 500 yds from where we first lost control. Imagine my surprise when I got out expecting to see maybe a flat tire, but instead saw the passenger front tire sideways. Not knowing alot about cars, I called my neighbor to possibly help me. He drove the large distance with his trailer to come pick us up. When he got there he looked and saw the front subframe had completely rusted away from the body mount and had caused the lower control arm to sheer off the frame. This in turn caused the axle to pull out of the transmission rendering the vehicle completely inoperable. When I got home the next morning I found out through the newspaper that the rear axle had just been recalled for similar corrosion problems. I was astonished. What more amazed me was given the fact that serious injury or death could have easily occurred that more was not done to resolve the situation. When we contacted the manufacturer we were told that they wouldn't help us, but we could take the vehicle to their dealer and they would be happy to repair it at our cost, but it would come with a 1 yr./12,000 mile warranty. This repair could cost upwards of $5,000. I nor my neighbor,who has been a mechanic for years, have never seen a vehicle less than 10 years old rust apart like that when there is barely any rust on the body of the vehicle. This situation needs serious action because the problem is not one that is easily detected by anyone who doesn't know what they are looking for. Unfortunately ours was not detected ahead of time , and thankfully my family was able to make it through with only some bad dreams and scared kids.

Filed Mar 29, 2010 · Suspension · 140,000 miles · NJ

The car was making noise that I couldn't pin point. Then it started feeling like it was swaying side to side intermittantly. Then it felt like the car skipped or skiddded on a turn, I pulled into my driveway and the car bounced, lurched and jolted to a stop. I got out and looked and my rear tires looked like this / \ instead of | |. I did a google search for broken rear axle and it auto filled in windstart. This is the 4th problem I've had with this car. Two of the others involved the ABS system. One of those was finally recalled but only after I fixed it myself. I'm afraid that I will have to junk the car. It's unfair that I've had to poor so much into this car that I will never be able to recoup or be made whole. I just thank god nobody got hurt w/ this or the ABS problem.

Filed Dec 25, 2007 · Suspension · 72,915 miles · IL

On or about december 15, 2007 my husband noticed when he hit a bump in the road the rear end of our 2001 ford windstar lx felt loose. We thought the shocks were starting to ware. On december 20, 2007 my husband started on his way home from work around 3:30 pm he headed south on i55 out of chicago and reached our driveway in the southwest suburbs approximately 5:00 pm. At 5:30 p. Our family with two children got into the van to go christmas shopping. As we were pulling out of the driveway the van jerked and screeched. We thought we hit someone that had parked behind us. We jumped out to see what happened and noticed our rear tires looked funny and the back end was really low. When we looked under it we saw that the axle was broken in two. It had just snapped. If this had happened a half hour earlier this would have happened on the expressway in rush hour traffic and I hate to think what would have happened, or 15 minutes later when we were on i355 going christmas shopping with our children. We were more than happy to have this happen in our driveway but this is our only vehicle and we don't have the 1000.00 it will cost to replace the part. The van is no longer under warranty, it has 72,915 miles on it. How inconvenient!

Filed Mar 24, 2006 · Transmission · AL

I was at a busy intersection when my 2001 ford windstar jerked a little and when I gave it the gas to go , it would not hardly move. It took a while to get it to move, very slowly. I had it towed to the transmission repair shop. He has checked it out and says the reverse gears were melted together.

Filed Dec 9, 2004 · Transmission · 52,000 miles · NJ

The vehicle jerked forward when the gear was shifted to drive. Please provide more information.

Filed Apr 1, 2003 · Steering · 56,250 miles · GA

I had my van for 1 year. Recently, the inner tie rod on the drivers side had to be replaced, because it was already worn out with just 56,000 miles on it. I had this done because the vans steering had a lean to it. It would feel like the left tire was leaning when I would go through a turn. At normal speeds, I have even had the van lurch to the right about 3 feet when making a left turn on a curve. I am putting it back in the shop, because my mechanic can't find the problem. We looked today(04-01-03) and when you turn the wheel, the entire rack will move. It moves before the tires even move. A definite safety issue to say the least. Definitely not what you would expect from a $27,000 dollar van with mostly highway miles on it.

Filed Jul 8, 2002 · Acceleration · FL

Intermittently vehicle has a 6-7 second delay response to acceleration. When throttle is applied engine revs up, and jerks before accelerating. Problem is more likely to happen in the morning. Dealer was notified. Please provide more information.

Filed Jul 1, 2002 · Acceleration, Brakes · IA

While sitting at a stop with foot applied to the brake pedal and brake pedal failed and went straight to the floor. Vehicle lurched forward with force and entered first lane of traffic on highway. Abs light illuminated on the dashboard, and the warning chime went off. Several times vehicle has been at dealer to determine problem, but nothing has been found. Dealer was notified. Please provide more information.