Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked and stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart however, the rear tires were leaned in and the rear brackets fractured. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the brackets were installed properly from the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
2003 Ford Windstar suspension complaints
Page 5 of 10: complaints 101 to 130 of 254, newest first, as owners wrote them.
This is a recall from ford motor company regarding deteriation of the rear axle. I first learned of it in early december 2015. Took into my local dealer on december 11 and was informed that it qualified for the recall. Now they keep telling me that they can't get the parts. How long does a company have after they are aware of a dangerous condition to get it fixed. I haven.t driven it since they told me it was unsafe, but what good is it to me if I can't drive it?
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. When the contact parked the vehicle, an abnormal noise was heard. Upon returning to the vehicle, the contact noticed that the wheel was tilted inward. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The vehicle failure mileage was 198,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the contact noticed a burnt rubber odor and then an unknown rear tire blew out. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle, tire line, and the rear tire needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 220,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension); however, the rear axle fractured not long after the recall remedy was performed. Afterwards, the contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension), but the remedy was not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 199,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While taking the vehicle for a routine check, the mechanic informed the contact that the axle was fractured in two places on the driver and passenger sides. The contact was informed that the brackets were placed on a faulty axle. The mechanic advised the contact not to drive the vehicle for long lengths of time. The mechanic diagnosed that the axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). Once the repair part and cost was decided, the contact would be informed and a repair would be made. The contact had not received notification and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. Updated 04/21/2016*lj updated 05/14/18*jb
Received recall notice for the rear axle, had 2 (two) ford dealers look at the axle. First dealer noted cracks, offered to replace axle for $700. First dealer did not enter recall/inspection into ford database, no record. Second dealer performed inspection, said axle was "good to go". I inspected axle myself, evident that there is no adhesive under the bracket where the crack propagates. We rely on the automotive dealers to make and keep our vehicles safe. Now, we cannot trust the dealers to perform the recalls as they should. This is not a safe vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While at the dealer having the vehicle serviced under the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension), the technician discovered that the axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,000....updated 02/08/16 *bf
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While at the local dealer for a recall repair, the technician diagnosed that the rear axle was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 187,000. Update 01/15/16 ma
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While the vehicle was being serviced for the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v608000(suspension), the technician informed the contact that the rear axle corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the axle replacement not being included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact was informed that the recall only covered the bracket and only the ends of the axle were covered under the recall. The failure mileage was 141,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that there was a failure in which the rear axle prematurely cracked without warning. The dealer repaired the vehicle according to the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension), but it did not remedy the failure. The contact received a second notification for the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension). The dealer stated that the contact needed to pay for the rear axle repair after inspecting the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired yet. The contact stated that the manufacturer's remedy was not sufficient and did not approve the dealer's repair for the second recall. The contact was waiting on a response from the manufacturer to ensure the dealer provided a permanent remedy for the condition of the vehicle. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the front wheels vibrated violently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the front axle fractured and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 147,000.
Letter from congressman ryan on behalf of constituent re ford motor company issues. *smd the consumer stated in may, the spring on the driver's side broke and punctured the tire. Three months later, the passenger front spring broke. *jb updated 11/30/15.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving 35 MPH, the rear of the vehicle swayed to the left and right. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear passenger side axle fractured and the tire leaned inwards into the wheel well. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 164,000. The VIN was unavailable.
I was driving down the road . In muncie indiana . The rear end on the right side went down all most caused me to wreck . Found o ut that day when I got it to the auto garage that the rear end had rusted threw . At 66,000 miles . How can a company put out crap like this that might have coast me my life ? It would have if I was not a semi driver when I was working . And new how to handle a van in case of a problem like this u have me to thank that no one was killed . I think ford needs to fix this problem for me .
While driving vehicle it started making a loud noise. I stopped and parked the car. Upon my inspection the driver rear tire was leaning out on an angle.a mechanic inspected it and noticed the rear axle was broken. There was no noise or problems prior to this time. The rear axle had to be replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving 20 MPH, the rear axle suddenly fractured. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The dealer stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension); however, the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 134,000.
This is in regards to the rear axle cracking. During my recent state vehicle inspection, the rear axle was found to be cracked. The rear axle was reinforced per recall notice in 2011, but where the reinforcement is at, is where axle is cracked. Ford will not cover the replacement of the axle due to the recall already being performed and is outside the 12 months/12,000 mile warranty. The reinforcement that they provided does not fix the issue, it only pushes the issue out. I have seen many other people having this exact issue happening.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving approximately 1 MPH, the transmission was shifted into reverse and the rear axle completely fractured into two pieces. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the rear axle fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving at various speeds and making a right turn, a loud noise emitted from the rear driver side wheel. The contact observed that the rear driver side wheel was bent in towards the vehicle. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the rear axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v193000 (power train), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving approximately 10 MPH, an abnormal noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. The contact pulled over and discovered that the rear tire was leaning inward. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Rear axle is cracked and has to be replaced. Ford recall in 2011 for issues with the rear axle - dealer installed additional support brackets in lieu of replacing the axle with a new axle of current design. If they would have done the replacement with the current axle design and not added a temporary fix to prolong the life of a defective axle, today I would not be responsible for the financial replacement. I am very fortunate to have noticed an issue and brought this to the attention of my dealer who discovered the crack. I do have a concern though with the ford dealer - they know about the axle issues, failures and recall. They recently inspected the vehicle, replaced various parts, etc. At a cost of $2,800 including brakes, drums, etc. They saw the condition of the axle - they had to know if was due to fail sooner than later - very concerning. Ford is not taking responsibility for their design flaw and lack luster recall which amounted to adding some brackets to cause the axle to break in a certain area to reduce the possibility of a complete failure / fatal accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that the entire axle was severally corroded and cracked. The dealer was made aware of the failure and explained that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 155,675.
I learned of a front axle recall and when I called the dealership to schedule repairs, they informed me of a rear axle recall, so "repairs" were made to both front and rear axles at the same time. However, this morning on my way to work (luckily traveling at 25 MPH vs 75 on the interstate last night) the rear axle broke midway between where the bracket, which was supposed to reinforce the axle, was attached.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the contact heard a noise from the rear of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact stated that the passenger side tire had fractured from the frame of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear axle assembly, tire, rim and brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated there was a four inch crack in the rear axle of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Vehicle on lift for oil change when mechanic noted that the sub-frame was rotted through on the driver side just above and in front of the wheel. He also noted that a repair bracket had been installed as part of the recall on the part of the frame behind the wheel. He said he would not drive the car too much longer without getting it repaired. He advised that I should take the vehicle to the dealer and advise ford which I did. Ford declined to offer any assistance since it was beyond the recall warranty period. The reinforcement bracket was obviously not sufficient to repair the corrosion damage to the complete sub-frame.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. After the vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension), the failure listed in the recall recurred. The contact mentioned that the dealer only sprayed a rust proof coating on the vehicle although, the recall stated that the dealer was to place a bracket to reinforce the axle or replace the axle. The manufacturer verified that the dealer implemented the recall remedy properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 6/3/15*cn updated 10/4/2017
Took my windstar to my mechanic for inspection. Rear axle cracked.. Contacted ford,since in 2011 rear axle "patches"(their terminology) were installed after recall ford had me tow vehicle to a local dealer. Dealer attempted to have ford reopen recall they refused after many calls they said they were not going to repair. Because. By national highway regulations they did all they were required to do. I pointed out that this is an ongoing problem and has they have documented --in the snow states since patches installed. We have had 2 major hurricanes with 3 consecutive severe winters. I am very frustrated and hope something can be done.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving 25 MPH, a loud crack emitted from the rear of the vehicle. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear axle was fractured. The vehicle was serviced under the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension); however, the recall remedy failed to prevent the defect. The manufacturer and dealer were made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 92,000.
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