2003 Ford Windstar: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jun 25, 2019 · Body · 220,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving approximately 60 MPH, a clunking type noise was present coming from the subframe and the vehicle became unstable. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the front passenger side subframe mounts separated due to rusting. The cause of the rust was not determined. The vehicle was previously repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v030000 (structure); however, the failure continued. Toycen ford (1000 chippewa crossing blvd, chippewa falls, wi) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 220,000.

Filed Feb 21, 2017 · Suspension · 140,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving 65 MPH, a clunking noise was heard and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The failure occurred without warning. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a tire shop where it was diagnosed that the rear axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact received a recall notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension), but the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Jan 9, 2017 · Body · 236,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle a clunking noise was present coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered that the sub frame had cracked and separated due to rust and corrosion. The vehicle had previously been repaired under a related recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 236,000.

Filed Dec 30, 2016 · Suspension · 144,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While driving over bumps in the road, a clunking noise was present coming from the rear of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was previously repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension). The failure mileage was 144,000.

Filed Dec 9, 2016 · Body, Steering · 160,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. While attempting to turn into the driveway, the contact heard a clunking noise and a snap. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic who stated that the subframe fractured and the tie rod snapped. The vehicle was not drivable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

Filed Nov 24, 2013 · Body, Steering · 97,332 miles · NJ

Mini van steering started making clunking noise while turning. Then I notice steering wheel is not straight when car is driving straight and something was wrong with alignment. Automechanic told me passenger side sub-frame rotted out and minivan is unsafe to drive. I investigated potential recall of windstar minivans - I am very upset that this could have caused me to crash on the highway. Only a very thin piece of metal remains holding the frame in place. Minivan is undrivable and need to replace subframe.

Filed Oct 31, 2013 · Engine, Suspension · 49,593 miles · NJ

Purchased a 2003 ford windstar on 10/14/13,drove vehicle to south carolina from new jersey on 10/15/13,about halfway there noticed a loud clunking while braking, or turning vehicle left or right.had vehicle looked at by mechanic on 10/24/13.it was diagnosed as having a completely rotted subframe and motor mounts.I looked into recalls on the vehicle and found one for the subframe ,number 11s16.I called ford motor corporation on oct30,and 31st about the recall.I was told it was repaired back in apr18,2011.repairs done were an inspection of subframe,and all looked well.subframe was never replaced ,now 2 years later,ford has wiped it's hands clean of the recall saying it was satisfied on apr18,2011,by a mechanic claiming the subframe looked ok at the time.how does a faulty part that could cause a major accident,become ok because it looked good at the time of inspection?I am appalled and dishearten that a major corporation such as ford would take the easy way out and say it's not responsible for a part that they recalled initially,and now say that because it was inspected,it now is fine.I thought a recall was in place for public safety,and if so,how does it expire?

Filed Jul 11, 2013 · Suspension, Wheels · 135,000 miles · FL

I was starting to get a clunking noise from the rear end of my 2003 windstar minivan which continued to become worse. I took the van into a reputable shop to have it checked. I witnessed the inspection and it was difficult to figure out what was wrong but it was discovered that corrosion caused cracks in the axel and it needed to be replaced. There was a recall on the axel but when I contacted ford (both a dealer a ford recall information line) I was told my it was not valid for my. The recall was for issued for states that use salt and I when I bought the van I lived in ohio but moved to miami florida in miami 2007 ( now in central fl) no road salt but still a salt environment. There repair was $663.00 and I believe that this recall should extend to all vans that have this type of risk with a refund due from ford.

Filed Jun 1, 2012 · Suspension · 91,007 miles · MI

Brought the car to a repair facility today to diagnose a recurring front end noise today and was shown by mechanic that both front coil springs are severely rusted and were sheared/broken and have been for quite some time, possibly as long as a year. He said that we were very fortunate that the springs hadn't slipped and pierced a tire; especially on the highway. Another serious concern is that the ford dealership to which we normally bring the vehicle for service had and had failed to notice the broken springs in when most recently they replaced more front-end parts, some links, 3.5 months ago that was part of a series of related repair work in the effort to stop the ongoing front-end clunking noise. After the noise failed to go away and after this latest repair by ford service, we decided to get a second opinion from different auto repair facility. This latest mechanic, not a ford facility, said that broken coil springs appear to be a common problem for the ford taurus and mini-vans.

Filed Aug 3, 2011 · Suspension · 84,000 miles · WI

Our 2003 ford minivan passed front subframe inspection and "cleaning" on 3/14/2011 when vehicle was in for rear axle recall repairs. It was taken back to the dealership for front subframe recall on 7/11/2011 and recall repairs were made. In addition, other repairs were sold to us after a thorough inspection by mechanic. Nine days later, while driving on the highway, a clunk noise was heard from the front of the vehicle. On 8/1/11, the dealership mechanic found a broken right sway bar due to excessive rust at the subframe attachment. Service manager was told by ford that this failure is unrelated to the recall issue and that subframe replacement would not be provided by ford. We then had the mini van put up on a lift at an independent garage where repair of subframe was observed and pictures were taken of the subframe which was literally separated into sheets of rust under the repair brackets. Any force to put bolts into the repair brackets could easily have hastened the corroded sway bar failure. We were told the mini van is safe to drive even without repair, however, we have no confidence in that and live in an area where there are lots of small children, joggers and pedestrians. We greatly fear that any further failure in the front end could result in serious injury or death to someone. Vehicle has 84,000 miles. Ford denies any assistance or responsibility for our issue.

Filed Jun 15, 2009 · Transmission · 160,000 miles · 00

The hard shifting started about a year ago. Now with 160,000km the transmission now shudders and shifts erratic. I was told by the transmission shop it's the torque converter not working right which is caused by the a defect in the valve body. A complete remanufacture making it better than ford can will run $2500. $1800 if I remove and install it myself.

Filed Jul 19, 2008 · Suspension · 59,396 miles · NY

2003 ford windstar, 59396 mi. Driving down lockport rd on 6/20/08, heard loud snap, clunk, then tire blow out. Called for aaa assistance, tow truck operator told me it was broken right spring, saying it was a common problem and had towed several minivans of this model, what could have happened if I made it 2 miles to interstate 190 where the speed limit is 65 MPH? This happened at approx. 20 MPH. Is this a common thing like the tow operator says? In all, resulted in 555.25 in damage because of the spring failure.