Ford Windstar engine failure problems

Filed Sep 21, 2020 · Suspension · 161,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the rear axle seized without warning, causing the contact to almost lose control of the steering wheel. The contact managed to regain control of the steering veering the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact placed the vehicle in park got out and looked under the vehicle and noticed the vehicle rear axle was fractured. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was towed to thoroughbred ford of platte city (1901 e. Prairie view rd, platte city, mo 64079) where the technician inspected the vehicle and noticed the rear axle was fractured. The rear axle was temporarily fixed. The contact attempted to drive the vehicle home however, the rear axle fractured completely while leaving the dealer. No further assistance was provided. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension), 12v195000 (suspension) and 12v194000 (suspension) as possible solutions to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.

Filed Oct 18, 2016 · Body, Steering · 121,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that while in park, the steering wheel seized. As a result, the contact was unable to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine cradle had corroded and needed to be replaced. The mechanic also stated that the cradle was previously glued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,000.

Filed May 18, 2016 · Brakes · 78,568 miles · NM

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway, there was a loud squeaking noise. The contact stopped the vehicle and noticed that there were black tires marks on the road and that the rear driver side brakes seized. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician could not determine the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,568.

Filed Dec 23, 2015 · Airbags, Steering · 50,000 miles · NY · crash · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into a fire hydrant and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained neck and shoulder injuries but did not require medical attention. The passenger sustained wrist injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. Updated 02/12/16*lj updated 05/14/18*jb

Filed Mar 30, 2015 · Body, Steering · 225,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. The vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v030000 (structure). While driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the subframe fractured and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 225,000...updated 05/21/15 *bf the consumer stated that the recall was incorrectly performed. He signed over the title. Updated 11/19/15

Filed Feb 25, 2015 · Steering · 130,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal noise as the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed stated that the vehicle was not repairable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Nov 10, 2014 · Steering · 150,074 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH making a turn, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic was unable to locate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,074.

Filed Sep 4, 2014 · Transmission · 162,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns 2001 ford windstar. The contacted stated while driving at an unknown speed making a right turn, the rear wheels seized causing the vehicle to slide side to side erratically. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the traction sensor and rear axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was made aware that the vehicle was included in recall the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v385000 (suspension).the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 162,000.

Filed Jul 15, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 159,288 miles · IN

While investigating the 50 MPH failure of the PCM module, and the ongoing off/on action of the ABS module, I ran across what appears to be a mistake on page 43-3 of the fomoco "2001 wiring diagrams/windstar" manual (fcs-12255-01). I exchanged several emails, case # cas-4648613-l1x1r6 crm:03259000003405, with the ford customer relations center about this matter until they told me to contact a dealer. I sent the questions to my dealer asking for correct information, but they haven't acknowledged my inquiry. What I suspect is all windstar's on the road today may be operating with only one-half of the scp (j1850 pwm) network operational. Now that many of the defective ABS modules are failing, are other windstars in danger of engine failure at speed like ours? The two simple questions I asked fomoco are: 1) are you sure circuit 915 (data bus-) should be grounded at the ABS module? 2) what is the proper termination for the ford data bus (circuits 914& 915), 120 ohms, 650 ohms, 3k ohms, what and where?

Filed Jul 14, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 82,179 miles · NY

My ABS and brakes lights have been coming on at different times for my 2002 ford windstar for a long while, and stay on now that it is summer. I have tried to fix this problem on two occasions and changed the bad ECM with a new one and the problem has returned both times only after a few months. I made a left turn at about 5 MPH with the two lights on and when I applied the brakes at the completion of the turn to stop at a red light the brakes seized and the car continued moving slowly into on coming traffic while making a metal grinding noise. I was able to quickly put the car in park to stop it right under the light. I then turned the car off and back on and the lights went off and the brakes worked normally again. A few blocks later the ABS and brake lights came back on but the brakes didn't seize this time. This issue is dangerous and I had both my wife and children in the vehicle with me. Ford needs to recall these cars and build a ECM that will not expand during warm months causing the ABS system to fail. Mechanics have told me that this is a major issue with the windstar.