Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. While driving various speeds, a knocking sound emitted from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the subframe was corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v030000 (structure). The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000.
Ford Windstar knocking problems
106 of the 14,140 owner complaints about the Ford Windstar describe engine knocking or ticking, most of them for the 1995 model year.
- owner complaints
- 106
- worst model year
- 1995
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,500
- typical mileage
- 87,000
By model year
Often reported together
Engine failure 19Check engine light 10ABS 10Overheating 8Transmission failure 7Stalling 6Adaptive cruise 5Harsh shifting 3
Trouble codes mentioned
P0174 1P0171 1P0131 1
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a knocking noise emitted from the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the frame engine cross member was corroded. The contact was informed by the dealer that the remedy for the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v030000 (structure) was performed approximately 4 years ago. The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced additional failures related to the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,400.
Work was performed on the sub frame of the 2000 ford windstar referenced above on april 16, 2012, as a result of a ford recall notice, number: 11s16. The recall description is as follows: "corrosion-related fractures of the front lower control arm rear attaching brackets and body mount attachments may occur. A separation of a front lower control arm rear attaching bracket may result in a lower control arm separation. A separation of both front subframe rear body mounts may result in separation of the steering intermediate shaft. Either condition could result in significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash." the work done on april 16, 2012 was performed by sheehy ford in gaithersburg, md. Who installed new brackets on the sub frame, to prevent the sub frame from breaking and/or eroding. At the time, there was a great deal of advanced rusting on the sub frame. On august 30, 2014, the car was taken back to sheehy ford, after loud knocking noises could be heard under the hood. Sheehy ford looked at the car, consulted with their technicians and reported back on september 4, 2014 that the sub frame had rusted through. The sounds coming from the car were due to the unstable sub frame, which holds the parts of the car in place. They also advised the car was unsafe to drive. After an additional review, sheehy ford concluded that the previous work in april of 2012 was sufficient to hold the sub frame. They have since held fast to their claim that no further "programs" are available to be able to repair the current problem of a rusted sub frame in the car. A complaint was also made through ford motor company customer service center. They took the complaint and provided a case number of: 5190828l6x2x4x, but ultimately their decision is the same as sheehy: no other programs are available to cover the cost of any additional repair to the car. 1/5/15.
Van is jumping at stop light with brake on, started making a clunking sound around 55 (unknown) power windows stopped working on right side. Only 92000 miles on van everything going wrong at once. Van feels unsafe. Do not have enough money to replace. Is there any recalls for this stuff? Knocking noise in rear.
This is a second call for help ford corporate will not email me back. Will not verify if PCM has been updated. The van only has under 59,000 miles on it . It should not break this bad this soon makes me tell anyone on social media and our local news media and clark howards team. I do not want to call ford unless it is agreed the phone will be recorded for court purposes. I even asked is the would let me use the updater. I sure do not want don rich ford in villa rica ever again. They stripped the screw. That set min clearance on throttle plate. No shifts funny and sputters and terrible noise in oil pan area. Rod s knocking. Internet has tons of complaints of pistons exiting engine oil pan.
Dear ford my mother and I have been trying to get answers from the dealer and since they gave up. Because they could not fix it right the first time. Even the second or third time. The van a 1996 windstar with 59,000 miles on it and it started the engine started stalling, when making slow turns not touching the gas pedal loses power steering. My mom almost went into a ditch to avoid a collision with another car. With little internet searching found hundreds of vans with same problems, and appears there is not one resolved. And since this has gone on for over a month. The last visit to the ford dealer in an attempt to fix the stalling. . The idle air control valve is new, and mass air flow is clean supposed to have been replaced also. I checked the air filter was clean, the fuel filter is original so I replaced it. I started looking at the throttle body, and noticed that the throttle plate screw was all gouged up. While I was sitting in drive way with engine running and unless ford engines are only good for 60,000 miles, with all the stalling and low engine idle that keeps oil pressure in the engine lubricating the crank shaft.!! So when engine stalled at very low idle there was no oil getting through the engine. This engine now has lower end knock, which I verified by pulling van onto floor ramps, test drove and confirmed the problem, is critical. Each time I slowed down to turn engine stalled every time, lost power steering and brakes. I could have been killed because ford is ignoring this problem.. And this also answers why other complaints were about engine failures and very expensive repairs. This letter will be put on all social networks, to warn others this could happen to them be aware. They said the ecu/PCM computer was updated. Could not find update on invoices, or in history I can access.
The antilock brake system light as well as the traction control lights keep coming on. Garage can't tell the exact cause. The booster arm busted, keeping the brakes engaged as driven. The booster arm was replaced and the lights are still on. I reset it, and they reappear after a short time. I now smell the brakes when applied. I've had engine replaced at 101,000 miles, two transmissions, multiple brake jobs, rear axle repaired, front axle repaired, front tie rods repaired. The alignment on my vehicle could only be partially completed.... Toe, and another alignment done, but the complete alignment would need a hole drilled in the frame and a bolt moved over - bad design by ford. I've also had to have the oxygen sensor replaced at my own expense. The vehicle is a ticking time bomb, piece of crap.
Our rear axle has sheared in half three times. The third time (after they admitted a recall) we were 40 miles from home when it broke, ford told us there was nothing they could do since it was a saturday. We were forced to drive it home on the interstate, as a family of 6 in a town with no rental places we had no choice. Ford put their "patch kit" on my recalled axle last year, and it failed. Now they have given me a 1992 sable as a rental while my van is in the shop. My family can't fit in it, and my children can't even fasten their seatbelts in it, and one of my children has to sit in the front seat with the airbag. They told me there's nothing they can do. My subframe is under recall, as well as the control arms and body mounts. Fords fix for this is to patch them like they did my axle, which broke. Now I am stuck with a ticking time bomb and four children. Fords bandaids for these devestating failures only buys them a few months time, and puts lives at risk. My front end clicks when I turn, my tires rubbed all the way home on the broken axle, the transmission leaks horribly, the undercarriage is rusted and rotted beyond repair, and all these admitted faulty parts are being patched and sent out the door. I dont feel safe driving my kids around in this! And im being told my choices are buy a new van at my expense, or drive this one and take a chance!!
2001 ford windstar. Consumer writes in regards to ford recall #11s16 involving the subframe lower control are due to rust/corrosion *tgw the consumer was informed by his mechanic, that the steering issues he was experiencing were related to the subframe recall. Subframe brackets were installed at that time. However, while driving, the consumer heard a knocking sound coming from the right front passenger side of the vehicle, whenever there was a bump in the road. The consumer returned to his mechanic and was told the problem was still due to the subframe issue. The consumer stated the mechanic was surprised that the dealer had repaired the problem with a kit, instead of replacing the subframe. The consumer returned to the dealer and was informed the problem was with the sway bar, which had disconnected from the subframe, but it could not be repaired unless the rusted subframe was replaced at a cost of $ 2,781.00. The dealer sent ford pictures of the subframe, but they refused to replace it at their expense.
On monday, november 7, 2011, my wife was heading to work. She stopped at a red light. When the traffic signal turned green, she hit the gas and the car would not move. The RPM's would go up and the engine would rev up as if it was in neutral. This was the case in all gears. This could have been potentially dangerous since traffic approaching the signal are driving at 50+ MPH. Luckily, a few passers by helped my wife push the van into a local parking lot. We had it towed to a transmission shop and they are now rebuilding it for about $2,000. Due to the number of complaints about the transmissions on these vans, I believe this should be a recall issued by ford. I believe there should be some reimbursement for these costs I am paying for repairs. There was no indication (I.e.: knocking sounds, slipping, etc.) prior to the transmission failure.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Ford Windstar knocking
Which Ford Windstar years have engine knocking or ticking problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1995 (45 complaints), 2001 (13 complaints) and 1999 (12 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix engine knocking or ticking on the Ford Windstar?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,500 (median of 18 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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