Ford Windstar jerking problems

Filed Nov 29, 2022 · Acceleration, Electrical · SC

The gauges are acting crazy which causes the engine to jerk or the transmission and then it starts making the lights flicker in the interior and the gauges start sticking. It seems to make the overflow on the radiator to empty more because it is causing the sensors in the electrical for the parts to go crazy and run hot. Sometimes it only does it every so often but after getting the reserve hose on the power steering that connects to the reservoir to the coolant the battery was drained. Then going after getting it charged down the highway it caused the interior lights radio and seat and turn signals not to work when coming to a complete stop and it was idling the dashboard and all the lights were coming back on once given a guess it winded up not working again causing the battery to become hot or warm and acid you can smell in the air like rotten eggs. It is causing the overflow tank of the radiator to evaporate more or come out quicker and it is causing other component parts to react strangely which I'm afraid will cause a fire in the vehicle and the idling is not correct also on it now

Filed Mar 5, 2018 · Body, Steering · WI

Rh back side of subframe, is rotted/corroded so bad that the metal tore all around the subframe bushing. To where it is not being held up by the bushing on the right hand lower/back is not holding up the front subframe... Now, the vehicle is making a very loud popping noise when driving and turning... And when turning fast enough (more turning left then right) can feel whole front end jerk like its about to go the opposite way the van...replaced the left front strut assembly and control arm to find out that did not solve the problem. Then after repairs and looking deeper.. Noticed right front side, sagging almost 2-4 inches lower then left front... That's when we noticed the subframe completely broken/rusted off from the body bushing (on the front right lower/rear bushing)

Filed Feb 18, 2016 · Suspension · MI

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.

Filed Feb 10, 2016 · Brakes · FL

I have a code c1185 it is making my van unstable . It starts to jerk as it goes from 40 to higher speeds it's affecting . It turns out that alot of people are having this issue c1185 ABS module

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 Apr 27, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · 155,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. While driving approximately 60 MPH in rainy conditions, the vehicle began to jerk. The entire instrument panel, headlights, windshield wipers, and power windows failed to operate. The engine warning indicator illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road until the rain subsided. After restarting, the failure persisted. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where a code was not detected. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.

Filed Nov 8, 2014 · Transmission · 198,897 miles · MN · crash

I was on a 65 MPH highway and had to stop for a stoplight. When the light turned green, I put my foot on the gas and nothing happened. I put in 2 then 1 and then reverse and nothing happened. I had put my hazard lights on as I was afraid of being at a green light and getting rear ended with the other car going at least 65 MPH. I proceeded to shut the van off, turn it back on and put it in drive and it jerked forward, but I could tell the transmission was slipping and the o/d light started flashing on and off and the check transmission light came on. I had to continue to shut the vehicle off and turn it back on to get it to a safe place where I finally had to be towed home. I had my 14 year old daughter with me and had we been hit from behind, we both could have died.

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Transmission, Wheels · 112,972 miles · MA

After driving down a major highway north of boston, ma (128/95 north) my wife and I, first heard scraping noise that became louder and began smell like burning rubber/brakes. The car lurched across the roadway/highway and we swerved and almost sideswiped car in the adjacent lane. We were in the process of exiting the highway on the off ramp to my work at rte 28 south stoneham/wakefield. We were able to pull over, gather our thoughts and continue to a gulf station on rte 28 in stoneham, ma. The gulf station mechanic/manager said he had never seen anything like it, a rear axle literally splitting in half. After viewing the rear broken axle and looking at the condition of the front right end and the overall condition of the sub frame they politely and forgivingly said they have rarely seen such a thing (cracked/separated rear axle and went on to say they have only seen this in ford windstars and went on to talk about a local women whose ford windstar lost control on the highway at 60 MPH with her 3 children and were scared to death and in conclusion would not touch the vehicle and warned that the vehicle was beyond safe driving and repair. They were shocked that although there was some kind of brace on the axle in two places that the axle had snapped in two at the reinforcement and said even without the reinforcement on the rear axle they have never seen a rear axle split in two and compounded with the fact that it actually had a reinforcement bracket fail. Reiterating axles and sub frames are not wear and tear parts and in fact had never seen broken rear axles and sub frames crack and break and corroded to this extent. Their reaction was of disturbing to say the least. They said broken axles just don,t happen and with added reinforcement it was "beyond belief" they had broken in half.

Filed May 27, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 70,000 miles · IN

Yellow ABS and red brake lights come on. O/d light flashes. Resets when car is turned off, but the ABS and brake light come on shortly after staring to drive. Had brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder and had that replaced. Brakes work and fluid level is fine. When o/d light is flashing, car jerks on first transmission shift. Have to turn off car and restart to get rid of flashing o/d light.

Filed Apr 29, 2014 · 158,000 miles · ID

I stopped at a stop sign and upon pressing the gas the van lurched forward a bit then I lost all the gears. Had to push it off the road with 4 children seated inside. It's like it's stuck in neutral, no gears at all. Had it towed and currently waiting on mechanics diagnosis. Very unsafe!! We could have been injured or worse. Something needs to be done about this!!! I see page after page about this happening to people. Same problem same model & year of windstar. Shame on ford motor company.