1998 Ford Windstar Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering significantly. The vehicle was taken to a Tire Store, where it was diagnosed that the rear axle was corroded and had fractured from the upper side to the lower side. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V385000 (Suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11552899

Incident

Oct 24, 2023

We woke up this morning to the driver's side completely burned and melted. It had been parked sinced Monday. Fire inspector said it was definitely an electrical issue coming from the seat.

NHTSA ID

11468285

Incident

Jun 8, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHERE THE SOUND ORIGINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING RUBBER ODOR. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A NEARBY DRIVEWAY AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11289706

Incident

Dec 16, 2019

Mileage

125,000 mi

SUBFRAME RUSTED ON LEFT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAD A POPPING NOISE WHEN I MADE A LEFT TURN AND LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO LEFT. I HAD TAKEN IT TO A AUTO SHOP AND THEY REPLACED STRUTS.SWAY BARS AND BRAKES . NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THE RUST ISSUE WITH THE SUB FRAME. I DROVE IT HOME FROM SHOP. SAME PROBLEM. RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO SAME REPAIR SHOP AND THE HAD A WELDER ATTACH STEEL BRACKET TO HOLD UP SUB FRAME. 2 DAYS LATER WORSE. I HAD A SECOND MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE TOLD ME THE FIRST REPAIR SHOULD NOT HAVE ASKED ME TO REPAIR ANYTHING ON THE VAN. SUB FRAME IS FAILED AT 128,436 MILES. I NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR CO . OF THE FAILURE, WAS GIVIN A CASE NUMBER. ENGINE WILL FALL OUT OF BOTTOM WITH CORROSION OF SUB FRAME. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE

NHTSA ID

11257710

Incident

Sep 5, 2019

Mileage

128,000 mi

MY REAR AXLE BROKE AND THEN MY DOOR AJAR CONSTANTLY GOES OFF EVEN WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED. THE AXLE BROKE REAR DRIVERS SIDE LEAVING ME STRANDED. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN 20 MPH.

NHTSA ID

11172745

Incident

Jan 29, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

MY FRONT CRADLE AT STEERING AREA HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED INTO FROM AC LEAK AND ROAD SALT VAN WAS SOLD IN VERMONT NOW IS LOCATED IN VIRGINIA UNSAFE ALMOST UNDRIVABLE TO FORD DEALER FOR A REAR AXLE RECALL FOR AXLE BRACES PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS

NHTSA ID

11091939

Incident

Mar 23, 2018

Mileage

30,000 mi

MY MINI VAN LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER WHILE I'M DRIVING AND EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE STARTER IN THE CAR, IT STILL TURNS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. THERE'S RUST COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR, I SMELL A BURNT SMELL WHEN I'M DRIVING. I'M HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES, MY CAR STOPS WHEN IT WANTS TO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, .. IT MAKES NOISES WHEN I'M TURNING, I HAVE RUST COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR. THE SIGNAL LIGHTS FLICKER. WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WASHER, SEAT BELT, AND DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING THE WIPER BLADES STOP WORKING, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS IS CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO SHIMMY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. NOW WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL TO THE LEFT, IT MAKES THIS LOUD NOSE. WHAT IS THAT?!

NHTSA ID

11090769

Incident

Aug 2, 2017

ABS DASHBOARD LIGHT STAYS ON VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING WHILE IN MOTION VIBRATION IS PROPORTIONAL TO SPEED

NHTSA ID

11073153

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

REGARDING FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 15S27: FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS REFUSING TO REPAIR MY REAR AXLE WHICH FRACTURED DUE TO A POORLY DESIGNED AXLE THAT HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF NUMEROUS RECALLS, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF AXLE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS (WHICH HAD BEEN DONE AND LATER INSPECTED AT PHIL'S FORD IN PORT JERVIS, NY - WINTER OF 2015). I WAS TOLD THE BRACKET REINFORCEMENT REPAIR HAD BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED, HOWEVER THE AXLE STILL BROKE ON 8/17/17 WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE - AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION! THE BREAK OCCURRED AT AND WITHIN THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET. EVENTUALLY, SOMEONE WILL BE HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE OF FORD'S NEGLECT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE MORE I SEE OF FORD'S RESISTANCE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE THE GREATER MY CONCERN IS FOR OTHER DRIVERS (OF A VAN DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN) WHO ARE UNAWARE OF THE DANGER THEY ARE IN DUE TO THE COMPANY'S NEGLECT. THEY ARE TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEIR WINDSTAR VANS ARE SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER THE BRACKET REINFORCEMENT REPAIR. THEY ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (HEALEY BROTHERS FORD IN GOSHEN, NY) IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE EARLIER RECALL, FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONS IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE EARLIER RECALL CLAIMING THAT THE OFFER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE HAS EXPIRED.

NHTSA ID

11020511

Incident

Aug 17, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED DUE TO CORROSION AND THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED JOHN KENNEDY FORD- POTTSTOWN AT (800) 790-8132 (LOCATED AT 3189 W RIDGE PIKE, POTTSTOWN, PA 19464) WHERE THE DEALER REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION), BUT NOT FOR THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,197.

NHTSA ID

11019161

Incident

Aug 19, 2017

Mileage

100,197 mi

MY MINI VAN LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER WHILE I'M DRIVING AND EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE STARTER IN THE CAR, IT STILL TURNS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. THERE'S RUST COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR, I SMELL A BURNT SMELL WHEN I'M DRIVING. I DON'T KNOW HOW MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL, SO MANY THINGS IS WRONG WITH THE VAN, ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.. PLEASE HELP ME

NHTSA ID

11013112

Incident

Jul 12, 2017

I NEEDED THE STARTER REPLACED, MY BRAKES, I'M HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES, MY CAR STOPS WHEN IT WANTS TO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY,.. IT MAKES NOISES WHEN I'M TURNING, I HAVE RUST COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR. THE SIGNAL LIGHTS FLICKERS

NHTSA ID

11010660

Incident

Jul 10, 2017

THERE'S AN ELECTRIC SHORTAGE THATS STOPPING MY VAN FROM FULLY STARTING

NHTSA ID

11004799

Incident

Jul 10, 2017

REAR AXEL BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A FLAT ROAD. FORD DEALERSHIPS TELLING ME IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST A MONTH TO FIX. NO TALK OF PROVIDING A RENTAL VEHICLE. THEY WERE EVEN SAYING THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT PAY FOR FIXING IT. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO SAID I WOULD GET A DAY CAR RENTAL AND IF IT TAKES LONGER THAN A DAY, THE DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO GET A RENTAL PREAPPROVED BY FORD AND PAY FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO REPAIR. SHE SAID TO CALL THEM THAT THEY WERE WAITING TO SET THINGS UP. I CALLED THEM, WAS TRANSFERRED TO 3 PEOPLE AND THEN A VOICEMAIL. LEFT MESSAGE AND NO ONE CALLED. I THEN CALLED BACK AND THEY SAID I WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO HEAD MANAGER AND AGAIN GIVEN A VOICE MAIL. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN AND EXPLAINED ALL THIS. THE GUY ANSWERING WAS BREATHING ON THE LINE, WOULD NOT SAY ANYTHING OR RESPOND AFTER I HAD FINISHED AND PUT ME THRU TO SURVEY WHICH I GAVE HIM ALL 1S. I CALLED BACK AND A CASE WAS OPENED. I NEED HELP. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ID

11003060

Incident

Jun 27, 2017

LOUD CRACKIN AND POPPING FROM SWAY BAR ATTACHED FO RUSTED OUT CRADLE DRIVERS SIDE REAR CRADLE THAT HAS RUSTED OUT AND BROKEN AND HAS DROPPED DOWN 1/2 INCH AND ALSO RUSTED REAR AXLE JUST TAGGED AND REGISTERED IT IN VA THEN NOTICED ALL THE RUST TO SUBFRAME AND REAR AXLE VAN HAS MANUFACTURED IN CANADA ON DOOR AND A VERMONT CAR DEALER EMBLEM ON BACK DANGEROUS VEHICLE AM ICOVERED BY RECALLS ON THIS SAFTY HAZARDS

NHTSA ID

10992663

Incident

May 3, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

10/16/15 BOUGHT VAN. 10/30/15 STOP HAD TOWED HOME.CALL DEALERSHIP HAD TOWED TO THERE PLACE. THEY RAN A RED WIRE FROM FUSE RELAY TO INSIDE OF DASHBOARD TOOK OVER A WEEK GOT IT BACK. NOT IN EVEN WEEK LATER TRANSMISSION START MESSING UP TOLD THEM WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. IT WENT OUT. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT FILE COMPLAINT WITH (DMV) INVESTIGATOR GOT IN TOUCH WITH THEM AGREEMENT WAS THEY WILL HAVE IT FIX WE DONT PAY LABOR, WE JUST PAY FOR TRANS AND FLUIDS. HAD IT TOWED THEY BEEN HAD VAN YEAR. 10/2016 THEY FOUND TRANS COST 515.PAID THEM. THEN IN 11/2016 SAID RADIATOR WAS CRACKED WE HAD TO PAY 102.84 ANOTHER MONTH 12/26/2016 GOT VAN. ITS MESSED UP SMOKING BRAKES BURNT UP.THE SPEEDOMETER LINES UNDER VAN NOT CONNECT JUST HANGING DONT MATCH UP ONE BROKE AT THE END. THE ODOMETER NOT HOOK UP. TOLD THEM THEN CARRIED TO INSPECTION FAILED. MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THEY LIED THE TRANS COST 250 THE GUY THAT WAS WORKING ON IT BUSTED RADIATOR BUSTED IT THEY DIDNT TELL US. THEY RESPONSIBLE .THE MILES HAVE BEEN ROLLED BACK.2 TIMES. 10/15/2015 SAYS 144448.NOW 01/02/17 SAYS 144208. THEY BEEN HAD A YEAR AND THE ODOMETER DISCLOUSUER STATEMENT WAS SIGNED BY THE LADY NOT ME ARE MY WIFE.SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T BUT DID. WANT GIVE US MONEY BACK AND THEY PUT ALL THE INVOICES IN HIS NAME AND DEALERSHIP NAME LIKE WE DIDN'T PAY FOR ANYTHING AND SHE STILL WANT GIVE ME A INVOICE FOR THE 515 FOR TRANS. THE MAN GOING TO TELL ME PUT IT UP FOR SALE CANT THEY MESSED IT UP AND TOOK ALL OUR MONEY WE ONLY GET PAID ONCE A MONTH. WANT OUR MONEY BACK.

NHTSA ID

10954533

Incident

Oct 30, 2015

Mileage

144,448 mi

BROKEN AXLE WHILE DRIVING. THANKFULLY WAS NOT DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. FORD WILL NO LONGER HONOR 3RD RECALL AFTER INSTALLING SAFETY PLATES AND SAYING AXLE LOOKED OK.

NHTSA ID

10927621

Incident

Nov 22, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

I CAME TO A STOP SIGN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT HITTING THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE CAR FINALLY ROLLED TO A STOP WITH THE HELP OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND ON A DUAL LANE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10910847

Incident

Sep 21, 2016

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE EXCESSIVE RUST AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO FIND A USED PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,376.

NHTSA ID

10870774

Incident

Nov 16, 2015

Mileage

160,376 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED APPROXIMATELY ONE BOTTLE OF POWER STEERING FLUID PER DAY FOR IT TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SPINDLE AND RACK FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V165000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10862828

Incident

Apr 26, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

REAR AXLE EXTREMELY RUSTED, FALLING APART, STILL GARAGE CONDITIONS, DOESN'T LOOK SAFE

NHTSA ID

10860953

Incident

Sep 18, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE FRONT SUBFRAME TO WHICH THE ENGINE AND STEERING COMPONENTS ARE MOUNTED IS RUSTED TO AN EXTENT THAT A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. FORD HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR THE 1999 THROUGH 2003 MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM. SINCE MY WINDSTAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ISSUED FOR THE LATER MODELS, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD RECEIVE THE SAME REMEDY. SINCE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SUBFRAME HAS NOT YET OCCURED, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO STATE WHETHER IT WILL OCCUR WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION

NHTSA ID

10851424

Incident

Mar 23, 2016

Mileage

64,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRACKET SUPPORT FOR THE SUSPENSION WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO REPAIR AND WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 158,000.

NHTSA ID

10845774

Incident

Feb 3, 2016

Mileage

158,000 mi

SORRY, ABOUT THIS BUT IT IS NOT A COMPLAINT. I WANT TO LEY YOU KNOW THAT THE CAE DISCRIBED IS NOT WORKING ANYMORE I SENT IT TO THE JUNK.

NHTSA ID

10786974

Incident

Jul 7, 2015

Mileage

250 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND VIBRATIONS COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TURNED INWARDS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10781592

Incident

Oct 7, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi