1998 Ford Windstar Powertrain (other) Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10860953

Incident

Sep 18, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.

NHTSA ID

10682592

Incident

Jan 15, 2015

Mileage

182,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SERVO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ UPDATED 8/30/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10595770

Incident

May 29, 2014

Mileage

250,000 mi

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD @ 55MPH AND THE SPEEDOMETER SHOT TO 0MPH AND THE TRANS WAS THROWN INTO 1ST. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I AM LOOKING FOR A RESOLUTION. IT ACTS AS IF VSS ISN'T WORKING. EVEN THREW A CODE. I REPLACED THE SENSOR AND CHECKED THE WIRES ALL THE WAY TO THE ECM. EVERYTHING LOOKS QUITE GOOD. RAN A SCANNER. PICKED UP SEVERAL CODES. VSS AND ABS SENSORS ALL AROUND. PULLED CLUSTER: EVERYTHING LOOKED GREAT. THE ONLY FAULT I CAN THINK OF IS ECM UNLESS ABS SYSTEM HAS THE ABILITY TO AFFECT THE DRIVE LIKE THAT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10592615

Incident

May 17, 2014

Mileage

96,769 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE POWER TRAIN MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S POWER TRAIN PCM RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,327.

NHTSA ID

10520203

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

154,327 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE RPM INCREASED TO 3,000 AND THE SPEED DROPPED TO 35 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION AFTER THE RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,600.

NHTSA ID

10508564

Incident

Apr 12, 2013

Mileage

121,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE AND THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO A FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

NHTSA ID

10478423

Incident

Sep 24, 2012

Mileage

197,000 mi

AFTER IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE AND I WENT TO PARK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND I COULDN'T MOVE THE VAN. GOT OUT AND LOOK AT IT AND SAW IT WAS THE REAR AXEL COMPLETELY BROKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10476850

Incident

Sep 24, 2012

Mileage

152,307 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED ACCELERATED IN AN ATTEMPT TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE AS THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING. THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE FRACTURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 178,187.

NHTSA ID

10470781

Incident

Aug 12, 2012

Mileage

178,187 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN NJ, STRANDED IN BUSY TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463006

Incident

Jun 23, 2012

Mileage

112,000 mi

JUST WANTED THIS AGENCY TO KNOW THAT THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE.I WAS DRIVING IN BUSY TRAFFIC, IN MAJOR CONSTRUCTION NONETHELESS ON A 1 LANE ROAD AND MY VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WITHOUT WARNING QUIT WORKING....BACKED UP ALL KINDS OF TRAFFIC WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OVER AND MADE ALL KINDS OF NEW FRIENDS....JUST LETTING THIS AGENCY KNOW THIS MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED.ALTHOUGH IT IS NOW AND OLDER VEHICLE IT IS STILL CAPABLE OF CREATING HAVOC...AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE.COULDNT IMAGINE IF I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPEED TO MAKE IT TO SAFELY PULL OFF, COULD OF CAUSED A PILE UP.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442317

Incident

Jan 2, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

1998 FORD WINDSTAR HAS RUSTED ENGINE SUBFRAME, WHICH, IF LETS GO WOULD CAUSE SIDE AXLE AND FRONT TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM VAN AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL,LOSS OF BRAKING, AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE VAN WAS ON RAMP FOR OIL CHANGE . RECEIVED RECALL ON REAR AXLE CRACKING AND RECALL WAS DONE TODAY BY FORD. BROUGHT SUBFRAME PROBLEM TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AND THEY STATED THAT FORD WAS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE FORD HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS TIME. THE SERVICE STATION OWNER WHICH DID MY OIL CHANGE EXPRESSED AN OPINION THAT HE FELT THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTING WAS INDEED MUCH MORE OF A CONCERN THAN THE CRACKING OF THE REAR AXLE WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED BY FORD. AT PRESENT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY WINDSTAR WITH THIS STRUCTURAL DEFECT AND I FEEL FORD SHOULD REMEDY THIS DEFECT IN THE SAME MANNER THAT THEY DID WITH THE CRACKING REAR AXLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10375091

Incident

Nov 15, 2010

Mileage

81,250 mi

I OWN A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR(MANUFACTURE DATE AUG..1997. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR A WHILE. MY VAN WAS MAKING A WHINING GRINDING NOISE. GEAR IS HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK BAD POPPING NOISE WHEN BACKING UP...REPLACED ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS AND BOTH TIE ROD ENDS..STILL MAKING A BAD WHINING NOISE.3 DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING STARTED ACTING WEIRD AND SHAKING AND THE BACK OF THE VAN STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH .. WAS TOLD AT THE SHOP ABOUT THE RECALL ON AXEL I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD MY VAN IS NOT ON THE LIST MY VAN HAS A EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BOTTOM THE SHOP TOLD ME THIS VAN HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO SALT. WHEN I BOUGHT THE VAN IT HAD A INSPECTION STICKER FROM PREVIOUS OWNER FROM ONE OF THE RECALL STATES.(PENS) FORD WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ONWHAT STATE IT WAS SOLD IN OR DEALER, WHAT BRAND OF AXEL THAT WAS BEING RECALLED (SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE BRAND) COME ON WHAT COMPANY SPENDS MONEY ON PARTS AND DON'T EVEN KNOW THE BRAND OR MANUFACTURE THEY BUY FROM. I'M SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS AUTOMOBILE.. I THINK FORD SHOULD HONOR THERE PROMISE TO ITS CUSTOMERS AND FIX THIS PROBLEM ON ALL 1997-2003 WINDSTARS NOT JUST CERTAIN MONTHS OF 1997 OR DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO LOSE THERE LIFE BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING? FORD>>> YOU TOOK OUR MONEY FOR YOUR PRODUCT NOW STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365577

Incident

Nov 9, 2010

Mileage

120,000 mi

REAR AXLE IS FRACTURED. ITS HAS A 3 INCH LONG CRACK ON THE REAR AXLE TOWARD THE DRIVERS SIDE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VAN SINCE 1998. *TR

NHTSA ID

10354091

Incident

Sep 7, 2010

Mileage

117,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WAGON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD, ABNORMAL BANG. HE STATED HE PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD FRACTURED IN HALF ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WEATHER, ROAD CONDITIONS OR MOISTURE IN THE AREA. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,576.

NHTSA ID

10343272

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

76,576 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING INTO A DRIVEWAY, THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,948 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,200.

NHTSA ID

10343192

Incident

Jun 23, 2010

Mileage

164,948 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR AXLE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP BUT HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 156,000.

NHTSA ID

10334265

Incident

May 31, 2010

Mileage

156,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED INTO TWO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10332196

Incident

May 23, 2010

Mileage

101,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH. WHEN THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AXLE BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10327515

Incident

Apr 24, 2010

Mileage

135,000 mi

VAN HAS BEEN SWAYING WHEN DRIVING LIKE A TIRE WAS LOW ON AIR, KEPT CHECKING WITH NO TIRE PROBLEMS BUT WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AT WORK I HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE. WHEN I GOT OUT I FOUND MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE LEANING IN. I JACKED UP MY VAN TO FIND THE REAR AXLE IS BROKEN ABOUT A FOOT OR SO IN FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. I TRAVEL WITH 4 CHILDREN AND IF THIS WOULD HAVE BROKEN WITH THEM ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, THERE IS NO OBVIOUS RUST ON THE AXLE. I FOUND A FORD WEBSITE THAT HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE AXLE BREAKING AND I FEEL THIS NEEDS INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320091

Incident

Mar 15, 2010

Mileage

134,000 mi

ON DECEMBER 16TH 2009. I WAS DRIVING DOWN WEST 117TH TOWARDS MADISON/LAKEWOOD IN CLEVELAND, OHIO AND WAS TRYING TO COME TO A STOP (SLOW DOWN AND STOP) TO ALLOW AN AMBULANCE TO PASS (THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS ALSO SLOWING DOWNA ND THAT CAME TO A STOP AT THE STREET LOT)THIS IS ON A MAJOR STREET NEAR AN HIGHWAY INTERSECTION. I PUT MY FOOT ON MY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND COME TO A STOP BUT IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE BRAKE HAD WENT OUT. I ENDED UP HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HARD (AN SUV) AND DOING QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE OTHER DRIVER VEHICLE WAS SO FAR AS I COULD TELL UNDAMAGED. ON MY VEHICLE THE FRONT LIGHT IS BROKEN, MY BUMPER IS DAMAGED, AND MY HOOD IS DAMAGED. I, MYSELF AND THE DRIVER I HIT COULD HAVE GOTTEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. SO FAR WE ARE BOTHFINE AND NO INJURIES OCCURRED. HOWEVER HE MAY TURN AROUND AND COME AFTER ME IF HE DECIDES TO. AND I NOW CAN NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY VEHICLE BRAKE ABOUT A MONTH AGO AROUND EARLY NOVEMBER. MAYBE IN END OF OCTOBER. THE VERY DAY OF MY ACCIDENT (HAPPENED AROUND 12:15 NOON) I WAS GOING TO GO HOME AND CALL FORD ABOUT THE RECALL. THERE IS A WORLDWIDE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE MODEL AND MANY OTHERS. AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE HAD TO MAKE NUMEROUS REPAIRS ON IT AND STILL HAD PROBLEMS AND THIS ACCIDENT. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND SHOULD COMPENSATE ME WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME AND MONEY INTO REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THIS WINDSTAR. OR GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK OR SOMETHING. I'M GLAD MY KIDS WERE NOT WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THAT THE MAN I HIT WAS ALSO ALONE AND IS OK. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS SINCE I GOT THIS VEHICLE: O2 SENSORS (BOTH), ALTERNATOR, BELT, WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE, AND MAKE BACK BLADES DON'T WORK AT ALL, THE TRANSMISSION, THE STEERING COLUMN BOX, DOOR HANDLE AND COMPONENTS INSIDE AND MORE!

NHTSA ID

10296483

Incident

Dec 16, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEFT AXLE WAS BROKEN. SHE NOTIFIED A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT HE WOULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AT HER RESIDENCE THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104000.

NHTSA ID

10286134

Incident

Oct 2, 2009

Mileage

104,000 mi

A FAULTY BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEACTIVATION! SWITCH IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID! *TR

NHTSA ID

10231661

Incident

Apr 5, 2007

Mileage

89,875 mi

FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING UP A LOW GRADE AND COMING TO A STOP. VAN STARTED ROLLING BACKWARD AFTER REMOVING FOOT FROM BRAKE AND WHEN IT FINALLY MOVED FORWARD THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND NO SPEEDOMETER. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR. MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER PASSING A SEMI ON THE FREEWAY. PASSED DOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND WHEN PULLING BACK INTO RIGHT LANE VAN LOST ALL FORWARD POWER AND SPEED. SPEEDOMETER ONCE AGAIN DROPPED TO 0. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER BUT AS YET HAVE NOT HAD IT LOOKED AT BY DEALER. SAID TO BRING IT BACK ON THE WEEKEND.

NHTSA ID

10129781

Incident

Jul 20, 2005

Mileage

12,475 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SNAPPED OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068691

Incident

Apr 22, 2004

Mileage

75,392 mi