2000 Ford Windstar Other / unspecified Problems

The rear axle broke for the second time on a Ford Windstar, after already breaking prior to a recall in 2010. It appears to have broken where a clamp was attached. This caused the rear wheels to fall into, and grind against the wheel well. This happened on a side street near my house. Had it happened at highway speeds, the rear wheels could have locked up or perhaps broken free causing loss of control. The axle problem has been known to Ford, but it is concerning that this is the second one to fail. I have not yet contacted ford or a a repair facility to evaluate. There were no warning lamps or other indication. The axle simply broke abruptly. I thought it was a tire blow out until I saw the wheels tilted in. The vehicle is older, but I maintain it well.

NHTSA ID

11590976

Incident

May 24, 2024

WENT TO "CREDIT KARMA" AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS THE SUBJECT OF A FORD NHTSA RECALL. FORD FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. RECALL ID # 233939 DATED 10/21/2015. PLEASE HELP RESOLVE THIS AS I DON'T WANT TO BE DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11155439

Incident

Dec 2, 2018

Mileage

92,000 mi

I WATCHED LAST NIGHT AS MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE COMING HOME ON THE PARKWAY, THE REAR AXEL SNAPPED IN. TWO AND BOTH TIRES JUST DANGELING BASICALLY,WE HAD A BLOW OUT ALSO MANAGED TO GET THE2000 FORD WINDSTAR LX OFF OF THE MAIN ROAD WHERE I HAD TO CALL SEVERAL TO COMPANIES AND NO ONE WITH A WRECKER WAS ABLE TO HELP, SO I CALLED A TOE COMPANY WITH A ROLL BACK, TO GET OUR VAN HOME THEN I FOUND OUT ABT THE COMPLAINT HOTLINE AND THE RECALLS AFTER MY WIFE AND KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, THE VEHICLE WAS GOING STRAIGHT,AND THE SPEEDLIMET WICH WAS 45 MPH, WHEN THE AXEL JUST SNAPPED IN TWO PIECES, AND OUT OF CONTROL SHE MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN, MY KIDS ARE 1 AND 2, WE WANT REINBURSEMENT FOR THE VAN AND THE TOW BILL AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT

NHTSA ID

11002599

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

Mileage

167,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL WAS TILTED INWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V080000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10871269

Incident

May 3, 2016

THE REAR AXLE ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR IS CRACKED. THERE WERE TWO PREVIOUS RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE AND NOW A THIRD. FORD WANTS ME TO PAY $300.00 TOWARD REPAIR WHICH I FIND UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID

10862132

Incident

Sep 30, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

9/1/2015 ENTERING NORTHERN STATE PARKWAY WEST WENT OVER BUMP/POTHOLE REAR AXEL SUSPENSION CRACKED AND DROPPED ALSO BLEW DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. VAN HAD TO BE TOWED TO SHOP. COROSION ON REAR AXEL, BRACKETS SEALED TO OLD AXEL,FORD MUST REINFORCE AXEL. AXEL RECALLED 2010/2011 MUST BE REFIXED BY FORD.

NHTSA ID

10819824

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

65,258 mi

I GOT THIS VAN USED FROM A FAMILY MEMBER THEN CHECKED WITH LOCAL FORD DEALER TO MAKE SHURE RECALL WORK WAS DONE AKA REAR AXLE BEAM AND FRONT SUBFRAME WERE DONE THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS DONE ABOUT 2 MONTHES LATER THE AXLEBEAM BROKE DUE TO COROSION UNDER THE CLAMP THEY PUT ON TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPANING I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VAN WENT TO THE DEALER NEXT MORNING AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WEAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS CASE WAS CLOSED THIS REPAIR DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM OR PREVENT IT FROM SEPERATING IF I WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VAN WHOULD HAVE FLIPPED THEY HAVE SENCE SENT US A LETTER STATING THE CLAMPS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED RIGHT AND WANT TO CHARGE FOR A REPLACEMENT AXLE 300 I WAS TRAVALING 25 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THIS HAPPENED I HAVE MORE PICTURES THEN THIS WILL ALLOW ME TO UPLOAD BUT I HAVE REPLACED THE AXLE USING MY OWN GARADGE SEEING HOW I CANNOT TRUST THE DEALLER

NHTSA ID

10794547

Incident

Jun 12, 2015

Mileage

190,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY VAN USED JUST A MONTH BEFORE I NOTICED THIS DEFECT, I CAME OUTSIDE TO GET IN THE VAN AND NOTICED THE REAR WHEELS LEANING SLIGHTLY INWARD AT THE TOP. MY SON IN LAW INSPECTED IT FURTHER TO DISCOVER THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD BENT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON ALL FORD WINDSTAR MODELS BETWEEN 1998 AND 2003. WE NOTIFIED FORD AND THEY TOLD US THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN RECALLED AND REPAIRED IN 2011 AND THE REPAIR HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. MY SON IN LAW CHECKED AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WERE REPAIR SLEEVES WRAPPED AROUND THE REAR AXLE AT BOTH ENDS. THIS REPAIR DID NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM BECAUSE THE REAR AXLE HAD CRACKED RIGHT UNDER WHERE THE REPAIR SLEEVE WAS PLACED AND HAD BENT BAD, BAD ENOUGH THAT BOTH REAR TIRES WERE RUBBING THE INNER FENDERS AT THE TOP AND THE VAN WAS SITTING MUCH LOWER IN THE REAR END THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THANK GOD I HAD NOTICED THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE AXLE COMPLETELY CRACKED IN HALF THE REST OF THE WAY BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING ELSE HOLDING THE REAR WHEELS ONTO THE VEHICLE AND IF I WAS DRIVING THE WHEEL AND PART OF THE AXLE COULD HAVE FLOWN OFF TO WHO KNOWS WHERE AND POSSIBLY KILLED ME AND WHOEVER ELSE WAS IN THE VAN. I'VE HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE REAR AXLE WITH ANOTHER PART FROM ANOTHER VAN WHICH IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND WILL SOON HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. FORD TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PAST THE ORIGINAL "FIX" WHICH WAS WARRANTIED FOR ONLY 12 MONTHS. THE RECALL WAS NOT A GOOD FIX AND SEEMS TO HAVE ONLY BEEN A BAND AID TO KEEP CUSTOMERS QUIET UNTIL THE WARRANTY ON IT RUNS OUT. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND IN FACT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, COINCIDENTALLY AROUND THE SAME TIME AS MY INCIDENT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

10732589

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

CORRECTED RECALL WAS NOT DONE EFFECTIVELY WITHIN TWO YEARS OF REPAIRED RECALL BEAM AXLE FAILED AT THE END OF THE REPAIRED AREA.

NHTSA ID

10717698

Incident

Nov 20, 2014

Mileage

133,000 mi

MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WAS REPAIRED LAST YEAR ON A RECALL FOR THE POSSIBLE REAR AXLE FAILURE. FORD INSTALLED BRACKETS ON THE REAR AXLE AS A REMEDY. ON SATURDAY 8-30-14, THE REAR AXLE FAILED. THE AXLE IS ACTUALLY BROKEN AND THE BREAK CAN BE SEEN INSIDE OF THE BRACKET THEY INSTALLED. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DON'T WARRANTY THE RECALL REMEDY REPAIR. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS TO HAVE THIS REMEDIED IN GOOD FAITH? *TR

NHTSA ID

10629886

Incident

Aug 30, 2014

Mileage

134,345 mi

ABS/TRAC CONTROL DEACTIVATION ALARM/WARNING AFTER SHORT WARMUP. NO APPARENT BRAKE FLUID MASTER CYL SWITCH LEAKAGE. OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMP UPPER 70'S - MID-90'S F. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626972

Incident

Jul 14, 2014

Mileage

144,744 mi

MY ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN TURNING CORNER LEAVING THE VAN IDLE UNTIL I LET OFF GAS. BROUGHT IN AND WAS TOLD THESE CODES C1235,C1410,B1318. ALSO ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10616530

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ABOUT 930 PM JUNE 22 2014 AND STARTED TO FEEL LIKE I WAS GETTING A FLAT IN THE BACK THEN I STARTED SMELLING RUBBER BURNING AND THE BACK END OF CAR KEPT SWAYING ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL THEN I HEARD A NOISE SO I PULL OVER SLOWLY AND BOTH MY BACK TIRES WERE PUSHED IN AT THE TOP AND OUT AT THE BOTTOM..I HAD MY VAN TOWED TO FORD AT 1 COMMERCE BLVD NORTH BRUNSWICK OFF OF ROUTE 1..AND IT HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE I CALLED TO CHECK AND SEE HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO FIX AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THEY ARE WAITING ON THE PART AND THEY HAVE 3 OTHER WINDSTARS TO FIX...NOW IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A MONTH AND I STILL HAVE HEARD NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610335

Incident

Jun 22, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 915 PM JUNE 22 2014, WHEN I HEAR MY BACK TIRES SOUND LIKE THEY WERE CATCHING A FLAT. I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OVER INTO A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. WHEN I PULLED IN I HEAR A LOUD SCRATCH SOUND AND I SMELLED BURNING RUBBER REALLY BAD. MY COUSIN CAME ON THE SCENE TO PICK ME UP AND HE LOOKED UNDER THE VAN AND TOOK A PICTURE. THE AXLE CRACKED IN HALF AND THE BACK TIRES LOOKED PUSHED IN AT THE TOP AND PROTRUDING OUT AT THE BOTTOM..IF I HAD BEEN GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH I WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE 5 CHILDREN WAITING AT HOME FOR ME WHEN I GET OFF WORK. IM JUST THANKFUL I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT. BUT NOW I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN CONTINUE WORKING WITHOUT MY VAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605101

Incident

Jun 22, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 60MPH. MY CRUISE SHUT OFF, MY ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. IF YOU SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND LET IT COOL DOWN, IT WILL STAY OFF FOR A WHILE, BUT USUALLY COMES ON WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS OF BEGINNING TO DRIVE. AND THE BRAKES WILL WORK, BUT I WILL NOT HAVE ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10553945

Incident

May 16, 2011

Mileage

175,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT 65MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND MY REAR AXLE GAVE OUT CAUSING MY TIRE TO TILT IN AND RUB AGAINST THE AXLE ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY REPLACED IT ONCE AND WON'T REPLACE IT AGAIN. WHEN FIRST AXLE WAS REPLACE WITH A FAULTY AXLE FROM A WINDSTAR IN A JUNK YARD BEFORE THE RECALL EVER CAME OUT I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED AND WAS REIMBURSED BY FORD. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY CAN'T REPLACE IT AGAIN. THEY NEVER FELT THE NEED TO INSPECT THE VAN WHEN THE RECALL CAME OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523870

Incident

Jul 5, 2013

Mileage

158,000 mi

TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE, RIM, AND ALL LUGNUTS JUST FLEW OFF. I WENT INTO A DITCH. MAJOR DAMAGE. I AM DISCOVERING THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VANS AND I PLAN TO SUE FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10472831

Incident

Aug 28, 2012

Mileage

149,000 mi

I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE QUIT WORKING FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WHICH IS NOT SAFE AT ALL, BUT YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED DURING A VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORM WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH! IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WIPER MOTOR FAILURE AND THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN A RECALL IN THE PAST ON THE 2000 FORD WINDSTAR FOR THIS SAME COMPLAINT. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT MY WINDSTAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. AS MUCH OF A HASSLE AND AN EXPENSE IT IS TO HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR REPLACED, IT'S STILL NOT AS MUCH A HASSLE AS IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT NOT ONLY DO THE WIPERS RANDOMLY QUIT WORKING WITHOUT ANY WARNING BUT THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WILL KICK OFF ALL THE TIME AND FORD WON'T FIX OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAILURES THAT SO MANY OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS CONTINUE TO HAVE. HOW MANY RECALLS ON SAFETY ISSUES DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE BEFORE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS RECALLED? THE FRAME, THE SUSPENSION, THE WIPERS, THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, ALL THE THINGS THAT A DRIVER TRULY NEEDS TO SAFELY TRANSPORT THEIR FAMILY AROUND HAVE BEEN RECALLED ON THE WINDSTAR. THIS DOESN'T EVEN TOUCH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SPENT ON THE LEAN SYSTEM BANK 1 & 2 ERROR CODES AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON FOR THE SAME CODE. I'M SURE THIS HAS A LOT TO DO THE TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE THAT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT THE ORIGINAL STICKER QUOTED!. OR THE TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUES IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. A LOT OF THE WINDSTAR'S ISSUES STARTED WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND JUST CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. IF WERE UP TO ME I WOULD DEFINITELY CALL THE VEHICLE A LEMON. P.S. AFTER TALKING TO MY NEIGHBOR, HE ALSO HAS REPLACED HIS WINDSTAR'S WIPER MOTOR THREE TIMES. SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO MORE VEHICLES THAN JUST MINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418314

Incident

Aug 8, 2011

Mileage

209,950 mi

I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT GO ON AND STAY ON, ALONG WITH MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ALSO STAYING ON AND FINALLY, MY SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER WORKS ABOVE 40 KM PER HOUR. ALL OF THESE HAPPENED EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. I TOOK IT INTO FORD AND THEY ARE SAYING I NEED A NEW ABS MODULE BUT AFTER READING ABOUT THEIR ABS RECALL ISSUES AND MUCH WRITTEN ABOUT HOW THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON, I AM INCLINED TO THINK FORD SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. HENCE MY COMPLAINT TO YOU GUYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373759

Incident

Oct 9, 2010

Mileage

200,000 mi

A/C SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO BE TOTALLY LOW ON FREON. AFTER REPLACING FREON, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE REAR AC LOW PRESSURE PIPE HAD A LEAK LOCATED NEXT TO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THIS AREA THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PIPE LEAK TO OCCUR, SUCH AS ANOTHER PIPE RUBBING AGAINST IT OR OTHER FORM OF FRICTION. IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE PIPE WAS STRUCTURALLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372463

Incident

Dec 24, 2010

Mileage

161,000 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 YEARS I HAVE TO REPLACE MY TAILGATE WINDOW FOR MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. 2007 JULY, IT JUST SHATTERED WITHOUT ANY SIGN/ WARNING WHEN I WAS ON MY TRIP TO THE PROVINCIAL PARK. I REPLACED IT THINKING ABOUT I MAY BE THE 'LUCKY ONE'! LAST NIGHT AGAIN ON MY WAY TO OTTAWA AROUND KINGSTON ON HWY 401, IT STARTED FROM THE WIPER/ BRAKE LIGHT AREA AND SHATTERED. MY DAUGHTER WAS SO AFRAID BECAUSE SHE WAS SEATING AT THE BACK 2 TIMES IN A ROW!! I WAS QUESTIONING ABOUT THE OCCURANCE AND FREQUENCY??? I HAVE TO PAY $400 FOR EACH REPLACEMENT!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10371762

Incident

Dec 19, 2010

Mileage

156,000 mi

ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON DURING OPERATION FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE DAYS. AFTER THAT TIME, BOTH LIGHTS ARE CONTINUALLY LIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10355536

Incident

Aug 22, 2010

Mileage

185,606 mi

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. WHEN THE ENGINE HEATS UP A LITTLE THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON INDICATING THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER WORKING. IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED THE LIGHT ARE OFF FOR AWHILE UNTIL THE ENGINE HAS HAD TIME TO HEAT UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353840

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH, I NOTICED THAT THE BACK END OF THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS SWAYING OR SLIDING AS IF ON ICE. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND DROVE TO A PARKING GARAGE ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. WHILE PULLING UP TO THE GATE AT THE GARAGE AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, WHICH WAS THE REAR AXLE BREAKING COMPLETELY IN HALF. REPLACED WITH A USED AXLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352195

Incident

Aug 21, 2010

Mileage

101,000 mi

I HAVE A FORD WINDSTAR WITH 93,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND WAS SHOCKED WHEN THE VEHICLE TIRES WERE SLANTED ON AN ANGLE ON DAY! THIS WAS VERY ODD LOOKING, AS YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE AND AFTER A REVIEW OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR AXLE HOUSING WAS CRACKED (AND RUSTED) RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, CLOSER TO ONE SIDE; LEAVING THE CARE NON-DRIVABLE DUE TO POSSIBLE BLOW-OUT OCCURRENCE. AFTER HAVING NO CHOICE BUT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND AFTER PUTTING OVER $600 DOLLARS INTO THE VEHICLE HAVE ONLY FOUND THAT OTHER FORD WINDSTARS ARE ALSO HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER THIS WAS DAMAGING TO MY SAVINGS ACCOUNT! I WOULD STILL HOWEVER BUY FORD VEHICLES AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MY CASE KNOWN IN THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346412

Incident

Apr 30, 2010

Mileage

93,000 mi