2003 Ford Windstar Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-20 MPH, the steering wheel was shaking abnormally. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure). The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that after the recall repair was performed the procedure was that the dealer would inspect the vehicle and escalate the findings to the special support center. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the warranty on the repair had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

NHTSA ID

11753134

Incident

Jul 20, 2026

Mileage

132,000 mi

The contact’s son owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the exhaust pipe was punctured. The contact was advised that the front subframe was severely corroded; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle would not be repaired due to the corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact parked the vehicle and the vehicle was no longer driven due to the safety concerns. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11653439

Incident

Apr 4, 2025

The rear axle on my vehicle snapped while I was driving causing me to lose control and leave the roadway. I contacted Ford who told me there was a recall for the rear axle of my vehicle and that I would have no out of pocket expenses for the repairs and the towing of the vehicle to the service center. After they set up the towing I received a message saying I had to pay $381 for the towing before they would dispatch the tow truck. I called Ford customer service and they told me that now they can't find in their notes where they told me towing was covered. After asking to speak with a supervisor and being told they're not going to transfer me because they know their supervisor can't do anything more then what they can do I was placed on hold for an hour just to be told they can't find it in their notes and then I was hung up on. I shouldn't have to pay almost $400 to have my vehicle that just had a catastrophic failure causing me to wreck towed for servic after I was lied to about the towing being covered

NHTSA ID

11527143

Incident

Jun 14, 2023

The contact’s son owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while her son was driving 10 MPH and making a turn into a parking lot, the vehicle stopped as the rear tires collapsed inside the wheel well. The contact was able to park the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear axle had fractured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would cover the repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle as the subframe was severely corroded. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure) in 2011. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11491221

Incident

Oct 13, 2022

Mileage

150,000 mi

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle was wobbling. Once the contact arrived at her residence, her husband noticed that the rear of the subframe was fracture. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V385000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 136,000.

NHTSA ID

11491046

Incident

Oct 23, 2022

Mileage

136,000 mi

The rear wheel well is corroded and the corrosion is into the structure that the seat belt is mounted to and it ruined the REM(rear electronic module) there is supposed to be a recall on it but all the ford garages say its been done but it hasn't and now I have no way to work or to take my kids anywhere and the van only has 96000 miles and we just bought it

NHTSA ID

11429900

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

I OWN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR LX. IT WAS AT THE MECHANIC FOR SOME REPAIRS AND HE POINTED OUT THE ISSUE WITH MY REAR AXLE BEING CRACKED AND CORRODED. WHICH ITS VERY DANGEROUS TO KEEP DRIVING LIKE THIS. *LN*JB

NHTSA ID

11387689

Incident

Jan 9, 2021

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A CLUNKING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE SUBFRAME AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME MOUNTS SEPARATED DUE TO RUSTING. THE CAUSE OF THE RUST WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. TOYCEN FORD (1000 CHIPPEWA CROSSING BLVD, CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA ID

11222442

Incident

Jun 10, 2019

Mileage

220,000 mi

AXLE BROKE UNDER BRACKET THAT WAS PUT ON BY FORD FOR THE AXLE RECALL. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WITH MY HUSBAND AND 4 KIDS IN THE VAN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOAD NOISE AND THE TIRE WAS RUBBING THE WHEEL WELL. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, LOOKED UNDER THE REAR END AND COULD SEE THE BRAKE. HAD MY VAN TOWED TO MY HOUSE. CALLED FORD ON MONDAY MORNING AND TOWED VAN TO DEALERSHIP. $300 BETWEEN TOW BILL'S AND A FORD SERVICE CHARGE JUST TO HAVE FORD TELL ME THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY VAN AND MAKE THIS RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11205441

Incident

Apr 27, 2019

Mileage

142,000 mi

REAR AXLE BROKE UNDER BRACKET THAT WAS PUT ON BY FORD FOR THE AXLE RECALL. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WITH MY HUSBAND AND 4 KIDS IN THE VAN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOAD NOISE AND THE TIRE WAS RUBBING THE WHEEL WELL. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, LOOKED UNDER THE REAR END AND COULD SEE THE BRAKE. HAD MY VAN TOWED TO MY HOUSE. CALLED FORD ON MONDAY MORNING AND TOWED VAN TO DEALERSHIP. $300 BETWEEN TOW BILL'S AND A FORD SERVICE CHARGE JUST TO HAVE FORD TELL ME THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY VAN AND MAKE THIS RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11205440

Incident

Apr 27, 2019

Mileage

142,000 mi

REAR AXLE BROKE UNDER BRACKET THAT WAS PUT ON BY FORD FOR THE AXLE RECALL. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WITH MY HUSBAND AND 4 KIDS IN THE VAN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOAD NOISE AND THE TIRE WAS RUBBING THE WHEEL WELL. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, LOOKED UNDER THE REAR END AND COULD SEE THE BRAKE. HAD MY VAN TOWED TO MY HOUSE. CALLED FORD ON MONDAY MORNING AND TOWED VAN TO DEALERSHIP. $300 BETWEEN TOW BILL'S AND A FORD SERVICE CHARGE JUST TO HAVE FORD TELL ME THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY VAN AND MAKE THIS RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11205438

Incident

Apr 27, 2019

Mileage

142,000 mi

REAR AXLE BROKE UNDER BRACKET THAT WAS PUT ON BY FORD FOR THE AXLE RECALL. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WITH MY HUSBAND AND 4 KIDS IN THE VAN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOAD NOISE AND THE TIRE WAS RUBBING THE WHEEL WELL. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, LOOKED UNDER THE REAR END AND COULD SEE THE BRAKE. HAD MY VAN TOWED TO MY HOUSE. CALLED FORD ON MONDAY MORNING AND TOWED VAN TO DEALERSHIP. $300 BETWEEN TOW BILL'S AND A FORD SERVICE CHARGE JUST TO HAVE FORD TELL ME THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY VAN AND MAKE THIS RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11205437

Incident

Apr 27, 2019

Mileage

142,000 mi

REAR AXLE BROKE UNDER THE BRACKET FORD PUT ON THE AXLE FOR THE AXLE RECALL. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WITH MY HUSBAND, 4 KIDS AND MYSELF WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND MY TIRE RUBBING THE WHEEL WELL. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND LOOKED UNDER THE REAR END OF MY VAN AND I COULD SEE THE BRAKE. HAD IT TOWED HOME. CALLED FORD AND TOWED MY VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP. PAID $300 BETWEEN TOWING BILL'S AND A SERVICE CHARGE JUST TO HEAR FORD TELL ME THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME AND MAKE THIS RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11205435

Incident

Apr 27, 2019

Mileage

142,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A AAA REPAIR FACILITY FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC PLACED THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT AND FOUND RUST AND CORROSION ON THE AXLES AND SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE SAME RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V608000 (SUSPENSION) WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,131.

NHTSA ID

11193030

Incident

Mar 29, 2019

Mileage

147,131 mi

THIS IS DUE TO A RECALL. THE REAR AXLE AND SUBFRAME SNAPPED AND FORD IS NOT HONORING FIXING IT EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED AT THE REPAIR SITE OF RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11186986

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE REAR PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WAS RUSTED AND BECAME STUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BE OPENED. THE CONTACT HAD TO LIFT UP THE DOOR AND PUT IT BACK ON THE DOOR TRACK SO THAT IT COULD CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FAIR OAKS FORD LINCOLN (1351 E OGDEN AVE, NAPERVILLE, IL, (630) 357-7100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR HAD A RUSTED HOLE THROUGH THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,595.

NHTSA ID

11123827

Incident

Aug 4, 2018

Mileage

12,595 mi

WAS ON THE STREET DRIVING, LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON DASHBOARD VAN SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, BLEW OUT, WAS DRIVING AGAIN VAN WAS ILDE UP REALLY BAD AND WHILE MY FEET WAS ON THE BRAKES IT STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN AND RAN INTO SOMEONE ELSE VEHICLE, AND ALSO VAN WAS ON THE ROAD STARTED RUNNING BAD BROKE DOWN ON A BUSY STREET ONCE I WAS PUSHED TO A SAFE LOCATION ALL MY FLUIDS WERE ON THE GROUND AND THE VAN WAS SMOKING REALLY BAD AND LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WERE FLASHING.

NHTSA ID

11120027

Incident

Aug 14, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED AND A HOLE WAS PRESENT LOCATED BEHIND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE HOLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD RANDOMLY STOP OPERATING. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (DICK BRANTMEIER FORD IN SHEBOYCAN, WI) WAS NOTIFIED ALONG WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11075820

Incident

Mar 2, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

HELLO I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN. I PURCHASED AROUND MARCH 2016 I WAS TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL WHEN THE REAR AXEL BROKE. I LOOKED UNDER AND IT LOOKS LIKE FORD PUT ENFORCEMENT BRACKETS ON IT BUT IT IS BROKE AT ONE OF THE BRACKETS . THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. 20 MINUTES LATER I WOULD'VE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY. ONE MAN HAS ALREADY LOST HIS LIFE FROM THE SAME THING WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE A LADY FROM FORD OFFERING TO GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION SHE HAS BECAUSE IT IS NOT RIGHT AND THERE IS THINGS SHE HAS THAT I CANNOT FIND. I LOOKED UP MY YEAR ON THE VEHICLE AND WHAT WAS WRONG AND REALIZED THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT ONLY THAT THERE HAS BEEN THREE RECALLS SINCE 2010 FOR THE SAME THING. FORD PUT BRACKETS ON TO FIX THE FIRST PROBLEM INSTEAD OF JUST FIXING THE PROBLEM. THAT EXPLAINS MY BRACKETS. FORD REALIZED THE BRACKETS WASN'T WORKING SO IN 2015 OFFERED TO REPLACE THEM FOR 300 DOLLARS. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THERE FAULT. BUT THAT EXPIRED IN DEC 2015. I PURCHASED THE CAR AROUND FEBRUARY MARCH 2016. THE PROBLEM IS IF ITS HAPPENING WITH SO MANY WINDSTAR'S WHY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE BEGINNING INSTEAD OF PATCHING IT AND TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT. I'M SURE THE MANS FAMILY AND KIDS THAT LOST THERE LOVED ONES WISH THIS WOULD'VE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF THE RIGHT WAY. I WAS ON THE PHONE ALL DAY THURSDAY WITH FORD THERE NOT OFFERING TO HELP AT ALL. THERE TELLING ME IT WILL BE OVER 1,000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. SO WE ALMOST LOST OUR LIVES SOMEONE COULD'VE DIED THANKFULLY WERE OKAY. WE HAVE NO VEHICLE THE STRESS OF GETTING KIDS TO SCHOOL AND WORK AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. I HAVE 5 CHILDREN PLUS 2 I HAVE TAKEN LEGAL CUSTODY OF FROM CHILDREN SERVICES THERE IS NO WAY I CAN PAY THAT. ALL BECAUSE FORD DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT RIGHT AND JUST REPLACE IT THE FIRST TIME AROUND. HOW DOES A SAFETY RECALL EVER EXPIRE.

NHTSA ID

11052457

Incident

Nov 30, 2017

Mileage

133,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE DEALER HAD DONE THE RECALL REPAIR AND STILL RIGHT IN THE SPOT OF THE REPAIR THE SUB FRAME CRACKED AND SPLIT. FORD SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THEIR REPAIR DIDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10970291

Incident

Apr 2, 2017

Mileage

94,000 mi

WHEN I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY I COULD SMELL RUBBER BURNIG AND I HEARD AND FELT A BIG LOUD BANG,.THEN THERE WAS SMOKE ALL AROUND VAN.IT WAS THE REAR AXLE/ SUB-FRAME FRACTURE AND YES THERE WERE RECALLS AND WORK WAS DONE BY FORD DEALER THANK GOD ME AND MY CHILDREN WERE NOT HURT OR KILLED THIS WAS VERY SCARY..

NHTSA ID

10955688

Incident

Feb 19, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE REAR AXLE ON MY VEHICLE CRACKED AND CAUSED MY TIRES TO RUB AGAINST MY VEHICLE, DAMAGING BRAND NEW TIRES. WHEN BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP, WAS TOLD THAT A PATCH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN MADE ON THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS DONE BADLY AND DID NOT HOLD. FORD WOULD DO NOTHING TO RIGHT THIS AND DENIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL WHILE THIS OCCURRED ON CITY STREETS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10948773

Incident

Jan 25, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE A CLUNKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD CRACKED AND SEPARATED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER A RELATED RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 236,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10943746

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

Mileage

236,000 mi

OUR ENGINE CRADLE RECENTLY BROKE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE JUST FOUND OUT THIS FALLS UNDER RECALL NUMBER 15V608 (FORD RECALL # 15S27). WE WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE RESOLVED AT LITTLE OR NO COST TO US, BUT WE ARE UNSURE HOW TO START THE PROCESS WITH A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10938024

Incident

Dec 24, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE AND A SNAP. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED AND THE TIE ROD SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10934126

Incident

Dec 8, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi