2004 Ford Windstar Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V194000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,784. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SIDE BY THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE SWAY BAR IN THE FRONT WAS BROKEN AND THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. FORD STATED THEY MET THE RECALL REQUIREMENTS IN 2011 AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR THE CONSUMER. UPDATED 12/23/15.*JB

NHTSA ID

10715201

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

169,784 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AXLE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL IN 2007 RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10668668

Incident

Dec 28, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A CRUNCHING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10531500

Incident

Jul 23, 2013

Mileage

75,000 mi

RETURNED VAN TO DEALERSHIP, REAR END MAKING NOISE. PREVIOUS RECALL (AUGUST 2012) FIX TO REINFORCE REAR AXLE NOW SHOWS AXLE IS CRACKED. FORD SAYS THEY WILL NOT ENACT A REPAIR, AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE REP STATED THE RECALL DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIX IS PERFORMING AND THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE REGARDING THE REAR AXLE. I ASKED THAT THEY STATE THAT IN WRITING TO ME. LOOKING AT YOUR WEBSITE AND THE FATALITY THAT CAUSED THIS RECALL, I SUSPECT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE. THE DEALERSHIP AGREES. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10523810

Incident

Jul 8, 2013

Mileage

138,869 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE AXLE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AXLE FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510101

Incident

Apr 27, 2013

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, GREY SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE BROKE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 141,000.

NHTSA ID

10461065

Incident

Jun 8, 2012

Mileage

141,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ALIGNMENT WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS TWISTED AND CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V385000 -SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY) BECAUSE THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF CORROSION OR FRACTURES ON THE AXLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID

10381530

Incident

Feb 4, 2011

Mileage

124,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE 60 MPH WHEN IT BEGAN TO FEEL UNSTABLE AND THEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE ON THE FRONT CONTROL ARM WIRE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,000.

NHTSA ID

10370721

Incident

Dec 10, 2010

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE HEARD A PECULIAR NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 123,500 UPDATED 01/1410 *BF THE REAR AXLE WAS RUSTED FROM INSIDE OUT AND CRACKED 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO TILT INWARD AT THE TOP AND OUTWARD AT THE BOTTOM. UPDATED 01/10/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10295064

Incident

Dec 7, 2009

Mileage

123,500 mi