Ford Windstar Recall: 575K Minivans May Suffer Rear Axle Fracture

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About 575,000 older Ford Windstar vans are being recalled in cold-weather states and Canada due to the risk that the rear axle may fracture from corrosion. 

Ford Motor Company announced the Windstar recall in a press release Thursday. The recall will affect minivans from model year 1998 through 2003 in 21 states that make heavy use of road salt during the winter months.

The Ford Windstar minivan recall follows an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that was initiated on May 13, after federal investigators received an increasing number of reports about the axles fracturing, including reports of at least two auto accidents. There have been nearly 1,000 reports to the NHTSA in total regarding the problem with Ford Windstar vans.

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According to the NHTSA, the design of the axle allows road salt slush to collect and linger on the axle, promoting rust and eventually raising the risk of the axle fracturing. A fractured axle could lead to a loss of control of the vehicle and increases the risk of an accident that could cause property damage, severe injury or death.

The minivan recall affects 463,000 vehicles in the U.S. states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia. The remaining 112,000 vehicles are located in Canada.

Ford has announced that it will notify affected owners in the very near future and request that they bring their vehicles to local Ford dealers for inspections and repairs, if necessary. Dealers will either reinforce the axle or replace it, and will provide a rental for customers whose vehicles are being repaired. The Ford Windstar itself is no longer in production.

Photo Courtesy of IFCAR via Wikipedia Commons Public Domain

Tags: Accident, Ford, Ford Minivan, Ford Recall, Ford Windstar
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230 Comments

Rich
I was driving at 40 MPH and everytime I hit a bump I had trouble controlling the vehicle, I stopped and looked at the rear right axle to find a crack. I had been on the highway 2 day’s prior at high speeds I could have been killed! I spoke to the local ford dealer and ford has offered to buy the vehicle back. They have gotten in over 25 like this in a week!
Jodi
Well, I just drove him in a rental car after finding out my rear axle is indeed cracked and no repair parts available until 1st quarter 2011. I have no problem driving a rental car that Ford pays for. My concern will be is they decide not to make the parts to fix the axle what the HECK are we supposed to do? I am hearing that KBB value is only between $2300 and $2800. That isnt even enought to make a down payment on another vehicle. Not to mention the fact that we have a $450 payment for another two years on our other vehicle. We are in no shape to have to make a monthly payment on second vehicle. My only hope is that Ford will not let us down on this!!! I think if they do the right thing they could come out smelling like a rose but doing the wrong thing in this economy etc…could do severe damage to an industry that is already hurting. Just my thoughts
Shondel
I have a 2001 Windstar and about 2 years ago my front axle snapped causing me to hit a concrete median, luckily I was able to get it off to the side of the road without injuries to myself or anyone else, now Sunday 10/24/10 I was taking my son and his girlfriend to her house had 5 kids in my van and the rear axle broke doing 55 mph on route 7 in Ohio, I hadn’t heard about this recall or I surly wouldn’t have had kids in my vehicle, once again, by the grace of GOD, I managed to get it off the side of the road again with no injuries, had it towed home only to get a recall notice the next day about the rear axles. We immediately called Ford and they paid to have my van towed to the dealership and are supplying me with a rental van at NO charge to me, however I NO LONGER TRUST MY VAN!!! THANK YOU FORD for FAULTY parts! I think once its fixed I am trading it in on something else!
Susan
Hi everyone! So glad to here you’re all speaking out about this!! I have a 1998 Windstar, I’m a single mom of 3 teens. I put a transmission in it in 2006 by what turned out to be an unscrupulous mechanic. The transmission went again in around June, 2010!!!!! I put less than 10K miles/year on it. I took it to a Ford dealer for a brake recall and they recommended an AAMACO dealer to do the tranny. The AAMACO guys kept my car for 5 days! I paid them $2,089.00 and picked up the car. The engine light code kept coming on. Went back to Ford, they said go to AAMACO and have them clear the ‘dam code’. I did. When I went to back out and put my foot on brakes, brakes went to the floor! The mechanic came out and hooked up his little computer and said everything was ok. He pumped brakes and said they were fine. Again, I got in. Brakes to the floor. My son and I called the police and then AAA for a tow home, brake fluid everywhere. It took me 2 months to find someone I could trust to fix the brake line that snapped. Then, drove 1 week and tranny started fussing again and I heard banging in the rear on freeway. The tranny is not working. I parked it in my yard in Sept. and haven’t driven it since. Got my recall for the the axle. Hallelluia! The tranny’s are crap and the vehicle has a problem with engine codes not clearing,….or maybe the engine code was telling me not to drive it…..
Nicole
I dropped my 99 ford windstar off at the dealership on 10-22-10 and was told it had a cracked in axel and was not safe to drive….they set me up in a rental indefinitely….I called the dealership today to see if there was any news and/or progress and he said he cant even get through to the Ford customer service line…I just want to know how much they will offer me and how quick I can get it? KBB says its worth about 2200 in fair condition but will they take in to consideration that I just put in a water pump and alternator in the past 3 months and brand new tires 8 months ago and had the front subframe welded because it fell thats well over 1200 in repairs
Nikki
We replaced our Axel in May. Nice since when we took it in so we could get reimbursed, the new axel is cracked. NICE! So now, we cannot get the $1000 that we paid for it and we are stuck with a Yaris. If we want a van, we are talking about $10 a day. Well, thats actually a car payment- which we dont have. I have put 2 transmissions into this stupid van, an axel and about a million other little things. I really need it to last for a few more years. Frustrated!
Valerie
I have a 1998 Ford Windstar, but haven’t received anything about the recall. Wonder if I have to receive the recall, or can I go get it checked without it. Van runs my 3 children to and from school and sporting events EVERYDAY…
Ginger
I have the same story as many her in August, while driving my husband and I noticed the the van kind of swerved when we hit pot holes or bumps. When we got home we took a look at the van from the end of the driveway, we could see that the rear tires were bowing out. Not good. When we took it to the mechanic we were told the rear axel was cracked. I figured one of the private roads that I drive on (I”m a realtor) must have had an a effect on the rear end. Left the car withe mechanic, he was able to find a junk axel and installed it all for around $500. Then Friday, October22 We got the notice. First I was releved, it wasn’t my driving! Then I was pissed, they knew about this and I had to shell out $500 to fix it. I loved my van, unfortunately, in September the transmission went (that gave no indication it was going, no strange noise, no slipping, not hard getting it in gear- SO START CHECKING YOUR TRANIES PEOPLE – MIGHT BE THE NEXT RECALL. We were told it would cost almost $4k to fix the transmission, so we junked it. Now I’m contacting the Attorney General’s office in NY to see what we can do about getting our money back. Good Luck to all of you like me who already paid to fix our vans. Here’s hoping we all get our money back.
Traci
I just recieved my paper today about the recall……We paid someone to weld it last December because the axel almost snapped in half. We are going to try and get the money we had to pay for that back, becuase the recall was not in play at that time. The previous year we had to replace the transmission and now the Theft light is on and we cannot do anything with it!
GREGORY
Just got my recall to check rear axle ,van is already totaled. Daughter rolled it at 70 mph on straight away highway in August.
Allen
I too have had the rear axle break in my 2000 Windstar. I was driving home from work 7/26/10 when it broke. Thankfully I live in a rural area and was only travelling 35 mph. Vehicle sat in my drive until news broke in late August concering recall. PAID for tow to local Ford dealer (40+ miles away), borrowed vehicle from family, went about my business. On 10/13/2010 called for my bi-weekly “we don’t know when it will get fixed” call to Ford dealer. Fussed loud/long enough for dealer svc manager to divulge Ford would cover rental car. FINALLY received letter from Ford 10/20/10 with formal acknowledgement of recall, picked up rental today, 10/22/2010. I intend to stay in the rental until van is fixed or, like others, SIZEABLE offer is made to replace. Hope no one has been injured in situation where axle broke while driving. As divorced father of 4 this is only vehicle that can safely transport everyone at same time.
DIXIE
Mine broke right at end of September. Just now finding out from a friend about the recall (not Ford). mine is sitting fixed at a repair shop (Not ford). It is fixed but still being paid down. Will find out Monday if there is any hope of getting ford to pay for it.
Michael
I too have had a rental (junk compact) since the beginning of Sept. My rear axle is cracked and I cannot drive it and I am going to push for a bigger rental since I cannot fit my family in this Chevy Cobalt. Funny, now they are saying q1 of 2011 and according to my rental cost, it will cost Ford $3600 (more than the value of my 01 windstar….. These Slugs knew the recall was going to happen in May and they decided not to make any axles. WTF
Mike
Similar story here…Original owner 2002 Windstar, always garaged and well kept, has cracked axle. We heard about this in the begining of Sept. and took the van to the dealer who confirmed the crack and got us a mid-size rental. I’m told they will pay up to $30/day for a rental. My brother was driving his when it broke; low speed and no accident. Why would Ford spend $900 a month for maybe six months and then spend $500 to repair my axle? I’d buy a new car if they would make me a deal. Our van had been a good vehicle. Sorry to see it go, if that is where things are headed. We’re in southern Ohio.
Janet
I received a recall letter from Ford last Friday10/15/2010. Within the letter was a very detailed explaination of the rear axle recall and what would be done and not be done. I made an appointment for an inspection today and after about 25 minutes my local dealer called me to inform me that my rear axle indeed had a crack in it and they would not “release” the car to me. However they are providing me with a rental vehicle at no charge except of course for the gas. However, I need a Van not a Focus but they have put me on a waiting list for that. I feel truly sorry for the folks that actually were traumatized by the axle breaking as that must have been so very scary. However, anyone that is paying for a rental should contact Ford Motor Company directly as you are supposed to be receiving this for free. You will not need a credit card, just a vald drivers license and possibly proof of insurance. Here is the number to Ford Customer Service 1-866-436-7332 . According to the letter and my dealership, Ford has no way to know when these axles will be available but they are expecting some within the 1st quarter of 2011. Looks like the rental car will be in use until then.
Paul
I have a hole in the right side of the axle, took it to Ford, they put me in a rental car and told me that they would see me in Feb of 2011. They don’t have anyone making axles yet.
Nancy D
My axle also snapped in half on my 2001 Windstar. I had my 14 year old son with me. I was driving 55 mph during rush hour traffic. I did hear a quiet clunking sound once in a while but couldn’t figure out what it was. The axle broke clear through and as a result, my emergency brake, my brakes, my tires and other miscellaneous parts all were destroyed. I had to pay $150 to have it towed off the highway. I was without my car for 3 weeks. My insurance would not pay for the repair calining it was “normal wear and tear”. I am out $1850 in repairs. Ford told me that they would cover the repair of the axle and I had my car inspected at a Ford dealership. Now I am waiting for a decision from Ford as to what they will cover. I have been approaching every Ford Windstar owner since this happens and have begged them to get it inspected. I lost all control of my car and don’t know how I even survived. Don’t wait. Get your axle inspected now. I live in the Northeast.
f aiossa
my 2002 windstar sits atr the ford dealer, rear axle broken!!! Was just informed by the dealer that the part will not be available until sometime during the 1st quarter of 2011, perhaps not until march, 2011!!!! WTF??? i’m waiting to hear about a rental, but since i cancelled all my credit cards, i dont know how this will turn out. ( all rental co.s require a credit card to rent vehicle.) also ford claims they will pay for rental fee only, not applicable sales tax or fees!!! This could be a substantial amount that i will have to bear, considering the long time frame involved!!! Still waiting for answers!!
Bruce
Our 1999 WINDSTAR has been looked at by a Ford dealership and they told me they would not let me take the vehicle home because of the broken(cracked) rear axle. We were offered the $2600 hush money and told we had 24 hrs to accept or decline the offer….they have rented a car for us for now. We went to the dealership the night of the offer because they said they would “take care of us”. Well we were taken “care of” all right just like any other walk-in off the road, nothing special at all. I guess because the dealerships are independently owned they don’t feel they need to take on the burden of these problems. Ford Corp. has yet to inform us of the recall even. We are contacting our states attorney general and also the dept of consumer protection, this deserves the same publicity as the Toyota issue….what are they waiting for? I suppose once the accidents start to get reported and people are hurt or loose thier lives Ford Corp. will take notice and it won’t be $2600 to settle those claims.
melba
About 4 weeks ago I was driving down rt 28 in pittsburg pa. I thought I had a flat tire but here my rear axle broke going 65 . We sat along the busy two lane for three n half hours until triple aaa came. It was raining n my battery died so I couldn’t put my window up. The tow truck driver told me about maybe there might be a recall. Sure enough there was n I still have a rental since September 17. They r telling me 60 days or more. R
Lynn
In May of this year, we were also hearing a clunk in the rear end of our 2000 windstar. Luckily, my husband noticed that the rear axle was about to rust through. We paid $500 to get it reinforced and have driven it 10,000 miles since then. I still haven’t received a recall notice but when I called my dealer about getting a refund he insisted on taking my van since for liabilities sake they can’t trust someone else’s repair. They don’t think they will have replacement axles til January but I have a free rental until then and they say Ford should refund my $500. We’ll see.
Helen
We live outside of Chicago and the same thing happened to us. I had been driving the car on the expressway prior to the day when it snapped in half and noticed the car swaying everytime I went over a bump. Just thought I was unused to driving the car because I had just driven a rental car for a week while on vacation. Then went out on Route 12 a busy highway it felt like the rear just fell off. Managed to pull to the side and got it towed to the Ford dealership. I had read about the recall on Aug 27 and this happened on the 29th. They offered to buy back the car for $2600 but I put in over $2600 in repair to keep my car in running safely (replaced the bracket that holds the engine b/c that was rusted also. I am in a rental car paying $5 a day in fees till Ford fixes the problem.
Joy
We live in the Chicago area and have a 2000 Windstar with 85K miles. My husband was driving home from work at 1 am on interstate 55 when the axle broke with no warning! Thankfully he was in a construction zone and was only going 45 mph. He was able to get off the road, but sat on the interstate until 5:30 am! Our van now sits at the dealer while we drive a rental. So thankful he wasn’t hurt! This happened at the beginning of September! How is it that Ford knew about this problem earlier this year, and has yet to send out recall letters! Our van was garage kept and in very good condition! Just don’t get how this happens and Ford still has no answers. We were told they have no idea what is going to happen, as they do not have parts to fix the van or deal with the recalls. Seriously???? Why isn’t the government cracking down on Ford like they did Toyota earlier in the year?
Jo'el
Wow! I never participate in internet conversations, but I could not let this go. I was driving my 2002 Ford Windstar for several days and realized that everytime I drove over a bump in the road or a pothole, the rear of my car would bounce and slide to the opposite side. At first I brushed it off as concindence, then while driving yesterday the bumping worsened. I immediately drove the car home very slowy and after parking the car, I noticed that my left wheel was saggin in towards my brake pads. I thought to myself is this real? I bent down to touch the back side of the wheel and could barely get my fingers through because the entire wheel was pressed against the axle area. I called my local mechanic frantic! and he stated that Ford had just issued a recall relative to that issue. I pray that they fix this issue. My hope in American made cars was just being restored. I want so much to believe in the product I’ve worked so hard to keep. Looking forward to Ford’s comments.
Dave
Same story here…on my way into work this past Tuesday morning (day after Labor Day) my van started making strange noises and smoking when I pulled up to a red light. Thank God I was blocks away from my work as when I pulled in the lot and parked it, I noticed I had a flat tire and the wheels looked funny. Sure enough, upon getting down and looking, the axil on the left rear side cracked causing my wheels to bow outward. Talk about a first and the anxiety that goes along with it as I’m a single father with two kids and so thankful this didn’t happen on an interstate or I probably wouldn’t be writing this. Thankfully, the Ford dealership I’ve dealt with for years took the vehicle after I got a tow from AAA and set me up with a rental car (Chrysler Towne & Country van) that they are paying for…only kicker is, they were telling me that since this recall is so new, that they have no clue how long it will be until it is fixed. I really liked my Windstar, very reliable vehicle, sad to see this happen.
Lynne
This morning my husband began to back out of the driveway and heard a loud noise, our rear axel broke. Called AAA to haul it to the Ford dealer. The dealer has no parts, said don’t know if they will get new parts, we may just have to buy a new car. He was fortunate this didn’t happen yesterday on I-71 going 60mph. I sure hope Ford is going to give us some decent money towards a new car, we hadn’t planned on buying a new car, our van only has 70,000 and should have been good for many years yet..
Brigitte
Same thing happened to us on Christmas morning coming back home as we got on the highway. Thought it was icy so left the highway for another road. Thank God my family was not injured of killed. But we were stuck at our relatives and had to borrow a car so we could come back home for work. Ford told us it would cost us aprrox. $2000.00 to repair. Good thing I had a good brother in law who found the piece and repaired it for us. we are also traumatized.
Bridgette
Yesterday on way home from funeral with 3 children in van my rear axle snapped in 2 on I-80 @65 mph In Altona, Iowa, stranding us on the side of the Interstate waiting for a vehicle to slam into us until help came. Had I known about the defect sooner, I would not have driven it. I had no warning. We could have been killed. I mirraculously cut across 3 lanes of traffic to the shoulder. My van is now sitting in the junk yard too!. I will never drive it again, even if it gets fixed. We were almost killed! My little girls, my nephew and my brother because Ford decided not to send out recall notices until Sept 27, 2010. Who will be next? God took the wheel this time! We ar traumatized.
george
There’s clunking in rear end i like to no what that is. thank you.
kathleen
had i know this three weeks ago about a recall on ford windstar van, i would still have my van. do to the fact that my rear axle broke in half on me while i was driving it, i could not find a part for it so i had to scrap my van. thanks alot ford dealer. i am without a vehicle and can’t transport my three children anywhere. we have to walk.
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