FORD Windstar Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over on the side of the road and had the vehicle towed. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the rear driver’s side axle had fractured. The axle was replaced. On another occasion while driving 20 MPH over railroad tracks, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact parked the vehicle and noticed that the rear driver’s side axle had fractured. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who confirmed that the rear driver’s side axle had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 139,619.

Rear Axle . Fell on the highway split in half while I was driving on a state Hwy 71 at 45 mph. Cracked rear axle. 2002 Ford Windstar part of a recall for Rear axle. No warning was given and didn't know about the recall until after it happened. Inspection was preformed by a mechanic. I could have flipped or rolled or caused a major collision as this highway is very heavily traveled.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic to replace the water pump, the mechanic determined that the rear axle was cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the previous owner had the vehicle serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V385000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle and drove off the side of the roadway. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic who discovered that the rear axle had fractured due to severe rust. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 125,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V385000 (Suspension) and 11V030000 (Structure) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the subframe was severely corroded. The failure mileage 59,839.

The gauges are acting crazy which causes the engine to jerk or the transmission and then it starts making the lights flicker in the interior and the gauges start sticking. It seems to make the overflow on the radiator to empty more because it is causing the sensors in the electrical for the parts to go crazy and run hot. Sometimes it only does it every so often but after getting the reserve hose on the power steering that connects to the reservoir to the coolant the battery was drained. Then going after getting it charged down the highway it caused the interior lights radio and seat and turn signals not to work when coming to a complete stop and it was idling the dashboard and all the lights were coming back on once given a guess it winded up not working again causing the battery to become hot or warm and acid you can smell in the air like rotten eggs. It is causing the overflow tank of the radiator to evaporate more or come out quicker and it is causing other component parts to react strangely which I'm afraid will cause a fire in the vehicle and the idling is not correct also on it now

The driver and passenger side sliding doors tend to not open or close correctly sometimes you have to manually pull them open or they do not completely close and you have to bump the back end of it to close right

The rear axle of my 2002 Ford Windstar completely fractured while traveling on Interstate 75. The rear axle broke while driving about 60 miles per hour on Interstate 75 in Florida. By the grace of GOD my passenger and I survived. In attempting to stop, the van hit the guard rail on the Highway. I was able to keep the van in the right lane. The van gave us NO warning. While waiting for the AAA tow truck, a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT} patrol vehicle stop to ensure we were alright. The FDOT driver inspected the Windstar, took pictures and stated he has never seen a broken rear axle like that before.

My tire starting making a whistle screech sound and a sway and I look under my tire is crooked and my axel beam was cracked. Thankfully my kids were not with me and no one was hurt

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle experienced severe vibration when the rear axle fractured causing the driver to almost lose control of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA campaign number 12V194000 (Suspension). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 185,000.

Broken rear axle on the van. The axle has broken where the reinforcements were welded in from the recall in 2010. NHTSA action number is PE10016. So, the corrective action did not work and now I have broken axle as a result. The axle broke while driving the van and we were very fortunate to be driving at a slow rate of speed.

THE REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. PRIOR TO BREAKING THE AXLE LOOKED TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. UPON LOOKING IT UP FORD HAD PREVIOUSLY RECALLED THIS PART FOR THAT SPECIFIC REASON. I CALLED FORD AFTER THIS HAPPENED AND THE INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL CURRENTLY. WHEN I CALLED THE PARTS DEPARTMENT TO ORDER A REPLACMENT AXLE I WAS INFORMED BY THE PARTS COUNTER THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF THESE FAILING IN THE SAME WAY RECENTLY. THIS IS A PACITULARLY DANGEROUS ISSUSE BEACUS IT LOOKS FINE FROM THE OUTSIDE UNTILL IT GIVES UP AND THE VAN IS NOT RUSTY IN GENERAL ANYWAY

REAR AXLE CRACKED THROUGH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, EVEN AFTER A RECALL PATCH/REPAIR WAS MADE. NO COLLISIONS, NO HARD DRIVING. NOT A CORROSION ISSUE. METAL IS CRACKED PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXLE..ACROSS THE GRAIN. AXLE WAS HEARD TO MAKE NOISE WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, THEN VEHICLE FELT FISH-TAILING WHILE DRIVE DOWN PAVED NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. TURNING TO THE RIGHT MADE NOTICEABLE GRINDING NOISES FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL. ON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE REAR WHEELS WERE SEVERELY TILTED IN AT THE TOP, AND THE AXLE WAS CLEARLY, OBVIOUSLY VERY CRACKED OPEN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND APPEARS READY TO BREAK INTO 2 HALVES. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN 2010 FOR AXLE DEFECTS, BUT THE REPAIRS MADE SEEM INADEQUATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEALERSHIP MAINTAINED.