1998 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

MY 98 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE SPLIT IN TWO PULLING INTO MY WORK . I HAD NOTICED A NOISE FROM THE BACK A FEW DAYS BEFORE. I JUST PUT NEW TIRES ON THE VAN AND NOTICED WHILE A FELLOW EMPLOYEE WAS WELDING MY AXLE SO I COULD GET HOME THAT THE INSIDES OF MY NEW TIRES WERE WORE DOWN ALREADY .I CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW AXLE NOW AND I HAVE KIDS .I'M ALSO AWARE THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST WINDSTAR TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM I'M GLAD I WAS NOT GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY AND THAT HAPPEN. THIS IS A FORD PROBLEM AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FIX A STEEL AXLE BECAUSE WATER GETS IN IT AND IT RUSTS IT SHOULD OF BEEN PUT TOGETHER SO WATER CANT GET IN IT. THANK U PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS. *TR

ON JULY 3, 2010, I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN WITH MY FAMILY. WHILE WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO CHANGE, WE OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VAN. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE UNTIL FLAMES APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS SUMMONED BUT THE VAN WAS EVENTUALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD PUT OUT THE FIRE. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, THE VAN WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGES WERE NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY MALFUNCTION. *TR

MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR GL REAR AXLE BROKE IN TWO WITH NO PRIOR WARNING SUCH AS NOISE, HANDLING PROBLEMS OR VIBRATION. BEING ONLY 12 MILES FROM HOME I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VERY SLOWLY UNTIL WE GOT HOME. BY THE TIME WE GOT TO OUR DRIVEWAY WE HAD ALSO LOST ALMOST ALL BRAKE PEDAL. THE FOLLOWING DAY I RAISED THE REAR OF THE VAN AND FOUND THE CRACK IN THE REAR AXLE ABOUT 18 INCHES FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE, AND THE ABNORMAL MOVEMENT AFTER THE BREAK HAD CAUSED THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR TIRES TO SEPARATE. TOTAL REPLACEMENT COST SO FAR HAS BEEN 500.00 DOLLARS AND I DID ALL WORK MYSELF. I HAVE NOT YET FINISHED THE BRAKE LINES AND SHOCKS WHICH WILL BE EVEN MORE COSTS. I KEPT THE AXLE AND WILL BE GLAD TO SUBMIT IT FOR TESTING AND/OR SEND PHOTOS IF REQUESTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WAGON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD, ABNORMAL BANG. HE STATED HE PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD FRACTURED IN HALF ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WEATHER, ROAD CONDITIONS OR MOISTURE IN THE AREA. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,576.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING INTO A DRIVEWAY, THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,948 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,200.

1998 FORD WINDSTAR'S REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. NO APPARENT REASON FOR FAILURE. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE FAILURE IS THE LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO DRIVE OR HANDLE THE CAR. AXLE SNAPPED COMPLETELY INTO TWO PIECES AND DRAGGED AGAINST ROAD. REAR WHEELS WERE AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE ROAD. REAR AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

CAR STARTS OUT NORMALLY. CAR SOMETIMES SUDDENLY HAS A LONGER BRAKING DISTANCE THAN NORMAL AND BRAKING IS JERKY. "TRAC ON" ENGAGES FOR A FEW SECONDS AND TRACTION IS JERKY. AFTER THAT ABS LIGHT REMAINS ON AND "TRAC OFF " LIGHT IS FLASHING. IT ONLY HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. I AM PLANNING TO TAKE IT TO FORD TO CORRECT ABS LIGHT. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR AND JUST NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAS CRACKED. AS I CHECKED ONLINE I NOTICED THAT THIS WAS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR 1999 - 2007 WINDSTARS, AND I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD ADD MY 1998 MODEL TO THE LIST. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE 98 MODELS INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. *TR

MY WIFE CALLED ME AT WORK TODAY BECAUSE SHE WAS STRANDED ALONG THE ROAD. WHEN I GOT THERE WHAT I FOUND WAS A MAJOR SURPRISE. THE REAR AXLE OF OUT 1998 FORD WINDSTAR HAD BROKE IN 2 AND WAS LYING ON THE GROUND. SHE SAID THAT EARLIER SHE HAD HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND STOPPED TO CHECK TO SEE IF SHE HAD A FLAT TIRE BECAUSE THE STEERING FELT WEIRD. NOT SEEING AN FLAT TIRES SHE DECIDED TO DRIVE HOME SEEING THAT SHE WAS ONLY A MILE FROM HOME. ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY HOME SHE MADE A TURN ONTO OUR ROAD AND THERE WAS A LOAD NOISE AND SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO EASILY CONTROL THE VAN AND ENDED UP ON THE BANK OF A NEIGHBORS YARD. HALF THE CAR ON THE BANK AND THE OTHER HALF ON THE ROAD. I HAVE CONTACT FORD VIA EMAIL AND I AM WAITING FOR A REPLY. I AM TRYING TO DECIDE IF I SHOULD FIX THE MINIVAN OR PURCHASE A NEW AUTOMOBILE. AN AXLE SNAPPING IN 2 IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD EVER HAPPEN UNLESS THE AUTOMOBILE IS IN AN ACCIDENT. IF MY WIFE AND 3 KIDS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE AND PROBABLY DEADLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED ABOUT 12 INCHES LEFT OF THE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE EXAMINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000. UPDATED 10/28/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE A PLATE WAS WELDED TO THE AXLE WHICH WAS A TEMPORARY FIX SO HE COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. UPDATED 10/28/10*JB