1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A REAR AXLE INSPECTION FOR RECALL 10V385000 (SUSPENSION: REAR: AXLE: NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY), THE DEALER DETECTED THAT THE FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND WOULD RESULT IN THE DETACHMENT OF THE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. UPDATED 02/23/11 *BF UPDATED 03/09/11

1999 FORD WINDSTAR : ENGINE CRADLE CRACKING AND HAS FRACTURED AWAY FROM MOTOR MOUNT. *LN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL 10V385000, SUSPENSION REAR AXLE NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY SHOULD INCLUDE THE STATE OF NEBRASKA. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES AT THIS TIME; HOWEVER, HE WAS CONCERNED SINCE NEBRASKA ALSO HAD SNOW AND SALT ON THE ROADS WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY CRACK THE AXLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY TURNING LEFT . THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LEFT UNTIL MORE THAN USUAL FORCE WAS APPLIED TO TURN THE WHEEL ,WHICH AT THE TIME THE WHEEL DID TURN A DULL THUD WAS AUDIBLE. THIS ACTION OCCURRED TWICE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN CITY TRAFFIC. THE VISUAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED A LARGE AREA OF THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. APPROXIMATELY AN AREA 4' X 8' WAS GONE WITH SOME EVIDENCE OF METAL TEARING/FATIGUE. *LN

AT THE END OF NOVEMBER I NOTICE A LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING OF MY 99 FORD WINDSTAR. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME AND IN THE DRIVEWAY. I LOOKED AT THE FRONT -END AND NOTICED A RUSTED AND CRACKED FRONT FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD REPLACED THE CRACKED AXLE MY SELF IT COST ME $874.27 I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM FORD ON THIS YET. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS A NOT IN GOOD SHAPE AT ALL. IT ONLY HAS JUST UNDER 90,000 MILES. AND HAS HAD A NEW INTAKE PUT ON WHICH IS PLASTIC AND NOW THE ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH. ALSO IT HAS TROUBLE WITH THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. THIS CAR HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A LOUSY CAR. *TR

FRONT SUB-FRAME CORROSION ON PASSENGER SIDE NEAR MOUNT RESULTING IN COMPLETE BREAK. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE SUB-FRAME, THE FRAME OR UNDERBODY. SYMPTOM WAS LOUD CLANKING FROM FRONT-RIGHT AND "JERKING" SENSATION ON SOME TURNS, ACCELERATION. DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING, SO BROUGHT TO NTB FOR EXAMINATION (THINKING IT WAS A BALLJOINT, ETC.) TECHNICIANS INVITED ME TO INVESTIGATE UNDER THE LIFT AS THEY WERE INCREDULOUS OF SUCH A SEVERE BREAK AMIDST AN OTHERWISE RUST-FREE SUB-FRAME.*TR

HI I JUST SAW THAT YOU WERE INVESTIGATING WINDSTAR RUST ISSUES. TWO YEARS AGO, IN 2008, OUR 1999 WINDSTAR STARTING MAKING WEIRD NOISES WHEN I WENT OVER CURBS OR TURNED THE WHEEL. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE FRONT FRAME AND AXLE HAD RUSTED. IT WAS A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. THEY SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I DID NOT WISH TO FIX IT (SINCE IT WOULD COST AS MUCH TO FIX AS THE VAN WAS WORTH) AND THEY SAID IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND DID NOT RECOMMEND I LEAVE WITHOUT FIXING IT. SO WE TRADED IT IN (EXPLAINING FULLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT) WHEN WE PURCHASED A VAN FROM THE HONDA DEALERSHIP DOWN THE ROAD. I JUST SAW THAT YOU WERE INVESTIGATING RUST ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH WINDSTARS AND THOUGHT I WOULD PASS THIS INFO ALONG. THANKS *TR

NOISE ON MINIVAN HUSBAND LOOKED FOR REASON AND FOUND AXLE CRACKED, WENT AND REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER USED WINDSTAR AXLE AND PAID FOR IT.*TR

99 FORD WINDSTAR, SCDS SWITCH REPLACED,NO BRAKE LIGHTS, CANT GET SHIFTER OUT OF PARK, BLOWER WONT SHUT OFF WITH KEY REMOVED, HEADLIGHTS COME ON WHEN YOU SHUT THE DOOR WITH KEY REMOVED AND SWITCH OFF. NO SPEEDOMETER OR TACH. *TR

1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX FRONT SUB-FRAME RUSTED OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE. THIS SECTION OF THE SUB-FRAME IS ALWAYS WET WHEN THE AIR-CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON IN THE SUMMER AND THE CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR-CONDITIONER LEAKS ONTO THE SUBFRAME AT THIS SPECIFIC AREA, AND IN THE WINTER SALT IS CAUSING SUB-FRAME TO RUST OUT AND BREAK AT THIS SPECIFIC AREA. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR