2003 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

WHEN TRAVELING 15 MPH ON BRICK ROAD I PRESSED BRAKES TO STOP THEN LOUD NOISE AND CAR STILL ROLLED FORWARD - SCARY AND UNSAFE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS - THE ABS LIGHT IS ON IN MY VEHICLE

THE PARK AND BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, LOOKED UP AND IT SAID THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING LIKE IT SHOULD. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING IN CITY , HIGHWAYS, NOT MOVING.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 60 MPH CHANGING LANES TO THE RIGHT I COULD HEAR TIRES SQUEALING AND THE VAN FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER TO THE LEFT. I REGAINED CONTROL, THEN I HEARD SOME CREAKING METAL NOISE, THEN I HEARD A RUBBING NOISE AND SAW A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND INSPECT, WHAT I FOUND WAS THE REAR AXLE WAS BROKEN AND DRIVER SIDE TIRE RUBBING INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO PULL OVER, OTHERWISE TO CONTINUE DRIVING COULD RUPTURE THE TIRE AND/OR I WOULD BE LEFT STRANDED IN HIGHWAY SPEED TRAFFIC.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A POP SOUND AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS BENDING INWARDS DUE TO RUST OR CORROSION, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO SHRED AND DEFLATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GERMAIN FORD OF BEAVERCREEK (2356 HELLER DR, BEAVERCREEK, OH 45434, (937) 429-1300) WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS INSTALLED CORRECTLY; HOWEVER, THE RECALL STATED OTHERWISE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL WITH A FREE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

VEHICLE IN MOTION WITH FAMILY 70-75MPH ON INTERSTATE. REAR LEFT TIRE BEGAN RUBBING THE INSIDE WHEEL WELL. PULLED OFF FROM INTERSTATE TO A NEARBY EXIT. JACKED VAN IN A PARKING LOT TO SEE REAR LEFT SUBFRAME (AXLE) HAD FRACTURED. BRACKET INSTALLED BY FORD PER REAR SUBFRAME/AXLE RECALL HAD FAILED - MISSING FASTENERS - RUSTED AWAY. LUCKILY FAMILY IS ALIVE, BUT VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND PRESENTLY IN GARAGE. WILL FORD REPAIR IT OR BUY IT BACK?

WHILE DRIVING, I MADE A LEFT-HAND TURN, AND THE REAR AXLE CRACKED IN HALF ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A CLUNKING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE SUBFRAME AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME MOUNTS SEPARATED DUE TO RUSTING. THE CAUSE OF THE RUST WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. TOYCEN FORD (1000 CHIPPEWA CROSSING BLVD, CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL AND REAR WHEEL CANTED INWARD AND RUBBING ON WHEEL WELL. REAR AXLE WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED IN HALF ON ONE SIDE AND 3/4 ON THE OTHER SIDE. THIS IS 2 YRS AFTER THE FORD RECALL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT SWERVED OFF THE ROAD. THE REAR TWO WHEELS WOBBLED AND SHIFTED THE TIRES OUT OF PLACE. THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN IT CAME TO A HALT ON THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS WORN. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OLATHE FORD(205 S FIR ST, OLATHE, KS) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. *BF *JB