12 problems related to structure have been reported for the 1999 Ford Windstar. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Tl. Steering problem 1999 Ford Windstar comments: dear NHTSA, I have a vechicle safty concern probable loss of steering control on Ford Windstars 1999-200? below is a responce I recieved from Ford, concerning the probelm at the bottom is the detailed concern with a motor mount support plate that is rusting out on theses vechicle. The motor and front end suspension and steering is involved. This is a time bomb, the engine will drop down and you will loose steering control, most likly causing afatal accident. The repair cost in most cases will be an amount more than the value of the vechicle rust is an acceptable probability, but it should not occur in areas concerning steering. Contact wanted to use the complaint he sent in as a email. Jo.
Fractured subframe passenger side. Hard to turn right. Steering wheel off set.
Engine sub-frame rotting away.
Our 99 Ford Windstar that we purchased, broke its rear bar yesterday. However, we purchased it used from luther family Ford in north dakota, they told us that our Windstar had spent most of its life up north in ohio, minnesota etc. I looked at the Ford Windstars under body yesterday and you can easily tell that it has been corroded all along the underbody from the salt. Where the rear bar broke you can see rust and salt corrosion very easily, not to mention that the spare tire is completely rusted over from the salt. My wife and I have taken very good care of our vehicle, and have never driven anywhere it is not supposed to and yesterday she pulled out a parking spot and she heard a thud, and then a scraping sound. She called me and I came out and looked at it. I noticed that all across the rear bar area there is a large quantity of rust and where it broke you can see a build up of rust from salt. Mainly due to it spending most of its life up north. We did speak to Ford, and they mentioned that our rear bar snapped in two, and it was from rust and salt that weakened it to the point of breaking. They however state its not on the list so they will not do anything. We even double checked with luther family Ford, and they told us ours was manufactured in one of the plants that did have problems. So even though Ford states that it is not one of the vehicles with the problem, I believe there may be a larger underlying amount that they would rather not have to deal with. We had our vehicle towed to our house where are waiting to hear more about this recall to see if any other ones are among them.
Was driving my 99 Windstar south bound at about 70 mph on the garden state parkway and had thought that a tire went flat almost lost control tried to pull left but the van was still going right and almost spun me around and almost collided with three other cars,upon pulling over heard noises coming from rear. Looked underneath and the axle was broken in half. Had to wait over an hour for a tow just to get off the road and then wait for another tow from there. I drive 200 hundred miles daily 5 days a week. It was many only vehicle too.
Front cross member on passenger side was discovered to be cracked which could have failed and caused serious injury. Mechanic told me that vehicle was not to be driven unless it could be repaired or replaced. I was able to have a welding specialist repair the crack.
The front frame near the right wheel of my 1999 Ford Windstar has rusted to the point where I have been advised by the Ford dealership repair department not to safely drive the vehicle. I have read where there have been 900,000 complaints about this which may result in an recall. The vehicle has only 77000 mile on it and is otherwise in good condition and now is useless unless repaired. I am adding to the complaint list!.
I was backing my 1999 Ford Windstar van out of the driveway at 3:45 p. M. On a clear day, Sunday June 20, 2010, when, without warning, the rear "axle" broke in half and collapsed. The wheels tilted in. Results on a highway would have been disastrous or deadly. Ford shows no recall for this issue, but numerous reports are online of the same problem for the same vehicle models of several model years. No repair report yet, as this just happened a day before this report. I haven't.
While driving 65 mph on route 81, the car started reacting to bumps more severely than usual, and then there was a sharp noise at the rear of the car. After parking the car on the shoulder of the highway, we saw that the rear axle had broken, basically down the middle. The repairing of the car cost $960. 12.
I was driving about 25 miles per hour and my real axel broke in half.
Recent news reports have lead me to believe that I am not alone with the following problem: the rear axel of my 1999 Ford Windstar broke in half while I was driving onto I-93, north of boston, on December 5, 2009. Fortunately the vehicle skidded to a stop on the on ramp just before merging with fast moving traffic. The Windstar was towed to a garage, then donated to charity on December 7, 2009. Two people were in the van, however, there were no injuries as a result of the structural failure.
Power operated sliding door made a very loud grinding noise, then unexpectedly opened, cause is unknown.