general problems of the 2002 Ford Windstar

While driving on x way appox. 60 mph, noticed smoke emitting from rear of car and begin hearing a clicking sound. As I was pulling car over to side the right rear tire suddenly deflated. Tow truck was called, upon loading of vehicle on bed of truck was able to see rear axle in the middle toward passenger side had rusted thru right in the middle of a bracket Ford had installed in 2011 due to a recall. Was informed that in 2015-16 Ford did another recall on the bracket not being improperly installed. As showed in the attached photo there is only one bracket installed, my understanding there should be two. But even then that does not resolved the rust problem, it just holds the axle when it does break or corrode thru.

Tl- the contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph a loud noise was present coming from the rear of the vehicle. After stopping the vehicle it was discovered that both rear wheels were angled inward inside the wheel well. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear axle had fractured. The cause of the failure was not determined and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was previously serviced in 2012 under the NHTSA recall campaign number 12v193000(power train) to prevent the failure from occurring. The local dealer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 150,000. Jft.

The rear axle broke at 45mph blowing out both rear tires thankgod we wern't hurt and had no cars behind us seen recall online called Ford but was told the van was not part of recall was purchased in mi new and has u design axle.

Tl-the contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that they were driving at 45 mph. The contatc stated that the tire warning light illuminated. Smoke emerged from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not towed. The contact called lilliston Ford at (888) 397-9172833 n delsea dr, vineland, NJ 08360. They told the contact that the problem could not be fixed. The vehicle did not get diagnosed. The manufacture was not notified. The failre mileage was 72,000. Jw.

On Saturday morning July 15th 2017, I was driving at 2:30 am. I had just left for my first job and crossed a set of train tracks. When I did, the rear axle snapped almost causing me to crash. After looking for the cost to replace the axle, I came upon a Ford recall. When I placed my VIN in the computer it came up that my 2002 Ford Windstar was in fact included in the recall. I talked to someone at Ford via live chat on Saturday after having the vehicle towed home and they stated that the recall was outstanding and I needed to call the Ford dealership. I paid again to have the vehicle towed to the dealership. Now Tuesday morning July 18th 2017, both the dealership and Ford is saying that they cant help me and I need to take care of replacing the completely rusted rear axle. The rust causing the axle to snap was the reason for the recall in the first place. I have owned this vehicle less than 6 months and now as a single mom am left without a vehicle. I will never buy another Ford again in my life and I will also discourage my friends and family from purchasing Fords as well.

2002 Windstar recall I was driving down the road one day to find out all off all the shifters but neutral the van suddenly had stopped going we could not go in drive reverse or anything find out stuck in middle of intersection with cars coming our way this problem is still unknown.

Rear axle reinforcement brackets were installed in my Ford Windstar under safety recall 10s13, by an authorized Ford (dealer's) repair shop in 2011. I was told by the Ford repair shop that "brackets" were the only type of repair Ford authorized them to do under that recall notice. I recently received another rear axle recall notice, 15s27, that said repair brackets improperly installed under the prior recall, may result in a rear axle beam fracture. The recall notice said if axle replacement was necessary, Ford would replace it free of charge. When I took my car back to the same Ford repair shop, the service manager said that the rear axle was indeed cracked and needs to be replaced. He also said that Ford is refusing to replace it free of charge and requires a copay of $300. I called Ford customer service and was told the same thing. I believe the "band aide" repair originally authorized by Ford under the first rear axle recall, was insufficient to prevent stress points in their defective rear axle from causing a subsequent fracture that no amount of preventative maintenance could deter. I believe the second axle recall notice indicates that Ford has placed the public in jeopardy with "cheap fixes" to defective parts. However, instead of ethically replacing the axle, Ford now seems to be cutting their losses by offering a "discounted" axel replacement (only) at one of their affiliated shops. Because a rear axle can cost about $1000 to replace, Ford's "discount" effectively steers the business of customers who need this repair into Ford's controlled business environment. We are left with no choice but to pay Ford again, to correct their error and keep us safe. Please call me at 609-440-9730 car is currently at lucas Ford, burlington NJ.

I am writing before I encounter a serious problem on the road. While in for state vehicle inspection, my mechanic noted that the rear axle "repair" (a reinforcement bracket) on my 2002 Windstar van is failing. It can look ok on the lift, but once weight is put on the axle, the seriousness of the cracking is apparent. The repair was made by a Ford dealership in 2011 under recall 10s13. I already spoke with Ford customer service, and they say there is nothing they can do because the recall was completed. I am now waiting to see if the dealership that made the repair can help to correct the problem they (Ford) have acknowledged exists, but without an adequate fix to date.

My 2002 Windstar had the axle crack just under the recall repair sleeve the driver's side about a month ago. I brought it to the Ford dealer who confirmed it was cracked and got the same response as the others. Ford warrantied the repair for 12 months. I had the repairs done during the recall brackets were added to reinforce the axle. I called 1-8003923673 (Ford company) from direction from the local dealership. It appears that Ford put a band-aid on the problem and gave a 12 month warranty on it. That's ridiculous! it is obvious that they did not do an adequate assessment on these axles when they made the repair/replace decision. They knew about the axle problems in 1998. Stated in internal memo in 1999 that heat treating could double the axle life. It's shameful what they knew and what they ignored. I was told that since the recall repair was done over 12 months ago that it would not be covered. I being the only owner it should be a way to have this problem fix by Ford. I guess, I have not more choice to do the repair paying out of my pocket (not a chip repair) and to keep the receipt in case they expanded the recall. I also found out to go to NHTSA. Gov to file a complaint. They will not expand the recall unless enough complaints are noted. Calling to the dealership is not enough. You have to call Ford CO. 1-800-3923673 and visit NHTSA. Gov before it is officially noted.

Total sudden loss of steering the car went off the road totally out of control. No notification of recall subframe collapse. Entire steering parts destroyed and coolant leaked from engine this is incredible that no one was injured I was about to get on the highway!!!.

I tool my 2002 Ford Windstar in for inspection of the rear axle and brackets were put in place. On March 9, the rear axle broke. Luckily it was as I was pulling into a parking spot at work. Ford is aware they have a manufactured defective part on these Windstars and yet after the bracket is place they refuse to replace the axle after is rust and breaks anyway. Ford deems it fixed. However, I disagree. They are putting the safety of thousands of people at risk. They should accept responsibility and repair the parts. Extremely unhappy. I have been calling Ford for 2 weeks and can not get a supervisor to return my call. It's ridiculous.

After driving down a major highway north of boston, MA (128/95 north) my wife and I, first heard scraping noise that became louder and began smell like burning rubber/brakes. The car lurched across the roadway/highway and we swerved and almost sideswiped car in the adjacent lane. We were in the process of exiting the highway on the off ramp to my work at rte 28 south stoneham/wakefield. We were able to pull over, gather our thoughts and continue to a gulf station on rte 28 in stoneham, MA. The gulf station mechanic/manager said he had never seen anything like it, a rear axle literally splitting in half. After viewing the rear broken axle and looking at the condition of the front right end and the overall condition of the sub frame they politely and forgivenly said they have rarely seen such a thing (cracked/separated rear axle and went on to say they have only seen this in Ford Windstars and went on to talk about a local women whose Ford Windstar lost control on the highway at 60 mph with her 3 children and were scared to death and in conclusion would not touch the vehicle and warned that the vehicle was beyond safe driving and repair. They were shocked that although there was some kind of brace on the axle in two places that the axle had snapped in two at the reinforcement and said even without the reinforcement on the rear axle they have never seen a rear axle split in two and compounded with the fact that it actually had a reinforcement bracket fail. Reiterating axles and sub frames are not wear and tear parts and in fact had never seen broken rear axles and sub frames crack and break and corroded to this extent. Their reaction was of disturbing to say the least. They said broken axles just don,t happen and with added reinforcement it was "beyond belief" they had broken in half.

Our 2002 Ford Windstar's axle fractured, as described in NHTSA campaign id number 12v193000. The dealership had installed brackets in 2012, and respond that we are outside the twelve month coverage window on this work, and decline to do anything else for us. Can we be sure of the state of the axle on inspection in 2012? I think that since the axle fractured, they cannot assume they have no liability, or that their choice to install brackets instead of replacing the axle was sufficient.

Driven heard a snap stop and look it was rear axel cracked.

Driving onto the expressway via service ramp I felt the van shift to the right as I was about to enter the freeway. Lane I was about to merge onto was to my left. Seemed as if something were terribly wrong. I continued driving, but cautiously. Drove the vehicle for the next week, yet not very frequently. The following Friday, I went to get an oil change and the serviceman noticed that my back driver's side wheel was tilted inward and then said the right side rear wheel was too, just not as much as the left side. He proceeded to tell me that my axle looked cracked and that my shock was totally corroded and stuck. The next day, I took the van to our trusted mechanic, who inspected the van. He said that my rear axle was totally corroded and cracked underneath the "band-aid" bracket that the Ford dealership in imlay city, mi had put there when I had originally had taken the van in for the rear axle recall back on 2/11/11. He said to contact them about it. I contacted the service manager named nick on 11/11/13. I spoke to him briefly and explained that the rear axle was cracked. He said he would make some calls and get back to me. He never did. I attempted throughout that day to get a hold of him, he never called me back. Later my husband tried to call him. Instead a woman answered and said she worked in warranty division. She stated we call Ford customer complaint ctr. We called there and spoke to a man named austin. He said a decision would be made by Friday, 11/15/13 and that service manager in imlay city or regional manager would call us. No one did. We attempted to call dealer 11/15/13. For over an hour all lines were busy. We then called customer complaint center for Ford. We were informed that their records showed that dealer called us 11/12/13 with decision to not help. That is completely false! no one called us regarding the matter, period!.

2002 Ford Windstar axle repair failed. Golf mill Ford in niles, IL repaired my Ford Windstar in late 2010 after inspecting it. Golf mill decided to patch and not replace the axle. On July 6 the tire kicked out and started to slide in patch bracket. I called Ford and they instructed me to take to original dealer who done repaired and to keep all receipts for work done for possible reimbursement. Dealer looked at axle and said they have had similar field problems and Ford has been replacing the axle and repaired had internal code stating they axle repair did not "expire". When the repair request was submitted to Ford for authorization, Ford declined. The service manager was shocked and I was told that Ford said the program was declined for the program met its obligation and I was told to keep the receipt for it would be necessary for future reimbursements. Golf mill Ford in niles, IL made the repair and "good deal" labor rate to assist in the bill and for this I thank them. However, I am shocked the Ford is aware of field failures in a poorly designed field fix and has chosen not to properly remedy the first attempt at a fix. I have pictures if necessary!.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, he felt something break near the rear of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed that the rear axle was broken. The contact notified the dealer and they stated that the VIN was not included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 12v193000 (power train:axle assembly). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 178,000.

The antilock brake system light as well as the traction control lights keep coming on. Garage can't tell the exact cause. The booster arm busted, keeping the brakes engaged as driven. The booster arm was replaced and the lights are still on. I reset it, and they reappear after a short time. I now smell the brakes when applied. I've had engine replaced at 101,000 miles, two transmissions, multiple brake jobs, rear axle repaired, front axle repaired, front tie rods repaired. The alignment on my vehicle could only be partially completed. . . . Toe, and another alignment done, but the complete alignment would need a hole drilled in the frame and a bolt moved over - bad design by Ford. I've also had to have the oxygen sensor replaced at my own expense. The vehicle is a ticking time bomb, piece of crap.

The 1st problem, had a check engine light on my 2001 Ford Windstar, c1518 "intake manifold runner control stuck open. " after reading forums, most pointed to a plastic "bushing" clip coming off leaving a control arm 2nd problem, abs chk light and brk chk light come on after driving for a few minutes, abs module and abs sensor went out.

Van won't go into gear or drive . I don't know if it the corrosion fractures of front lower control arm or transmission . Trying to find out if any recalls would be on the van on what's going on with it .

This is an addition to ongoing defect investigation #pe10016. I have a 2002 Ford Windstar. The rear axle housing "cracked in half" as I was driving on a highway, but luckily at a low speed in traffic. There was no warning, no accident and no pot holes. My tire began to smoke and the vehicle was inoperable. After the tow truck came I looked underneath the car and noticed the axle split completely in two.

I heard unusual noises from underneath my 2002 Ford Windstar. I brought it to a mechanic who examined the rear axle and determined that it was cracked.

My 2002 Ford Windstar van gear shift pin keep coming up and I have to take it to a shop so they can put the pin back in 3 times. My gears do not shift right it shifts hard. I brought this van brand new in 2003. Also my air bag light stays on the avis Ford body shop said my sensor is rusted out, also my abs light stays on. I don't feel these things should go out. I have had many Ford vehicle brand new for years and never had these problems. I still got to get these things repair. I also had two front windshield wiper motors put in and the wipes are still not right. Is there any help out there.

I pulled into driveway and put car in park and went into back of my Windstar to check to see if the aircontioning vents were working per the request of my son. I was back there for several minutes. I got out and was standing outside the drivers open front door to turn off car. My son was in back seat with his door open and out of seat belt. While standing next to open door my car started to back out of drive way while it was in park. I tried to stop it with my arm by trying to jump into car to turn it off since my son was in car. It kept rolling down my driveway as I tried to catch car. It stopped by crashing into my neighbor's car that was parked in the street. The car was still in park . Police came. Filed claim with insurance company. I went to hospital for my foot that was dragged on pavement during my pursuit to catch my car. I notified the dealer and they told me to contact Ford directly. I filled out claim and I just received letter saying they can't determine if there was a defect. I read in the paper last week this happened to a woman with a Ford expedition but her car ran over someone. Also a Ford serviceman just said keep putting emergency brake on and never get out of car with car running. I was also told I cant' have it checked out because Ford wants original parts and won't pay for anything until we can prove a defective part. I am very concerned about the safety of my vehicle. Since the accident, I have been following the Ford's service man's advice by always making sure parking break is on and not allowing anyone to get out of the car until it is turned off. I have two children and need my car checked immediately. It is very fortunate that no one was outside playing when my car starting backing down the driveway while in park.

My 2002 Ford Windstar van is not supposed to be able to shift out of park without first pressing and holding the brake. My 2 yr old son was able to shift it out of park by simply pulling on the gear shift lever. This resulted in the car rolling down a hill and smashing into a tree with my son inside. He was not hurt. The car was a total loss according to my insurance CO. The car was in park and the engine was not running at the time of the accident. I have been in contact with Ford motor CO but I only get generic responses. My insurance CO is holding the vehicle until a rep from Ford has a chance to examine the shift lock mechanism but they seem uninterested. I have seen on line where there are two other similar cases regarding Ford Windstar vans and I believe this could be a serious safety issue.

Transmition light in dash has been on for years now. Local dealers tell me there is nothing wrong. They take my money and dont fix the problem. Abs light is on. Parts were bought and replaced by the dealer with in a year light back on. Cruse control cut out replaced twice. Dealer cant figure these problems out but if enough of your own research is done there are ways to figure out wat is going on. Even if the dealer can't front frame mounts are rusting so bad you can pull it apart with your hands certified safe from dealer.