Rear Suspension Axle problems of the 2003 Ford Windstar

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, there was a loud noise heard then the vehicle collapsed. The contact steered the steering wheel to move the vehicle off the road and heard metal screeching coming from the ground. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed that the rear axle had fractured into two parts. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer. The failure mileage was 158,000.

My daughter owns a 2003 Ford Windstar minivan. After hearing about the recall of these vehicle, we looked at her rear axle and noticed a large crack. When we brought it to a local Ford dealer in hanover massachusetts we were told the VIN # for her van was not on the recall list. When we told them there was indeed a crack in the axle they said we would have to pay for it to be repaired. We contacted Ford motor company who said my daughter's vehicle was manufactured in may 2003 and the recall only covered minivans made up through February of 2003. We are not convinced that the axle in her van is not the same ones used in the cars made up through February. Ford said they will not fix it. My daughter has a 2year old and a 4 year old and we lent her one of our cars to use because we are so worried about the safety of our grandchildren. I cannot believe that Ford will not own up to this faulty axle and repair it. Please help if you can and let me know if you agree with us that Ford should be held responsible. My daughter works so hard and does not have the means for an expensive repair. She had to fix the transmission not long ago to the tune of $2000. 00. This car has been nothing but a problem and the problems continue. We are filing this complaint, not because of an incident, but to prevent one. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Updated ivoq 09/27/10.

Driving out of parking lot onto the road, my rear axle broke in two. Had just had it at Ford for front tire rods, rotation of tires and alignment. I asked them to look it over because I was going on vacation. Updated ivoq 11/03/10 the consumer was informed her vehicle was not included in the recall, because her vehicle was manufactured after the recall cut-off date. Updated ivoq 02/01/11.

2003 Ford Windstar. Consumer writes regarding recall notice the rear axle failed, prior to the recall notification.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that he noticed that the rear axle was cracking. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. The contact stated that the vehicle was inoperative and unable to be used because the crack was five inches around the axle. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that the vehicle was not included in recall 10v385000 (suspension: rear:axle: nonpowered axle assembly). The current mileage was approximately 91,000. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.