10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 111,535 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
While pulling onto a busy road there was loud noise and the vehicle lost all control and skidded across the road and into a driveway. Fortunately no property damage or personal injury occured. The van was towed to my mechanic and he informed me that subframe on the right side had just broken off. Clearly this must be some sort of a defection the manufacturer.
- Raynham, MA, USA
1999 Ford Windstar LX broken sub-frame I began to hear a scraping noise while driving, especially on right turns. I had recently purchased 4 new tires from Firestone, so took it back there thinking that something was wrong with the right front tire. Instead I was told that the sub frame is busted (also called engine cradle), and that repair would be extensive in labor to the tune of at least $1500!...and that would be for a replacement part from a junk yard (with same potential problem) rather than a new part. Right now I cannot afford either one. I asked a welder about it, hoping to have it welded rather than replaced for much less money, but he says that would not be wise given the heavy load placed on the subframe. Please consider a recall on this dangerous defect to prevent tragedy. Thanks. Firestone staff warned me not to drive vehicle, very unsafe. An online search reveals many similar complaints of busted subframes on Ford Windstar, yet no recalls for this dangerous problem as yet. Are we waiting for someone to be killed? I just drove on the highway yesterday not knowing how serious this problem is.
- St. Louis, MO, USA
Took car in for inspection and was told that the subframe was rotting away at the point where the sway bar connects to the cradle. And that it will cost over $800 to fix. This shortly after having the rear axle repaired due to a recall form Ford. By the way Ford did not say anything to me about the damage to the front where the rust was rotting away the cradle.
- Athol, NY, USA
I have a 99 Ford Windstar with sub-frame rust. The vehicle was taken to a local Ford dealer and put up on a lift and inspected after I noticed a noise and pulling to the right. The sub-frame has completely rusted away on the passengers side where it mounts to the vehicle. The vehicle itself has little to no rust underneath except to the subframe in two spots. The vehicle cannot be driven now and I was told the subframe would have to be replaced. Due to the vehicle not being rusted underneath and not being driven in salted road conditions, I would have to conclude this is a manufacturer defect? the Windstar is clean enough underneath to almost eat off. Again there is little to no rust underneath except to the subframe. Thank you for looking into this matter.
- Okmulgee, OK, USA
Took my 1999 Ford Windstar to have front tires replaced and mechanic noticed the front passenger side subframe mounting bolt is severely rusted. When I took the vehicle in to the dealership to have the recall work done for the rear axle, I told them about the rusting of the subframe mounting bolt and they said I would have to make another appointment and pay for this myself because there is no recall for this problem. My vehicle is not safe, I am scared to drive it, and I don't have the money to fix it!!!
- Burlington, IA, USA
1999 Windstar van when changing the right front tire our mechanic saw the right front drive axle completely rusted out. This car is not safe to drive. NHTSA defect investigation #PE 10016 is consistent with this problem.I want to be added to this investigation. There are no warning signs for this problem. We were lucky we have a good mechanic who spotted the problem. This car is at a Ford dealership in Missouri.. I wish someone would go and see this problem first hand. All other cars with this problem were not detected and were in a crash. This would be a great opportunity to actually see the problem before the car is wrecked. This is a very dangerous situation for anyone who has a Ford Windstar van 1999 thru 2003. There is no warning and when that front axle breaks there is no control of the vehicle. Anyone who drives one of these vehicles should immediately take to a mechanic for inspection. This is not like the rear axle problem, because you can at least steer the vehicle if it breaks. When the front goes you have no control. I am told the repair will cost $1200 dollars. Ford Motor Company will not help with the cost of repair.
- Imperial, MO, USA
Front a subframe was almost complete rusted out and detached from front end. This was noticed by my regular mechanic during an oil change. The complete front a frame ("subframe") had to be replaced, including control arms, alignment; front brake pads. Cost was $1687.
- Bridgewater, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. While driving about 10 mph the contact was turning a corner when she first experienced a cracking noise coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and he stated the sub-frame or the engine cradle was covered with rust. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 117,000.
- Mcclean, VA, USA
1999 Ford Windstar subframe rusting and having to be replaced. Van failed safety inspection because of a hole in subframe due to rust. Total cost paid out of pocket in 2008 $1240.56.
- Springdale, AR, USA
1999 Ford Windstar - subframe rusted out. Had repairs done. Had vehicle inspected by Ford for current rear axle recall, was told there was no rust in the rear axle. I am having the car inspected by my mechanic because it would seem that if the front end rusted out, so would the back.
- Peekskill, NY, USA
1999 Ford Windstar fwd passenger side sub frame motor mount broken in half due to corrosion.
- Danville, IN, USA
Our 1999 Ford Windstar was found to have serious rust on sub frame on passenger side during a Massachusetts state vehicle inspection today. I understand this make and model is subject to a recall investigation and I want my complaint added to that investigation and request a recall notice be issued for this vehicle.
- Marblehead, MA, USA
I had to replace my front subframe aka engine cradle and two motor mounts due to premature rust on my 1999 Ford Windstar this is the section of frame that hold up the engine and transmission along with most of the front suspension. I lost all ability to steer and was nearly in an accident braking to the side of the road and getting the minivan towed to a mechanic. I know this failure has generated a lot of complaints also within the NHTSA website and I feel it should be included in the current rusted rear axle recall warranty.
- Morris Plains, NJ, USA
1999 Ford Windstar LX. Engine cradle failure at mount point passenger rear. Reference NHTSA # PE10026. I am in the same situation. The passenger rear engine cradle mount has failed causing steering problems and loss of control. The passenger tie rod and control arm are now bent. At this point the vehicle is not safe, but I am forced to drive it. The vehicle is pulling severely to the left. This condition is worse on acceleration due to the bent steering components. The failure occurred while driving @ 50 mph causing difficulty steering.
- Milford, MI, USA
Sub frame on my 1999 Ford Windstar is rotted, the engine is rocking, the steering is loose, when making right hand turns there is grinding from the frame rubbing, when driving there is a very loud banging from the engine rocking back and forth on the rotted frame. It has not been fixed, and the car is not drivable as it occurs all the time.
- Plainfield, IL, USA
Nothing appeared wrong with my vehicle and then I heard a loud clunk and grinding in the middle of driving through rush hour traffic in the city, I felt very unsafe driving the vehicle as I could tell something was seriously wrong but slowly drove it home. I found out that the subframe is broken due to rusting.
- Windsor, 00, USA
The subframe on my 1999 Ford Windstar is severely corroded at most of the connection points. Whenever we make a turn we could hear the rattling/grinding sound coming from beneath the vehicle. This problem has not been corrected at this point, but I am considering doing some reinforcements and hoping there will a recall very soon.
- Brooklyn, NY, USA
ABS brake light continuously goes off and on sporadically. But more importantly during my annual car inspection it was discovered that my subframe is dangerously rusted through and will cost 1,200 to replace it with a used one. I question how long a used one will last since it has been said that the A/C drainage hose is directly over it and most certainly the cause.. this definitely has recall written all over it. It is extremely dangerous if the engine falls or anything else and control of the vehicle is lost. The car being built with the A/C drainage over the subframe allowing such an important part of the car to rust is so neglecting and irresponsible. What is taking Ford so long to recall this problem. I read a million similar incidents with the same year make and model I have.... 1999 Ford Windstar LX currently 90,500 miles.
- Lansdale, PA, USA
My boyfriend and I was on our way home with our 6 kids driving down route 280 NJ on the night of Sept. 23, 2010. After exiting the highway, about a block away from our house when we heard a loud popping noise and the steering became very poor and pulling to the right, I pulled the car over and my boyfriend then got out and inspected the car. He jacked the car up just to find that the subframe on the passenger side was rusted and broken. The car had to be towed. The price to have it repaired was $1000 in parts and labor. I recently went online to find out that this has been happening to other 1999 - 2003 Ford Windstar owners as well.
- Newark, NJ, USA
- Baldwin, , NY, USA