1.8
hardly worth mentioning- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 93,688 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.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the front sub frame was covered with rust and corroded. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for routine maintenance; however, after it was inspected they noticed the sub frame was covered with rust and corroded. The manufacturer was notified and stated to contact NHTSA and file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 152,000. Updated 01/06/13
- Cedar Falls, IA, USA
TL. steering problem 1999 Ford Windstar comments: Dear NHTSA, I have a vechicle safty concern probable loss of steering control on Ford Windstar 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.
- Troy, MI, USA
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.
- Tiverton, RI, USA
Fractured subframe passenger side. Hard to turn right. Steering wheel off set.
- Columbus, OH, USA
Engine sub-frame rotting away.
- New Castle, PA, USA
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!
- Circleville, OH, USA
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 Windstar 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.
- Olive Branch, MS, USA
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.
- Toms River , NJ, USA
I was driving about 25 miles per hour and my real axel broke in half.
- Portage, MI, USA
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
- Broomall, PA, USA
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.
- Marblehead, MA, USA
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.
- Raritan, NJ, USA
Paint peeling off 1999 Ford Windstar.
- Dallas, GA, USA
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle began pulling to the right. The contact heard a noise and the steering wheel was not centered. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the failure was related to the main engine cradle assembly. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. The failure mileage was 125,000 and current mileage was 129,000. Updated 11/17/08 updated 11/21/08.
- New Stanton, PA, USA
* vehicle leans since purchased Sept 13, 2003. * allignment problems. * transmission does not properly change gears. * low treads on tires. * a frame problems. * suspension steering makes a clunking noise. * brakes must be pumped to stop, and make a ticking noise when applied. * vehicle has overheated. * power steering fluid leaked. * gears do not shift properly. * primer scotch guard on seats wearing after coat applied.
- Sacramento, CA, USA
We purchased a 1999 Ford Windstar in September of 2002. The dash lights, especially the odometer and radio blink. They will dim and brighten, dim and brighten. There is no specific pattern. It is a random thing. It's almost like there is a short in the wiring or something. The incident date below is today, but this has been happening for months. I have been checking recalls religiously to see if this was one of them. Also there is rust under the driver's seat. The carfax report did not show any water damage to this vehicle. It almost appears like this piece did not get painted.
- Savannah, GA, USA
While driving vehicle began to make a loud grinding sound that became worse as consumer was driving, consumer was informed by a mechanic that the steering could have been lost, however the steering did go out briefly in Dec and may, also the steering column was worked on Nov 16, but consumer was informed that the 2 problems were not related, also there was a popping noise around the windshield, which was determined to be pillar molding warped.
- Goshen, KY, USA
Power operated sliding door made a very loud grinding noise, then unexpectedly opened, cause is unknown.
- Mamaroneck, NY, USA
- Rehoboth Beach, DE, USA