10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 111,747 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
Rear axle snapped at about 30 mph. Destroyed both rear shocks and driver's side rear wheel.
- Merrimack, NH, USA
I own a 2000 Ford Windstar LX, my problem is that my wife, daughter and her two children, and one older adult was minutes away form getting into a serious highway accident due to the fact they were less than 1,000ft ft of getting onto the expressway when the rear axle of the van snapped almost into two pieces for no reason at all. After getting the van towed to my residence which was a 1/4 mile. After further inspection the rear axle seamed to have rotted from the inside out, there is no rust on the outer surface of this hollow axle that would of shown signs of breaking. I contacted a couple of used auto parts dealers and they had stated that they have my same model van but all of the axles on them are gone due to being sold to other people that had needed them. I am asking has there been other reports of this happening to this or later model years. My family could of been seriously injured or killed, and I have just recently done a trip to waukegan Illinois and back to toledo Ohio which was 950 miles of toll roads with speeds of 65-75 mph if this had let go at these speeds I will probably not be sending in this report. Is there a recall for these style axles on this vehicle. Thank you. The consumer stated the axle broke for the second time. Updated 02/04/15
- Toledo, OH, USA
2000 Ford Windstar - broken rear axle - fortunately discovered while car was in a parking lot - heard one loud noise earlier in the day and a louder noise at time of discovery. Axle is visibly broken and was towed.
- Providence, RI, USA
The rear axle on my 2000 Ford Windstar broke apart while traveling on I-96 at about 60 mph, I was able to come to a safe stop on the median. This could have endangered me as well as others. I have done some research on line and found this to be a problem with this car. This is a serious defect that needs to be addressed by the NHTSA and the Ford Motor Company.
- Riverview, MI, USA
I own a 2000 Ford Windstar SE. I noticed my car shuddering a bit on the expressway late last week (5/20/10.) I slowed a bit and the movement stopped. I pulled off the expressway and continued driving on city streets. I tried increasing my speed but could not recreate the 'shuddering.' Over the weekend, I felt the movement once more so I stayed at low speeds on city streets and planned on taking the car in on Monday to have it checked. The movement had not returned. On Sunday, May 23 I had to drive about 7 miles to work. About 1 mile short of my destination the shuddering returned, but much worse and at low speed. I slowly drove the car into a parking lot and saw my left rear tire was tilted. Thinking the tire was loose (I had new rear shocks put on about 1 month ago and thought maybe they had not tightened the nuts enough) I jacked the car up a bit and popped the hubcap. The lug nuts were all tight but the raised car gave me a clear view of my rear axle, completely split in half. The axle was still holding up the car only because the two halves were still pressed together. The axle was completely broken through (not just cracked) basically right at the mid point. I have had the car taken to a repair shop on a flat bed truck, but work has not started on it yet. Tonight I checked on line and found that this problem is being investigated by your Agency. Here's another case for you to add to the list. I feel extremely lucky to be writing this to you without having been in the accident that this defect so easily could have caused. Interestingly, I have had work done on the car a couple of times in the past month and no one noticed/reported any axle damage. The car was riding fine up to this past week.
- Wauwatosa, WI, USA
Rear axle snapped in half going 45 mph.
- Greenville, NH, USA
While driving in a rain storm my van was shaking, I thought I hit a puddle wrong after driving a bit more my car starting shaking and it was hard to control, I thought I had a flat tire. I pulled to a gas station, where man saw me look at my tires, and advised due to the large amount of rain it was probably hydroplaining. I continued on. The next day when it was dry I had the same problems. My van was shaking, and at time hard to control, I was so scared and just wanted to make it home. I told my husband, he noticed the inner portion of the 2 back tires were worn down to the metal belts, and did not allow it to be driving again. I had a retail fix it shop advise it would be $650 for new tie rods and shims plus 2 new tires(even though we just purchased them 1 1/2 years prior). We were debating to get it fixed or take to a different more trusted mechanic. A friend passed along a link regarding investigation on Windstar vans for broken rear axles. After reading what other experienced, I realized this is the same thing that happened to me. We have a summer car I have been driving since this occurrence, but would like my minivan fixed for family summer travels. After reading the link - I will probably wait for a recall, or a solution as to what will be done with this situation.
- Hartland, WI, USA
On Friday, May 15, 2010, my husband was driving home from work for lunch and the rear axle snapped on our 2000 Ford Windstar sle minivan. The mechanic also said the "differentials" were damaged. The total cost was $795. Fortunately, my husband was not on a busy street and he was able to pull to the side of the road until we could have the vehicle towed. Also, he did not hit anything that would have caused the axle to snap. In July 2009, we had to replace the transmission in this same vehicle while traveling to myrtle beach, S.C., on vacation.
- Bristol, VA, USA
While driving our 2000 Ford Windstar LX the rear axle cracked in half. If it would of been minutes later the van would have been back on the highway and we could of possibly got killed. There are a lot of other Ford owners who have had the same problem since 1998 with the Windstar's. there should be a recall on the rear axle before someone gets killed. This is a very dangerous problem that Ford needs to address.
- Kettering, OH, USA
2000 Ford Windstar rear axel failure.
- Mansfield, MA, USA
I own a 2000 Ford Windstar that has been having issues with swaying and control. Thinking it was just bad shocks I've replaced those and anything else I thought that might be causing the problem, to no avail. Recently while driving home on a state highway I took a corner and the vehicle felt like it was sliding on ice. I thought it was road conditions so I slowed down and we made it safely home. The next day my brother in law was following my wife and he said the back axle looked to be bent. Not believing this could happen I looked under the vehicle and about a foot and a 1/2 from the drivers side rear wheel I found a tear that was a 1/4 inch wide that extended from the beginning of the axle to up and over it. I realize that due to the age and mileage of the vehicle, over 100K I believe, that this is not under warranty. I wouldn't expect it to be but this puts the vehicle at risk for catastrophic failure that can be potentially fatal to others. At present im looking to find a new axle for our vehicle and, surprise, not having much luck. I wonder why?
- Perrysville, OH, USA
My 2000 Ford Windstar with approx 140000 miles had its rear axle snap in two. As I review other complaints this does not seem to be an isolated case.
- Portsmouth, RI, USA
Purchased a vehicle off of the white allen lot with additional coverage with wynn's plus extended warranty on May 31, 2009. In August 2009, the van is very loose and unsteady while driving. Took to grismer on September 5, 2009 to find that the front tie rods needed to be replaced. Still unsteady especially in the rear. On September 10, 2009 the rear axle beam broke in two! the warranty company will not cover, and I come to find out through researching that across the U.S. thousands of persons have had this axle break on them nearly missing death on highways and byways. Ford is aware of the defective axle beam yet has made no attempt to my knowledge to recall. Lives are hanging in the balance and it seems they are more concerned about losing money. I can understand the concern especially with the economy the way it is. However, the consumer should not have to pay with their lives and the lives of their children because Ford decided that money was more important than human life. Not to mention had they been more concerned about quality vs. Quantity, perhaps this would not be a complaint that thousands of people have to make. The money spent repairing the defect that is not covered ($1,000) still doesn't give you peace of mind that you and your family are safe because they have made no effort to replace the part with one that is not defective. You just replace it with another defective part! when did human life become so insignificant that a car company who knows that there is a safety issue, can ignore it putting lives at risk and make money off of the rolling dead! if you are like me, you need to get to work, pick up, drop off kids, go out of town. As long as there is no recall effort for this part, americans take the risk of never coming home to their families or their families not making it home from a little league football games, soccer, ballet etc. It is tragic and someone needs to do something before lives are lost. No action has been take.
- Dayton, OH, USA
TL- the contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. He states that while backing out he noticed that the the rear axle snapped. A week before the vehicle deveolped a under steer. The dealer was contacted and they did not want to help the consumer with this problem. He states that this is a very big safety issue. He noticed that there many other vehicle with this problem online. The vehicle is at the residence and is not drivable.the has not decided yet ti repair the vehicle. The failure and current mileage was 146000.
- Township, WA, USA
I had been concerned about a bad shimmy at 50 mph on my 2000 Ford Windstar, and I had spoken to my dealer about it when I had the oil changed. Less than a week later, as I pulled from my driveway, the rear axle broke completely in two. We have tried to get Ford to address this problem, as there must be millions of these vans still on the road, and most of them carry children. We have not had any response so we are filing this complaint. We have heard of other failures and as you know they could be deadly. We paid to have the axle replaced.
- Sycamore, IL, USA
Driving my 2000 Ford Windstar (85,000 miles on it) on the freeway at 65 miles per hour on Sunday 3/15/09. The back end of the car gave way and started fish tailing. Turns out the rear axle broke in half on its own. I have the car at bill brown auto clinic in canton, Michigan. They have ordered a new axle. They originally were going to get a used one from a salvage yard but indicated this is a recurring problem with Ford Windstar and so they ordered a new axle. Everyone I talk to says rear axles should not give way the way this Windstar did. The indication is it had a long term crack and rusted through until it gave way. The car did fish tail wildly but did not flip over before I was able to stop it.
- Canton, MI, USA
The car seemed at first to be hydroplaning due to the rain, but then it got much worse. When I removed the rear passenger wheel, I saw the rear axle beam had snapped at the weld point. The car was very difficult to drive and the repair shop indicated that we should have had it towed in because sometimes the wheels will shear away from the suspension when the beam is broken. This car has only been in one minor accident, with minimal body damage and no damage at all to the body structure, so this was without question a manufacture defect in the part.
- Colonia, NJ, USA
Car didn't seem right felt like back end swaying. Made noise. Brought to repair shop, need new rear axle assembly, or also called rear I beam assembly, it has a major crack. This is a major safety issue the car is unsafe to drive and this part is on backorder.
- Wilbraham, MA, USA
I noticed that the rear end of the car was "bouncing" as I went around a corner. I immediately brought the car home and noticed that both rear tires were bowing out at the bottom. I put the car up on a jack to investigate and saw where the rear axle had severed half way through in two different spots. Rust was visible at one location. The worse of the two sever points was on what appears to be on a vertical seam in the metal. I was very fortunate that it happened to me as I was running to the store just prior to my wife taking our three daughters to ballet - for which she would have been driving on a major interstate. I have now seen at least 4 other comments of the same issue on the internet. This is definitely a manufacturer defect and needs to be recalled before there is a fatality.
- Watervliet, NY, USA
- Riverside , IL, USA