I was driving my 2000 Windstar on the skuykill expressway on Monday, July 19, 2010 at 12:33 pm on my way to an appointment. About a quarter mile befor the gilph mills exit heading East, I was in the passing lane traveling about 55-60 mph, when there was a load "pop" from the rear of my van. I immediately lost controll of the van and it slid across the highway. I first hit the embankment off the shoulder, was thrown back into the highway as the van slide on the drivers side and then flipped upside down. The van came to rest in the middle of the skuykill expressway upside down, facing the traffic. Thank god all traffic stopped and no one hit me, and I didn't hit anyone.. the van was totalled. I suffered head injuries, as well as broken and bruised ribs in my back, as well as severe muscle damage. I was able to unhook my seat belt and crawl out the window, and I waited till help came. As I looked at the upside down van, I did see that the rear axles was split in half. I was taken to bryn mawr hospital for treatment, and released several days later. I still have not been able to go back to work because of my back issues.

- Trappe, PA, USA

2000 Windstar rear axle rusted thru.

- Canton, MI, USA

Rear axle cracked completely in half while driving, tops of tires rubbing on wheel well. Almost resulted in accident with 4 children in the car. We were driving on the highway when the rear end started swaying and became hard to control. We had it towed to our home and a mechanic took a look and showed us where the axle is completely broke in half, the spring is hanging and the hubs are bad.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

2000 Ford Windstar (rear axle split) action #PE10016.

- Lansdale, PA, USA

The rear axle hair line began to crack at around 90K miles and is severely crack now at 97K miles and awaiting parts. The part looks to cost around $500 not including installation. The gauges on the car are wacky and seems to work at will and the ABS light continues to come on.

- Stratford, CT, USA

I was driving down the road and my rear axle broke not once but two times. Im getting tired of buying new axles. I went on a Ford site and it said that the year of my van it is known for this to happen. They consider it a death trap. I called Ford and they said there is no recall. If this is known for happening there should be a recall.

- Ellwood, PA, USA

Drove vehicle to destination and when we arrived the axle snapped in half on the 2000 Ford Windstar. Vehicle just turned 100,000 mi when rear axle snapped. Towed to repair facility, waiting for repair estimate.

- Weymouth, MA, USA

I had purchased this vehicle from a private owner in March 2010 who reported no issues. I drive this vehicle daily to work, as well as transporting children to different activities. Returning home from work on May 06, 2010, I noticed the van handling odd; had to keep right pressure on the steering wheel (like an alignment issue). The further I drove the more pressure I had to maintain. I began to slow my speed (from 70 mph to 60 mph) because there was excessive sway when crossing bridge joints. I continued to reduce speed to about 50 mhp and approximately 2 miles after I first noticed the sway, I heard a loud "pop" and the rear of the van dropped. I was able to quickly pull to the edge of the highway and stop. The tires were leaning in at the top on both sides and had begun smoking. I looked under the van and the axle had broken approximately 15"-18" from end, on the driver's side. Ended up having vehicle towed to a repair facility, located a used unit from a salvage yard, 2 tires and had them all replaced. What a headache. Heard a 'pop' on my way to work this morning so I checked the axle and found there is a crack in the same spot of this replacement axle.

- Kenna, WV, USA

The rear axle on my 2000 Ford Windstar snapped in half while driving at highway speeds. The van began to shake and bounce violently and fortunately I was able to get the van to the shoulder of the road without hitting another car or something along the side of the road. Upon inspection, both rear wheels had collapsed into the wheel wells and the axle had completely broken in half. There was no prior warning of this issue. The van needed to be towed to a local dealer where the repairs were made to replace the rear axle. Total repair cost exceeded $1800.

- Mertztown, PA, USA

2000 Ford Windstar rear axle cracked. Replaced at dealer at approx. $950 cost.

- Boyertown, PA, USA

Discovered a cracked rear axle on my 2000 Ford Windstar sel. Performed research on this issue and discovered that the rear axle has a design flaw that allows moisture, salt, sand, etc. To collect and rust the axle from the inside out and that potentially over 900,000 vehicles could be affected. A class action lawsuit was filed regarding this issue in May 2010.

- Mahwah, NJ, USA

I own a 2000 Ford Windstar LX. On August 4, 2010 at approximately 5pm I was driving at about 30 mph when suddenly I thought my tire had blown out. I saw lot's of smoke or dust coming from the rear end and the car was lurching to a stop. There was no other vehicle traffic on the road at the time. I pulled to a stop and got out to inspect my rear tires. I realized at that time that my rear axle had broken in half. I called a tow truck and was taken to my mechanic.

- Abington, PA, USA

I was driving my 2000 Windstar it has 113,000 miles on it and we bought it with a car fax report - we have owned it for 2 years and have been diligent on all maintenance. On July 27, 2010 I was traveling at 25 mph when I swerved to miss a car that pulled out in front of me, I went up on the curb and the back end of my car started smoking after I righted the car. I pulled over immediately and called for a tow. My mechanic said the real axle snapped in half and caused damage to the tire due to rotating against the frame. I had my four small children in the car and I just thank god I was going slow and not on the freeway. I certainly hope Ford does something about this because this could be deadly.

- Eastlake, OH, USA

Crack in the rear axel beam.

- Waltham, MA, USA

2000 Ford Windstar rear axle cracked and vehicle is unstable to drive.

- Homewood, IL, USA

2-3 days ago heard a clunk or two from right rear right rear. From that point on rear end felt a bit squirrelly (like shot or broken shock(s)/swaybar or linkage). A couple times going over mildly uneven road the rear end seamed to track laterally 4-6". last night returning home I pulled through an uneven roadwork area leading into our neighborhood and started heard a loud rubber rubbing sound. Pulled to the curb pronto and found left rear wheel tilted in at top/back and rubbing fender well. Walked home and returned with jack to find lugnuts tight and wheel spins well, but off axis. Left it there and returned to web with symptoms and search routed me right to Windstar rear axle cracking PE10016. Will try and brace axle and limp it home the last 2 blocks soon. Glad it occurred at slow speed!

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

I have a Ford Windstar with 93,000 miles on the odometer and was shocked when the vehicle tires were slanted on an angle on day! this was very odd looking, as you can only imagine and after a review of the vehicle was told that the rear axle housing was cracked (and rusted) right in the middle, closer to one side; leaving the care non-drivable due to possible blow-out occurrence. After having no choice but to repair the vehicle and after putting over $600 dollars into the vehicle have only found that other Ford Windstar are also having this problem. I was fortunate enough not to be involved in any type of motor vehicle accident, however this was damaging to my savings account! I would still however buy Ford vehicles and would like to make my case known in this situation.

- Livonia, MI, USA

I have a 2000 Ford Windstar LX, 2 weeks ago the rear axle cracked and cost me $350 in parts and $175 in labor...1 week later the replacement axle cracked in the same spot. Thankfully my mechanic covered it, my rear tires are shot from the 2 occurrences and will have to be replaced when I can afford it.

- Cheektowaga, NY, USA

Ford Windstar rear axle cracked.

- Aurora, IL, USA

Left rear tire was leaning, noticed metal on metal sounds, then discovered the rear axle was snapped at a joint point.

- Oil City, PA, USA