The rear axle broke for the second time on a Ford Windstar, after already breaking prior to a recall in 2010. It appears to have broken where a clamp was attached. This caused the rear wheels to fall into, and grind against the wheel well. This happened on a side street near my house. Had it happened at highway speeds, the rear wheels could have locked up or perhaps broken free causing loss of control. The axle problem has been known to Ford, but it is concerning that this is the second one to fail. I have not yet contacted ford or a a repair facility to evaluate. There were no warning lamps or other indication. The axle simply broke abruptly. I thought it was a tire blow out until I saw the wheels tilted in. The vehicle is older, but I maintain it well.

- Medfield, MA, USA

Went to "credit karma" and was informed that my vehicle was the subject of a Ford NHTSA recall. Ford failed to notify me of recall on my vehicle. Recall id # 233939 dated 10/21/2015. Please help resolve this as I don't want to be driving an unsafe vehicle

- Kingman, AZ, USA

I watched last night as my wife and kids were coming home on the parkway, the rear axel snapped in. Two and both tires just dangeling basically, we had a blow out also managed to get the2000 Ford Windstar LX off of the main road where I had to call several to companies and no one with a wrecker was able to help, so I called a toe company with a roll back, to get our van home then I found out abt the complaint hotline and the recalls after my wife and kids could have been killed, the vehicle was going straight, and the speedlimet wich was 45 mph, when the axel just snapped in two pieces, and out of control she managed to slow down, my kids are 1 and 2, we want reinbursement for the van and the tow bill as this is a manufacturer defect

- Gladevalley, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 10 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear driver side wheel. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the wheel was tilted inward. The contact also stated that the frame of the vehicle was severely corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V080000 (suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.

- Louisville, KY, USA

The rear axle on my 2000 Ford Windstar is cracked. There were two previous recalls on this issue and now a third. Ford wants me to pay $300 toward repair which I find unacceptable.

- Hopewell Junction, NY, USA

9/1/2015 entering northern state parkway West went over bump/pothole rear axel suspension cracked and dropped also blew driver side rear tire. Van had to be towed to shop. Corosion on rear axel, brackets sealed to old axel, Ford must reinforce axel. Axel recalled 2010/2011 must be refixed by Ford.

- New Hyde Park, NY, USA

I got this van used from a family member then checked with local Ford dealer to make shure recall work was done aka rear axle beam and front subframe were done they assured me that it was done about 2 monthes later the axlebeam broke due to corosion under the clamp they put on to stop this from happaning I almost lost control of the van went to the dealer next morning and they told me there weas nothing they can do as case was closed this repair does not fix the problem or prevent it from seperating if I was at highway speed the van whould have flipped they have sence sent us a letter stating the clamps may not have been installed right and want to charge for a replacement axle 300 I was travaling 25 miles an hour when this happened I have more pictures then this will allow me to upload but I have replaced the axle using my own garadge seeing how I cannot trust the dealler

- Oakville, CT, USA

I bought my van used just a month before I noticed this defect, I came outside to get in the van and noticed the rear wheels leaning slightly inward at the top. My son in law inspected it further to discover that the rear axle had bent. Upon further investigation we discovered that there had been a recall on all Ford Windstar models between 1998 and 2003. We notified Ford and they told us that this vehicle had already been recalled and repaired in 2011 and the repair had a 12 month warranty. My son in law checked and sure enough there were repair sleeves wrapped around the rear axle at both ends. This repair did not fix the original problem because the rear axle had cracked right under where the repair sleeve was placed and had bent bad, bad enough that both rear tires were rubbing the inner fenders at the top and the van was sitting much lower in the rear end than it should have been. Thank god I had noticed the problem before the axle completely cracked in half the rest of the way because there is nothing else holding the rear wheels onto the vehicle and if I was driving the wheel and part of the axle could have flown off to who knows where and possibly killed me and whoever else was in the van. I've had to completely replace the rear axle with another part from another van which is also defective and will soon have to be replaced again. Ford takes no responsibility for this past the original "fix" which was warrantied for only 12 months. The recall was not a good fix and seems to have only been a band aid to keep customers quiet until the warranty on it runs out. I have done research online and found that this is not an isolated incident and in fact has happened to many hundreds of people, coincidentally around the same time as my incident happened.

- Troy, MO, USA

Corrected recall was not done effectively within two years of repaired recall beam axle failed at the end of the repaired area.

- Portage, WI, USA

My 2000 Ford Windstar was repaired last year on a recall for the possible rear axle failure. Ford installed brackets on the rear axle as a remedy. On Saturday 8-30-14, the rear axle failed. The axle is actually broken and the break can be seen inside of the bracket they installed. I called Ford and they told me they don't warranty the recall remedy repair. What are my options to have this remedied in good faith?

- Rahway, NJ, USA

My ABS light stays on and traction control engages on dry pavement when turning corner leaving the van idle until I let off gas. Brought in and was told these codes C1235, C1410, B1318. Also about possible recall.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

Was driving home from work about 930 pm June 22 2014 and started to feel like I was getting a flat in the back then I started smelling rubber burning and the back end of car kept swaying almost out of control then I heard a noise so I pull over slowly and both my back tires were pushed in at the top and out at the bottom..I had my van towed to Ford at 1 commerce blvd North brunswick off of route 1..and it has been there ever since I called to check and see how long it would take to fix and the service department told me they are waiting on the part and they have 3 other Windstar to fix...now it has been almost a month and I still have heard nothing.

- New Brunswick, NJ, USA

I was driving home from work at about 915 pm June 22 2014, when I hear my back tires sound like they were catching a flat. I slowed down and pulled over into a restaurant parking lot. When I pulled in I hear a loud scratch sound and I smelled burning rubber really bad. My cousin came on the scene to pick me up and he looked under the van and took a picture. The axle cracked in half and the back tires looked pushed in at the top and protruding out at the bottom..if I had been going the speed limit of 50 mph I would have had an accident. I have 5 children waiting at home for me when I get off work. Im just thankful I didn't have an accident. But now I don't know how I can continue working without my van.

- New Brunswick, NJ, USA

I was driving at 65mph on a major highway and my rear axle gave out causing my tire to tilt in and rub against the axle almost causing a fire. I contacted Ford and they are telling me that they replaced it once and won't replace it again. When first axle was replace with a faulty axle from a Windstar in a junk yard before the recall ever came out I paid to have it fixed and was reimbursed by Ford. Now they are telling me that they can't replace it again. They never felt the need to inspect the van when the recall came out.

- Bellefonte, PA, USA

While driving my 2000 Ford Windstar on the highway at 60mph, I noticed that the back end of the car felt like it was swaying or sliding as if on ice. I exited the highway and drove to a parking garage about 5 miles away. While pulling up to the gate at the garage at a low rate of speed, there was a loud noise, which was the rear axle breaking completely in half. Replaced with a used axle.

- West Chicago, IL, 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

While driving on an interstate highway at 55 mph, my 2000 Ford Windstar LX made a loud noise and black smoke and the smell of burning rubber filled the vehicle. It was with great difficulty that my husband was able to maintain control of the vehicle and get it over to the side of the road. My self and our 3 children were very fortunate to escape injury. The rear tire axle had snapped in two. I have since read of numerous complaints regarding this same defect. Why hasn't anything been done about this serious issue" the vehicle is currently in auto shop and I am waiting to hear if it can be repaired. I am extremely apprehensive about driving this car ever again. Will the same situation happen again if I replace it with another Ford part" why hasn't there been a safety recall on this issue. I am the original owner and this car has been properly maintained. There are approximately 110,000 miles on the vehicle.

- Springfield, MA, 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 this date, rear axel of my 2000 Ford Windstar broke and both rear wheels were bowed out and a large crack was discovered.

- Hollidaysburg, PA, USA