This 2001 Ford Windstar minivan was towed to a garage for unrelated malfunction (overheating). Mechanic told us that the rear axle had a hole in it and was unsafe to drive. This minivan had been serviced at a Ford dealership for a recall for a possible crack in the rear axle and rechecked shortly before this incident. Obviously the recall did not fix the problem this was the second minivan to which we had this happen. The other was a 1998 Ford Windstar. We were told in January 2013 that this rear axle was cracked and undriveable. This vehicle too had been recalled and taken in. We had the 2001 minivan checked in January because of the problem with the 1998 and it was still found to be cracked in March.

- Towanda, PA, USA

Stopped at a stop sign, pressed the gas and nothing happened as if the van had been put in neutral. The transmission has failed. None of the gears will engage. Through my own research I've found numerous complaints with the Ford Windstar transmission and still no recall. The company should be held accountable. They will fix a small inexpensive censor but not the transmission.

- Forest Lake, MN, USA

Stopped to get my oil changed, they showed me where the entire right front subframe has rusted away making my Windstar unsafe to drive. I looked online and found this is an ongoing problem with this model with of these having the same problem with the passenger side right front. This can cause you to loose steering control or in an extreme the engine to fall out going down the highway, Ford recalled the same problem on the rear axel, ,why not fix the front also. I live in arkansan but bought the windstorm from a person in Missouri where I see Ford list as a state with a rust problem but doing nothing to fix it.

- Clinton, AR, USA

Me and my family were on our way to New York for vacation. Maybe about an hour into driving me and my husband started to smell something burning so I pulled off the high way and little do we know mg van was up in smoke we checked our oil that was good but I told my husband to check the transmission. Fluid and it was empty but before we left we had the right amount of transmission fluid in the van. We had to add about 5 or 6 quarts of fluid in order for the van to switch from reverse to drive we were able to make to sn auto part store they tested the van on there computer everything passed except the torque converter.

- Marietta, GA, USA

On Sunday July 8th, 2012 I was driving my 2001 Ford Windstar I stopped at a light and as the light changed I began driving and then heard a loud noise, my wheels began to squeel and pull all over and my van came to a complete stop in the road and would not move.. the front passenger side wheel was turned outward but my wheel was straight. Thank god I was not on an expressway or highway with all my kids in the vehicle.. I called a tow truck the driver inspected it and said something underneath the front frame had snapped off.. so today I had it towed into a Ford dealer to find out it is a new recall how can these Windstar vans have so many frame and axle issues and be safe to drive exspecially with all these brackets they are having to put on them for the recalls.. if I was on an expressway me and my son would of been hurt badly if not killed.. not to mention if I would of hit someone else I could of injured others too..I will never trust another Windstar with my family this is crazy.. it is the subframe front lower control arm rear attaching flages completely broke/snapped off while I was driving down a basic 40 mph road..when it broke it messed up the underneath of my vehicle it ripped the drive shaft right out of the transmission.. and who knows what else is damaged now.. people need to know about this now before someone is seriously hurt..

- Wayne, MI, USA

The minivan is equipped with a button on the gear shift. This button enables you to shift out of overdrive when you do not want the vehicle to be in overdrive mode. About this time the fuse in the fuse box would blow. Replaced the fuse a number of times but the problem is still there. The fuse may last for 5 to 10 miles and then it would blow. Tried a larger amp fuse but it would also blow. Transmission will leave the overdrive only if you accelerate going up a hill.

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

When driving van in hot weather or going up steep hills or grades the transmission will start leaking out transmission fluid. Enough will be coming out to create a visible cloud of smoke behind the vehicle as it is hitting the exhaust system. Had new trans axle seal installed but the problem still is there. If you park the van for about 45 minutes it quits leaking and you can proceed. For some reason the fluid gets so hot it is basically boiling out of the transmission.

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

Ford Windstar seems to be a good vehicle at first. With age numerous problems continue to happen. Service shops regard problems as common for a Ford Windstar.I think Ford ignores the problems. My husband and I are loyal Ford owners, I don't know how much longer we will continue. Currently the ABS& brake lights are on. Transmission leaked out all of the fluid while driving, had to rebuild trans. Speedometer doesn't work properly when brake lights are on. Engine light is on, numerous codes for this problem.

- Woodhaven, MI, USA

Transmission.

- Greenville , OH, USA

Was riding on the highway when my car just stopped and seen transmission oil everywhere on the floor an now van wont move but turn on.

- Providence, RI, USA

There was a problem with the transmission which required the vehicle to be pulled to the side of the road and towed to a dealer for service. The van only has 105,000 miles on it and has had regularly scheduled maintenance. After having a couple transmission places look at it, the problem was determined to be internal and the transmission needed to be replaced. At the same time that I had my van into the transmission shop there were 3 or 4 other Ford Windstar in for similar problems.

- Warren, OH, USA

I bought this car used 1 yr and 8 months ago.. haven't had any major problems with it. We received the recall for the rear axle, they checked it out was fine, we never received this last recall in 2011 but it may have helped if we did. On Dec 2 I was pulling out of a school, was at a complete stop then started pulling out to take a right only going about 5 mph we heard a bang (something fell in the front end) then the car just took over, there was no steering, the throttle stuck took us from 5 mph to about 30 mph in like 3 seconds crossing 4 lanes of traffic and just missing 2 vehicles, I crashed into a sign, 2 fences and a tree which made us stop, there was this awful sound that was getting faster and faster, we jumped out of the car because we thought it was going to blow up!!! everything that is in the front end is laying on the ground!! this is very dangerous and I am outraged that something like this could happen. If my husband and I hadn't gone anywhere that night, I would have had my 3 small children in it the next morning!! I am so thankful that we were not hurt (except for emotionally) and that we also didn't hurt anyone else.. if those cars were 1 second earlier we would have smashed into those cars that were going about 50 mph.. wouldn't have a been a very good outcome!!! now waiting to see what will happen with the van, if it is fixed I will not get in it ever again!!

- East Longmeadow , MA, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 35 mph, the contact smelled a burning odor. The contact stopped the vehicle and after exiting and inspecting under the hood, the contact noticed that the smell was coming from the transmission fluid. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.

- Partlow, VA, USA

We took a 300 mile trip to Chicago in our Windstar that we just purchased less than 2 months previously. While we were out of town, the van started acting up. When we would take off from a stop, the van would jerk and bounce like maybe the brakes were locked. We stopped driving it while we were up there until we had to leave. On our drive home, we were about 100 miles from home the O/D light came on. Then a little later, I noticed some type of liquid coming out the back. We tried to get home but at 90 miles from home the van totally quit moving. We were able to coast to the side of the road. Under the van was a large puddle of transmission fluid. After having it towed home ($240) we took it to a transmission shop. They had to replace a front seal and torque converter ($950). I'm filing this complaint because I have seen on the internet where the transmission seems to be a problem with the Windstar. Now the brake light and ABS light come on occasionally and won't go off until it's turned off and restarted. This also seems to a big problem with the Windstar. I haven't taken it in for that yet but dreading it. This is a very nice vehicle and I am rather disappointed in it.

- Granite City , IL, USA

I was driving my van down the road at about thirty five. Heard a loud thunk and realized I was not accelerating anymore. The van stopped almost immediately after. Called a tow truck because I thought it was the transmission. After evaluating the damage we realized that the frame had broken where the wheel stabilizer arm mounts to the frame on the passenger side. Also my passenger drive shaft pulled out from the transmission. So in this repair it is going to take a sub frame. And the half shafts from transmission to wheel.

- Hammond, IN, USA

While backing out from a parking space, the passenger side lower control arm mount separated from the subframe due to extensive corrosion. The front passenger wheel was turned outwardly and the right half shaft was disengaged from the differential. While researching this issue on the internet, I realized the subframe should last longer than the life of the vehicle. Fortunately for some it has been detected while in a repair shop for some other reason such as brakes, alignment or other front end work. Unfortunately for others it has been discovered by malfunctioning to the point of breaking and causing other structural/mechanical damage, as well as personal injury. I would like to believe that Ford stands behind its product and is willing to issue a recall for repair.

- Ravenna, MI, USA

ABS light is O in my 2001 Ford Windstar even after the recall in 2009 for ABS ECM failure - ABS brake light. The light continues to stay on for the past year almost and it is causing other defects in my vehicle. My vehicle will shut down on me completely and nothing in my vehicle will work until I get a jump ad it is causing issues with my brake system and transmission!

- Dolton, IL, USA

Occurrence: 12 October 2010. Traveling I-95 Washington, DC/suitland, md. Vehicle: Ford Windstar, 2001. Speed : 60-65 mph. Traffic : dense. Failure of defective part : rear axle snapped in two parts while traveling on smooth highway, northbound. Explosive sound, lots of smoke, extreme consternation/fear of heart attack experienced by my wife and I ( my wife has a dangerous heart condition "ihss") at occurrence. I immediately turned on hazard flashers. Managed to maneuver across several lanes of traffic to get to highway shoulder safely!! thank god for the alert fellow travelers behind us!!! if we were hit by any 18-wheelers on the highway, I wouldn't be writing this complaint now!!! concern for our safety was shown to us by fellow travelers; particularly, md traffic safety person, who should be commended by his superiors for his professional and understanding actions!! he looked at the damage and said that he had never seen anything like it before; and he said that we were lucky to be alive!!! van was transported by professionals to the nearest Ford dealership where I first became aware that a recall notice was in force for my vehicle!!! at this point, I became greatly disturbed that I had no previous notification of this dangerous condition and that my wife, grand children, etal were traveling in potential rolling coffin! in my opinion, this seems to be criminal; particularly if greater profit motives might be involved! I certainly hope that inferior materials were not used in this regard!! I was informed that my van would have to remain at the Ford dealership until Ford Motor Company decides how I will be provided with a safe vehicle, since no replacement axles were available. (nb ; I have no idea whatever other damage exists as a result of this awful failure! I certainly don't want a duplicate axle replacement to replay this horrific catastrophe! in my wife's delicate condition, I cannot expect her to travel in this unsafe vehicle! justice!!!

- Ramsey, NJ, USA

1. vibration in steering wheel. 2. rear axel broke in 2 places on the New Jersey turnpike. The car veered uncontrollably almost causing a serious accident. 3. the car was towed 90 miles to our local service station where axel was replaced with a used part.

- St Davids, PA, USA

2001 Ford Windstar 150,000 miles, driving on highway approx. 55 miles per hour, vehicle starting swaying then heard a load crash and a lot of smoke coming from under vehicle, thought it was a blow out. Pulled on to a side road both rear tires were bowed in and rear axle had split.

- New London, OH, USA