While my wife was taking our 4 children to school at highway speed, the rear axle failed, but one small area held together. The axle dropped at the break, and so the tire was rubbing on the inside of the wheel well. My daughter was joking that she thought she would fall out of the van because it was so loud and vibrating.

Once at school, my wife called me to come check it out - and when I saw the wheel tilted inward, I looked under and saw the crack/break on the axle and I refused to drive it from there. I put it on a trailer to move it because it could finish breaking all the way through at any second. Apparently there is no active recall for me - I live in Canada... and we do salt our road in winter.

Had "repair" performed per recall as expected by both parties. Axle is now cracked to the point that the car is undriveable due to the wheel contacting the body. Repair is about $1500. contacted Ford said they will not help and it is my responsibility.

I stated this is a critical component that was "repaired" and ultimately put my family's life in jeopardy. "I understand" is the response of Ford customer service but there is nothing they will do. The "resolution" offered" was a mailing address to send a letter - to a PO box.

I now am paying for it because I need the car.

The most interesting thing is that had I not had the recall done and the axle broke they would have replaced it. But since I had it done and the axle broke it is my responsibility. Makes me wonder if I should spend my time getting recalls done prior to an issue.

Ford had a recall to fix their rear crack axle due to defective parts, a 2014 judgement issued by CA court. Instead of replacing the defective part, their solution was to install bracket to hold up axle that Ford had sold us with sub-quality materials. I don't recall my purchase price from Ford was below market price !!!

To add To the injury, their 3rd recall was to inspect if the brackets was installed correctly and with a line to offer owner to replace the axle at a discounted price of $300+. Wow, they are doing us a favor to fix something that they so negligence put in our lives and risking danger to our families and loved ones to begin with...REALLY!!!

I took my Windstar to Ford for the 3rd recall and they told me that my axle has cracks and that the discounted price to replace the axle expired on October 30th, 2016 where now it will cost $1k to fix.

This is totally insane and unjust for consumer for negligence of the manufacture auto maker. It is clear that the axle is defective and to bandaid the issue had saved Ford millions. Ford should pay for any axles that cracks since it was detected of th sub standard material where Ford introduced this dangerous defects to our lives.

Why is National Safety board allows Ford to take advantage of the consumer. I had talked to the service manager at Ford dealership and called Ford customer services, their response was that the consumer has to fix it and now I have to pay $1k to be safe. Even if I asked them to extend the discount their answer was no, the recall offer was out there in 2015. What make them think people have $300 to spare to begin with!!!

I requested a a manger and was told there are none and I have to wait a business day for a callback. How about you fix the problem and wait one business day or me to call you back how I feel about Ford! This is not right how hard working people are treated and no regards of our financial status in correcting something Ford imposed to our lives!!!

In 2010 the vehicle was recalled for a problem with the rear axle. I took it in and had the prescribed repair made then and there. On October 30 of 2015 the rear axle cracked. It was a Friday and the axle needed to be replaced immediately as I needed the vehicle for the weekend. I had the job done the following day at an independent repair shop on the east side of Detroit where they replaced the broken axle with a used(but very clean)axle at a cost of $600.

On Sunday I did some research online and found out that there had been a recall on the recall due to some of the initial recall repairs not being done correctly. I retrieved my broken axle from the shop where I had the work done and then called my local Ford dealer to set up an appointment to inspect the vehicle and the old axle. The dealership told me that had I brought my vehicle into them that that all costs would have been covered including towing, rental car, and replacing the broken axle with a brand new one, but since I did not do that they would only cover $300. So unless I want to go through a bunch of hassle with Ford customer service, that will be all I get. I have pictures but was unable to upload them to this site.

Ford Motor Co will not give a definate plan. No time limit has been established to either fix (or how to fix) the van and the rental car given to us is costing us $3.30 a day for taxes. Ford offers $30 a day for a rental and $8 for ins. We pay yearly for our auto insurance and it covers rentals. We, therefore declined the $8 offer but Ford will not pay for the taxes. Without a definate date or fate of our vehicle, It costs $99 a month to keep the rental car. If we do not need the insurance provided by the rental co and Ford offered $8 for insurance, why can't they pick up the taxes? This is especially annoying because there is no limit on how long Ford can wait to make any decision regarding our vehicle.

I was searching for solutions to my ABS and Brake lights on my dash for a while when I find out about the cracking rear axles. Didn't have an issue with mine until a while later when the wife said its making a clunking noise over bumps going to the right. Looked and didn't see anything at the time. Heard it myself a week later, and then thought it was something else until I removed the source I THOUGHT it was. Still had it, so as I was at a gas station on concrete I went underneath and looked, which is when I took my picture. It was cracked 1/2 way from the back side towards the top, and up underneath all along the back side and going over towards the front. There's even a piece missing out of it from the inside area that I felt.

LUCKILY my friend has a 95 Windstar and I crawled under it today and looked at his axle, and it appears that it it built way better (and sturdier) so my search will be an older replacement. Undecided if I will remove the sealed hubs from my current axle and place them on the replacement older axle since those are grease-able. REGARDLESS, its something I have to do that I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO. I noticed my rear shocks are rusting apart as well, so it must be a Ford thing. I fear going underneath and having this thing fall on me from some other unknown rust out area.

I would like all Ford Windstar owners to know about a serious potential safety problem with this van. I was notified by by dealer of a cracked rear axle on my 2001 Windstar and upon further research located a NY Times Article: Ford Windstar Axles Bring Hundreds of Complaints, but No Inquiry.

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/ford-windstar-rear-axles-bring-hundreds-of-complaints/

According to my problem and the article," At least 200 owners of 1999 through 2003 Ford Windstar minivans have filed complaints about rear axles breaking, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has never opened a safety investigation" I registered my complaint with NHTSA and got an immediate inquiry into the problem.

I urge all Windstar owners to have their vehicle inspected immediately due to this safety hazard I knew nothing about until my dealer notified me when it was in for service on another unrelated issue and was told it was not safe to drive. As there is no current recall, I had to pay for the costly repair, but if you are a Windstar owner you should take immediate action. Please review the article and take care to address this as soon as possible. I felt it was important as there may be many families on the highway today, driving for summer vacations, to work or around town that may be at risk. I feel it is my responsibility to notify as many others this may impact.

William Koval

I had fortunately stopped on a whim for an oil change. The mechanic asked if I was hauling heavy items or towing heavy items and I explained that I had just towed my daughter's Porsche which is about 1800lbs and could be pushed onto the tow dolly. I was given a price of $1300 to fix so I left with the broken axle. Took it to a friend who was a retired Power-train engineer. He welded the broken seam after clamping and then put 3/16" steel plates over the same area. I am contemplating replacing the axle but beefing up the replacement before installation. Ford should have a recall on this as it could kill. We thought Toyota should have reacted faster... dah?