At a major intersection getting onto a highway our subframe gave out and we came to a screeching halt & a dead stop. The entire subframe under the passengers side of the van rotted and the wheel was up against the frame of the car. It could have caused a major accident. It cost us $1,500.

- Lynn, FL, USA

Our rear axle has sheared in half three times. The third time (after they admitted a recall) we were 40 miles from home when it broke, Ford told us there was nothing they could do since it was a Saturday. We were forced to drive it home on the interstate, as a family of 6 in a town with no rental places we had no choice. Ford put their "patch kit" on my recalled axle last year, and it failed. Now they have given me a 1992 Sable as a rental while my van is in the shop. My family can't fit in it, and my children can't even fasten their seatbelts in it, and one of my children has to sit in the front seat with the airbag. They told me there's nothing they can do. My subframe is under recall, as well as the control arms and body mounts. Fords fix for this is to patch them like they did my axle, which broke. Now I am stuck with a ticking time bomb and four children. Fords bandaids for these devestating failures only buys them a few months time, and puts lives at risk. My front end clicks when I turn, my tires rubbed all the way home on the broken axle, the transmission leaks horribly, the undercarriage is rusted and rotted beyond repair, and all these admitted faulty parts are being patched and sent out the door. I dont feel safe driving my kids around in this! and im being told my choices are buy a new van at my expense, or drive this one and take a chance!!

- Bethany, MO, USA

The rear suspension had been making noise for a few days. Visual inspection didn't show anything obvious. Backing out of the driveway the rear axel snapped in half approximately 18 inches from the drivers side tire.

- Lexington, VA, USA

I currently keep getting grunting/popping/moaning noise from the front suspension when turning -braking-starting to move car forward. Already replaced the sway bar links and bushings but the noise still comes and goes. Also my brake-&-ABS lights comes on and off for no reason. And the locks on the doors work when they want too. Just had inspection done again 3 weeks ago but they can not find the problems. Talk with Ford about the noise to try to find out if there is any danger of a crash because of this and I keep getting the run around.

- Smithfield, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while the vehicle was inspected by a local mechanic, the contact was advised that the front sway bar was fractured due to corrosion. The manufacturer was contact but denied assistance with the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 121,000.

- Garrettsville , OH, USA

Complete separation of the front lower control arm attaching bracket from the front sub frame on the passenger side of the vehicle. This is the same problem that is described in the NHTSA recall no. 11V030. And Ford recall no. 11S16. The dealer that inspected the vehicle said it was not covered by the recall because the vehicle was not purchased or registered in a (salt-belt) state.

- Placentia, CA, USA

I am reporting my 2001 Ford Windstar limited for the same problems that have been recalled in the "salt belt states". I live in fauquier county, Virginia. This Windstar was originally bought at rick hunt Ford in warrenton, va and resided in the 20186 zip code until we bought it in 2005. It was traded into jerry's Lincoln/Mercury in manassas from whom we purchased it. We have lived in fauquier county the entire time we have owned this vehicle, in remington, va and now warrenton, va. I noticed in my regular maintenance that it appeared that the "front sub frame" was doing the same thing that others had complained of and ultimately was recalled in the "salt belt states". on 01/19/2012 what used to be rick hunt Ford and now is sheey Ford of warrenton, va looked at the "front sub frame". the service manager said that my concerns were correct about the "front sub frame", that it is doing what these vehicles were recalled for in the "salt belt states". he also said that the "rear axle" had a crack in it, also what they were recalled for in the "salt belt states". the results were that Ford would not take care of it even though it had the same problems that they recalled in other states. I contacted Ford customer service on 01/20/2012 and was told by the original person's supervisor that and I quote "Ford has agreed to add your vehicle to the recall list". I was to take the van back to sheehy so they could document everything and take care of it. I did so, dropped it off 01/23/2012. I called on 01/25/2012 to find out if it was ready that Ford would not take care of it since it had not been registered in a "salt belt state". I am requesting that the NHTSA look into these vehicles again and require Ford to recall the Windstar in all states. If you look around on the internet one can find people in almost every state who have the same problems. Thank you

- Warrenton, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 60 mph the contact noticed a slight shaking in the steering wheel. The contact stopped the vehicle at a gasoline station and noticed the rear drivers side tire was slanted inward. The contact inspected the vehicle and also noticed the rear axle had fractured. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technicians stated the rear axle fractured due to corrosion and had to be replaced. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V385000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly) that may be related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

Noticed that my front tires are worn out a lot in the inner edges. Took it for wheel alignment on Dec 22, 2011. Pep boys auto shop in Arizona avenue, chandler, AZ refused to do it saying that rear axel is bent. So it is not safe. I also took it to Ford dealership at 7300 w. orchid lane, AZ, 85226 (ph 480 940 4442) for "speed control system modification" recall. Service advisor [xxx] visually confirmed that wheels are bent outwardly. I am concerned for the safety of my family and me, and want this issue addressed. Thanks. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Chandler, AZ, USA

My 2001 Ford Windstar was repaired at valley Ford in valley view Ohio on 4/14/2011 under recall #20287. I had the van in for an unrelated matter on 12/07/2011 at that time I was informed by my mechanic that the sub-frame was rusted through. After contacting Ford's national service center I took the van to valley Ford. They inspected it and confirmed that the sub-frame was rusted through. They forwarded their finding to Ford Motor Co. And Ford Motor Co. Was not willing to address the issue with the sub-frame. I believe this issue should have been addressed under the initial recall. Since at least April of 2011 any time my children, myself, or anyone else rode in the vehicle it was subject to a catastrophic failure of the sub-frame which could have caused serious or fatal injury to the occupants or others.

- Garfield Heights, OH, USA

From one year back I was hearing a noise from rear axle of my Windstar. Finally, at December, the axle broke at 25mph. This is very dangerous because it can cause the death of someone. Please help people of puerto rico, we are american citizen too.

- Juana Diaz, PR, USA

I was driving at 35mph when I heard a loud boom and my Windstar careened wildly back and forth and felt like I had slammed on the brakes. The Windstar could not even be driven to the shoulder. The tow truck driver said the subframe was broken and possibly the tie rods had broken as well. The front wheels were pointed outward in opposite directions.

- Northville, MI, 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

I was turning a corner and heard a loud bag, as if metal has snapped. I took the car to my Ford dealer who said that the font subframe where the sway bar was attached had rusted through and that the sway bar was now not attached to the subframe and was banging. Ford has fixed the frame on two different rust recalls under "recall 11S16", but said this was not covered and would cost $2085.75 for the subframe plus labor and hardware. I asked if the car was safe to drive and received a non specific answer! if Ford Windstar has this much problem with there frame rusting why is this not covered??

- Painted Post, NY, USA

Before Ford recalled for this problem, my rear axle broke in half at 65 mph on the highway resulting in loss of control and fumes filling the car from tires rubbing against wheel wells. In March of 2011 Ford recalled and reinforced the subframe. Inspection is now due on my vehicle and my mechanic will not pass it due to the installment of the recalled reinforcement. Reportedly the installation was performed and attached to an equally as corroded part and failure is once again imminent. I returned the vehicle to the Ford dealer that made the recall repair and was told that it is indeed safe. I am now stuck with a potential repair bill of $700 that will not fix the problem due to the model year parts having the same issues, or just driving the vehicle until failure occurs (again) and going back to Ford with a lawsuit as I cannot in good conscience sell this vehicle to anyone else.

- Avoca, NY, USA

Right side of vehicle underneath subframe broke. Heard nosie and vehicle quit could not control had someone look at it and underneath is rusted out and broke I was told it was the subframe.

- Louisville, KY, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The vehicle was included in the recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 11V030000 (structure: Frame and members:underbody shields) and the recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V385000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly) and was taken to the dealer for repair. After the vehicle was repaired, the contact heard a grinding and a cracking sound in the front end of the vehicle while driving approximately 65 mph. The vehicle would also shake vigorously and the steering wheel began to turn on its own forcefully. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

- Hagerstown1, MD, USA

Right front (passenger side) sway bar mounting bracket separated from vehicle, at front lower control arm rear attaching bracket, less than 30 days after recall ( NHTSA campaign id number: 11V030000) was performed. This has rendered the vehicle unsafe to drive and it will not pass New York state vehicle safety inspection. Ford dealership denies any responsibility and Ford, the manufacturer, will not repair as part of recall.

- Webster , NY, USA

Upon replacing shocks and struts on my 2001 Ford Windstar my mechanic noticed a crack on axel took it in to local dealership to verify sure enough crack had me set up with enterprise to receive small loaner of a family of 6 sad need bigger vehicle Ford not budging will wait for rep to further pursue.. Ford saying approx. 2mths before repair... sad situation all around I wish I would never bought this vehicle expect more problems after sitting for two months.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

Vehicle is no longer drivable & is sitting at a Ford dealership service lot. Incident occurred on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at approximately 4:30pm. Vehicle front subframe cracked and passenger side tire separated from car while driving resulting in loss of control of vehicle. Car would not steer or move, could not be pushed out of traffic.

- Canton, MI, USA