- Ford is recalling 462,750 of its 1998-2003 Windstar minivans.
- The rear axle could fracture and increase the risk of a crash.
- Recall is expected to begin on or before September 27.
WASHINGTON — Ford is recalling 462,750 1998-2003 Windstar minivans because the rear axle could fracture and increase the risk of a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The recalled vehicles were manufactured from September 1, 1997, through February 28, 2003, and are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
"After many years of vehicle service in these areas, corrosion can weaken the rear axle, making it susceptible to torsional stress," said NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem. "Corrosion and stress can lead to cracks which, if undetected, can propagate and result in a complete fracture of the axle. A fractured axle can affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash."
In other documentation filed with the federal government and signed by James P. Vondale, director of Ford's automotive safety office, the automaker warns that "there may be little or no warning to the operator before a cracked rear axle completely fractures."
The recall is expected to begin on or before September 27. Ford told NHTSA that owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealer for inspection of the rear axle. Owners of vehicles without axle cracking will be notified when to return for the installation of reinforcement brackets to extend the axle durability in the presence of corrosion, the automaker said. Owners who have vehicles with cracked axles will be offered a repair or alternative transportation until parts become available.
Owners of the affected Windstar minivans can call Ford at (866) 436-7332.
Inside Line says: If you own the aforementioned Ford Windstar, have it checked out ASAP with your dealer. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
reowen says:
06:04 AM, 06/17/2011
We finally got the van back yesterday after sitting at the dealer since Nov. 19, 2010. They gave us a Kia minivan from Enterprise to use for the past 6 months. The dealer charged Ford for a new battery, but when they went to start the car it was dead. The old battery was still in the car. I brought this to the service desk's attention. They changed the battery. I think they were screwing Ford.
I looked under the car to see if they did the repairs and from what I can tell they did. But now the car squeaks like crazy due to sitting for so long, the wheel bearings sound like crap and there is more body rust as they had my van just sitting in a gravel weed stewn unlocked yard. The dealer told me it was go to be stored in a locked yard when we had to leave it and it was only going to be till Jan 2011.
The steering wheel is no longer in the correct position so I suspect they failed to re-align the wheels after all the chasis work.
I wish they had offered be $10K for it.
From what Ford spent on the work, the rental, etc it would have cost them less money.
I do not blame Ford, in fact I think they tried to do what was right. In 20/20 hindsight it would have been better if they had offered owner's the buy out, a new car at cost and 0% financing for 5 years.
I am sure this is going to be a big hit on them
Thanks
2001 Ford Windstar with 151 K miles
lovemyford2 says:
01:35 AM, 06/07/2011
well at least ford does the right thing when a defect is found. GM doesn't even acknowledge the fact that they produce crap and will not offer to fix their cars they say we'll take it as a trade in on another crappy GM car for a substantial loss to you the owner. my GM car was a '99 model and it rusted out at the subframe mounting points and they did nothing for it
jamie9806 says:
06:50 AM, 12/22/2010
i have a 32003 windstar.. what you i need to do about mine... i heard this on the news and now i am sorry scared to drive it... plus im in Germany living... please someone help me out....
fourwinns86 says:
08:27 AM, 10/28/2010
I have a 2001 Windstar and love it. Use it for towing my boat and family with 176K miles and lots of life left in it. Just found out that my axel is cracked and been told anywhere from 30 to 120 days to get parts. I am being given a rental car in the meantime but my biggest concern is having the car not running for that long. At its age, sitting for that long will definitely cause rapid deterioration.
ant14 says:
03:02 PM, 08/30/2010
The Winstar was a FWD Unibody Taurus based platform. The Crown Vics is a RWD BOF platform. 2 extremes.
fabrizzio_71 says:
01:26 PM, 08/30/2010
I think it would be wise to remember that the vehicles recalled here are from an era when most Ford's were pretty much crap (aka the chassis architechture for the '98--'03 windstar was probably directly derived from the crown vic etc.). My point is that recalls for older Ford vehicles isn't a reason to discount buying a new ford as their whole line up has been systematically redesigned from the ground up over the past two years or so. For many years I insisted that I would never buy or support American cars, but recent offerings from Ford are beginning to change that opinion.
tdiluv says:
01:05 PM, 08/30/2010
They should have to do CASH FOR CLUNKERS AND NOT JUST A FEW $$$$. And not just for a FORD trade!!
atenza94546 says:
12:28 PM, 08/30/2010
The back in the days Ford vehicles, doesn't it makes you want to buy a Ford!!!
wikiwiki says:
12:12 PM, 08/30/2010
I feel even better now for trading in my POS '02 Windstar 3 weeks ago for an '08 Sedona. I hated that heap. No more American cars for this guy.