Problems with 2001 Ford Windstar STRUCTURE

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an inspection. the technician informed the front portion of the frame was completely rusted. there was a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields); however the vin was ineligible. in addition, the vehicle was not originally sold or registered in the states mentioned in the recall defect. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Just 18-months after the ford windstar safety recall repairs were completed, the front sub-frame of my 2001 ford windstar cracked resulting in loss of stability. the vehicle was taken to the ford dealership in midland michigan. it was deemed unsafe to drive by the ford dealership service manager and repair technician. *tr

Making a left turn, heard a loud bang. the sway bar link came loose attached to a chunk of rusted metal from the subframe. the sway bar and link are fine. it is a part of the subframe where it attaches to that came off. there is no way to reattach the sway bar as the whole section where it attaches to subframe is rusted. called ford dealer in ithaca, this is not covered by their recalls. *tr

i was driving home when i went around a corner i heard a thump in the front passenger side of my windstar, the following morning i took it into my mechanic. he looked the vehicle over and told me the sub frame has rusted out where the stabilizer bar connects. this issue was supposed to have been addressed by ford the previous year when they had it in for the rear axle recall. i find ford had made the decision to put some useless brackets in and not replace the sub-frame. i called customer care concerning the problem and was told there was only a year warranty on the work so there was nothing they could do as i had picked up the van end of april /beginning of may 2011. a recall was issued for this problem and quite evidently their fix with some little brackets did not repair the issue, i am not sure how some brackets are suppose to correct a rusting out sub frame to begin with. *tr

7/21/2011 bought van from private party. recall completed in march of 2011 regarding back axle. on 7/13/2012 8pm, my 18yr old son, while driving home from lacrosse practice, nearly killed. upon pulling out onto the main road, he lost all controls, no steering, no brakes and no power. he coasted and prayed it would stop. i arrived, we called aaa. flatbed to my home driver could not believe his eyes. the engine had fallen out. 7/16/12 called ford in mich and spoke to rep. to be towed 13 miles away to route 23 auto at our expense. really? route23 wanted nothing to do with me (they did recall). went back and forth then per rt23 "it will be a month until we can look at it" getting know where. 7/18-22 borrowed friend car for tournament. 8/1/12 called magarino ford and with great concern had a flatbed that night. this tow truck driver could not believe it. fluids raced out and double stabilized for engine sliding during transport. 8/2/12 magarino called 9am, pictures sent to ford and awaiting reply. 8/5/12 t/c from m stating ford refuses to buy back and sending a subframe. you mean a recalled one? magarino caught in middle i questioned whether he would put his children in this van. he softly replied, "no" what am i to do, out of work 2 years, single parent with no car to find work. 8/8/12 i questioned ford why this van ever left rt 23 auto, according to researched paper a part was waiting on. you mean to tell me that upon this fixed axle nobody noticed the subframe was rotted from inside out causing the engine to fall out the next summer nearly killing my son! but they signed it was fine! really? now we have case # 1373091992 8/10/12 picked up van. broke= a/c, r-window, heater engine, airbag, brake light on, runs hot steering= thumps makes noise (full fluid) skip gears, sways, barely can get up a hill. 11yr old scared to drive in it

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.. *tr

Front sub-frame badly rusted and sway bar welded mounts on the sub-frame have rusted and broken in half causing poor steering control and excessive body roll. as a note, this vehicle was rustproofed when new and inspected over the life of the vehicle each year. also, ford has inspected the front sub-frame in january of 2011 on a recall and it appears did not find a problem with the sub-frame in this area. given the severity of the rust it would appear the problem existed at the time of inspection. *js

when driving the front end of my van would start shaking at 54mph. took it in to my mechanic julyof 2012 told me my subframe was bad .ford recalled my van in jan of 2011 had it for four months recall on subframe and rear axle was completed in may of 2011 contacted ford they will not help me. *tr

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 $1,500.00. *tt

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that repairs were made to the vehicle under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members: under body shields) in 2001. the contact stated that per the recall, attaching brackets were installed to both front lower control arms. most recently, the sub frame was found to be fractured near the steering column. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer who stated that they previously repaired the vehicle under the recall and would not make the repair a second time. the manufacturer was notified of the failure who advised the contact that the recall did not pertain to the sub frame and that the dealer who performed the recall did so accordingly. the manufacturer offered no further assistance. the failure mileage was 45,500.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields) and took the vehicle to the dealer for recall service. the contact stated that unbeknownst to him, the recall repair was not fully completed and the vehicle was still unsafe to drive due to the sub-frame being completely rusted. the president of the company and the board of directors were informed of the failure. a letter was mailed to the contact advising that they would not assist with the repair. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 85,000. the consumer stated the dealer repaired only part of the front sub-frame, they did not replace it. the consumer later learned ford's instruction was to perform cosmetic repair of the corrosive damage on the front sub-frame. six months later, when the consumer took the vehicle to a local service station for an oil change, he was informed the sub-frame mount was completely rotted out. the consumer was informed by letter, after writing to ford, they would not honor any new repairs. updated 02/11/13

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that while turning right into a parking space, a loud clunking noise was heard. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the front sub frame was corroded and needed to be repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since there were no recalls related to the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 167,500 and current mileage was 168,000.

2001 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to recalls *tgw the consumer stated he received a postcard in the mail advising him to see his local dealer regarding two recalls. however, when he arrived at the dealer, they informed him the recalls had already been done. the consumer stated the problems are present in his vehicle. *jb

Annual state inspection found rust at mount on right front subframe,,passenger rear rocker panel has rust hole. abs/brake lights stay on,even after they been fixed. *tr

2001 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to defective front end *tgw the consumer stated two recalls were issued and for the past year, he has been unsuccessful at getting his vehicle inspected. the consumer was informed by several dealers, they were not performing any recalls. *jb

This vehicle has been ruining every front tire put on it ever since the recall front subframe work was done on it by ford in 9/2011 and it has been through 2 sets of front tires in the last 4,500 miles since the work was done. ford does not acknowledge any responsibility and the last dealer who looked at it told me i needed tires. no kidding. the last time i took it to firestone to get tires, they told me they wouldn't touch it and that i needed to take it to a body shop; the specs were so off. the dealer that did the original work redocumented the car's problems 3 times but the manufacturer refused to buy it back and they did the work on it the best they could and this is what i am left with: an unsafe vehicle. i had a blow out on interstate 95 on christmas eve that could have taken my life and another blow out since then at a slower speed (thank god!) i need help nailing ford to the wall on this and making them be responsible for risking my safety and i am sure that i am not the only one. i wonder if other people have been hurt or lost their lives over this?? over a few dollars?? ford needs to be made to admit they did not protect their customers properly. i wonder if it all comes down to avoiding liability for people that have been injured. please help me. *tr

2001 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to recall for sub frame rusting *tgw the consumer stated the dealer reinforced the bracket. however, they claimed the bracket that rusted holding the sway bar was not covered by the recall, which caused the vehicle to sway in the wind. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated the vehicle was repaired under the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields). upon having the repairs completed, the contact was informed that the front sway bar link also needed to be replaced due to excessive corrosion, but were not included in the recall. no additional repairs were performed. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 156,503. updated 11/03/11 *bf updated 05/12/2012 *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle was included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 10v385000 (suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly). the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact received a second recall notice associated with nhtsa campaign id number 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields). the authorized dealer stated that the vehicle was safe to drive and did not need to be repaired. the vehicle was taken home, and while driving at low speeds the vehicle stopped and would not drive any further. the contact examined the vehicle and noticed that both front wheels were pointing outward and the lower control arms were fractured. the authorized dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would attempt to buy the vehicle back. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were approximately 113,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated the engine fell out of the vehicle while driving. the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who stated the front sub frame was completely covered with rust which caused the engine to fall off of the vehicle. the contact never received a recall notice for nhtsa recall campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members: underbody shields). the failure and current mileage was 142,000.

2001 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to ford recall #11s16 involving the subframe lower control are due to rust/corrosion *tgw the consumer was informed by his mechanic, that the steering issues he was experiencing were related to the subframe recall. subframe brackets were installed at that time. however, while driving, the consumer heard a knocking sound coming from the right front passenger side of the vehicle, whenever there was a bump in the road. the consumer returned to his mechanic and was told the problem was still due to the subframe issue. the consumer stated the mechanic was surprised that the dealer had repaired the problem with a kit, instead of replacing the subframe. the consumer returned to the dealer and was informed the problem was with the sway bar, which had disconnected from the subframe, but it could not be repaired unless the rusted subframe was replaced at a cost of $ 2,781.00. the dealer sent ford pictures of the subframe, but they refused to replace it at their expense. *jb

Took the vehicle in for new tires because one was going bald fast and they found that the passenger side rear sub frame mount was rusted away. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that the frame was severely corroded underneath the vehicle near the sliding doors and rocker panels. as a result, there was not place to support the universal jack. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the frame and the areas near the rocker panels were corroded. the dealer was not notified. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 230,000.

Tl - the contact owns a 2001 windstar. the contact stated that after receiving the repairs for recall nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (component: structure: frame and members:underbody shields) the vehicle was vibrating, it did not have any power when pressing the gas and it was making a loud noise. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the motor mount was defective and needed to be replaced. the remedy failed to repaired the problem. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offered any assistance since the recalls repairs were done up to code. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 185,000. pm

The front subframe suspension mount failed while i was driving my 2001 ford windstar van at highway speed and thus i loss steering control of the vehicle. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact was driving approximately 55 mph when the vehicle experienced a completely loss of steering control and drifted into the opposing lane without intent. the vehicle came to a stop when the brakes were applied. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the subframe was defective and caused damages within the steering and suspension mechanisms. the vehicle was previously repaired under a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 11v030000 (structure: frame and members: underbody shields). the failure occurred after the recall repair. the contact stated the remedy did not correct the failure. the vehicle was in the process of being repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the defect. the failure mileage was approximately 59,524.

My drivers side back door will not open from the inside or outside and my passenger side back door will not open from the inside. my (abs) light will not go off. there is a cracking noise under where my front tires are on both sides. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members: underbody shields). the contact stated that the vehicle was reinspected after the recall repairs and she was informed that rust was still present and could possibly cause the engine to drop from the vehicle. the dealer sprayed the vehicle with an antirust agent but the remedy did not work. the contact stated that the recall repair was inadequate and needed to be changed. the failure mileage was 120,000.

I heard a popping sound 2 times am i safe in my vehicle, i did buy it used. i looked at the side of the door panel and it was made in canada, do i have something to fear??? *tr

I have a 2001 ford windstar. while driving home the other day i turned the corner and heard a loud "pop", lost all steering and could not move the vehicle. when the tow truck driver came and lifter the van up and looked underneath he told me the news was not good. he showed me where the frame had broken and where the "arm" was suppose to be welded to. he showed me the"arm/bar" behind the right tire. thankfully i did not hit anyone and no one hit me when this happened. the police did come because i was a safety hazard sitting in the lane the cars were trying to drive in. if i had been on the highway when this happened going 60 miles an hour i surely would have flipped or caused a major accident as eventhough it happened while slowly turning a corner i had to slam on my braked causing my tires to squeal and smoke and the whole van to swerve from side to side. i sat shaking in my van for several minutes. please take the time to read my complaint and consider adding it to the list of recalls. i do not know how i am going to pay for this repair. as a single mother of three children my money is very tight and this is not something insurance covers. when i told the tow truck driver it was a 2001 vehicle he was very surprised to see this problem. please do something and very quickly to correct this potentially fatal problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. while driving 10 mph, the vehicle exhibited an abnormal pop noise and immediately, the power steering assist failed. the contact stated that the vehicle was extremely difficult to control, especially when attempting a turn. the contact inspected the vehicle and found that the front sub frame was corroded and cracked near the front passenger area. the vehicle was taken the dealer who inspected and ruled the vehicle as unsafe to drive. the manufacturer would not assist with the repairs because the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members: under-body shields). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 92,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact heard a banging noise coming from the front subframe on the vehicle and it began to shake between 50 and 55 mph. the dealer confirmed that the subframe was covered with rust. the manufacturer advised the contact that his vehicle was not included in recall number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields) and offered no other assistance. no repairs were performed. the current mileage was 99,000. the failure mileage was 98,000. updated 05/26/11 *bf the dealer placed two brackets on the front frame. however, they stated the repair can fail at anytime. updated 05/31/11

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the vehicle was included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields and was taken to an authorized dealer for repairs. after the repairs were completed, the contact noticed that the front frame was unstable and he could easily shift it using his hands. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where the contact was told that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and would not pass inspection. the vehicle was not further repaired. the failure and current mileage was 167,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving he heard a noise underneath the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnose that the sub frame of the front passenger side of the vehicle needed to be replaced due to corrosion. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle had already been repaired under recall nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members: under body shields). the failure mileage was 142,023. the consumer stated the recall part was not replaced in front or rear subframe. a bracket was put in front of sub frame just in case it breaks. rear sub frame was covered with foam. it will break later. updated 12/28/2012 *js

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. *tr

I have a 2001 ford windstar that was serviced for the safety recall 11s16,(11v030000 nhtsa campaign number) 04/11/2011. my vehicle was grounded do to significant subframe rot but it was deemed repairable by ford. on february 2, 2013 i noticed a 2 inch long crack/perforation on the top part of the sub-frame where the repair bracket was attached when i was rotating the tires. i took it back to the ford dealership and they said they were unable to help because it was repaired once and they wont pay to have it repaired again. im not sure if they missed this the first time it was fixed or what. i do know that according to ford's specs for determining if a subframe is repairable or not this crack would deem in non-repairable because its within the 2 inch mark from the tooling hole. now im just waiting for the subframe to completely crack while im driving down the road. the repair bracket that was supposed to solve the problem to begin with will not hold the subframe together if it completely cracks at the spot at which its located in. i also believe that due to downward force on the subframe body mount and the fact where the u shaped bracket is sitting on the subframe that holds the bracket on the subframe, it is acting like a fulcrum point where the subframe is bending and cracking. *tr

My '01 windstar had subframe repair in spring 2011... was said to be " inspect subframe- did not pass but can be repaired". it was repaired at that time. last week, i had it into a mechanic for an unrelated problem where he had it on the lift. he told me that the subframe is "completely rotted". i currently plan to return to ford dealer. ..updated 04/16/12 *bf *tr

2001 ford windstar limited. subframe and frame needs repair due to salt corrosion in ohio. there should be a recall to repair these items as ford co. should have used salt resistant materials to take care of this problem. updated ivoq 03/17/11 *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar le. the contact was driving approximately 65 mph when the right front sub-frame separated and fractured the engine cradle. the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed off road. the contact was uninjured and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they advised him that the right sub-frame was completely rusted. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. the failure and current mileage was approximately 127,000.

Broken subframe on 2001 ford windstar. *tr

2001 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to vehicle recall *tgw the consumer stated she took the vehicle to the dealer because she received a recall letter in the mail. the dealer inspected the vehicle and informed her she would receive another letter in the mail stating when to return with the vehicle. the consumer stated she has not received a letter. *jb the consumer stated the vehicle is emitting gas fumes.. updated 04/26/11

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact took the vehicle in for repairs under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v030000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields). the contact stated that the vehicle sat idle on the dealers lot for approximately three months before the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be repaired due to excessive corrosion of the front part of the sub frame. the contact was advised to have the sub frame repaired before recall repairs could be performed. the contact stated that the front and rear of the sub frame was one whole part and if the front was replaced, the entire frame would have to be replaced. the frame was not repaired. in addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was also repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control) and as a result, the entire cruise control system became inoperable after recall repairs. the contact was concerned with the potential of the vehicle catching fire. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 74,000.

Today i was driving my 2001 ford windstar from yonkers ny to white plains ny when the rear axle cracked. it was a clear, dry day. this axle had cracked before - in august 2010, prior to the recall being issued. at that time, as there was no repair being offered by ford, i had the axle welded. welding the axle was a 'fix' reported by other windstar owners so i was not too bothered. until today i had no problems with the rear axle. the new crack is approximately an inch from where the first one had been. the van had to be towed to my usual mechanic. i am trying to find out if ford has the part to fix this. my mechanic called but said they did not have a replacement. i am not sure what i can do now - this really leaves me in a bad spot as i use my car daily. others i know who have this same vehicle and trying to have the recalled part taken care of have been having problems because of lack of parts and/or problems getting appointments. *tr

Disturbing sounds from right side front end of my 2001 form windstar. steering wheel became off center. problem diagnosed as subframe corrosion. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds over road bumps and pot holes, the vehicle would exhibit a loud grinding noise. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and they advised her that the cradle to the frame was severely rusted. the contact was advised not drive the vehicle because the frame could detach while driving. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 110,000. the vin was unavailable.

My wife's 2001 ford windstar has had a persistant clunk in the front passenger side. while doing some work on the vehicle this evening i discovered severe rust on the rear body mount of the front subframe. the area to the rear of the bushing is corroded through and cracked. i have good digital pictures and will provide them to you if you desire. this problem has been described repeatedly by many windstar owners. frankly, i find ford's claim that this doesn't present "an unreasonable risk" infuriating. i am calling on you to recall this vehicle before someone gets killed. *tr

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.

1/23/11 while driving to baptism van all of a sudden started to clunk in the right front suspension. while driving home clunking kept happening on right hand turns. got home, jacked up van, pulled passenger front tire, found excessive rust and sway bar completely broken from subframe. also noticed front a arm excessive rust not safe to drive. vehicle will be parked and only 10 years old. don't know what to do next???? wife and kids are not safe to drive in. van is super clean and well maintained and no rust elsewhere. now what do we do??? ? please help!!!! *ln

This complaint is related to your nhtsa action # ea10007 january 12, 2011, my wife was driving our ford windstar on hwy 155 north of saint germain, wi. without warning the front end right wheel dislodged and the car swerved violently all over the highway. luckily, no other cars were near. the roadside ditches where the failure occurred are more than 12' deep, so there could also have been injuries and or damage if she had not reacted as quickly and forcibly as she did. she was able to wrestle the car onto the shoulder and call for help. upon towing to the nearest ford dealership, it has been determined that the undercarriage failed, the front right axle dislodged from the transmission, and various other damage can also have occurred. updated ivoq 02/16/11 *tr

My 2001 windstar failed the yearly state saftey inspection because of frame rotting at the passenger side rear frame mount. i trust my mechanic and he strongly suggested that i do not drive this car ! he would not put a sticker on the car. his estimate for repair was over $2000 . *tr