Problems with 2000 Ford Windstar POWER TRAIN

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 20 mph, she noticed a burning odor. the contact located the failure at the rear wheels, which were protruding inward. she took the vehicle into a local repair facility where they advised that the rear axle had fractured. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were approximately 125,000.

At 82,000 miles car was running bumpy and o/d off light was flashing. i took it to ford and they told me that the transmission is nearly broken and should be replaced for $3300. i got it rebuilt at aamco for $2300. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving at approximately 45 mph, the rear of the vehicle began to sway abnormally. the contact momentarily lost control of the vehicle. he noticed there was smoke coming from the rear. the contact was able to stop the vehicle and discovered that the rear axle had fractured. the vehicle was towed to a residence and was not further examined for the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were 70,000. updated 11/03/10. *lj

I was turning the car around in a parking lot. the car abruptly stopped and made a boom. i got out and looked underneath the car and the rear axle had broken in half. nothing has been done to fix the axle since so many ford windstars are having the same problem, i am concerned that the same thing will happen as has been documented on the internet. the old part is still on the car. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving 10 mph the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was inoperable so the contact pushed the vehicle off the road and into a parking space. the contact towed the vehicle to his residence. the contact called the dealer who stated they needed to perform a diagnostic test. the contact stated the transmission needed to be replaced. the contact stated the faulty transmission was a known issue for his year, make, and model. the failure mileage was 156,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, she hard an abnormal crack. the contact was unable to locate the origin of the noise. on a later date, while driving at 25 mph there was a loud, unusual squeal. she discovered the rear driver side tire was slanted at an angle and the rear axle was fractured in half. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where she was awaiting a diagnosis of the failure. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were approximately 170,000.

I was @ a stop sign with my 2 kids in the back. when i started to cross the busy intersection i heard a loud pop & the van lurched forward & stopped part way in the intersection. i could not drive forward. my kids were just screaming. luckily i was able to only drive in reverse (no one was behind me) & get the van out of traffic. my father is a mechanic & said he sees this all the time with windstars, especially the 2000. it took a couple of weeks to actually find a salvaged transmission (i was not going to pay for it to be rebuilt). apparently that transmission was only made for that one year because ford knew it was bad. but that made it that much harder to replace. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving at 35 mph, the contract drove over a manhole causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to control. the contact smelled burning rubber and moved the vehicle off the roadway. he found that the rear wheels were tilted abnormally. the vehicle was towed to an automotive facility for diagnosis. the mechanic advised that the high beam axle was fractured. the dealer was contacted who advised there was not a recall for the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 80,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact was driving at approximately 60 mph when the vehicle began to abnormally veer to the right. the contact was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete barrier. the vehicle was flipped in the opposite direction. the air bags did not deploy. the contact sustained minor cuts and bruises from the impact. a police report was available. the vehicle was destroyed. the vehicle was further inspected and it was determined that the rear axle fractured and caused the failure. the manufacturer was not contacted. the current and failure mileages were approximately 101,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, there was an unusual popping sound and then the vehicle fish tailed uncontrollably. the contact managed to move the vehicle onto the emergency lane way without further incident. the contact discovered that the rear axle broke in half. the vehicle was towed to a local repair facility so that the axle could be repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were 148,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated that there was a clanking noise in the rear of the vehicle and started feeling as if it was not stable. the contact looked underneath the rear end of the vehicle and stated that the rear axle was nearly split in half. the contact stated that only an inch and a half of the axle was not damaged. the contact was unable to drive the vehicle due to the failure. the vehicle was not inspected when the complaint was filed. the failure mileage was 133000. the current mileage was 134231.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact inspected the vehicle and detected that the rear driver side of the axle was cracked. the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired at the time of the complaint. the contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. the failure mileage was approximately 130,000. updated 08/27/10. *lj the consumer stated he had the rear axle replaced on july 21, 2010. updated 08/30/10*jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar lx. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph over a bump in the road or any uneven road surface, the vehicle would sway from side to side. in addition, when attempting to make a left turn, the vehicle would exhibit an unusual squeaking noise. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who could not duplicate or diagnose the failure. the failure persisted and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer who then stated that the rear axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle could not be repaired because the part was not available. the contact left the vehicle with the dealer until the part became available. the failure and current mileages were approximately 104,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving at approximately 45 mph, the rear suspension collapsed. the contact moved off the roadway and found that the rear axle had fractured in half. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was awaiting a replacement axle. the failure and current mileages were 163,100.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, she heard a clanking noise and the vehicle would no longer move forward. after inspecting it, she noticed that the passenger front tire was pointing outward. the vehicle was towed to a repair shop where the contact was informed that a bracket that held the front axle had corroded. the vehicle was repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who stated that a piece of the frame needed to be replaced at the contacts expense. the current mileage was approximately 150,000. the failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving at 55 mph, the contact heard an abnormal bang. the vehicle cabin was immediately filled with smoke and the contact moved off the roadway. the contact was assisted by a state trooper and the vehicle was towed to a local repair facility. the mechanic advised the rear axle had failed but did not exhibit signs of wear. the vehicle was left with the mechanic where he was awaiting repairs to the axle. the contact was concerned with the possibility of a crash had the traffic been heavier. the failure mileage was 130,000.

I owned a 2000 ford windstar with approximately 94,000 miles. for about a week, it was difficult to control the car when driving over uneven surfaces, especially while braking on an uneven or bumpy surface because the rear end would shift to the right or left under these conditions. .a few days later, the front end began to jerk and i took it into the garage. upon review, the mechanic told me the transmission needed to be replaced and the rear axle was broken almost completely through. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving 20 mph, there was a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the rear axle was fractured and would need replacing. the vehicle was not under recall and the manufacturer was not contacted. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 70,000.

Tl-the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving in reverse at a very low speed, the contact heard an unusual cracking sound from the rear of the vehicle. the failure would recur whenever the contact was reversing. when driving over speed or road bumps, the vehicle would abnormally fishtail and momentarily lose control. the contact discovered that the rear axle was fractured in two separate locations. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. the failure mileage was 126,000 and the current mileage was 127,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while the vehicle was parked, he noticed the rear drivers side tire was abnormally bent outward. upon further inspection, the contact found that the rear axle was cracked. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure and current mileages were 88,000.

We have a 2000 ford windstar that we took to our mechanic for inspection. while being inspected, the mechanic noticed that the rear beam axle was rotted and cracked. this is the 2nd rear axle that rotted out on the van. 1st one was replaced in july 2008. car is still at mechanics garage, awaiting instructions for repair. ford has no recall on the axle. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving at approximately 45 mph, the vehicle began to veer off the road. the contact pulled over and noticed that the rear axle was broken. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. the current and failure mileages were approximately 136,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while reversing in the driveway at 5 mph, the contact noticed a clicking sound from the rear of the vehicle and that the rear axle was split in two. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. the vin was unavailable when the complaint was filed. the current and failure mileages were approximately 108,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving at speeds of 30 mph, the rear axle cracked. the contact had not spoken with the dealer or manufacturer and the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the current and failure mileages were 118,000.

Tla* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated that while at a local mechanic for an unrelated issue, the mechanic discovered that the rear axle was cracked and was still attached to the vehicle by a small piece of metal. the axle was replaced by an authorized dealer. the failure mileage was approximately 130,000 and the current was unknown.

On friday, may 15, 2010, my husband was driving home from work for lunch and the rear axle snapped on our 2000 ford windstar sle minivan. the mechanic also said the "differentials" were damaged. the total cost was $795. fortunately, my husband was not on a busy street and he was able to pull to the side of the road until we could have the vehicle towed. also, he did not hit anything that would have caused the axle to snap. in july 2009, we had to replace the transmission in this same vehicle while traveling to myrtle beach, s.c., on vacation. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated that the vehicle is very hard to shift. he hears a loud banging noise when shifting and the vehicle also looses power. the failure is more pronounced on an incline. ford motor company has not been contacted nor has the dealer. the vehicle has not been repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were approximately 130,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving at speeds of 35 mph, the contact was barely ale to maintain control of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where she was advised by the mechanic that the rear axle was cracked. the manufacturer advised the vehicle was not under recall and to have the dealer repair the vehicle. the manufacture would offer no further assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 130,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated she continuously heard a loud, unusual noise coming from under the vehicle and when driving, the vehicle would shake excessively. while reversing from a driveway at 5 mph, the rear axle fractured. the vehicle was towed to a local repair facility where the axle was replaced. the failure and current mileages were 93,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving at approximately 25 mph, the contact noticed a clanking noise in the rear of the vehicle. he inspected the vehicle and noticed that the rear axle was covered with rust, split in two pieces and was hanging from the side of the tire. the contact called the manufacturer and was informed that they were unaware of such a failure. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 129,000. the current mileage was approximately 130,000.

I hit a small pot hole and when i got to the parking lot i was told my rear tires were side ways. my husband was able to get the car home 2/10ths of a mile. when the mechanic look at it he said the pot hole wasn't the problem. it was already cracked. he said he had repaired a number of axles on ford. also, my transmission began skipping at the same time this whole incident started. when we first bought the van, i was in line in the cafeteria and a gentlemen asked me if i was picked each day in a windstar and i said yes. he informed me that windstars are notorious for having transmission problems. i know he is right. *tr

While driving our 2000 ford windstar lx the rear axle cracked in half. if it would of been minutes later the van would have been back on the highway and we could of possibly got killed. there are a lot of other ford owners who have had the same problem since 1998 with the windstar's. there should be a recall on the rear axle before someone gets killed. this is a very dangerous problem that ford needs to address. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving at approximately 15 mph, the driver noticed the back end of the vehicle would sway when he drove over a bump. the driver examined the vehicle and noticed that the rear axle was broken. the vehicle had not been inspected by the dealer at the time of the complaint. the failure and current mileages were approximately 130,000.

2000 ford windstar se van. transmission problems. at 35,500 miles the original transmission failed and ford replaced it. overdrive light blinks and additional repairs have been needed. i have been on several websites regarding ford transmissions (2000 - 2005) year models of vans, suv, and light trucks. the blinking od light is a recurring theme (hundreds of complaints) and requires expensive repairs. ford has to be aware of this transmission defect, but has not nothing!!! *tr

Rear axle snapped at about 30 mph. destroyed both rear shocks and driver's side rear wheel. *tr

I had just had our 2000 ford windstar serviced at our ford dealer a few days before where they replaced worn sway bars and bushings. i was backing out of our driveway when i heard a snap and then could here something metal dragging on the ground. i pulled back into my driveway and looked under my car to find that the rear axle had broken in about the center of the axle. i had it towed into our ford dealer to find out what happened they took a look at it and said it snapped and that there was no sign of wear before it broke. i asked if there was any previous knowledge of this happening or if ford was aware of this issue and was told no. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving 40 mph he heard a clanging noise coming from the vehicle. the next day while driving the rear end of the vehicle started to shimmy. he pulled over to the side of the road after he saw smoke. he towed the vehicle home. upon vehicle inspection he noticed that brake system was corroded and that the axle had fractured. he was in the process of contacting the service manager. no repairs were made .the failure and current mileages were 117000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. he stated that the rear axle broke in half while driving less than 5 mph in reverse. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who stated that rust caused the axle to brake in half. the vehicle was repaired at the owners expense for $1000.00. the ford manufacturer has not been notified of the failure. the failure and current mileages were 150,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar lx. while driving 60 mph the axle failed without warning. she had to drive on the shoulder to stop the vehicle from rolling over. the vehicle was towed to her place of residence. the dealer nor the manufacturer were contacted. the failure mileage was 131,985. updated 01/05/10. *lj the consumer stated when she attempted to switch lanes, a loud pop came from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle began to rock back and forth until the vehicle finally stopped. updated 01/05/10.*jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the rear axle stabilizer bar has fractured. the dealer was contacted but no assistance was provided. the manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. the failure mileage was 107,151.

As typical with ford windstars my 2000 ford windstar transmission malfunctioned in the middle of driving on a major roadway almost causing a severe accident that would have injured me and my wife and three kids and the occupants of the other vehicle. there are several complaints about ford windstar transmissions failing and this is not the first transmission to fail in our vehicle. the costly repair for what seems like a problem with numerous windstar vans should be the responsibility of ford this issue could kill someone if a failure was to occur on a major interstate when vehicles are traveling at high rates of speeds and drivers do not have time to react to a sudden transmission blowout. this is a very serious safety issue that occurs without warning and ford should be held responsible especially after they received stimulus money from all of us taxpayers. they should be held responsible for their junk. this will be the second transmission replaced the first one was replaced by a ford rebuild which is the one that failed. with a pricetag of over $2000.00 that's hard on people who live paycheck to paycheck. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the vehicle was parked when the rear end vehicle collapsed. the contact stated that both rear tires were positioned inwardly. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. the failure was contributed to a broken rear axle frame. photographs are available upon request. the vehicle has been repaired for the malfunction. the failure mileage was 100,000.

Rear axel broke in half while driving over a draw bridge on the belt parkway in brooklyn ny. i kept control of the van even though the rear wheels were not vertical. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while entering the driveway from a six hour trip, the rear side of the vehicle malfunctioned. a local mechanic advised her that the rear axle fractured in half. the vehicle was being repaired. . the current and failure mileages were 112,000. updated 11/12/09 *cn updated 11/16/09

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would shift in and out gear and then began to shift much extreme force. the radio also came on and by itself. the dealer had not been contacted and the failure was not diagnosed. prior to the failure the vehicle was in the transmission shop to replace the gear shift box and a seal was added to assist with the transmission leak. the failure mileage was 120000 and the current mileage was 140000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving at approximately 10-15 mph and attempting to park, the rear axle fractured on the drivers side of the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where the axle was replaced. the failure recurred within one year while exiting a driveway at relatively low speeds. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 115,000 and the current mileage was 130,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. while driving 25 mph, the vehicle began jerking extremely hard. the contact was able to drive to her residence where she discovered a leak in the automatic transmission. the vehicle was towed to a local repair facility where she was advised that the transmission would need to be replaced. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 119,000. updated 11/16/10. *lj

My 2000 ford windstar had transmission problems that started in late 2008. automatic transmission lever was hard too shift into any gear. a few months later the transmission started leaking. as the months went by the leaking got worse. in may of 2009 there was now quite a bit of transmission fluid leaking from the transmission, causing the need for fluid to be added in order for the transmission to work. problem fixed in july of 2009. transmission oil seal was defective on the van, even though it only had 75,000 miles on it. head gasket needed replaced as well. total price: $1700. *tr

Transmission failed in the loading zone at the airport. towed to local transmission repair shop; advised that cost to replace with a used transmission would be $2800. current blue book for this vehicle is $2125 in fair condition. *tr

Ford windstar 2000, transmission failure in the middle of a busy highway. i am 55 years old and have a bad back and had to risk my life to push this vehicle off the road so i would not get hit by traffic on a rainy evening! luckily, my aged mother was not in the car at the time. if you look up www.carcomplaints.com and research ford transmission, you will see that this is not an isolated incident. no wonder they can't sell their cars! this transmission was just rebuilt two years ago for the same problem. *tr