Problems with 2002 Ford Windstar STEERING

My tires wiggle when driving like they are about to come off

Rh back side of subframe, is rotted/corroded so bad that the metal tore all around the subframe bushing. to where it is not being held up by the bushing on the right hand lower/back is not holding up the front subframe... now, the vehicle is making a very loud popping noise when driving and turning... and when turning fast enough (more turning left then right) can feel whole front end jerk like its about to go the opposite way the van...replaced the left front strut assembly and control arm to find out that did not solve the problem. then after repairs and looking deeper.. noticed right front side, sagging almost 2-4 inches lower then left front... that's when we noticed the subframe completely broken/rusted off from the body bushing (on the front right lower/rear bushing)

My complaint involves a recall that was said to have been completed and closed but upon further findings show that the work was never done. this involves the recall: nhtsa reference #11v030000. i filed a complaint with ford motor company through certified mail on july 26, 2017 and was received and signed for on july 28, 2017. i have not heard back from the company since i filed the complaint. i bought this vehicle in oct of 2016 and put it in storage for the winter. i didn't discovery the problem until i took it out of storage in april 2017. that is when i took it to a local service garage to find out what the problem was. subsequently, i learned that there had been a recall for this problem back in 2011 and supposedly, it had been fixed by a ford motor company dealership - jack madden ford in norwood, massachusetts. i took the car to a local ford dealership here in michigan where i reside. and upon inspection they determined that the problem had never been fixed. my bottom line in all of this is that i would like to have the vehicle fixed by ford motor company in accordance with the recall. i have upload an estimate for the repair from my local service garage. i would appreciate a timely response with regard to this complaint thank-you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).'*jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while attempting to accelerate from a traffic light, an abnormal sound emitted from the rear of the vehicle. the contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated independently. the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle kept gaining forward momentum. the contact stated that the power steering also failed to operate as intended. as a result, the vehicle jumped the sidewalk and struck two small trees. the contact was able to stop the vehicle by turning the ignition to the off position. a police report was not filed. the contact sustained whiplash and muscle spasms, which required medical attention. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. the contact was informed that the subframe fractured, which caused the throttle to seize in the open position. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign numbers: 11v030000 (structure) and 15v608000 (suspension). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 100,064.

Vehicle currently at the dealership for more than two months awaiting from ford customer relationship center to resolve the issue as the dealer wont fix the corroded sub frame instead they want the crc dept send the parts to them, according to crc dept they escalated the issue to the second level but no action until now has been taken...i feel that they're ignoring my request or has been sitting there without taking any action. we almost died on this as the passenger side wheel fell off..i'm trying my luck if you can help us to resolve the issue with them...thanks [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the steering wheel seized causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. as a result, the contact crashed into a fire hydrant and the air bags failed to deploy. the contact sustained neck and shoulder injuries but did not require medical attention. the passenger sustained wrist injuries that required medical attention. a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 50,000. updated 02/12/16*lj updated 05/14/18*jb *cn

Leaving parking lot at work my car fully accelerated, lost steering and crashed into steel post. inspection revealed both rear engine cradle mounts were completely rusted through causing rear engine cradle to drag on the ground. which caused loss of steering, full throttle and crashed right front of vehicle.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. the vehicle had a front end alignment and other repairs performed but the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the sub frame needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 120,000. updated 04/14/16*lj the consumer stated the subframe was completed corroded. *js

Complete deteriation of the front left and right sub frame attaching to the lower control arm attachments at the rear of subframe holding the rack and pinion assembly. this steel is flaking and appears to have laminte separations (looks like flakey pie crust). cannot get a mechanic to replace leaking rack and pinion assembly due to the poor condition that will leave no material when it breaks off.

Rear axel cracked after period of time resulting in blow out tire in a parking lot. after researching this online, i have found ford recalled this same van for this same problem but did not in our state although the recall was due to states with weather like snow, ice, salt, etc which caused said issue. why wouldnt nebraska be included in this since its nebraska and its snowy alot? luckily we were in a parking lot, we were not driving at high rate of speed down highway like i saw while researching this online which a man was killed who had this happen. i have found that this seems to be a very dangerous and tragic mistake made by ford and now my van sits in a parking lot with no way for me to get it to a shop to get a repair made even if i did have the funds to do this. at least i would want my van in my driveway, not in a grocery store parking lot with no means of getting it home, besides the fact that being a woman, i would have kept driving it not knowing and could have been in a serious accident such as ones i have seen since looking into this issue. i have taken photos of cracked axel in rear and also front due to weather and climate and found the court papers saying which states were included in this recall, yet nebraska not one of them? makes no sense. so do i go and drive it home anyways and just hope we dont die in the process..or do i let it sit in a shady part of town parking lot forever? being a single mother of 3, i would have thought ford might see the all the news about this and have done more to prevent so many incidents, one of which someone died. the court papers indicated that they knew about it 10 years before recall. i noticed the van drove rough over bumps recently, but thought maybe it was shocks, until i found my tire not just flat, but looking as if it was slashed in the parking lot because it literally blew up.

Total sudden loss of steering the car went off the road totally out of control. no notification of recall subframe collapse. entire steering parts destroyed and coolant leaked from engine this is incredible that no one was injured i was about to get on the highway!!! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. the contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph making a turn, the steering wheel seized without warning. the failure recurred multiple times. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. the mechanic was unable to locate the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 150,074.

The sub frame mounts broke disconnecting the steering losing control. we drifted across the intersection and stopped the vehicle as far off the road as possible with the back end still in a lane. *js

I lost control on the highway i was driving i hit a pothole and my car when its own way i was coming home from the hospital from just giving birth two day earlier and i kept hearing a weird noise so i took my car to the shop and they said it was the lower control arm. *tr

I have a bad vibration when im goin on the highway and when i hit bumps it makes a clunking sound and when i turn and makes a noise. *tr

I had my front tire replaced and the man that changed it told me that i need an alignment because of the way my tire wore out. about 3 weeks later, when i had the money, i took my car to get an alignment and the car shop called and said that both of my tire rods needed to be replaced before an alignment was completed. i've had the car for less than 2 years and although it is an older vehicle, the tire rods should have lasted longer than that (if properly checked). my steering shakes horribly from side to side at various speeds and often times my abs/trac off lights come on and won't got off. i am still able to use my brakes though. i am not sure why that light comes on. *tr

Van intermittently has abs light, trac control off light, and emergency brake light all on at various times. if vehicle is turned off sometimes lights go off sometimes they do not. also at random times the theft light will come on and van will immediately shut off (this occurs at speeds over 35mph). in addition the power steering reservoir will not hold fluid. needs to have fluid added at least 2 times a day. with the exception of the power steering issue, the brake failure and the theft system failure is extremely dangerous. i have seen numerous complaints regarding these items. i took my vehicle to ford for repair of the recall on the speed module and they told me that these other issues were not their problem. i called ford customer service and the individual on the phone told me that if i felt it was unsafe then i should sell my van. this is an extremely dangerous problem with ford vans....the brakes fail and the theft system is faulty!!!!!! they should not be allowed to manufacture any vehicles!!!! *tr

I was driving on the road and it had been raining earlier when i tapped my brakes to go around the curve i started sliding into the oncoming traffic and almost hit a van . i tried to steer back into my lane but it wouldn't let me .if the van hadn't been able to get out of my way i would have hit them. i wasn't able to get traction until i was off the pavement on the side if the road. *tr

At times when is col,d the abs and brake light is off while driving, when it gets hot the abs and brake light turns on and the abs fails to work. code c1185 abs power relay output circuit failure. i got to a stop sign and the road was wet and the van skidded , the abs did not work. no one was hurt and i have seen all the complaints that ford owners are having. i don't know if my 2002 ford windstar had all the other recalls done, like the brake pressure differential deactivation switch (scds) and the rear frame welds that are breaking up on the chassis of many ford owners. i would like to verify what has been done to my ford windstar that i bought two months ago. i just had the inner and outer tie rod ends done along with the sway bar links at the front suspension.

First, the power steering wasn't working and parts of it had to be repaired and replaced. but the worrying thing is that the abs yellow light and the red brake icon on the dashboard often come on and remain on while we're driving. that is worrying, as we don't know if it means the brakes are faulty or not. a firestone mechanic said it was because of rust build-up, but i don't like that the yellow abs and the red brake icons come on, because who knows if that means the brakes won't work or not. from my online research, this seems to be a common problem with ford windstars, and needs to be addressed! *tr

Since i purchased this van from steuben/yates county pro-action in nys wheels to work program, i have had numerous problems with my ford windstar. 1st problem was with emission code stating it needed a map censor; 2nd issue was the sway bar broke (was repaired under recall at ford dealership in elmira, ny jan 2012). after numerous complaints to the car dealer ship i purchased the windstar from the garage, their mechanic replaced o-rings in the engine to fix the map censor in jan 2012 as well. in february 2014 i invested a little over 1,800.00 in repairs to my mechanic for; tune up, struts and shocks, brakes all around, wheel bushings, and a wheel alignment. i keep the van well maintained with oil changes and lately my radiator is loosing fluid. i always stop in where i maintain it and the business is always topping off the radiator fluid and when scheduled oil changes are due, i am always a quart low on oil. most recent incident: i will be driving along and the van turns off and turns back on while driving. at night when this would happen i have no headlights for a brief moment but that is still an unsafe van. also, i get an electric shocked every time i touch the van as i get in to go somewhere. ****this is my first and last ford!!**** *tr

The antilock brake system light as well as the traction control lights keep coming on. garage can't tell the exact cause. the booster arm busted, keeping the brakes engaged as driven. the booster arm was replaced and the lights are still on. i reset it, and they reappear after a short time. i now smell the brakes when applied. i've had engine replaced at 101,000 miles, two transmissions, multiple brake jobs, rear axle repaired, front axle repaired, front tie rods repaired. the alignment on my vehicle could only be partially completed.... toe, and another alignment done, but the complete alignment would need a hole drilled in the frame and a bolt moved over - bad design by ford. i've also had to have the oxygen sensor replaced at my own expense. the vehicle is a ticking time bomb, piece of crap. *tr

While driving down my hill, my brake light came on. now my abs light comes on with my brake light. brake fluid is present, brakes are almost a year old. for over a year now, my van after it being turned on and off (errands, shopping etc), it does not want to start. once it does start, as i turn the wheel while in park, it stalls. now that my brake and abs lights come on, as i turn the wheel it wants to stall while driving. when i am turning my vehicle off, i turn the key down very slow and all the way down, that seemed to only help it restart a few times. i had my vehicle at the ford dealer for the recall in 2010 dealing with the cruise control issues. my od light has been off for over a year now as well. while driving my vehicle, when i am stopped, i notice a white colored smoke coming out from under the hood, and no one can find where it is coming from, especially happens when it is damp or raining out, and engine temp is normal.(i can not take my van to an auto car wash due to the fact it starts shaking, smoking and won't run or stay started when the under carriage is being sprayed) fuel pump, starter and ignition coil are fine. has new plugs and wires. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. the contact stated the steering column made noise whenever the contact was making a left or right turn. the contact stated the fluid level was correct, but the failure continued to occur. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the power steering pump needed to be replaced. the contact stated the failure was a manufacturers defect. the contact stated lights on the dashboard and the radio began to flash on and off. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer again and was told that the alternator needed to be replaced. the failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 68,785.

Van won't go into gear or drive . i don't know if it the corrosion fractures of front lower control arm or transmission . trying to find out if any recalls would be on the van on what's going on with it .

Ford windstar van, which was already subject to rear axle recall, and the rear axle did break on it in may, and was replaced and i received reimbursement for the replacement from ford. however, another incident happened in december. my 21 year old son was in an accident driving this van on thursday, dec. 16. the van lost traction and pulled to the right, pulling him into a ditch and down a steep embankment. the front of the van was ripped off, tires slashed, van almost flipped over, and the airbags never deployed. he hit a dirt embankment head on going about 30-35 mph. the roads were icy that day, and he was on a curve... the van would not respond to steering to correct the direction the van was going. i experienced something similar last winter; the van seemed to pull to the right, going off the road without allowing the driver to control the vehicle. however, when i went off the road, it was in a shallow ditch and it caused no damage to the van. my son was not as fortunate, and he could have been severely injured. i feel that this may have something to do with the current investigation into the front suspension... the van could not be controlled, and pulled to the right. our insurance co. is taking care of this, and i don't know the current location of the van. it is totaled, i know that. i asked state farm to check out the front suspension for weakness or rust, but don't know if they'll know what to look for, especially since the front is so damaged from the wreck that the tires are turned sideways, and i believe the front axle is broken. please send someone to look at my van, and see what caused this wreck; my son could have been killed. thank you for the work you've done so far.... your organization is so valuable to consumers. *tr

Rack and pinion steering split, intake manifold had to be replaced, tire rod fixed, upper plenum replaced, abs and brake light comes on, leaks coolant, etc. etc. etc. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while driving 40 mph the abs brake light illuminated on the dashboard. the vehicle was taken to the dealer five to six times for the failure. the dealer replaced the brake pads and advised her that the problem was electrical. the electrical failure caused the radio and all of the interior lights to shut on and off intermittently. the vehicle also leaked oil and power steering fluid. she stated that per the dealer the vehicle needed an axle, rack and pinion which also affects the steering column. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was purchased used in 2007 and the failure started as soon as she purchased it. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 116,840.

2002 ford windstar. consumer writes in regards to vehicle rack and pinion being replaced twice. *tgw

Dt*: the contact stated the check engine light illuminated and a growling noise was heard while driving 40 mph. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer. computer diagnostics were performed and the code po174 came up identifying a vacuum leak. the items recommended for replacement were the intake manifold gasket and associated parts, outer tie rod end and front axle seals, transmission pan gasket and filter. the insurer sent an investigator, who verified the service recommendations. the manufacturer was not notified. updated 12/5/2006 - *nm

Whining noise in power steering. i took to the ford dealer and they replaced the power steering pump, but less than 10000 miles later the whinning started again. i took it to another ford dealer and they replaced the rack and pinion (and charged me $800. about 2 months later the whine is back and i know it is the power steering pump. *jb

The power steering pump needed to be replaced for the second time since i purchased this vehicle. it was initially replaced 11/17/2003 at 27,000 miles. now i am at 44,000 miles, 14 months later and the same problem occurs. the dealer and ford refused to cover the cost of the replacement. the symptoms were a loud whining sound during slow speed acceleration and whining when turning the steering wheel at slow speeds. this is obviously a defect, but ford refuses to do anything about it. in addition, the front end does not stay in alignment and front tires wear out very unevenly and quickly.*ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while driving approximately between 35-40 mph on normal road conditions; pressure was applied to the brake pedal the front btakes locked and the driver was unable to turn the steering wheel. the vehicle also skidded without warning. the failure continued to occur intemittently. the "brake" and "abs" warning light indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the warning indicator remained illuminated until the engine was shut off by the driver. the contact was able to drive the vehicle with caution; however, there was an increase in the engine rpms. an authorized dealer replaced the intake manifold gasket and the alternator. on a separate occasion, the the air bag system failed to deploy with a level of impact to the rear of the vehicle. there were no personal injuries. the contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. the failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 119,336. the vin number was rejected from the system which will be updated upon receipt of the safety complaint form.

Vehicle pulls excessively to the right when in the right lane and to the left when in the left lane. this is an extreme unsafe condition bgought to the attention of two dealers and ford main customer service dept with no resolution to the problem. *ak power steering also make a "whining grunt" noise and p/s fluid leaks through the rack and pinion end seals as recognized by ford in their tsb 01-5-6 and 01-4-5. ford is not accepting responsibility for this inherent defect and the dealers rely on the computer print out of the front end alignment machine. after only 20k mile front tire are totally worn out (unevenly) attesting to the fact that there is excessive and unsafe side pull. peprhaps the three issues are related as they have been reported by other people as well.

Consumer states that when driving steering whell pulls excessively to the right, especially when raining. vehicle has been checked by dlr who can not determine problem. mr