Problems with 2002 Ford Windstar POWER TRAIN

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. the contact stated there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the contact found that the rear axle was fractured. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where she was awaiting repairs. the failure and current mileages were 90,000.

Tl* the contact owns 2002 ford windstar. while driving approximately 60 mph, the rear end of the vehicle began to sway uncontrollably. the contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and maneuvered the vehicle off the roadway. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they informed that the rear axle was fractured. the contact was awaiting repairs. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while driving approximately 60 mph, the rear wheel axle broke in half. the vehicle was driven onto the side of the highway with half of the axle dragging on the road surface. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to determine the cause of failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 116,000. the vin was unavailable.

This is an addition to ongoing defect investigation #pe10016. i have a 2002 ford windstar. the rear axle housing "cracked in half" as i was driving on a highway, but luckily at a low speed in traffic. there was no warning, no accident and no pot holes. my tire began to smoke and the vehicle was inoperable. after the tow truck came i looked underneath the car and noticed the axle split completely in two. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while the contact was driving approximately between 35-40 mph, the rear end of the vehicle began to shake with an intense vibration. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated that the failure was contributed to a defective rear axle. the estimated repair cost was $1,000. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 128,000. the vin was unavailable.

I was traveling the kansas turnpike with my sister in my ford windstar van at night. the van then started to be shimmying and vibrating some, like when the road is rough. we were traveling through some construction so thought it might have been attributed to the road conditions. but the vibrating continued. we pulled off the highway and looked at the tires, but they all looked good. we continued driving, trying to figure out what was causing the roughness. i continued driving at different speeds to see if that made a difference. it did not. the vibrating was not totally continuous, every few seconds or so it disappeared, then would restart. i kept driving, with hazard lights, at about 45 mph, because it was nighttime, and on the highway. i pulled off at the next service/rest stop and got out and looked at my tires. one hubcap was askew, which i put back on. to see if that had anything to do with the van's ride, i decided to drive a bit in the parking lot. i put the van into reverse and just as i started to move, there was a loud clank and thud. there was something seriously wrong. i saw that the rear tires both were crooked, the van, lower, and that the rear axle was broken into 2 parts. a policeman verified that the car was broken so it could stay there until towed. it was flatbed towed to a ford service center, where they had to replace the rear axle assembly, shock absorber assemblies, rear stabilizer bar, spindles, rear parking brake cable (which had rusted and seized up) assemblies and inner and outer tie rods and nuts and bolts.. at the time the van had less than 71,000 miles on it. we were very lucky that we weren't still traveling down the highway when the axle went kerplunk! *tr

2002 ford windstar. consumer expresses discontent about recall repair *tgw the consumer state he received a recall regarding the cruise control deactivation switch. the consumer stated the cruise control worked fine up until the vehicle was taken to the dealer to have the recall done. the cruise control worked for about two weeks and then stopped working. when the consumer returned to the dealer he was informed that the abs was leaking which caused the cruise control to stop working. the abs light did illuminate, but then it went off. also, back in may, while driving 30 mph, the vehicle began to fishtail. when the consumer arrived home and inspected the vehicle, he discovered the rear axle had cracked. the consumer removed the axle and discovered it was hollow and had rusted from the inside out. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. the contact noticed the rear tires were leaning inward and found that the rear axle was cracked in half. the vehicle was towed to a local repair facility but did not receive repairs. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were 80,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while driving at 20 mph, the contact heard unusual grinding coming from the rear of the vehicle. the contact took the vehicle to her private mechanic who discovered a crack in the rear axle and recommended replacing. the dealer was contacted who advised there were no recalls for the failure. any repairs would be at her expense. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 72,500.

I was driving home from work when the low brake fluid light came on. i was headed to pull over when the dashboard went crazy. said that the abs was bad, right brake light needed to be checked, traction control error, check transmission, mileage was gone only --------- listed, a/c stopped working, said fuel data computer error, speedometer was out. i am taking it to ford tomorrow to have the vehicle speed control replace and i believe this is what is causing this problem. the brake fluid may be leaking on everything because i did small a burning smell. *tr

Brake light (red) and abs brake lights (yellow) stay on. i went to replace fuse #10 and it keeps blowing out. speedometer and odometer do not function. cruise control does not work. a/c does not work. the o/d light flashes after about 30 seconds after the vehicle starts and continues to blink until the vehicle is shut off. i took it into a ford dealership today to have them perform the 09s09h recall and it did not change anything. all issues seem to be associated with this 'leaker' scds that was replaced, but that caused further damage to the abs ecm unit causing it to fail. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. the contact stated that when accelerating from a stopped position, both rear wheels would cave in and the axle was split in half. the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop. the manufacturer informed the contact that they were not offering warranties on the part and repairs would be at the owner's expense. the vehicle was being repaired by the local mechanic by replacing the rear axle. the failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while the contact was driving approximately 60 mph,the vehicle exhibited a bouncing vibration. the vehicle was able to continue in operation. the failure occurred intermittently. the vehicle was examined by a certified mechanic that stated there were two cracks approximately one to two inches long on the rear axle. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage was 114,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic to have the oil changed when she was informed that the rear axle was cracked. the contact called the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle would have to be repaired at her expense as there were no warranties or recalls for it. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the current and failure mileages were approximately 110,000. updated 11/03/10. *lj

I heard unusual noises from underneath my 2002 ford windstar. i brought it to a mechanic who examined the rear axle and determined that it was cracked. *tr

My 2002 ford windstar van gear shift pin keep coming up and i have to take it to a shop so they can put the pin back in 3 times. my gears do not shift right it shifts hard. i brought this van brand new in 2003. also my air bag light stays on the avis ford body shop said my sensor is rusted out, also my abs light stays on. i don't feel these things should go out. i have had many ford vehicle brand new for years and never had these problems. i still got to get these things repair. i also had two front windshield wiper motors put in and the wipes are still not right. is there any help out there. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while driving at 45 mph, the rear axle broke. the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer but the vehicle was not repaired. the current and failure mileages were 75,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while driving at approximate speeds of 25 mph, the contact heard an unusual squeal from the rear tires. as she continued to drive at speeds of 40 mph, the rear of the vehicle began to sway. she had to drive with two hands on the steering wheel to maintain control of the vehicle. upon further investigation, the contact found that both rear tires were protruding from the tire well. the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop where she was advised the rear axle assembly had cracked. the necessary parts needed to make the repair were ordered accordingly and the contact was awaiting repairs. the approximate failure and current mileages were 135,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while driving at approximately 70 mph, the contact heard a cracking sound and discovered that the rear axle had split. the contact called the dealership and was advised to pay for the repairs at her expense. the current and failure mileages were approximately 91,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while traveling at speeds of 35 mph, the contact heard a loud popping sound. he assumed one of the tires had blown out but upon further inspection he found that the rear axle had fractured. the vehicle had not yet been taken to the dealer for repairs. the failure and current mileages were 114,000.

2002 ford windstar bad transmission po code 734. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while driving 40 mph the contact noticed a loud popping sound followed by a thump in the rear of the vehicle. after examining the vehicle the contact noticed that the rear driver side tire was bent inside the frame. a local dealership informed the contact that the rear axle needed to be replaced. there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileages were 112000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. the contact was driving approximately 25 mph on normal road conditions; proceeding onto a ramp. suddenly, the vehicle swayed with a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the driver reduced the speed rate and pulled over to the side of the road with caution. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer. the failure was contributed to a broken rear axle. the vehicle was repaired for the malfunction. the failure mileage was 92,836.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar which was purchased in 2008. she heard a grinding noise in the rear of the vehicle. she also noticed that the rear tires were prematurely worn. when the mechanic was replacing the tires he stated that the rear axle was cracked in half. the manufacturer was contacted; however, they would not take any liability for the failure due to the mileage. there were no recalls for her vehicle. the vehicle was taken to her independent mechanic where the brake shoes and axle were replaced at her expense. the mechanic also stated that the entire back end of the vehicle was damaged due to the cracked axle. the failure and current mileages were under 126,000.

While driving on highway , my wife and two children were in a 2002 ford windstar minivan. suddenly the vehicle lost all power, it was like it went into neutral and stayed there. after coming to a complete stop in fast lane on highway at night, they were almost rear ended by a truck. luckily they escaped harm. the vehicle has low mileage and gave no problem of tranny problems before. brought car to garage, it needed a complete overhaul of transmission at a significant cost. please look into this for us, i don't feel this should happen to a minivan that has been as wall taken care of as my wife's. thank you very much*tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while driving between 65-70 mph he lost vehicle control without prior warning. he was able to safely pull the vehicle to the side of the road. upon further inspection he noticed that the rear axle fractured. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for inspection. the technician stated the rear axle was defective. the insurance company was in the process of inspecting the vehicle. the vehicle has not been repaired for the malfunction. the failure and current mileages were 113,000. the vehicle identification number was unavailable.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. the contact stated that while driving 10 mph the abs lamp, torque converter lamp and the brake warning lamp illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but not repaired or diagnosed. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 58,000 and current mileage was 65,000. updated 10/06/11 *bf updated 10/5/11 *cn

I pulled into driveway and put car in park and went into back of my windstar to check to see if the aircontioning vents were working per the request of my son. i was back there for several minutes. i got out and was standing outside the drivers open front door to turn off car. my son was in back seat with his door open and out of seat belt. while standing next to open door my car started to back out of drive way while it was in park. i tried to stop it with my arm by trying to jump into car to turn it off since my son was in car. it kept rolling down my driveway as i tried to catch car. it stopped by crashing into my neighbor's car that was parked in the street. the car was still in park .police came. filed claim with insurance company. i went to hospital for my foot that was dragged on pavement during my pursuit to catch my car. i notified the dealer and they told me to contact ford directly. i filled out claim and i just received letter saying they can't determine if there was a defect. i read in the paper last week this happened to a woman with a ford expedition but her car ran over someone. also a ford serviceman just said keep putting emergency brake on and never get out of car with car running. i was also told i cant' have it checked out because ford wants original parts and won't pay for anything until we can prove a defective part. i am very concerned about the safety of my vehicle. since the accident, i have been following the ford's service man's advice by always making sure parking break is on and not allowing anyone to get out of the car until it is turned off. i have two children and need my car checked immediately. it is very fortunate that no one was outside playing when my car starting backing down the driveway while in park. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. on april 6, 2010, while driving home, the rear axle broke in half. the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop. the mechanic replaced the rear axle at that time. the contact called the manufacturer to request reimbursement but was denied since the repairs were not performed at an authorized dealership. the failure mileage was 96,028. the current mileage was approximately 97,000.

My 2002 ford windstar van is not supposed to be able to shift out of park without first pressing and holding the brake. my 2 yr old son was able to shift it out of park by simply pulling on the gear shift lever. this resulted in the car rolling down a hill and smashing into a tree with my son inside. he was not hurt. the car was a total loss according to my insurance co. the car was in park and the engine was not running at the time of the accident. i have been in contact with ford motor co but i only get generic responses. my insurance co is holding the vehicle until a rep from ford has a chance to examine the shift lock mechanism but they seem uninterested. i have seen on line where there are two other similar cases regarding ford windstar vans and i believe this could be a serious safety issue. *tr

Overdrive light begins flashing and overdrive shifts out ogf gear. this problem has happened on two consecutive ford windstars i've owned. a 1999 and 2002. both problems occurred at the 120,000 mile mark. in both cases the transmission was diagnose as needing replacement. in both cases the flashing o/d light came on again after the transmissions were replaced at great expense. this time i replaced the trans in the 2002 with a trans out of a 2005 with 52,000 miles on it. now 2 months later the light is flashing again but the overdrive seems to be functioning properly. in the case of the 1999 i had to replace the abs control module after replacing the trans which i believed might have fixed the problem, but i don't know for sure because i dumped the vehicle quickly afterward. in this case i'm going to trade in the 2002 on a chrysler pacifica *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while driving 45 mph, the vehicle began to swerve uncontrollably. the contact regained control and stated that the rear axle failed. the dealer stated that there were no recalls for his vehicle. the manufacturer has not been notified. the current and failure mileages were 115,000.

1.continuing transmission/overdrive failures- flashing overdrive light. 2. heater door control failure. *tr

I purchased a 2002 ford windstar in 2005. in october i took it in for inspection and needed to have all four tires (one of which had been replaced 6 months before), the windshield wipers, a break light bulb and front brakes replaced...needless to say it failed and i made an appointment to bring it back in (after saving to have it fixed)! i returned to the dealership in november. i was then told that there was a leak in the transmission which would need to be repaired. the cost, as quoted by the service rep, would be about $1,500!!! i had just spent over $700 for the other repairs! i have only had this vehicle for a little over a year! i have searched several websites and have found that the transmission is a frequent problem with windstar owners (of various years 1995-2002), some of which who have been forced to have the transmission fixed multiple times. this is an outrage! ford needs to be held accountable for this problem! i cannot continue to sink countless dollars into this vehicle and i cannot trade it until the problems are corrected. this presents a serious issue for the someone like me, in the working middle-class. i will soon need to pick up a second job just to take care of repairs! this is crazy!! please hold ford motor company accountable for such terrible production...especially on a issue they have been made aware of (transmission) for years! thank you. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while braking from 10 mph under normal conditions, the vehicle surged forward, almost going over a curb. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, where the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. the manufacturer was also notified. there was a squeaking noise when the sliding door was closed. the consumer complained of the transmission slipping, the dealer reprogrammed the pcm and re-filled the transmission fluid. the shifter was re-adjusted. the vehicle pulled to the right occasionally, the speedometer was inaccurate. the headlights would go dim at times. updated 01/09/07.*jb

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

Our 2002 windstar has had numerous issues. from clunking front suspension; rattling sliding doors; interior lights and locks that would come on and off by themselves. however, there are two unresolved issues and it's been to dealers numerous times, and each time, they just blow me off. the transmission shudders between the first and second shift, and does a "two-step" shift. when it finally does the second half of the two-step and engages, there is an audible cookoo, just like a cookoo clock. the other infuriating problem and possible danger is the brake pedal. it squeaks like an old mattress and also sticks to the floor if you have to brake while you are driving at freeway speeds. you have to use the tip of your shoe to pull the pedal back up. visit after visit after visit to 3 different dealers and they always claim there is nothing wrong. they were playing "beat the clock" with the warranty and now that's gone, and they are still doing it with the extended warranty. infuriating. nobody cares and nobody will help. *nm

Transmission light in dash has been on for years now. local dealers tell me there is nothing wrong. they take my money and don't fix the problem. abs light is on. parts were bought and replaced by the dealer with in a year light back on. cruise control cut out replaced twice. dealer cant figure these problems out but if enough of your own research is done there are ways to figure out what is going on. even if the dealer can't front frame mounts are rusting so bad you can pull it apart with your hands certified safe from dealer. *tr

Dt: the car was parked in garage with gear shift in park and engine turned off with no occupants inside. the car rolled out of the garage and down slight incline in driveway striking consumer. the consumer sustained injuries to both legs. ems and police were called. no indications as to what happened but officer inspected vehicle and did note ignition was turned off and was in park. no repairs have been made yet however there is an appointment for the dealer tomorrow. there was a police report and an insurance claim as well. consumer does not know how this failure occurred. *consumer did not have dealer information after deciding to file this complaint, will add later.* *nm

Transmission in our 2002 ford windstar mini van made abnormal noises for about 2 months. vehicle was taken to dealership of purchase for inspection, and they attributed the problem to tire and wheel alignment. all four tires were replaced with alignment. also, transmission noise persisted,and vehicle was returned to dealership. again nothing wa s found wrong on inspection with instructions to return later for more complete examination. on february 10, 2005 transmission malfunctioned accelerating the engine to 3200 rpms with a speed of 70 mph. vehicle suddenly lost control and veered to the left into a left turn lane, resulting in a collision with an illegally parked truck and trailer. subsequent investigations revealed the driver was unable to stop the vehicle by braking. the driver, my son , was trapped in the windstar mini van due to a complete collapse of the front frame. after a difficult extraction by the city fire department my son was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.*ak

When braking at any speed steering wheel vibrated heavily. dealership repaired the front rotors/pads, but this did not resolve the problem. *ak had to change wiper blades one week later, they were rotten. transmission problems, had to drive in 2nd gear all the to the dealer, also has a strong clunking while putting vehicle into any gear. *bf

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. while the contact was driving approximately 15 mph, the transmission failed without warning. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the transmission was replaced under the service warranty. the transmission failure reoccurred six months later and was replaced with a new transmission. the transmission and radiator were replaced on two different occasions. the contact paid the cost for the repair expense for the one radiator replacements. in addition, the vehicle experienced a failure with the front brakes and front rotors, which had required annual replacement . also, while driving the rear axle fractured. the failure mileage was unknown.

When starting the vehicle it jerked forward without warning. *ak the consumer almost injured her son. *sc *jb

anti lock brake shifter is inoperative,this device is to prevent lever from shifting without brake depression.also, child was able to shift lever into drive gear while vehicle was parked.*ak

Consumer stated for the 4th time in less than 5040 miles and within 90 days of owning vehicle, it has experienced a temporary failure of the transmission while driving at highway speeds with sudden loss of control of the vehicle, the transmission sticks into low gear then goes into a coasting mode and revving the engine as high as 4000 rpm or shifting between neutral and drive had no effect, when the vehicle speed got down to less than 5 mph, the transmission reengaged and operated normally again, the dealer kept the vehicle but no fault codes or malfunction of the transmission occured.*jb