1999 Ford Windstar Steering Problems

I HAD THE REAR AXLE REPLACED BY THE RECALL, AND WHICH I PAID $300 FOR THE WORK. THE AXLE NOW DOES NOT ALIGN PROPERLY AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SHIMS ARE REQUIRED. WITHOUT THEM THE REAR AXLE EATS MY TIRES. FORD HAS A POLICY TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NEW PARTS INSTALLED BY FORD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD FIX OR PAY FOR THIS WORK SO AS TO MAKE MY VAN SAFE, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO REPAIR AN AXLE THAT WAS JUST REPLACED LESS THEN 10000 MILES AGO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUNSET FORD (11700 GRAVOIS RD, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63127) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THREATS MADE BY THE CONTACT AND TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM THE PREMISES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

THIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT 102,654 MILES, IN MARCH-APRIL OF 2011 BY KOONS FORD OF MARYLAND, (INVOICE#W70829, DATED MAY 5, 2011) IN RESPONSE TO FORD RECALL, RELATED TO "BROKEN FRONT SUBFRAME" AND "COLLAPSING REAR AXLE".--FRONT SUBFRAME WAS, AT THAT TIME, BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE, DUE TO RUSTING. REPLACEMENT WAS NOT DONE, INSTEAD IT WAS PATCHED VIA A BOLTED TOGETHER "CLAMSHELL" REINFORCING DEVICE. IT NOW HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT AFTER USING THE VEHICLE AFTER THIS INITIAL FRAME SEPARATION, THE METAL OF THE LEFT SIDE WAS UNDULY STRESSED, AND HAS NOW BROKEN AT ITS WELDMENT POINT, RESULTING IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, THAT SWERVES TO THE LEFT, IF BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE IN MOTION ON THE STREET OR OTHER ROADWAY. WHEELS ARE NO LONGER KEPT IN ALIGNMENT, WITH LEFT FRONT WHEEL FREE TO MOVE TO THE FRONT OR REAR, IN RESPONSE TO APPLIED STRESS! THIS SUBFRAME FAILURE AFFECTED MANY SUCH VEHICLES, AND IT HAS BECOME EVIDENT THAT INSPECTION AND REPAIR WAS INADEQUATE, RESULTING IN A NEW, UNSAFE CONDITION! (SUBFRAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED, DUE TO STRESS!)-PHOTOS ARE ATTACHED, SHOWING DISPLACED FRAME, AND SEPARATED WELD JOINT.

TOO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT.I HAD ABOUT THREE RECALL ON MY FORD WINDSTAR AND NOW MY WHOLE VAN SHUT DOWN ON ME.MY COMPUTER I GUESS GOT IT ON AUTO THEFT LOCK AND I CAN'T EVEN TURN OVER NOW.IT'S JUST SITTING IN MY PARKING LOT JUST HELPLESS.I HAVE ANOTHER RECALL BUT I CANT TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I CANT TURN OVER.OH YEA.IT KEPT CUTTING OFF WHILE IM DRIVING,DON'T LET ME STOP AT A LIGHT IT WILL CUT OFF ON ME THERE ALOT.IT DOES THAT ALOT.I BOUGHT IT FROM A CAR LOT BUT HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.SO I LOST OUT OF MY MONEY.WHEN I TURN IT ALSO CUT OFF.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000...UPDATED 05/21/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS INCORRECTLY PERFORMED. HE SIGNED OVER THE TITLE. UPDATED 11/19/15 *JS

I HAVE 3 PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 60,000 MILES. ONE OF THEM IS THE GLASS IN FRONT WHEN I'M DRIVING IN THE RAIN I HAVE TO TURN ON THE WIPERS THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WIPER STAYS WET WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE CLEANS VERY WELL. THE OTHER PROBLEM I'VE ALWAYS HAD IS THE POWERSTEERING WHEN I'M DRIVING, I'M GOING TO TURN TO THE SIDE AND THE CAR TURNS OFF THE GUIDE GETS HARD AND I CAN'T STRAIGHTEN IT TO TURN IT ON AGAIN. THE LAST PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION, ONE DAY THE FAMILY WENT ALL TOGETHER IN THE CAR AND SHORTLY AFTER WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING WE PARKED IN THE GRASS WE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE PART OF THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER THE ACCIDENT WE REALIZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LIQUEFIED OIL. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AND BEGAN TO GIVE SOME TIRESOME EVERY TIME I CHANGED GEARS. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED WITH THE DAMAGED TRANSMISSION. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION

I HAVE 3 PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 60,000 MILES. ONE OF THEM IS THE GLASS IN FRONT WHEN I'M DRIVING IN THE RAIN I HAVE TO TURN ON THE WIPERS THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WIPER STAYS WET WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE CLEANS VERY WELL. THE OTHER PROBLEM I'VE ALWAYS HAD IS THE POWERSTEERING WHEN I'M DRIVING, I'M GOING TO TURN TO THE SIDE AND THE CAR TURNS OFF THE GUIDE GETS HARD AND I CAN'T STRAIGHTEN IT TO TURN IT ON AGAIN. THE LAST PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION, ONE DAY THE FAMILY WENT ALL TOGETHER IN THE CAR AND SHORTLY AFTER WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING WE PARKED IN THE GRASS WE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE PART OF THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER THE ACCIDENT WE REALIZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LIQUEFIED OIL. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AND BEGAN TO GIVE SOME TIRESOME EVERY TIME I CHANGED GEARS. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED WITH THE DAMAGED TRANSMISSION. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION

WAS DRIVING AROUND 40 MPH, REALIZED THE VAN HAD A WEIRD ODD STEERING PROBLEM SWERVING TO LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. I MADE IT HOME THEN LOOKED TOWARDS THE BACK REAR AXLE I SEEN A REAL LARGE CRACK IN THE REAR AXLE. THE VAN BACK SIDE WAS SITTING REALLY LOW LIKE THE AXLE WAS ABOUT TO COMPLETELY CRACK. IM NOT RISKING DRIVING BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. I SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT BUT FORD SAYS ITS NOT VALID. I FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE SIMILAR TO MINE. WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPAIR A ISSUE THAT IS FORDS PROBLEM WITH SALT ON ROADS DURING THE WINTER CORRODES THE METAL OF THE REAR AXLE FOR IT TO CRACK WAS THE RECALL I FOUND. *TR

THE 1999 FORD WINDSTARS FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND SUB FRAME (CHASSIS) MAJOR CORROSION-RELATED FRACTURES. FAILURE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF STEERING. IN ITS REPORT TO THE N.H.T.S.A. FORD SAID IT DID NOT CONCLUDE THAT THE LOW RATE OF REPORTED INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE CONTROL ARM INDICATED A GREATER SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT THE RECALL WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN ANYWAY TO CONFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL VEHICLE OWNER CONCERNS. *TR

DRIVING ALONG WHEN RIGHT FRONT STARTED TO VEER RIGHT AND WOBBLE. THESE MODELS ARE NOT SAFE. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS YET, WILL NOT HONOR A RECALL WHICH AFFECTS THESE MODELS. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A CORROSION SUB FRAME BREAK ON 1999 FORD WINDSTAR'S AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED( MECHANIC WILL TESTIFY) TO MINE, THEY KEEP MAKING EXCUSES AND WILL NOT HONOR THE EXPENSES FOR THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. MY VEHICLE IS A 99 FORD WINDSTAR IN VERY GOOD SHAPE, NEW TIRES BATTERY,ETC. IT IS NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE OF A FRAME BROKEN THRU BY CORROSION. THE FRONT RIGHT ALMOST PUT ME INTO THE DITCH ON THE WAY HOME. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH WAS IS OR SHOULD BE COVERED BY RECALL. FORD PREVIOUSLY RECALLED THE SAME MODELS 99-2003 FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED MY FORD DEALER (RAPIDS FORD, WIS RAPIDS), THEY SAID THE RECALL NO LONGER APPLIES. HOW CAN THIS BE? THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

THE ENGINE CARRIAGE IS RUSTED OUT, AND THE REAR AXLE IS CRACKED DUE TO RUST. THE MAIN ARM OF THE BALL JOINT IS COMPLETELY PULLED AWAY FROM THE FRAME BECAUSE OF THE RUST. I CONTACTED BAAB FORD IN REED CITY MICHIGAN, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO ORIGINALLY THAT THIS WAS A RECALLED PRODUCT. BAAB FORD TOLD ME YES IT IS A RECALL ISSUE, BUT NO THEY WONT FIX MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VIN DOESN'T COME UP AS ONE OF THE VEHICLES EFFECTED BY THE RECALL. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AS THEY HAD ADVISED ME, FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD ME, MY VEHICLE ISN'T ON THE RECALL LIST, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT IT HAS BOTH OF THE PROBLEMS THAT 1998 - 2003 FORD WINDSTAR WAS RECALLED FOR. THE VEHICLE SPEEDS UP WHENEVER IT HITS A BUMP AND ALSO PULLS TOWARDS THE CENTER LINE ESPECIALLY ON SLIPPERY ROADS OR WHERE LOSS OF TRACTION OCCURS. IT ALSO WEARS OUT TIRES EVERY 2 WEEKS. *TR

LIVED IN THE SALT BELT STATE OF IL. WHEN I WAS DRIVING, FRONT SUBFRAME FALLING OFF AND SOME COMPONENTS WERE TOUCHING THE GROUND DUE TO SEVERE FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT. I LOST STEERING CONTROL AND GEAR CONTROL ON A MULTIPLE LANE ROAD. FORD HAS NEVER SENT ANY NOTICE TO ME REGARDING ANY RECALL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE VIA NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10026 AND I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REPAIR THE RUSTED SUBFRAME AND ALL OTHER BROKEN COMPONENTS DIRECTLY CAUSED BY SUBFRAM FALLING OFF. FORD REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY CAR RENTAL BY SAYING ?THIS IS AN OLD RECALL AND WE DO NOT GIVE CAR RENTAL NOW?. *TR

LIVED IN THE SALT BELT STATE OF PA. FRAME RUSTED OUT AND I LOST STEERING CONTROL AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT.THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE VIA NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10026 AND I WOULD LIKE FORD TO RECALL AND FIX THIS AT THIER COST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR SPORADICALLY AND AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WOULD SWAY ABNORMALLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD OFTEN SEIZE WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE LUNGING FORWARD AND VIOLENTLY JERKING WHEN IN DRIVE OR REVERSE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMEFRAME HAD EXPIRED FOR THE CONTACT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS PERFORMED THAT HAD NOT BEEN SCHEDULED WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIMEFRAME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 8/14/14*CN UPDATED 8/22/2014 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,101.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURERS STEERING RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE DEALER OFFERED TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE BUT LATER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 03/31/11*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE REAR AXLE CRACKED. FOR OFFERED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. UPDATED 07/01/11

NOTICED VEHICLE UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING. DIVING LEFT OR RIGHT DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. UPON INVESTIGATION FOUND COMPLETE RUST-THROUGH SEPARATION OF SUB-FRAME AT REAR BODY MOUNT ON PASSENGERS SIDE. RIGHT CONTROL ARM MOUNT ON SUB-FRAME IS ALSO BADLY RUSTED. ENTIRE SUBFRAME IS ABLE TO MOVE FRONT AND BACK ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE RESULTING IN ERRATIC VEHICLE MOVEMENT WHILE DRIVING. FORTUNATELY WE CAUGHT IT BEFORE SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAPPENED, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY DEFECT, AND COULD HAVE HAD DISASTROUS RESULTS.

1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX. ENGINE CRADLE FAILURE AT MOUNT POINT PASSENGER REAR. REFERENCE NHTSA # PE10026. I AM IN THE SAME SITUATION. THE PASSENGER REAR ENGINE CRADLE MOUNT HAS FAILED CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS AND LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PASSENGER TIE ROD AND CONTROL ARM ARE NOW BENT. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE, BUT I AM FORCED TO DRIVE IT. THE VEHICLE IS PULLING SEVERELY TO THE LEFT. THIS CONDITION IS WORSE ON ACCELERATION DUE TO THE BENT STEERING COMPONENTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING @ 50 MPH CAUSING DIFFICULTY STEERING. *TR

I BOUGHT A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX IT HAD 130000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT WAS MAKING A WEIRD NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN SO I HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED BUT IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NOISE THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER IT BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND STILL MAKING THE NOISE SO I AM NOW BEING TOLD ITS THE RACK AND PINION AND ALSO BEING TOLD BY A FEW DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ITS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE ITS ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CANT TURN THE WHEEL AS IM INVESTIGATING FURTHER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THERE IS OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE NOW IM GOING TO TRY TO REPLACE IT BUT AM LOOKING AT PURCHASING A USED ONE AND AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO TURN CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT SO TO ME THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FORD. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,000.