2002 Ford Windstar Steering Problems

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 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

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

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