1998 Ford Windstar structure problems

“SUBFRAME RUSTED ON LEFT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAD A POPPING NOISE WHEN I MADE A LEFT TURN AND LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO LEFT. I HAD TAKEN IT TO A AUTO SHOP AND THEY REPLACED STRUTS.SWAY BARS AND BRAKES . NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THE RUST ISSUE WITH THE SUB FRAME. I DROVE IT HOME FROM SHOP. SAME PROBLEM. RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO SAME REPAIR SHOP AND THE HAD A WELDER ATTACH STEEL BRACKET TO HOLD UP SUB FRAME. 2 DAYS LATER WORSE. I HAD A SECOND MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE TOLD ME THE FIRST REPAIR SHOULD NOT HAVE ASKED ME TO REPAIR ANYTHING ON THE VAN. SUB FRAME IS FAILED AT 128,436 MILES. I NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR CO . OF THE FAILURE, WAS GIVIN A CASE NUMBER. ENGINE WILL FALL OUT OF BOTTOM WITH CORROSION OF SUB FRAME. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED DUE TO CORROSION AND THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED JOHN KENNEDY FORD- POTTSTOWN AT (800) 790-8132 (LOCATED AT 3189 W RIDGE PIKE, POTTSTOWN, PA 19464) WHERE THE DEALER REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION), BUT NOT FOR THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,197.”

“REAR AXEL BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A FLAT ROAD. FORD DEALERSHIPS TELLING ME IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST A MONTH TO FIX. NO TALK OF PROVIDING A RENTAL VEHICLE. THEY WERE EVEN SAYING THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT PAY FOR FIXING IT. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO SAID I WOULD GET A DAY CAR RENTAL AND IF IT TAKES LONGER THAN A DAY, THE DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO GET A RENTAL PREAPPROVED BY FORD AND PAY FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO REPAIR. SHE SAID TO CALL THEM THAT THEY WERE WAITING TO SET THINGS UP. I CALLED THEM, WAS TRANSFERRED TO 3 PEOPLE AND THEN A VOICEMAIL. LEFT MESSAGE AND NO ONE CALLED. I THEN CALLED BACK AND THEY SAID I WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO HEAD MANAGER AND AGAIN GIVEN A VOICE MAIL. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN AND EXPLAINED ALL THIS. THE GUY ANSWERING WAS BREATHING ON THE LINE, WOULD NOT SAY ANYTHING OR RESPOND AFTER I HAD FINISHED AND PUT ME THRU TO SURVEY WHICH I GAVE HIM ALL 1S. I CALLED BACK AND A CASE WAS OPENED. I NEED HELP. PLEASE HELP”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE EXCESSIVE RUST AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO FIND A USED PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,376.”

“WHEN IT RAINS EVERYTHING INSIDE GOES DEAD AND IT WILL NOT CRANK. CAN BE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT SHUTS OFF ON YOU . THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL EVERYTHING DRIES OUT OR ITS NOT DAMP OUTSIDE ANYMORE.I HAVE LOOKED THIS UP ON COMPUTER AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS COMING BACK TO THE FUSE PANEL GETTING WET BECAUSE OF POOR DRAINAGE COMING FROM WINDSHIELD , SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT IT HAS CAUSED FIRES. IHAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 11/2 YEARS AND DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS OR ANYTHING FIXED ON IT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW . THANKS. [XXX] *TR”

“UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE WHILE CHANGING MY OIL, I OBSERVED THAT THE REAR STRAP OF MY FUEL TANK HAD RUSTED THROUGH ON ONE SIDE AND WAS NO LONGER SECURING MY FUEL TANK IN PLACE. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK STRAPS AND UPON RESEARCHING GUIDANCE FOR REPLACING THE STRAPS, I FOUND MANY ARTICLES ONLINE REGARDING A FUEL TANK STRAP RECALL FOR 1997-2001 F150'S, HOWEVER IT APPEARS THAT THE EXPEDITIONS, WHICH ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE F-150'S, WERE NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. I'M VERY LUCKY THAT I FOUND THE RUSTED STRAP BEFORE THE TANK DROPPED AND POTENTIALLY RUPTURED, CAUSING INJURY TO ME, MY WIFE AND OUR INFANT SON. IF THE GAS TANK STRAP RECALL CANNOT BE EXTENDED TO COVER EXPEDITIONS, I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO KNOW THE REASON WHY THE EXPEDITIONS ARE NOT COVERED. THANK YOU. *TR”