Problems · by component

2001 Ford Windstar power train problems

146 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Windstar cite power train, 9% of all 1,717 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
146
9% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2001. THERE WAS A RECALL PUT OUT FOR THE SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY. IN 2011, ACCORDING TO SUNSET FORD DEALERSHIP (WHERE I TOOK IT FOR AXLE REPAIR AND WAS DENIED) THE RECALL WAS REMEDIED IN 2011. HOWEVER, AS STATED ALONG WITH THE RECALL NOTICE, THE TIME THAT THE BRACKETS WERE MIS INSTALLED CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR AXLE, CORROSION AND FRACTURING. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY VEHICLE RIGHT NOW AND THE DEALERSHIP ALONG WITH FORD CORPORATE IS SAYING THIS AXLE REPAIR WILL BE FULLY AT MY COST. ACCORDING TO THEIR AUTOMATED RECALL PHONE INFORMATION, UP UNTIL 2016 THEY WERE OFFERING TO REPLACE THE AXLE FOR $300 ( A DISCOUNTED RATE) FOR CUSTOMERS AFFECTED. I DO NOT AT ALL FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE A FEW TIMES NOW AND HAVE BEEN TOLD NO ITS NOT THEIR FAULT. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY SUNSET FORD, THAT I WOULD NEED TO PAY THEM $140 AN HOUR FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE IT AND TELL ME SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS WRONG. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN THERE ONCE TO CHECK THE RECALL WHERE THEY TOOK PICTURES ( INCLUDED) AND SENT THEM TO FORD CORPORATE WHERE I WAS TOLD NO THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNLESS I PAY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2019Suspension, Power train, WheelsODI 11241531
“DRIVING HOME I HEARD A THUD AND MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR SPUN OFF THE ROAD. TURNS OUT THE AXLE CRACKED IN HALF AND ALMOST KILLED ME. TOWED THE CAR INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN OPEN SAFETY RECALL ON MY WINDSTAR AND FORD KNOWS OF THOUSAND OF AXLE PROBLEMS THEY SAID THAT IT IS NOT COVERED. FORD'S WAY OF GETTING PUT OF IT EVEN THOUGH MY BROTHERS 2003 WINDSTAR AXLE FAILED AND YET FORD COVERED THAT ONE. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. THEY KNOW THERE AXLES ARE BAD AND HAVE HAD THREE SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE AXLES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2018Power trainODI 11088419
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE REAR AXLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BLACKWELL FORD INC (41001 PLYMOUTH RD, PLYMOUTH, MI 48170; 734-453-1100) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A REPAIR WAS NOT NEEDED. THE RECALL WAS DEEMED COMPLETED. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AFTER THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE UNDERWENT ROUTINE INSPECTION AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT, DUE TO THE VEHICLE PASSING INSPECTION FOR THE RECALL, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,628.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2017Suspension, Power trainODI 11043680
“REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH RECALL BRACKETS WERE PROPERLY REPLACED. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE DEATH OR SEVERE INJURY. LUCKILY FOR US, WE WERE JUST TURNING A CORNER ON THE WAY TO THE STORE. FORD WILL NOT HELP WITH FINANCIAL COSTS DUE "EXTENDED WARRANTY HAVING EXPIRED IN OCT OF 2016". PEOPLE STILL DRIVING THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT UNLESS YOU'VE HAD THIS COMPLETELY REPLACED, AND REALLY THAT'S NO GUARANTEE, THIS COULD STILL OCCUR WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2017Power trainODI 10985836
“WHILE DRIVING AXLE BROKE ON VAN WHILE GOING DOWN ALLEY. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY END RESULT THEY SAY REINIKE FORD A DEALERSHIP IN LIMA, OHIO REPLACED THE FAULTY SUPPORT BRACKETS IN 2011. WHICH WAS A RECALL ON VAN. WHILE ALL ALONG DEALERSHIP WASN'T TELLING ME THEY DID THE RECALL WORK. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSSES THERE LIFE. WHICH THERE WERE DRIVERS THAT HAVE LOST THERE LIFE AND MANY SERIOUSLY HURT BECAUSE OF THE SAME ISSUE. FORD HAS PUT THERE RECALL OUT. BUT SOMETHING NEEDS DONE WITH THE DEALER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2017Power trainODI 10948742
“REAR AXLE THE REAR AXLE ON MY WINDSTAR BROKE YESTERDAY ON THE LEFT SIDE OUTSIDE OF THE SUPPORT BRACKET INSTALLED BY THE DEALER FOR THE 2011 RECALL. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE TIRE RUBBING ON THE FRAME. I GOT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (BETTEN FORD IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI) WHO ADVISED THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR UNLESS I PAID FOR THE REPAIR AS THE BRACKET HELD AND THE AXLE BROKE IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION. FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT ADVISED THE SAME THING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2016Suspension, Power trainODI 10936489

Showing 6 of 146 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: axle assembly

Free remedy

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997, THROUGH JULY 3, 2003, AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN VIRGINIA. OVER TIME, CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE REAR AXLE MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO TORSIONAL STRESS. CORROSION AND STRESS CAN LEAD TO CRACKS WHICH, IF UNDETECTED, CAN INCREASE AND RESULT IN A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE AXLE.

Power trainReported May 3, 2012NHTSA 12V193000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.