2002 Ford Windstar power train problems

“The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle and drove off the side of the roadway. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic who discovered that the rear axle had fractured due to severe rust. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 125,000.”

“WHILE DRIVING ON X WAY APPOX. 60 MPH, NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM REAR OF CAR AND BEGIN HEARING A CLICKING SOUND. AS I WAS PULLING CAR OVER TO SIDE THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED. TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, UPON LOADING OF VEHICLE ON BED OF TRUCK WAS ABLE TO SEE REAR AXLE IN THE MIDDLE TOWARD PASSENGER SIDE HAD RUSTED THRU RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BRACKET FORD HAD INSTALLED IN 2011 DUE TO A RECALL. WAS INFORMED THAT IN 2015-16 FORD DID ANOTHER RECALL ON THE BRACKET NOT BEING IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. AS SHOWED IN THE ATTACHED PHOTO THERE IS ONLY ONE BRACKET INSTALLED, MY UNDERSTANDING THERE SHOULD BE TWO. BUT EVEN THEN THAT DOES NOT RESOLVED THE RUST PROBLEM, IT JUST HOLDS THE AXLE WHEN IT DOES BREAK OR CORRODE THRU.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT FAILED TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED GARY CROSSLEY FORD AT (816) 781-4844 (LOCATED AT 8050 N CHURCH RD, KANSAS CITY, MO 64158) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED 2002 FORD WINDSTAR OUTPUT SHAFT FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHICH INCREASED THE RISK OF CRASH.*JB”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR WHEELS WERE ANGLED INWARD INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD FRACTURED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED IN 2012 UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V193000 (POWER TRAIN) TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”

“THE REAR AXLE BROKE AT 45MPH BLOWING OUT BOTH REAR TIRES THANKGOD WE WERN'T HURT AND HAD NO CARS BEHIND US SEEN RECALL ONLINE CALLED FORD BUT WAS TOLD THE VAN WAS NOT PART OF RECALL WAS PURCHASED IN MI NEW AND HAS U DESIGN AXLE”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TIRE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED LILLISTON FORD AT (888) 397-9172 (833 N DELSEA DR., VINELAND, NJ 08360) AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT A DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.”