The defect
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2003 AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. AFTER MANY YEARS OF VEHICLE SERVICE IN THESE AREAS, CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE REAR AXLE, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO TORSIONAL STRESS. CORROSION AND STRESS CAN LEAD TO CRACKS WHICH IF UNDETECTED CAN PROPAGATE AND RESULT IN A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE AXLE.
The risk
A FRACTURED AXLE CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
AS PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY INSTALL THE REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Windstar | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Windstar | 1998 | 1,433 | 11 |
| Ford Windstar | 1999 | 1,522 | 11 |
| Ford Windstar | 2000 | 1,675 | 15 |
| Ford Windstar | 2001 | 1,686 | 15 |
| Ford Windstar | 2002 | 1,353 | 8 |
| Ford Windstar | 2003 | 1,510 | 8 |
Other suspension recalls in 2010
21 of the 647 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2010 concerned the suspension; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 10V656000 24 Dec 2010 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 10V643000 17 Dec 2010 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 10V640000 16 Dec 2010 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 10V580000 10 Nov 2010 | VANGUARD NATIONAL TRAILER CORPORATION |
| 10V545000 5 Nov 2010 | UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANY |
| 10V501000 21 Oct 2010 | GREAT DANE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP |
| 10V506000 12 Oct 2010 | HYUNDAI TRANSLEAD |
| 10V488000 8 Oct 2010 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2010