The defect
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. A SEPARATION OF A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKET MAY RESULT IN A LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATION. A SEPARATION OF BOTH FRONT SUBFRAME REAR BODY MOUNTS MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT.
The risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKETS, AND BOTH BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS AT THE REAR OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME, AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. IF REPAIRS CANNOT BE MADE TO A VEHICLE, FORD WILL OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 21, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Windstar | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
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 | 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 structure recalls in 2011
26 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the structure; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 11V596000 23 Dec 2011 | CORP. MICRO BIRD, INC. |
| 11V566000 22 Nov 2011 | SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC |
| 11V551000 10 Nov 2011 | PIERCE MANUFACTURING |
| 11V546000 9 Nov 2011 | STARTRANS BUS CORPORATION |
| 11V517000 26 Oct 2011 | DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 11V504000 18 Oct 2011 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 11V491000 3 Oct 2011 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC |
| 11V486000 27 Sept 2011 | OPEN RANGE R.V. COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011