The defect
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.
The risk
A FRACTURED AXLE CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS, OR REPLACE THE AXLES, AS NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Windstar | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: POWER TRAIN: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 power train recalls in 2012
19 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the power train; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 12V474000 2 Oct 2012 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 12V461000 19 Sept 2012 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 12V460000 18 Sept 2012 | General Motors LLC |
| 12V407000 20 Aug 2012 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 12V317000 6 Jul 2012 | VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. |
| 12V256000 4 Jun 2012 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 12V216000 16 May 2012 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 12V200000 8 May 2012 | FOREST RIVER, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012