The defect
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. CORROSION-RELATED FRACTURES OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKETS AND BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS MAY OCCUR.
The risk
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. EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF 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. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Windstar | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
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 suspension recalls in 2012
27 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the suspension; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 12V600000 26 Dec 2012 | Prevost Cars, Inc. |
| 12V494000 10 Oct 2012 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 12V462000 20 Sept 2012 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 12V464000 19 Sept 2012 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 12V410000 21 Aug 2012 | Kaufman Trailers |
| 12V401000 10 Aug 2012 | DUCATI NORTH AMERICA |
| 12V390000 8 Aug 2012 | ALTEC INDUSTRIES INC. |
| 12V393000 3 Aug 2012 | JAYCO, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012