1999 ford windstar recall repairs aren't holding up. My vans rear axle broke on 2 lane hwy at 35 miles an hr. With it being a holiday weekend had to wait to see what was gonna happen. Recall bracket was on the axle but still let the axle break. So of course they aren't gonna cover any repairs. When I spoke to Ford about not covering it they turned around and blamed the state Pennsylvania because its a corrosive state and full of pot holes... REALLY... If they can't fix it right then let us know.. Thank God none of my family members were hurt. So now I'm sitting on a 800 bill to fix. So people beware if you had the recall done and the axle breaks anyway you're screwed , they don't cover their work.... What happened to the American made pride......

If this happened 15 minutes earlier my whole family and I were on rte 95 going 65 mph. The way this snapped we would have rolled it at this speed. I was 150 miles away from home too and had to get a hotel with the family and it was my cousin's graduation day and party too. Have got no where with Ford and they actually want us to fill out information on the van and send it back to them with the complete history on the vehicle. They also want to know if we got a lawyer for this. I am sure the NHTSA will force their hand in a recall. I hope they do before someone really gets hurt or dies.. This vehicle is the worst I have ever owned for repairs. I have always bought Ford products but not again. My 99 Sable is been nothing but a nightmare too.

All I wanted to do was put gas in the F%#Wing van before the price went up again. Gas station is less than 5 minutes away from my house. Soon as I was like a minute away in the parking plaza near the gas station I heard a crack and then it felt like I was dragging something. I just took a quick glance and didn't really see anything I checked for popped tires as I thought that must have been it. I circled the van once I came to the left rear end I notice the tire is touching the van and the axle had broken. Had to tow it to a shop but being Sunday I have to wait till Monday to get an estimate of the cost...If it's over 200 I can say I'm officially F##@$cked because not affordable at the moment. Thanks Ford next time I won't think ford First!!!!!!! More like think Ford thirst!!!!!!!!

So I am sitting in Abingdon VA, right now because the rear axle on my wife's windstar just broke. Luckily the in-laws were following me and have taken our 3 kids and her home. I am now sitting with the vehicle waiting for a tow truck and trying to get home (280) miles. After asking the wife if she has hit anything or noticed anything weird with the van, I do a search and find that this is a common problem with this make and model. ( what the F*&^%) Ford needs to step up and issue a recall. I am SO SO lucky that none of the family was hurt.

Was driving my 1999 windstar and the back end started sliding around and all of a sudden it started swaying real bad and the back end didn't feel right. I thought at first i had a flat tire and the van was hard to stop as it was swinging around. Heard a Loud Noise. when i finally came to a halt i looked at the back end and my tires were bowing in. I took it to a shop and apparantly the axle beam in the back is fractured though it is not rusted at all. Scared me really bad cause I had my 3 kids in the car at the time.

I believe there needs to be some looking into on this cause my kids depend on me to get them to where we are going safely. The dealership acted like they had no idea what we were talking about and i've did research to see if there is any recalls on this problem and found it's being investigated. Instead of playing with peoples lives they need to bite the bullet and take care of this before someone gets killed due to this issue. Don't be a sell out like toyota and just take care of business and loyal customers who just want to drive a safe vehicle!! I definitely made a report to NHTSA. Something has to give

WINDSTAR REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF?

I AM A AUTO REPAIR FACILITY OWNER IN MICHIGAN AND HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM ALREADY 5 TIMES IN 3 YRS. ALL THE BREAKS ARE IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT!

DESIGN/MATERIAL IS TO BLAME. THE SHAPE ALLOWS WATER TO CAVITATE IN THE LOCATION OF THE BREAK/CRACK. IT WONT BE LONG SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS. FOR SAFETY REASONS ALL OTHER OWNERS INSPECT THE REAR AXLE FOR CRACKS APPROX 12" LEFT OF CENTER. (AS VIEWED FROM REAR)

SOMEONE WILL LOOSE THERE LIFE OR POSSIBLY ALREADY HAS DO TO FORDS UNWILLINGNESS TO INFORM OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE DEFECT!

Traveling from Penn State to bring my son home, just getting off the PA TPK exit ramp when I momentarily lost control. Figured my tire was going flat. After exiting and only 10 miles from home, I pulled over to see that my rear wheels were slanted outward. Called my other son to pick us up . Unloaded the van and called a tow truck. My mechanic confirmed a broken axle and replaced it with a used one. Total cost including towing $887. This could have been very dangerous and deadly traveling 70-75 on the turnpike. There was no obvious forewarning.

My 99 Windstar was making strange noises in the rear-end for a month or so last fall. I took it to a different mechanic than the guy I usually use for inspections and oil changes because I wanted someone with real experience to diagnose the problem. They called and said that the rear dummy axle was broke in half. $1400 later they had replaced it. He kept the broken part in his parking lot for me to see--he kept asking if my wife or I had hit something since "axles don't just break in half" and "..."you could have been killed if that had finally failed on the highway." The whole thing made no sense until I started reading the autobeef threads.

My van felt a little wobbly on a Wednesday, I continued to drive it and told my husband about it. He drove it on Friday and didn't make it a block before he said, "I'm not driving this, something is wrong with the rear". We turned around came home and looked under the van to find the rear axle broke. What in the world would cause an axle just to brake? I'm so grateful that nothing bad happen with my family in the car. My van was towed to the shop today, I haven't heard how much it will cost to be replaced. My husband and I both own Ford's and like to buy American made vehicles. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! All these complaints and Ford isn't doing anything about it?!? I have had to put 2 transmissions, 2 alternators and now an axle. I understand normal wear and tear but come on, 13-14 complaints for the same thing? What does it take, a wreck on the interstate to make the news like Toyota? I am also writing Ford and you should too.

My rear axle broke when I got to my doctors appointment after surgery. I got out of the appointment put the car in reverse and heard an obnoxious scrapping noise. Im a gear head ina half but just having the surgery done I couldn't get out and see what had happened. When my boyfriend finally got there to look at the van he was in shock. He said he has never seen anything break so clean. All the guys that have looked at it at the shop. Said thank god I was off the highway and the kids weren't in the car. When I called the dealership this morning about the recall the guy said nope there hasnt been one. You would think with all the problems Toyota is having they might want to pay attention to complaints and problems people are having!!

The rear axle broke. I was driving and it felt like you were on ice or something I stopped to check my tires and found this. It looks very much Like another photo I seen here listed under the same problem. Looks like Ford would do something about this with so many of them breaking at the same place. My wife to the children to school this morning she noticed that it handled a little different. All I can say God was protecting.

Update from Apr 17, 2010: The rear axle broke. I was driving and it felt like you were on ice or something I stopped to check my tires and found this. It looks very much Like another photo I seen here listed under the same problem. Looks like Ford would do something about this with so many of them breaking at the same place. My wife to the children to school this morning she noticed that it handled a little different. All I can say God was protecting.