Ford Recalls 1998-2003 Windstar Minivans for Rear Axle Bracket Defect
Ford is recalling 1998-2003 Windstar minivans because previously installed rear axle brackets may be misinstalled, potentially allowing the axle to fracture and increasing crash risk.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (rear axle fracture) that affects handling and increases the risk of a crash, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.
Plain-English summary
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles manufactured between September 2, 1997, and July 3, 2003. The recall involves approximately 283,413 vehicles that were previously repaired to prevent rear axle cracking from corrosion.
The defect involves the brackets used in those previous repairs, which may have been misinstalled. If the brackets are not installed properly, the rear axle may fracture. This failure can affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash. The issue limits the effectiveness of prior service repairs associated with NHTSA recalls 10V-385, 12V-193, and 12V-195.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brackets to verify their proper installation. If a bracket is found to have been misinstalled, the rear axle will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recalled product
- Product
- FORD WINDSTAR
- Brand
- FORD
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Category
- Vehicle — Minivan
- Affected units
- 283,413
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (1)
- WINDSTAR
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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