Home / Auto News / News article: Ford To Recall, Buy Back Windstar Minivans With Defective Axles
 |  Oct 25, 4:11 PM

Ford‘s Windstar minivan is undergoing a massive recall, with over 460,000 1998-2003 Windstars being recalled over a fault rear axle that may corrode and ultimately fail.

Ford has informed dealers that rather than fix the problem, they may buy back the vehicles instead. “At our discretion, the remedy we offer may involve repurchasing a customer’s vehicle at a price we believe either matches or exceeds market value,” Ford said in a prepared statement.

Not surprisingly, the recall affects cars in “rust belt” states like Michigan and locations in Canada where road salt is used. NHTSA said that 96 percent of complaints came from the following states; Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin, plus Washington, D.C.

[Source: Detroit News]

UPDATE: The Ford Windstar is now under investigation by NHTSA for rusting subframe issues. Click here to read the story.

  • Robbie Amos

    Would you check this vin # on the 2001 windstar van to see if it a recall:
    2CMZA51421BB33602 made in Oakville Otarion Canada

  • mariann

    I need help with my car it going to take me about almost 1,000 to fix my windstar 1999

  • don corson

    HELP just bought a 2003 windstar for 7000 and now the problems abs n brake lite comes of n on and all the recalls have always bought ford minivans had nothing like this nitemare

  • jim h

    I JUST BOUGHT A 2001 WINDSTAR AND A WEEK LATER I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM I HAVE YET REGISTERD IT IM JUST NOT SURE IF I HAVE TO REGISTER IT BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE DEALER OR NOT DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT SHOILD I DO THANKS FOR ANY INFO THAT ANY ONE CAN HELP ME WITH

  • Brittany

    To the person about abs- no they has done nothing about that yet and I’m not impresse I have same problem with me 2000 ford windstar at this point with all the recalls and time I have had to take out of my own life to put my van into the shop so ford can fix their mistakes im annoyed. I daily have to put 3 kids into this van and ask myself everyday is it going to be safe for them! So to does stop this bullcrap of year after year different recalls buy back us customers cars because your only digging yourself a deeper hole because I myself know at this point will never buy a ford vechile again!