Windstar axle recall... my results and experience.

[wagsg]

It has now been 4+ weeks and nothing.

I did drive through the "back lot" yesterday, to make sure no vandalism has been done to my van, and there are 30 Windstars lined up. No way of knowing how many are buy-back and how many are waiting to get the axle replacement. The rental company has to be loving it though.

Burt... I hope that isn't the extent of the fix for everyone. My understanding is that there would be some type of reinforcement on the areas prone to corrosion and failure. Maybe only in the salt use areas of the country are they doing that.

 

[mshu7]

Just thought I'd jump in here since I work as a Service Advisor for a local Ford dealer....

We probably have somewhere between 25-40 Windstars sitting in the back of our lot that have failed the inspection. We've had numerous Windstars pass as well and those get released back to the customer. These inspections take at least a half day so for any of you with this recall, don't plan on waiting there at the dealer for them to do the inspection. We're telling people to leave us the vehicle for the entire day.

The Windstars that fail inspection CANNOT be released back to the customer until the recall repair has been performed. Unfortunately, parts for the repair will not be available until Q1 of 2011. Ford is putting customer's in rentals until then.

 

[mshu7]

Originally Posted By: wagsg
It has now been 4+ weeks and nothing.

Burt... I hope that isn't the extent of the fix for everyone. My understanding is that there would be some type of reinforcement on the areas prone to corrosion and failure. Maybe only in the salt use areas of the country are they doing that.


Burt's experience is exactly what should be done for any Windstars that pass inspection. It is not a fix because there's no fix needed for those Windstars. The techs have to sand away the coating on certain areas of the axle in order to perform the inspection. If it passes, they have to re-apply a coating to the area.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: wagsg

-We are taking the offer, it's a no brainer. Ford is offering $3435, which is high book on a '99 SEL with 144k.


That is a good deal. Heck, I couldn't get that much for my 2001 with just over 100K on it back in 2008.

 

[Virtuoso]

Ford putting people in rentals for up to a few months on 10 year old vans? Wow.

Let me stress how much it sucks they don't offer this recall in Nebraska...sigh. We salt the holy [censored] out of our roads. But it's offered to van's in KENTUCKY?

 

[mshu7]

Not sure where all it's offered, but I'm in central Indiana and recall vans are coming in daily for us.

 

[Hokiefyd]

First, I think it does suck that recalls/bulletins like this apply only to certain geographical areas, especially when it's a demonstrated design problem. Ford's obviously not the only constructor who does this, but it's still inexcusable in my opinion. Maybe I bought a Windstar from Michigan, but now I live in North Carolina. Maybe my Windstar has 10 years' of corrosion under it, but because the vehicle is registered and titled in North Carolina, it's exempt. If there's a demonstrated issue like this, I think they should at least do the inspection for a customer upon request, even if they don't highly publicize it in southern states (where the problem wouldn't likely occur). I hope they would goodwill some inspections in salt-prone states (like NE) where the issue isn't officially covered.

Secondly, if I did own a Windstar that passed inspection, I'd still be highly anxious about the problem starting. Is there a long-term solution for those axles that may not show the issue yet? Because the design of the axle traps contaminants within, you'd think that just because an axle passes the test today, the design issue might work to create the problem in a few years down the road. Is the problem such that one could drill drain holes somewhere or similar?

 

[eljefino]

This seems way more expensive than putting new tires on explorers but is getting 1/100 the press.

Anyone who wants a nice ride, like a rental kia sedona

, should pick up a $300 beater windstar only to park behind the dealer.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Anyone who wants a nice ride, like a rental kia sedona

, should pick up a $300 beater windstar only to park behind the dealer.

One could probably make money doing that, but Ford may have stipulated in its buy-back program that you have to have owned the vehicle for a period of time. I think Toyota stipulated that when they were buying-back Tacomas.

 

[grcmptrnrd]

Originally Posted By: mshu7
The Windstars that fail inspection CANNOT be released back to the customer until the recall repair has been performed.


Are dealers legally opligated or even allowed to keep a vehicle if the customer demands it be returned?

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: grcmptrnrd
Originally Posted By: mshu7
The Windstars that fail inspection CANNOT be released back to the customer until the recall repair has been performed.


Are dealers legally opligated or even allowed to keep a vehicle if the customer demands it be returned?


Well i know in CA at least on brake work if a vehicle is unsafe to drive, a shop can call the CHP and they will come and take the license plates off a car until the customer gets its fixed.

 

[mshu7]

Originally Posted By: grcmptrnrd
Originally Posted By: mshu7
The Windstars that fail inspection CANNOT be released back to the customer until the recall repair has been performed.


Are dealers legally opligated or even allowed to keep a vehicle if the customer demands it be returned?


From what I have been told, we are legally required to keep the vehicle. Ford is putting customers in rentals if their vehicles fail inspection. And judging by the condition of the Windstars being brought in (120K+ miles, falling apart), I would think any customer that has a van like would love the opportunity to get into a new car rental.

 

[Virtuoso]

That's what I'm saying!

 

[wagsg]

Last Friday (3 days shy of 5 weeks), we received the offer package via FedEx (for signature and date verification).

It is a 2 page document stating the buy back offer ($ amount) and instructions. You have to check the 'ACCEPT' box, sign & date, write down current mileage, then mail back with prepaid overnight FedEx envelope within 7 business days. You then must take the title to the dealer to sign over and fill out a notorized release statement.

Once all this has been completed and verified by Ford, you receive a check... free and clear. You get to keep the rental until you pick up the check.

Hope this helps anyone in this situation.

 

[mshu7]

Thanks for the great info wagsg.

 

[Virtuoso]

I called Ford just to make sure our van wasn't covered. It wasn't. The lady I talked to said it was based on where the van was originally purchased. I think ours was in Canada, and she didn't say anything about vans from Canada being covered (?? I thought I read that somewhere though.)


She did state that she "had heard" a good possibillity of all vans being recalled - but of course not to count on what she had heard. Just wait for a letter in the mail if that becomes so.

 

[wagsg]

Last week (6+ weeks in) we went to the dealer to sign paperwork and sign the title over to Ford in a 10-15 minute process. We were told that due to the overwhelming response, it would be approximately 2 weeks before everything was processed and we actually recieve the check. At that time we will turn in the rental vehicle.

When this is finished, it will be 8-9 weeks total... and I'm not complaining. Free use of a vehicle, no maintanence, and no insurance premium for a couple months is fine with me. First time owning the Windstar has been a plus.

FWIW if you own a '98-'03 Windstar and have concerns, don't hesitate to have it inspected. I believe they are obligated to to it. After all, it is the same design and Ford can't say what conditions it has lived it's life in based on original point of sale or current location. There has now been a confirmed fatal crash involving a broken axle so better safe than sorry.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: wagsg
There has now been a confirmed fatal crash involving a broken axle so better safe than sorry.


Haven't heard that.

Do you have a link to a news story about it?

 

[wagsg]

Heard it on a radio news break this morning. The crash was from 2 months ago. I think they said in eastern US (Pennsylvania possibly), but I wasn't listening that close.

I thought it was funny that whatever news org. giving the top of the hour update said that they "had just learned about a possibly fatal problem with Windstars". Real breaking news considering how long the recall has been out.

 

[wagsg]

WHITMAN, Mass. -- Sean Bowman was driving with a classmate to community college when his Ford Windstar's rear axle cracked in half, sending the minivan careening into a building and killing him, his family says. One week later, the family says, a safety recall notice from Ford arrived in the mail. It said the 2001 Windstar's axle should be checked out because it could corrode and break.


The crash occurred on Oct. 15, 2010