Ford Recalls 575,000 Windstar Models;

Ford has issued a recall for 575,000 Windstar vehicle models. The Ford Windstar is a popular minivan but there is a recall for the rear axles of the vehicle. The voluntary recall affects models that were produced between the years of 1998 to 2003 and the models that are in areas where salt is used in cold weather are the primary affected models. Pre-owned Ford models and others can be purchased from Pittsburgh Used Car Dealers. With years of vehicle service in the affected areas, corrosion can lead to the weakening of the rear axles of these models. Dodge minivans that are sold at Flagstaff Dodge Dealers were not said to be affected by the defect.

Ford is in partnership with Mazda whose models can be seen at a Sarasota Used Mazda Dealer, and the company has received 950 complaints about cracking in the rear axle of these Windstar models. The cracking has lead to accidents that have resulted in three injuries. Ford will repair the affected Windstar models free of charge with brackets that are designed to reinforce the rear axle.

The U.S. safety agency opened an investigation into the defect after there had been a large number of complaints involving rear-axle failure. Ford is attempting to deal with the problem before it becomes more serious with more injuries or even deaths. Ford is in the process of a turnaround and the company is doing its best to avoid any negative publicity.

It looks like this particular recall will not be a major hit to the brand's reputation as being an excellent automaker. The Windstar model is no longer produced by Ford, and the recall is for a defect which is not as severe as many other defects have been over the past year. Toyota models have had many more serious defects, and other automakers have as well.

(Sarasota Used Mazda Dealer), (Pittsburgh Used Car Dealers), and (Flagstaff Dodge Dealers).

Windstar Probe Expands;

Federal regulators are investigating the Ford Windstar that can be found at Los Angeles Ford Dealers and other dealers after there were several complaints from a number of states that the vehicle would lose control due to corrosion problems. The models include those produced from 1999-2003. Ford is a major competitor to GM whose Chevy minivans can be found at a Cincinnati Chevrolet dealership.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expanding its investigation and focusing on the front subframe on the right side of the vehicle that has been implicated in 87 complaints and 3 crashes so far. The government investigation was opened on July 20. An evaluation of up to 900,000 vehicles will be performed.

Vehicle problems that result from a defect may not be picked up by Ford or other automakers and they require the investigation of government or other authorities in order to be revealed. Volkswagen dealers offer VW Deals on many VW models which do not have manufacturing defects to date. The NHTSA performs investigations on models that have a number of complains over a short period of time.

Of the Ford Windstar, one complaint said, “My wife was driving at a slow speed in a parking lot, and all of a sudden there was a loud bang and she could not steer the vehicle.” A Ford spokeswoman said that the company would be cooperating with all aspects of the investigation. The investigation may lead to a recall by the automaker which would be one of the few recalls Ford has had in the past several years.

Ford built 2.3 million Windstar models from the period of 1994 to 2003 and the model was discontinued on that same year. The Windstar has previously been involved in 10 different recalls that affected 3.6 million vehicles. The model was discontinued because of the numerous problems with manufacturing and other issues.