Ford Windstar Under Investigation Again: Rusting Subframe Linked to Crashes

After an initial investigation and then a recall on the Ford Windstar for rear axle failure, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has put the minivan on notice – again. This time NHTSA’s investigation involves the van’s subframe, which reportedly suffers from the same structural rusting as the rear axles.

The NHTSA website lists 346 complaints of the front subframe (which holds up the engine, transmission, steering rack and front suspension) breaking. A total of three crashes and one injury are listed in connection with front subframe failures on the van.

AutoGuide has also received numerous reports of subframe issues by Windstar owners in response to previous articles written about the rear axle failure recall.

NHTSA’s investigation involves 550,000 Windstar vans dating from the 1999-2003 model years.

Ford’s troubled Windstar minivan is making headlines for all the wrong reasons as of late after as Massachusetts man was killed recently, reportedly the result of a broken rear axle. That news sparked response from Ford, which then expanded the axle recall from 575,000 vehicles to 612,000.

[Source: Bloomberg]