The 1998 Ford Windstar has 9 recalls, the most serious being a rear axle that can corrode, crack, and fracture completely, causing a sudden loss of vehicle control.
This axle defect is the subject of multiple recalls covering vehicles registered in salt-belt states, Canadian provinces where road salt is used, and Puerto Rico, where high-stress driving conditions produce a similar cracking risk. Prior repair attempts involved installing reinforcement brackets on the rear axle, but those brackets may have been misinstalled on some vehicles, meaning the earlier fix may not have fully resolved the problem.
On the occupant safety side, minivans equipped with the optional integrated child seat in the second-row bench have a headrest lockout mechanism that can fail to hold the headrest in the down position when the child seat is in use. If the headrest shifts up, a child seated in that position receives less head protection in a crash.
There is also a brake-related service campaign, limited to vehicles sold in late 1996 and early 1997, where front brake caliper mounting bolts may not have been fully tightened at the factory. Loose bolts typically produce noticeable noise or vibration, and braking performance is not reduced.
At a glance
What can fail
Brackets installed during previous rear axle repairs may have been positioned incorrectly, reducing the effectiveness of those repairs against axle cracking from corrosion.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect bracket installation. If found misinstalled, the rear axle will be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
Rear axle reinforcement brackets installed under recall 2010-284 may not have been properly installed, reducing their ability to prevent axle fracture from corrosion and stress. An improperly repaired axle could fracture, affecting vehicle handling and crash risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the reinforcement brackets. If either bracket is improperly installed, the dealer will replace the entire rear axle.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear axle can crack due to high stress from repeated twisting forces, particularly in this market's driving conditions.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear axle and install a reinforcement bracket or replace the axle if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Corrosion weakens the rear axle over time, making it vulnerable to stress. This can cause cracks that grow larger and potentially break the axle completely.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear axle and install reinforcement brackets or replace the axle as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Corrosion weakens the rear axle over years of service in certain regions, making it vulnerable to stress-related cracks that can spread and cause complete axle failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear axle and install reinforcement brackets as needed at no cost to strengthen the axle against corrosion and stress.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In vehicles used where road salt is applied during winter in certain Canadian provinces, the rear axle can corrode and crack. A cracked rear axle may affect how the vehicle handles, risking a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will install reinforcement brackets on the rear axle to prevent cracking.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front brake caliper anchor plate bolts may be loose due to incomplete tightening during manufacturing, affecting mini vans from December 1996 and January, February, and May 1997.
What the fix does
Dealers will tighten the front brake caliper anchor plate bolts to proper specification.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The headrest lock mechanism may fail to secure headrests in the down position when the integrated child seat is deployed, allowing occupants to move headrests up and reducing head protection for children in the seat.
What the fix does
Second row bench seats are replaced with seats equipped with revised headrest locking mechanisms.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The headrest lockout mechanism on second row bench seats with integrated child seats may fail to lock headrests in the down position when the child seat is deployed, allowing occupants to move headrests up.
What the fix does
Second row bench seats are replaced with seats that have improved headrest lockout mechanisms.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
