Vehicles Affected: Approximately 283,000 model-year 1998-2003 Ford Windstar minivans manufactured between Sept. 2, 1997, and July 3, 2003, at the Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, all of which received rear axle reinforcement brackets during a previous recall action
The Problem: The combined effects of corrosion and stress can lead to cracks in the axle, which if undetected can grow and result in a complete fracture. A previous recall repair of these vehicles included the installation of a rear axle reinforcement bracket. An incorrectly installed bracket could limit the effectiveness of that repair. Ford said it is aware of a "small number of accidents that might be connected to this issue, but no injuries."
The Fix: Dealers will inspect the brackets to determine if they were correctly installed, and the automaker will install a new axle on vehicles that have the incorrectly installed bracket, for free; owners of vehicles with the correctly installed bracket will receive an incentive to replace their rear axle at a reduced cost; the offer is good for one year with unlimited mileage.
What Owners Should Do: Ford did not immediately announce an owner-notification schedule. Owners can call the automaker at 866-436-7332 for more info.
Need to Find a Dealer for Service? Go to Cars.com Service & Repair to find your local dealer.
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