NHTSA recall 10V385000
A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.
| Published by | NHTSA (United States) |
|---|---|
| Campaign number | 10V385000 |
| Manufacturer's number | 10S13 |
| Manufacturer | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| Reported | 2010-08-26 |
| Owners notified | 2010-10-20 |
| Component | SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY |
| Units potentially affected | 492650 |
What is wrong
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2003 AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. AFTER MANY YEARS OF VEHICLE SERVICE IN THESE AREAS, CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE REAR AXLE, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO TORSIONAL STRESS. CORROSION AND STRESS CAN LEAD TO CRACKS WHICH IF UNDETECTED CAN PROPAGATE AND RESULT IN A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE AXLE.
What can happen
A FRACTURED AXLE CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
AS PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY INSTALL THE REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Notes
FORD'S RECALL NO. IS 10S13.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .
| 1998 FORD WINDSTAR | Built 2007-09-01 to 2003-07-03. |
|---|---|
| 1999 FORD WINDSTAR | Built 2007-09-01 to 2003-07-03. |
| 2000 FORD WINDSTAR | Built 2007-09-01 to 2003-07-03. |
| 2001 FORD WINDSTAR | Built 2007-09-01 to 2003-07-03. |
| 2002 FORD WINDSTAR | Built 2007-09-01 to 2003-07-03. |
| 2003 FORD WINDSTAR | Built 2007-09-01 to 2003-07-03. |
A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.
Investigated as PE10016
This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.
| PE10016 | Preliminary evaluation, opened 2010-05-13, closed 2010-09-22. Rear Axle Cracking. SUSPENSION. |
|---|
From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. The JSON has NHTSA's summary of each.
Bulletins for the same vehicles and component
| TSB160070 | 2021-12-20. Service bulletin. Safety recall 10S13 - Rear axle corrosion - requests for recall service action |
|---|---|
| 16-0070 | 2020-12-07. Service bulletin. For 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles Safety Recall 10S13 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the rear axle could potentially fracture. If the rear axle should completely fracture, vehicle handling may be affected which could increase the risk of a crash. |
| CSP-15-N-02 | 2016-06-22. Service bulletin. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| TSB-14-0168 | 2015-08-01. Service bulletin. FORD: SAFETY RECALL ON FRONT SUBFRAME LOWER CONTROL ARM (LCA) REAR ATTACHING FLANGE OR REAR BODY MOUNT THAT CAN SEPARATE FROM SUBFRAME IF VEHICLE IS OPERATED, FOR EXTENDED PERIOD, IN HIGH CORROSION AREAS. MODEL 1999-03 WINDSTAR. |
| TSB-14-0167 | 2015-08-01. Service bulletin. FORD: SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING REAR AXLE FRACTURING IF VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN HIGH CORROSION AREAS FOR AND EXTENDED PERIOD. MODEL 1998-03 WINDSTAR. *PE |
| TSB-14-0146 | 2015-01-17. Service bulletin. FORD: ON SOME MINIVANS, REAR AXLE WILL FRACTURE, IN HIGH CORROSION AREA, AFTER OPERATING FOR AN EXTENDED TIME PERIOD, AND VEHICLE HANDLING ABILITY WILL BE AFFECTED. MODEL 1998-2003 WINDSTAR. *PE |
| TSB-14-0145 | 2015-01-16. Service bulletin. FORD: A SAFETY RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON MINIVANS WHERE LOWER CONTROL ARM (LCA) OF FRONT SUBFRAME ATTACHING REAR FLANGE OR REAR BODY MOUNT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO CORROSION. MODEL 1999-2003 WINDSTAR. *PE |
| 16383 | 2004-07-27. Service bulletin. SQUEAK NOISE FROM THE FRONT SPRING AREA. *TT |
| 16382 | 2004-07-27. Service bulletin. CLUNK/SQUEAK FROM THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR AREA (QSF). *TT |
| 15909 | 2002-12-06. Service bulletin. SU0BJECT REGARDING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. *TT |
A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.