<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/minivans/" rel="tag">Minivan/Van</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100728/RETAIL05/100729866/1147"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/2000windstarflorist-630.jpg" /></a><br />
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The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/26/nhtsa-increases-roof-rigidity-requirements/">National Highway Transportation Safety Administration</a> has opened a second investigation into 1999-2003 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford</a> Windstar minivans. The new probe has arisen amidst reports of front subframe corrosion that can cause the vehicle to lose steering. Apparently, a number of owners in salt-belt states have complained of front steering components rusting to the point of failure, causing a total loss of steering in the process. NHTSA will be looking into a total 900,000 potentially affected vehicles as part of the first stage of a process that could ultimately lead to recall. <br />
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As we <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/11/report-hundreds-of-complaints-about-ford-windstar-axles-snappin/">first reported in May</a>, Windstar minivans of the same vintage are currently under investigation for a similar corrosion concern in the rear of the vehicle. The government agency launched an investigation after receiving 234 complaints of the vehicles' <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/11/report-hundreds-of-complaints-about-ford-windstar-axles-snappin/">rear axles fracturing</a>. Owners claim that the design allows for road salt and grime to collect in certain places, accelerating corrosion in the process. <br />
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Ford says that it is doing everything it can to cooperate with the investigation and address any design issue, should one exist. According to <em>Automotive News</em>, the Windstar, which was built between 1994 and 2003, has been the subject of a total of 10 recalls so far.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100728/RETAIL05/100729866/1147">Automotive News</a> - sub. req.]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/30/report-nhtsa-expands-ford-windstar-corrosion-probe-to-front-sub/">Report: NHTSA expands Ford Windstar corrosion probe to front subframes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/30/report-nhtsa-expands-ford-windstar-corrosion-probe-to-front-sub/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19573372/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/30/report-nhtsa-expands-ford-windstar-corrosion-probe-to-front-sub/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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<br />
The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/26/nhtsa-increases-roof-rigidity-requirements/">National Highway Transportation Safety Administration</a> has opened a second investigation into 1999-2003 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford</a> Windstar minivans. The new probe has arisen amidst reports of front subframe corrosion that can cause the vehicle to lose steering. Apparently, a number of owners in salt-belt states have complained of front steering components rusting to the point of failure, causing a total loss of steering in the process. NHTSA will be looking into a total 900,000 potentially affected vehicles as part of the first stage of a process that could ultimately lead to recall. <br />
<br />
As we <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/11/report-hundreds-of-complaints-about-ford-windstar-axles-snappin/">first reported in May</a>, Windstar minivans of the same vintage are currently under investigation for a similar corrosion concern in the rear of the vehicle. The government agency launched an investigation after receiving 234 complaints of the vehicles' <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/11/report-hundreds-of-complaints-about-ford-windstar-axles-snappin/">rear axles fracturing</a>. Owners claim that the design allows for road salt and grime to collect in certain places, accelerating corrosion in the process. <br />
<br />
Ford says that it is doing everything it can to cooperate with the investigation and address any design issue, should one exist. According to <em>Automotive News</em>, the Windstar, which was built between 1994 and 2003, has been the subject of a total of 10 recalls so far.<br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100728/RETAIL05/100729866/1147">Automotive News</a> - sub. req.]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/30/report-nhtsa-expands-ford-windstar-corrosion-probe-to-front-sub/">Report: NHTSA expands Ford Windstar corrosion probe to front subframes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/30/report-nhtsa-expands-ford-windstar-corrosion-probe-to-front-sub/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19573372/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/30/report-nhtsa-expands-ford-windstar-corrosion-probe-to-front-sub/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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