The good news for Ford is several thousands of these vans that were still running were scrapped by cash for clunkers.
Ford Motor Co. is recalling nearly 463,000 1998-2003 Ford Windstar minivans in the U.S. over concerns that rear axles could corrode and fail. The recall covers vans sold or registered in 21 "Salt Belt" states -- including Michigan -- and Washington, D.C., over concerns that after years on the road, corrosion can weaken the rear axle and crack it, possibly resulting in a crash.