NHTSA Complaint #10088639 — 1996 FORD WINDSTAR

THIS IS A SECOND OR FOLLOW-UP FOR MY EARLIER COMPLAINT FILED ON THE DAY OF TEH INCIDENT. I JUST FOUND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WANTED TO APPEND THIS TO MY COMPLAINT.*AK FIRST COMPLAINT WAS ABOUT THE TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING IN MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 4 WHEEL DISCS AND ABS. WITH A DUAL BRAKING SYSTEM THE RUPTURE OF A BRAKE LINE SHOULD NOT CAUSE TOTAL BRAKE LOSS BUT THIS FAILURE DID CAUSE JUST THAT. IF THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS NOT ON SOME PEDAL WAS EVIDENT. ONCE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS ON THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SINCE THE RUPTURED BRAKE LINE WAS IN THE REAR AND THE FRONT BRAKES STILL HAD FLUID AND DO MOST OF THE BRAKING I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO RETAIN SOME STOPPING CAPABILITY. I PURCHASED THE 4 WHEEL DISC SYSTEM TO GAIN A SAFER AND MORE SECURE VEHICLE. IF THE ADDITONAL OF ABS 4 WHEEL BRAKING RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF THE DUAL MASTER CYLINDER FUNCTION , WHICH IS MORE CRITICAL, I THINK THIS OPTION IS LESS SAFE. THE NEW INFORMATION IS THE FACT THAT OTHER FORD WINDSTARS HAVE A RECALL FOR IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BRAKE LINES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO RUST THROUGH AND RUPTURE. FORD TELLS ME THAT MY VIN IS NOT IN THAT GROUP. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS CORRECT BUT THE SUMPTOMS SOUND IDENTICAL. ALL THE OTHER BRAKE LINES IN MY CAR WERE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE SAVE FOR THE ONE TO THE REAR BRAKES WHICH RUPTURED AND CAUSED THE LOSS OF THE FLUID IN THE REAR SYSTEM. THE FRONT SYSTEM RETAINED FLUID BUT DID NOT PRESSURIZE THE BRAKES. I ASSUEM THIS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ABS BUT I CAN NOT BE SURE IF THAT IS THE ACTUAL CAUSE. FORD INDCIATES THAT MY NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINE IS NOT THE SAME AS THE EXISTING RECALL. I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU INVESTIGATE IF THE BRAKE LINE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTAR PRODUCT IS LARGER THAT ORIGINALLY THOUGHT. MY CAR ALSO IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE MASTER CYLINDER SIGNAGE UPDATED ON A RECALL. FORD INDICATES MY WAS DONE BUT I DO NOT SEE ANY OF THE EXPECTED MARKINGS. PERHAPS THESE WERE APPLIED AND HAVE FALLEN OFF OR I COULD BE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE.