NHTSA Complaint #10157964 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT. FRONT RIGHT SPRING BROKE WHILE BACKING THE CAR OUT OF GARAGE, AND IT PUNCTURED THE TIRE AS WELL AS RUINED THE STRUT SHOCK. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL FOR A SOARING TO RUST OUT IN (6) SIX YEARS. DUE TO OUR PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH A 1996 WINDSTAR, WE HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR THIS VEHICLE, SO WE DID NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE RIGHT HAND VEHICLE DAMAGE. BUT, DUE TO THE VERY HIGH PROBABILITY THAT THE LEFT SPRING WOULD RUST THROUGH AND FAIL SOON, WE OPTED TO PAY TO HAVE THE LEFT SPRING AND OTHER COMPONENTS FIXED AT THE SAME TIME AS WE HAD THE RIGHT SIDE REPAIRED. MY WIFE'S LIFE AND THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD IS WORTH MORE THAN THE COST TO REPLACE A RUSTED OUT, POOR QUALITY COIL SPRING / DESIGN. IF THIS SPRING WOULD HAVE BROKEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED, MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THE AGGRESSIVE WAY THE BROKEN SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE, ACTUALLY PIERCING INTO THE TIRE AND LOCKING IT FROM ROTATION. *JB