NHTSA Complaint #10208085 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

ON OCTOBER 19, 2007 I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND BEGAN TO GO FORWARD WHEN I FELT AN ALARMING SENSATION IN MY CAR. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT MY TIRES. ALL LOOKED FINE SO I RETURNED TO MY CAR, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AGAIN AND BEGAN TO GO FORWARD WHEN I FELT THE REAR OF THE CAR SWAY. I PULLED OVER AGAIN AND LOOKED UNDER THE BACK OF THE CAR WHEN I SAW THAT MY REAR AXEL HAS SNAPPED IN TWO. ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT MY CAR HAD 65,700 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC IN WAKEFIELD, MASS. BOTH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE MECHANIC SEPERATELY TOLD ME THIS WAS SHOCKING AND NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO A CAR. AFTER ANALYZING MY CAR THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BROKEN AXEL WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE IS A CLEAN BREAK IN THE AXEL WHERE THE TWO BROKEN PARTS FIT TOGETHER SNUG LIKE A PUZZLE. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF AN ACCIDENT OR TAMPERING TO THE AXEL. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME WHERE THERE IS A PART OF THE AXEL WHERE WATER CAN GET IN, BUT THERE IS NO WAY FOR THE WATER TO ESCAPE. AS A RESULT THE AXEL RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE UNTIL IT WEAKENED AND BROKE. MY MECHANIC HAS PHOTOGRAPHED THIS PART AND IS HOLDING IT AT HIS GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. AS AN ASIDE, I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE OWNER OF STONEHAM FORD, MARK MELKONIAN, TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. HE LOOKED UP MY SERVICE ACCOUNT AND VERIFIED I HAVE "BEEN FAITHFUL IN THE MAINTANENCE SCHEDULE." I, LIKE MY MECHANIC, BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE IN WHICH OTHER CONSUMERS WILL SOON, IF NOT ALREADY, EXPERIENCE AN AXEL BREAK. HAD THE AXEL GIVEN WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE, THE OUTCOME MIGHT HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SEVERE. I AM AFRAID IF THIS IS NOT REVIEWED ANOTHER FAMILY MAY HAVE A CRITICAL OUTCOME IN THE COURSE OF THE AXEL GIVING WAY. COULD YOU PLEASE ADVISE WHAT I NEED TO DO TO HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT THIS PART OF THE CAR AND HOW IT SIMPLY CRACKED IN TWO. *TR