NHTSA Complaint #10226770 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

2001 FORD WINDSTAR 70,000 MILES, HAD A MINOR FENDER BENDER TOOK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, ONCE I RECEIVED THE VAN BACK AN HOUR AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CALLED DEALER THEY STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO RESET THE CODES BRING IT BACK WHEN I COULD. THE VERY NEXT DAY AND EVERY DAY AFTER THAT UNTIL THE FINAL DAY I CALLED STATING THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED ODD AND I HAD TO SLIGHTLY TURN IT TO THE LEFT TO GO STRAIGHT. I AGAIN WAS TOLD THAT THEY JUST NEEDED TO REALIGN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT NOT TO WORRY. ON THE FIFTH DAY I CALLED AND SAID I WASN'T SURE THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE WHEEL NOW HAD TO BE TURNED HALF WAY TO THE LEFT TO GO STRAIGHT. AGAIN I WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY JUST BRING IT IN THE NEXT DAY. 3 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND WOULDN'T MOVE. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND IT TURNS OUT THE CONTROL ARM THAT WAS JUST REPLACED FELL OFF!! THE DEALER INFORMED ME IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT, SOMETHING THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NEVER SEEN. NEEDLESS TO SAY AFTER HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH FORD AND THE DEALER SO FAR I HAVE GOTTEN NO WHERE. SO I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THIS SITE WHICH INFORMED ME THAT THERE ARE ALMOST 15 CASES OF THE SAME THING REPORTED! WHY DOES FORD THINK THIS IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND ARE THEY WAITING FOR A FATAL ACCIDENT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? *TR