NHTSA Complaint #10237958 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER LEAVING THE DRIVEWAY, THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. HE SAID IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE STUCK OR RUSTY, WE HAD NOT DRIVEN THE VAN IN ABOUT 7 DAYS. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THINKING THE BRAKES WOULD RELEASE AND THE CAR WOULD BE FINE. WHEN HE REALIZED THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE AND IT WAS SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS HE IMMEDIATELY CAME HOME AND WE INSPECTED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND FOUND THE COIL SPRING WAS RESTING ON THE TIRE AND RUBBING. THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER WAS APPARENT AS HE DROVE BACK IN THE DRIVEWAY. WE TOOK OF THE TIRE AND FOUND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM. WE ARE CURRENTLY GETTING ESTIMATES TO REPLACE THE ONE COIL SPRING, OUR FIRST ESTIMATE FROM A FORD DEALER WAS $400 TO $450, WITH OUT SEEING THE CAR, IT IS NOT DRIVABLE. WE ARE UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME IF THE TIRE ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR IF THERE IS OTHER DAMAGE WE CAN'T SEE. OLD PART WILL BE RETAINED BY US AFTER THE VEHICLE IS FIXED. *TR