NHTSA Complaint #10243461 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON I-94 IN JACKSON, MI, ON OUR WAY FROM ANN ARBOR, MI, TO CHICAGO, IL ON FRIDAY 9/19/08 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 AM. GOING 70 MPH, IN THE RIGHT LANE (OF TWO), THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN VEERING OFF THE PAVEMENT ONTO THE GRASSY SHOULDER. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. WE SHEARED OFF A ROAD SIGN, WHICH IN THE PROCESS, PENETRATED OUR RADIATOR, AND WITH ME DEPRESSING THE BRAKE FULLY, WE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP OFF THE HIGHWAY AFTER APPROXIMATELY 75 YARDS. WE LATER LEARNED THAT THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED OFF OF THE FRAME, THEREBY RENDERING THE VAN UNSTEERABLE. FORTUNATELY, WE WALKED AWAY FROM THIS FRIGHTENING INCIDENT, BUT THOUGHTS OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN REMAIN WITH US. OUR INSURANCE ADJUSTER DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION, AS I HAVE DISCOVERED IN A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN HAVING EXPERIENCED THE TERROR OF A DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARM ON A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. *TR