NHTSA Complaint #10250773 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

I OWN A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. I NOTICED STRANGE SOUND WHEN CORNERING AND BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER. THE REAR AXLE IS SEVERELY CRACKED. BEING A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR, THE REAR AXLE IS MORE OF A STABILIZER, AN INVERTED, U SHAPED LENGTH OF STEEL. CRACK IS HALF WAY UP ONE SIDE OF U AND OVER THE TOP. $500 PART PLUS LABOR WOULD BE $1000+ REPAIR. STILL DECIDING TO REPAIR OR SCRAP CAR. IT IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER STATES THEY'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. ON WEB BOARDS, I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL CRACKED / BROKEN AXLE COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. AXLES SHOULD BE INSPECTED FOR CRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY COLLISION OR INCIDENT AND DEALER CAN VOUCH FOR MAINTENANCE RECORD. DEALER THINKS CRACK STARTED SMALL AND GREW WITH EACH TURN - ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING OVER A HILL OR INTO A LOW POINT IN THE ROAD WHEN FLEX PRESSURE IS LARGEST. THEY'VE WORKED ON CAR SEVERAL TIMES OVER PAST YEAR ' REPLACING BRAKES . . . THE CRACK IS GLARING NOW AND HARD TO MISS. I AGREE THAT IT PROBABLY STARTED SMALL. AXLES ON WINDSTARS SHOULD BE EXAMINED CAREFULLY FOR HAIRLINE CRACKS WHICH WILL GROW. *TR