NHTSA Complaint #10258571 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

I AM ENTERING THIS INFO ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER, DANIEL CULLEN OF MEADVILLE PENNSYLVANIA. DAN DOES NOT REGULARLY USE THE INTERNET. HIS 2003 MODEL YEAR FORD WINDSTAR HAS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY FALL OFF DUE TO RUST. THE CAR ONLY HAD 95,802 MILES AND WAS LESS THAN 6 YEARS OLD. THE RUSTED PART IS CALLED AN ENGINE CRADLE. OTHER INSTANCES CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEB GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS. A FORD DEALER FIXED THE CAR AT OWNER EXPENSE. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT AN AIR CONDITIONING HOSE DRIPPED ON THE RUSTED PART CONTRIBUTING TO THE FAILURE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD CORPORATE HOTLINE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP MY BROTHER FINANCIALLY OR TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. MY BROTHER WAS SCHEDULED TO DRIVE THE CAR NEXT DAY 400 MILES. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED DEATH AND INJURY COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED. PLEASE SEE TO IT THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE RECALLED ASAP. A RECALL CAN BE ACHIEVED AT REASONABLE COST: FIRST INSPECT CARS AND IF NO RUST IS PRESENT AT LEAST REROUTE THE A/C DRIP LINE. IF RUST IS PRESENT, CHANGE THE ENGINE CRADLE FOR A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS. NOTE THAT THE WEB SHOWS INCIDENTS GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS, YET STILL THESE CARS ARE OUT THERE TURNING INTO TICKING TIME BOMBS IN ONLY 5 YEARS OF USE! *TR