NHTSA Complaint #10269798 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

I WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER-IN LAW TO A RESTAURANT WITH MY HUSBAND AND 3 CHILDREN. ON THE WAY THERE WAS A SQUEALING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND WE ASSUMED IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOW TIRE. WE STOPPED ADDED AIR AND WENT ON BUT THE SQUEALING CONTINUED. WE WENT AROUND A VERY WINDING CURVE AT 25MPH [WAY BELOW THE RECOMMENDED] AND THE VAN WAS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. AS THOUGH SOMEONE COVERED THE ROAD WITH OIL [BY THE WAY, IT IS 92 DEGREES AND VERY SUNNY HERE]. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT THAT MAYBE WE HAD A BUSTED SHOCK. WHEN WE CAME HOME, MY HUSBAND REMOVED THE REAR, DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TO FIND THAT THE TIRE HAD BEEN RUBBING THE FENDERWELL - ALOT [WHICH EXPLAINS THE BURNING TIRE SMELL ON OUR WAY HOME]. UPON INSPECTING THE REAR END OF THE VAN, THE REAR AXLE IS ALMOST IN TWO!!! WE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR OF THE VAN BEFORE AND ACTUALLY JUST HAD TIRES PUT ON 3 MONTHS AGO AND IT WAS NOT NOTICED!!! I CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS FIXED AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THIS MAJOR REPAIR. WE COULD HAVE ALL BEEN KILLED IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON OUR WAY HOME, OR ON OUR WAY OUT-OF-TOWN TOMORROW!! THANK GOD WE FOUND THE PROBLEM TODAY!!! I FIND IT VERY IRRESPONSIBLE THAT FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THIS - THEY HAVE RECALLED SEATBELTS, AIRBAGS AND GAS PEDALS DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS - WHY NOT THIS? I AM NOT THE ONLY WINDSTAR OWNER THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO. THERE ARE OTHERS AND THEIR COMPLAINTS I'M SURE YOU HAVE ALSO RECEIVED- THEY ARE POSTED ON NUMEROUS SITES ON THE INTERNET. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IT NOT BEING RECALLED IF I WAS THE ONLY ONE IT HAPPENED TO - BUT I'M NOT!!! *TR