NHTSA Complaint #10292189 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2009, THE REAR AXLE FAILED IN MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAD BEGUN PERFORMING ERRATICALLY SO I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED, BUT EVEN AT LOW SPEED IT WAS ESSENTIALLY UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED. IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE ACTUAL FAILURE, I HAD EXPERIENCED HANDLING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT STRUTS AND REAR SHOCKS THE CAR STILL DIDN'T HANDLE RIGHT. THEY THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE BECAUSE THE REAR ALIGNMENT WAS NOT A LITTLE OUT OF SPEC - THEY WERE WAITING FOR SHIMS TO COME IN TO CORRECT THAT WHEN THE AXLE FAILED. IN ADDITION TO MY UNHAPPINESS ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS - THE VEHICLE KIND OF SWERVED WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS, ESPECIALLY HIGHWAY ON/OFF RAMPS - THE ONLY WARNING THE CAR GAVE IN THE WEEKS UP TO THE FAILURE WAS SEEMINGLY-RANDOM INDICATIONS FROM THE TIRE-PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. IN END END, THE GARAGE I TOOK THE CAR TO ENDED UP REPLACING THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY AND THE TWO REAR TIRES - WHEN THE AXLE FAILED THE TIRES HAD RUBBED AGAINST THE TIRE WELLS. WHEN SEARCHING ONLINE FOR OTHER REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL HERE, AND POSTED MY OWN. (MY OWN DESCRIPTION AS WELL AS FOUR PICTURES OF THE FAILED PART ARE ON THE SITE UNDER NOVEMBER 3RD 2009: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/WINDSTAR/2001/DRIVETRAIN/REAR_AXLE_SNAPPED_IN_TWO.SHTML. *TR