NHTSA Complaint #10297847 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 1ST,2009 MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR STARTED MAKING LOUD SQUEAKING NOISES FROM THE REAR OF MY VAN WHEN I WOULD MAKE TURNS AND ALSO STARTED SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHENEVER I WOULD GO OVER BUMPS .ALMOST FELT LIKE MY REAR WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF FROM VERY LOOSE LUGNUTS, BUT THEY WERE TIGHT. AS THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WENT BY THE PROBLEMS BECAME WORSE. TODAY(1/2/2010)I DECIDED TO LOOK UNDERNEATH THE REAR OF MY VAN. I WAS IN DISBELIEF TO SEE MY REAR AXLE CRACKED ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH ABOUT 2 FEET IN FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I HAVE 4 SMALL CHILDREN AND WE JUST WENT ON A TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY 2 DAYS PRIOR TO ME CHECKING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSTAR . I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THIS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH ALL DIFFERENT YEARS OF THE WINDSTAR. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THIS PROBLEM. THIS AXLE SHOULD NOT CRACK OR BREAK UNDER NORMAL WEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE VAN AND CAUSES SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. RIGHT NOW THE VAN IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. I AM TRYING TO FIND A USED AXLE FROM SOMEWHERE SO I COULD GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. FORD SHOULD REALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THANKS YOU... *TR