NHTSA Complaint #10313588 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR THAT HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH SWAYING AND CONTROL. THINKING IT WAS JUST BAD SHOCKS I'VE REPLACED THOSE AND ANYTHING ELSE I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM, TO NO AVAIL. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A STATE HIGHWAY I TOOK A CORNER AND THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIDING ON ICE. I THOUGHT IT WAS ROAD CONDITIONS SO I SLOWED DOWN AND WE MADE IT SAFELY HOME. THE NEXT DAY MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS FOLLOWING MY WIFE AND HE SAID THE BACK AXLE LOOKED TO BE BENT. NOT BELIEVING THIS COULD HAPPEN I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND ABOUT A FOOT AND A 1/2 FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL I FOUND A TEAR THAT WAS A 1/4 INCH WIDE THAT EXTENDED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE AXLE TO UP AND OVER IT. I REALIZE THAT DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, OVER 100K I BELIEVE, THAT THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I WOULDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE BUT THIS PUTS THE VEHICLE AT RISK FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT CAN BE POTENTIALLY FATAL TO OTHERS. AT PRESENT IM LOOKING TO FIND A NEW AXLE FOR OUR VEHICLE AND, SURPRISE, NOT HAVING MUCH LUCK. I WONDER WHY? *TR