NHTSA Complaint #10317190 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

ON FEB. 21, 2010 IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED BY AAA. AFTER THE DRIVER GOT IT ON THE RAMP TRUCK, HE TOLD ME HE WANTED TO SHOW ME SOMETHING AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR AXLE. HE INFORMED ME THAT MINE WAS THE THIRD VEHICLE OF THE SAME KIND IN ABOUT 2 WEEKS, THAT HE HAD TO TOW BECAUSE OF A BROKEN AXLE. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT SINCE, UNTIL I CAN MAKE SOME ARRANGEMENTS TO GET IT FIXED. APPARENTLY FROM INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND, THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY AND USUALLY AROUND 100,000 TO 122,000 MILES. THERE IS AS YET NO RECALL BUT I THINK THERE SHOULD BE. IT'S A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR