NHTSA Complaint #10320295 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

YESTERDAY, MARCH 15, 2010, I WAS DRIVING BACK TO WORK AFTER LUNCH AND NOTICED AN UNUSUAL RUBBING AND RATTLING SOUND AT THE REAR OF MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO LOOK AT THE TIRES (I THOUGHT ONE MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE) - I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. I CONTINUED ON TO WORK (APPROXIMATELY 1/4 TO 1/2 MILE AWAY AND PARKED MY VEHICLE. I GOT DOWN AND LOOKED UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY IN HALF AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS LEANING INTO THE FENDER WELL. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REMOVED TO A REPAIR CENTER. THE RESULT WAS THAT I HAD THE PART WELDED BACK TOGETHER BUT THE TIRES ARE STILL COCKED OUT AT AN UNUSUAL ANGLE WHICH I AM PRETTY SURE WILL CAUSE THE TIRES TO WEAR IN AN UNSAFE WAY. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE REAR END OF THE VAN SITS AT AN ODD ANGLE NOW. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR IN OCTOBER 2009 AND IT ONLY HAS 52K MILES ON IT. I WENT ONLINE AND CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL VEHICLE WITH THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. I WAS SURPRISED THAT WERE SO MANY. I SENT AN INQUIRY TO FORD MOTOR CORP AND AM AWAITING A RESPONSE IN REGARDS TO REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT PARTS SUPPORT. *TR