NHTSA Complaint #10331685 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

I OWN A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2002. IT CURRENTLY ONLY HAS ONLY 75,398 MILES. APPROXIMATELY, 1 WEEK AGE MY WIFE DROVE MY SON TO HIS SOCCER AND BASEBALL PRACTICE. WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MY 2 OTHER SONS IN THE VAN, SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SUDDENLY A PROBLEM WITH THE BACK WHEELS. LUCKILY, SHE MADE IT HOME WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. AFTER SHE PARKED THE VAN, SHE NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE SMOKING AND WERE SLIGHTLY TURNED IN. I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE MECHANIC CALLED AND STATED THAT THE REAR AXEL WAS CRACKED. HE SAID THAT HE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT, ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 75, 398 MILE. HE SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO CALL AROUND AND TRY TO FIND A USED PART. AFTER A WEEK (OF NOT HAVING A VEHICLE), THE MECHANIC CALLED AND STATED THAT HE CALLED EVERYWHERE FOR A USED PART. HOWEVER, HE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING THE PART. ONCE AGAIN, HE STATED THAT HE NEVER EXPERIENCED NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCATE A PART. HE SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT SO MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT HE COULD PUT A NEW PART ON, BUT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1,000. I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VAN AND THEY STATED THAT SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. AFTER DOING RESEARCH AND TRYING TO FIND A USED PART ON MY OWN, I HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IN FACT, THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FILED AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I THINK THAT THIS MATTER COULD EASILY BE RESOLVED IF FORD WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE A RECALL TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. I REALIZE THAT I AM ONLY 1 OF A FEW THOUSAND THAT HAVE MADE THIS PROBLEM KNOWN. HOWEVER, I WONDER HOW MANY FORD WINDSTAR OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM YET OR WHO HAVE ELECTED TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT MAKE ME VERY FURIOUS TO KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AND WAS MADE AWARE OF, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. HOW MANY LIVES WILL IT COST BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR