NHTSA Complaint #10347949 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR LX, MY PROBLEM IS THAT MY WIFE, DAUGHTER AND HER TWO CHILDREN, AND ONE OLDER ADULT WAS MINUTES AWAY FORM GETTING INTO A SERIOUS HIGHWAY ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THEY WERE LESS THAN 1,000FT FT OF GETTING ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE REAR AXLE OF THE VAN SNAPPED ALMOST INTO TWO PIECES FOR NO REASON AT ALL. AFTER GETTING THE VAN TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE WHICH WAS A 1/4 MILE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION THE REAR AXLE SEAMED TO HAVE ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, THERE IS NO RUST ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF THIS HOLLOW AXLE THAT WOULD OF SHOWN SIGNS OF BREAKING. I CONTACTED A COUPLE OF USED AUTO PARTS DEALERS AND THEY HAD STATED THAT THEY HAVE MY SAME MODEL VAN BUT ALL OF THE AXLES ON THEM ARE GONE DUE TO BEING SOLD TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD NEEDED THEM. I AM ASKING HAS THERE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO THIS OR LATER MODEL YEARS. MY FAMILY COULD OF BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED, AND I HAVE JUST RECENTLY DONE A TRIP TO WAUKEGAN ILLINOIS AND BACK TO TOLEDO OHIO WHICH WAS 950 MILES OF TOLL ROADS WITH SPEEDS OF 65-75 MPH IF THIS HAD LET GO AT THESE SPEEDS I WILL PROBABLY NOT BE SENDING IN THIS REPORT. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THESE STYLE AXLES ON THIS VEHICLE. THANK YOU. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE AXLE BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME. UPDATED 02/04/15