NHTSA Complaint #10350463 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD WINDSTAR LX MINIVAN AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE 270 IN MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30 PM ON WED. 8/18/2010 WHEN THE VEHICLE'S BACK END STARTED TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THINKING IT MIGHT BE A BLOWN TIRE, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO SEE IF I COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. SEEING HOW ALL TIRES WERE FINE, I CONTINUED. WHEN REACHING SPEED OF 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND CONTINUE ON MY JOURNEY AT A RATE OF SPEED THAT DID NOT EXCEED 25 MPH. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME (UNDER 5 MILES THROUGH MINIMAL CITY TRAFFIC) AS THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHAKE DUE TO SLOWER SPEED. WHEN I REACHED HOME, I CHECKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A LARGE CRACK IN THE REAR AXLE NEAR THE CENTER OF THE AXLE. WHEN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET ON WINDSTAR AXLES, I DISCOVERED THAT OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO THE WINDSTAR'S AXLE DESIGN. ALSO WHILE DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT FORD IS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE AXLE'S DEFECTIVE DESIGN BUT HAS NOT EVOKED ANY ACTION TO CORRECT THE SITUATION OR HAS PRESENTED A RECALL. THE 2001 FORD WINDSTAR LX I OWN HAS 160,000 MILES ON IT, BUT HAS NOT HAD ANY OVERWHELMING MECHANIC FAILURES ON IT EXCEPT FOR AIR CONDITIONING AND MINOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY TAKEN TO A LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER IN ALTON, IL ON SAT. 7/24/2010 FOR RECALL WORK, AND EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH AN INSPECTION AT THE TIME, NOTHING WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE AXLE SHOWING SIGNS OF DETERIORATION. THE VEHICLE WILL GO TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TOMORROW FOR AN ESTIMATE. LUCKILY, I WILL TAKE IT THERE MYSELF BECAUSE MY LIFE WAS AT RISK THIS EVENING DUE TO THE AXLE FAILURE. *TR