NHTSA Complaint #10351916 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

OWN A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN . ON TUESDAY, 8/24, I WAS DRIVING FROM RHINEBECK NY TO YONKERS, NY, MOSTLY ALONG THE TACONIC PARKWAY. THIS PARKWAY HAS MANY POTHOLES DUE TO THE GRATES SINKING OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR AND IT IS VERY HARD TO AVOID MANY OF THESE GRATES BECAUSE OF THEIR LOCATION ALONG THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RIGHT LANE. AFTER DRIVING ALONG THIS ROUTE FOR A WHILE (NOT SURE HOW LONG) THE VAN STARTED TO SQUEAK ON SOME TURNS AND THERE WAS A SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER THAT CAME AND WENT. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS MANAGING THE CAR OR CONTINUING TO DRIVE AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM BREAKING. BECAUSE OF THE LATE HOUR (WE ARRIVED HOME AT 9 PM) I OPTED TO KEEP MOVING TO GET HOME AND NOT STOP ALONG THE ROAD. THE SQUEAKING WAS MOSTLY WHEN I MADE RIGHT TURNS - I COULD NOT TELL WHEN/OR WHY THE SMELL WOULD RETURN. UPON RETURNING HOME I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND THERE WAS A SORT OF 'CLUNK' AS I PARKED. NEXT MORNING I WENT OUT TO SEE THE VAN AND NOTICED THE REAR WHEELS WERE NO LONGER PARALLEL. I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SO I DID NOT GET DOWN TO LOOK AT ANYTHING AND THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE NEED FOR CAR SO WAITED FOR MY HUSBAND TO COME HOME. HE LOOKED AT THE REAR UNDERCARRIAGE AND TOLD ME THE AXLE WAS CRACKED. HE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A NEARBY MECHANIC WHO WAS SURPRISED I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME WITH IT AND ASKED ABOUT WHAT I 'HIT'. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING EXCEPT POTHOLES AND WAS NOT DRIVING ABOVE LEGAL LIMIT OF 55 MPH (TOO DARK AND AREA KNOWN TO HAVE DEER CROSSING SO WOULD NOT RISK GOING OVER LIMIT). IT IS CURRENTLY IN FOR REPAIR NOW. ALSO WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS DATE AND IT HAS REASONABLY LOW MILEAGE ON IT FOR ITS AGE. *TR