NHTSA Complaint #10352460 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

OUR 99 FORD WINDSTAR THAT WE PURCHASED, BROKE ITS REAR BAR YESTERDAY. HOWEVER, WE PURCHASED IT USED FROM LUTHER FAMILY FORD IN NORTH DAKOTA, THEY TOLD US THAT OUR WINDSTAR HAD SPENT MOST OF ITS LIFE UP NORTH IN OHIO, MINNESOTA ETC. I LOOKED AT THE FORD WINDSTARS UNDER BODY YESTERDAY AND YOU CAN EASILY TELL THAT IT HAS BEEN CORRODED ALL ALONG THE UNDERBODY FROM THE SALT. WHERE THE REAR BAR BROKE YOU CAN SEE RUST AND SALT CORROSION VERY EASILY, NOT TO MENTION THAT THE SPARE TIRE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OVER FROM THE SALT. MY WIFE AND I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF OUR VEHICLE, AND HAVE NEVER DRIVEN ANYWHERE IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO AND YESTERDAY SHE PULLED OUT A PARKING SPOT AND SHE HEARD A THUD, AND THEN A SCRAPING SOUND. SHE CALLED ME AND I CAME OUT AND LOOKED AT IT. I NOTICED THAT ALL ACROSS THE REAR BAR AREA THERE IS A LARGE QUANTITY OF RUST AND WHERE IT BROKE YOU CAN SEE A BUILD UP OF RUST FROM SALT. MAINLY DUE TO IT SPENDING MOST OF ITS LIFE UP NORTH. WE DID SPEAK TO FORD, AND THEY MENTIONED THAT OUR REAR BAR SNAPPED IN TWO, AND IT WAS FROM RUST AND SALT THAT WEAKENED IT TO THE POINT OF BREAKING. THEY HOWEVER STATE ITS NOT ON THE LIST SO THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. WE EVEN DOUBLE CHECKED WITH LUTHER FAMILY FORD, AND THEY TOLD US OURS WAS MANUFACTURED IN ONE OF THE PLANTS THAT DID HAVE PROBLEMS. SO EVEN THOUGH FORD STATES THAT IT IS NOT ONE OF THE VEHICLES WITH THE PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A LARGER UNDERLYING AMOUNT THAT THEY WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH. WE HAD OUR VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR HOUSE WHERE ARE WAITING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS RECALL TO SEE IF ANY OTHER ONES ARE AMONG THEM. *TR