NHTSA Complaint #10361342 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE CHICAGO INTERSTATE I-290 AT AROUND 3:30 AM WHEN MY REAR AXEL SNAPPED ON MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2010 ON A CLEAR DAY WITH IDEAL ROAD CONDITIONS BUT IN A LONG TERM CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND IN LIGHT TRAFFIC WHEN THE AXEL SNAPPED ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE CAUSING ME TO JERK VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT AND THROUGH CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS INTO AN OPEN LANE AND ONTO THE SHOULDER A SHORT DISTANCE LATER. ANY OTHER TIME, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC BUT GIVEN THE EARLY HOUR OF MY TRAVEL TO WORK AND THE REDUCED SPEEDS DUE TO ONGOING CONSTRUCTION I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VIOLENT MOVEMENT TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT INJURY OR MISHAP. THE CAR WAS TOWED A SHORT TIME LATER TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND I SEARCHED FOR INFORMATION ON BROKEN AXLES AND WINDSTARS I FOUND THE INFORMATION ON THE FORD RECALL. A LOCAL DEALER PAID FOR TOWING TO THEIR LOT, AND ARRANGED FOR A LONG-TERM LOANER VEHICLE AND FOR VEHICLE RENTAL INSURANCE. THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED IN A REGULAR FASHION BUT WAS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAD 184 THOUSAND REAL MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT REMAINS AT THE FORD DEALER IN ELMHURST, ILLINOIS AWAITING WORD FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON ANY REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT DISCUSSIONS. NO OFFERS OF CORRECTION, REPAIR, OR REPLACEMENT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS TIME, OCTOBER 20TH, 2010 BEST REGARDS, *TR