NHTSA Complaint #10369221 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

WHILE DRIVING OUR VAN FIRST SEEMED TO BE PULLING IN THE BACK TO THE RIGHT (REAR PASSENGER SIDE. MY HUSBAND INSPECTED THE TIRE AND THOUGHT MAYBE WE NEED TO GET NEW TIRES SOON. IT SEEMED TO BE SOMEWHAT DRIVABLE WHEN WE WERE ON THE DRY PAVEMENT, BUT WE HAVE ALOT OF SNOW COVERED ROADS AS WELL AND ON THESE THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY UNMANAGEABLE. IT WAS CONSTANTLY FISHTAILING THE WHOLE WAY DOWN OUR SNOW COVERED RURAL ROAD. WHEN WE FINALLY GOT HOME, MY HUSBAND PULLED IT INTO THE GARAGE. RIGHT AWAY HE NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS TURNED INWARD, WHICH HAD NOT BEEN VISIBLE A FEW HOURS EARLIER WHEN HE HAD INSPECTED IT. WHEN HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH, SURE ENOUGH THE BACK AXEL WAS BROKEN ABOUT 1/4 OF THE WAY FROM THE RIGHT WHEEL. I AM GRATEFUL WE MADE IT HOME SAFELY. THREE TIMES ON OUR WAY HOME OUR VAN WAS FISHTAILING AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND WE NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT. VERY SCARY! I COULDN'T DRIVE OVER 45 MPH ON THE PAVEMENT, OR 20 MPH ON THE SNOW COVERED, SLUSH COVERED ROADS. THE VAN FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIDING ALL OVER FROM THE BACK. *TR