NHTSA Complaint #10371184 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

I OWN A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO 15 NOV,2010, I NOTICED THAT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE FRONT TIRES WAS OFF. AND THE STEERING SEEMED LOOSE AND A LITTLE UNRESPONSIVE. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE HOME AND REMOVED THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE AND COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I SAW. THE FRONT SUB-FRAME / ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED WHERE THE SUB-FRAME ATTACHES TO THE UNI-BODY. THE AREA WHERE THE MOUNTING BUSHING THAT ATTACHES THE SUB-FRAME TO THE UNI-BODY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS TOTALLY CORRODED / RUSTED / ROTTED AWAY. THE BUSHING WAS COMPLETELY PUSHED THROUGH THE SUB-FRAME AND HAD NOTHING TO SUPPORT IT ANY MORE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WITH THE PRINT OUT OF THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME IT IS NOT A RECALL YET AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. *TR