NHTSA Complaint #10373585 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

FORD WINDSTAR VAN, WHICH WAS ALREADY SUBJECT TO REAR AXLE RECALL, AND THE REAR AXLE DID BREAK ON IT IN MAY, AND WAS REPLACED AND I RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT FROM FORD. HOWEVER, ANOTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED IN DECEMBER. MY 21 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVING THIS VAN ON THURSDAY, DEC. 16. THE VAN LOST TRACTION AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT, PULLING HIM INTO A DITCH AND DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT. THE FRONT OF THE VAN WAS RIPPED OFF, TIRES SLASHED, VAN ALMOST FLIPPED OVER, AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. HE HIT A DIRT EMBANKMENT HEAD ON GOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH. THE ROADS WERE ICY THAT DAY, AND HE WAS ON A CURVE... THE VAN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO STEERING TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION THE VAN WAS GOING. I EXPERIENCED SOMETHING SIMILAR LAST WINTER; THE VAN SEEMED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, GOING OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT OFF THE ROAD, IT WAS IN A SHALLOW DITCH AND IT CAUSED NO DAMAGE TO THE VAN. MY SON WAS NOT AS FORTUNATE, AND HE COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED. I FEEL THAT THIS MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION... THE VAN COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED, AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. OUR INSURANCE CO. IS TAKING CARE OF THIS, AND I DON'T KNOW THE CURRENT LOCATION OF THE VAN. IT IS TOTALED, I KNOW THAT. I ASKED STATE FARM TO CHECK OUT THE FRONT SUSPENSION FOR WEAKNESS OR RUST, BUT DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE FRONT IS SO DAMAGED FROM THE WRECK THAT THE TIRES ARE TURNED SIDEWAYS, AND I BELIEVE THE FRONT AXLE IS BROKEN. PLEASE SEND SOMEONE TO LOOK AT MY VAN, AND SEE WHAT CAUSED THIS WRECK; MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE SO FAR.... YOUR ORGANIZATION IS SO VALUABLE TO CONSUMERS. *TR