NHTSA Complaint #10399460 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN REAR AXLE BROKE ...VEHICLE WAS STATE INSPECTED TWO MONTHS PREVIOUS AND PASSED WITHOUT ISSUE .. NOTICED A VIBRATION IN REAR AREA .. REPLACED SHOCKS THINKING THAT WAS CULPRIT .. ISSUE GOT WORSE ... LESS THEN 700 MILES AFTER COMPLETED PASSED STATE INSPECTION AXLE BROKE ALLOWING REAR TIRES TO RUB INNER WHEEL WELL .. VAN BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AT 55 MPH ... WAS LUCKY TO GET IT SLOWED DOWN TO 25 AND LIMPED INTO MY DRIVEWAY .. I WAS SOLE OCCUPATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED .. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND FOUND ISSUE. WENT ONLINE AND FOUND RECALL NOTICE FOR VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR FOR SALT USE AREAS .. THESE INCLUDED WEST VIRGINIA .. 8 MILES FROM WHERE I LIVE ... MARYLAND .. 12 MILES FROM WHERE I LIVE AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA .. 50 MILES FROM WHERE I LIVE .. BUT VIRGINIA WAS NOT COVERED ... EVEN THOUGH THIS AREA USES SALT AS A REGULAR ICE AND SNOW REMOVAL TOOL. THE AXLE FAILURE WAS CLOSE TO CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE .. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ON A DUAL HIGHWAY DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES IN MY VICINITY .. THE VAN WEAVED SEVERAL TIMES BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE ROAD BEFORE I GOT SLOWED UP AND UNDER CONTROL .. THE AXLE BREAKING COULD HAVE EASILY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR