NHTSA Complaint #10402315 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

I HAVE A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING HOME THE OTHER DAY I TURNED THE CORNER AND HEARD A LOUD "POP", LOST ALL STEERING AND COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME AND LIFTER THE VAN UP AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH HE TOLD ME THE NEWS WAS NOT GOOD. HE SHOWED ME WHERE THE FRAME HAD BROKEN AND WHERE THE "ARM" WAS SUPPOSE TO BE WELDED TO. HE SHOWED ME THE"ARM/BAR" BEHIND THE RIGHT TIRE. THANKFULLY I DID NOT HIT ANYONE AND NO ONE HIT ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE POLICE DID COME BECAUSE I WAS A SAFETY HAZARD SITTING IN THE LANE THE CARS WERE TRYING TO DRIVE IN. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR I SURELY WOULD HAVE FLIPPED OR CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AS EVENTHOUGH IT HAPPENED WHILE SLOWLY TURNING A CORNER I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKED CAUSING MY TIRES TO SQUEAL AND SMOKE AND THE WHOLE VAN TO SWERVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I SAT SHAKING IN MY VAN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ MY COMPLAINT AND CONSIDER ADDING IT TO THE LIST OF RECALLS. I DO NOT KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. AS A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN MY MONEY IS VERY TIGHT AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING INSURANCE COVERS. WHEN I TOLD THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER IT WAS A 2001 VEHICLE HE WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE DO SOMETHING AND VERY QUICKLY TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM. *TR