NHTSA Complaint #10434020 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V385000, FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALLED 1998-2003 WINSTARS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN 20 STATES. MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT REGISTERED OR WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN ONE OF THOSE STATES. THE REASON THE RECALL SPECIFIED THESE 20 STATES IS BECAUSE THESE 20 STATES FREQUENTLY USE HIGH AMOUNTS OF SALT TO MELT SNOW AND THE SALT CAN/HAS RESULTED IN CORROSION TO THE POWER TRAIN REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. AS MY VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY REGISTERED AND WAS NOT ORIGINALLY SOLD IN ONE OF THESE STATES, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS NOT AND WILL NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE IN THE RECALL. OVER THE 10 YEARS I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE FREQUENTLY TRAVELED TO AND THROUGH 6 OF THESE STATES, INCLUDING DURING WINTER MONTHS WHEN THERE HAS BEEN SNOW ON THE GROUND AND SALT HAS BEEN USED TO MELT THE SNOW. AS A RESULT, MY VEHICLE HAS CORROSION ON THE POWER TRAIN REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY AND CRACKS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONES SHOWN ON PICTURES OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. I FEEL THAT UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADD MY VEHICLE. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE APPRECIATED AS I FEAR THAT A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE AXLE IS PROBABLE. *TR