NHTSA Complaint #10435452 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLANKING NOISE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR AXLE WAS COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HIM THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V385000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR DUE TO THE DATE RANGE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL SUMMARY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000.