NHTSA Complaint #10438464 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR: CRACKED REAR AXLE AND CORROSION AND RELATED FAILURES OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME. WE ARE WRITING TO REPORT A REAR CRACKED AXLE AND FAILED, DAMAGED AND CORRODED FRONT SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY OF OUR 2000 FORD VAN. FORD RECALLED: "CERTAIN 1998-2003 MODEL YEAR WINDSTAR VEHICLES OPERATED IN CORROSION STATES" FOR CRACKED OR BROKEN REAR AXLES (SAFETY RECALL 10513- SUPPLEMENT #10); AND FOR FAILED AND CORRODED "SUBFRAME FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING FLANGES AND REAR BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS. OUR FORD VAN HAS BOTH THESE FAILURES AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE FAILED THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO ITS CRACKED AXLE. THE INSPECTOR ADVISED US THE VAN WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE KOONS FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS INSPECTED THE VAN AND CONCLUDED THAT THE REAR AXLE AND FRONT SUB-FRAME HAVE FAILED BECAUSE OF CORROSION AND BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS "OPERATED" REGULARLY IN MARYLAND AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AS WELL AS DRIVEN IN THE WINTER IN SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS IN HIGH CORROSION STATES. WE WERE TOLD BY KOONS THAT AN EXTENSION OF THE RECALL WAS DENIED BY FORD BECAUSE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED IN HIGH CORROSION STATES, IT WAS NOT REGISTERED IN A HIGH CORROSION STATE. NORTHERN VIRGINIA WEATHER IS SIMILAR TO OFFICIAL ADJACENT HIGH CORROSION STATES. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GROUPS NORTHERN VIRGINIA WITH AREAS OF MARYLAND AND DC WITH REGARD TO SNOW FALL. "SODIUM CHLORIDE (SALT) IS VIRGINIA'S PRIMARY SNOW REMOVAL AND ICE CONTROL CHEMICAL". THE "REGISTRATION" REQUIREMENT IS ERRONEOUS. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO WHETHER A VEHICLE WAS OPERATED IN HIGH CORROSION AREAS, WHERE SALT IS USED . FORD'S LETTER OF 1/ 26/2011 TO NHTSA, STATES THAT " WE ARE TAKING THE ACTION TO CONFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL VEHICLE OWNER CONCERNS." REQUEST THAT THE RECALLS BE EXTENDED TO OUR VEHICLE. THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED IVOQ 12/20/11 *TR