NHTSA Complaint #10493862 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL INITIATED BY FORD FOR CORROSION OF THE ENGINE CRADLE - 2003 FORD WINDSTAR STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS NHTSA CAMPAIGN #11V030000. FORD REPAIRED THE LEFT SIDE ONLY, LEAVING THE RIGHT SIDE RUSTED AND NOW SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT RUST HOLES HAVE APPEARED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. FORD DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY SAYING THAT THEY MADE THE REPAIR PROPERLY BUT I CLAIM THEY MADE THE REPAIR INADEQUATELY. BAD METAL IS BAD METAL AND REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT THE HOLES WERE DISCOVERED OVER A YEAR LATER IS INAPPLICABLE AS GOOD METAL DOES NOT RUST THROUGH TO THE POINT OF CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. IF THE ENGINE CRADLE FAILS, THE ENGINE WILL FALL FROM THE VEHICLE, POTENTIALLY WHILE MOVING. GAS WILL SPEW ACROSS THE ROAD AND A FIREBALL WILL IGNITE. OTHER DRIVERS WILL EITHER HIT THE ENGINE, SWERVE TO MISS IT AND HIT OTHER VEHICLES, AND/OR GET CAUGHT IN THE INFERNO WHICH WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, HUMAN HARM AND NEEDLESS DEATHS. FORD INITIATED THIS SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE THERE WAS THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE ISSUE REMAINS. SAFETY WAS NOT IMPROVED BY SIMPLY REPAIRING ONE SIDE OF THE ENGINE CRADLE ALLOWING THE OTHER SIDE TO CORRODE TO THE POINT OF SIZEABLE RUST HOLES BEING CREATED IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME FOLLOWING THE INITIAL INADEQUATE REPAIR. ONCE A SAFETY RECALL IS INITIATED, IT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE THAT THE REPAIR IS PROPERLY AND COMPLETELY MADE AND THEREFORE THAT THE SAFETY ISSUE IS FULLY RESOLVED.