NHTSA Complaint #10502008 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

ABOUT MARCH OF 2012 MY 2003 FORD WIND STAR'S LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUB FRAME "ENGINE CRADLE". I TOOK MY VAN TO DEALER. THEY DID DO A REPAIR TO SUB FRAME, WHICH I DID NOT FIND SATISFACTORY, FORD CORP. HAD THEM CUT OFF WHAT WAS LEFT OF ANY DAMAGED BRACKETS AND CLAMP STEEL BRACKETS ONTO A SUB FRAME THAT IS ALREADY DAMAGED DUE TO HEAVY RUST AND CORROSION. NOW ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER "MARCH OF 2013" THE SWAY BAR MOUNT, WHICH IS PART OF THE SUB FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT. MAKING DRIVING VERY UNSAFE AND UNSTABLE. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED WHEN THE RECALL WAS DONE IN 2012. I TOOK VAN BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SENT PICTURES TO FORD CORP. FORD DID NOT APPROVE ANY REPAIRS TO SUB FRAME STATING THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF ORIGINAL RECALL. NOW HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE IF THE SUB FRAME AND SWAY BAR MOUNT ARE ALL ONE COMPONENT. IT'S ALL ONE WELDED PIECE OF STEEL. THERE IS NO FIX AT THIS TIME BUT TO REPLACE THE SUB FRAME. NOW IF THE SUB FRAME IS UNDER RECALL AND THE SWAY BAR MOUNT IS PART OF THE SUB FRAME, THEN I FEEL FORD SHOULD RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. I PLAN ON KEEPING MY FORD WIND STAR FOR A WHILE. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND REALLY NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH. FORD SHOULD COVER THIS COMPONENT OR THEY GET AWAY WITH AN UNSATISFACTORY FIX AND I STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW SUB FRAME, WHICH WAS THE WHOLE ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH. *TR