NHTSA Complaint #10522693 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

FORD SAFETY RECALL 11S16 WAS TO REINFORCE OR REPLACE REAR AXLE TO ENSURE VEHICLE SAFETY. FORD INSTALLED BRACKETS THAT WERE EITHER INEFFECTIVE, IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, OR AXLE WAS ALREADY CRACKED WHEN INSTALLED. WHEN OWNER WAS INFORMED OF POSSIBLE CRACKS IN REAR AXLE APRIL 2013 FORD WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED AND FORDS RESPONSE IS THAT THERE ARE NO FACTORY WARRANTIES OR PROGRAMS IN EFFECT TO ASSIST WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 110200 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN 12,000 MILES SINCE THE RECALL. AT THE TIME OF THE SAFETY RECALL 11S16 REPAIRS THE OWNER HAD REQUESTED THAT FORD REPLACE THE AXLE INSTEAD OF INSTALLING BRACKETS, AND WAS WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE ADDITIONAL REPAIR COSTS. FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE THE AXLE, INSTALLING THE BRACKETS INSTEAD. SUBSEQUENTLY, FORD REPAIRS WERE INEFFECTIVE AND RESULTED IN CRACKS IN THE REAR AXLE. AS OF THIS DATE, FORD HAS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. THE OWNER DISAGREES AND IS REQUESTING THAT FORD BE REQUIRED TO LIVE UP TO THEIR AGREEMENT UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL 11S16, TO ENSURE THAT THE REAR AXLE OF SAID VEHICLE MEETS OR EXCEEDS SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. *TR