NHTSA Complaint #10538265 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL LAST NIGHT WHEN BETWEEN 50-60 IT STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AND WOULD SHAKE THE ENTIRE VAN. WE COULDN'T GET IT LOOKED AT ANYWHERE BECAUSE IT WAS LATE. WELL THIS MORNING I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT 6AM AND I STARTED LOSING CONTROL AND THE VAN WAS SWERVING ALL OVER THE ROAD. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GIRLS WEREN'T WITH ME. I THOUGHT I HAD LOST A TIRE BUT WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK THE BACK AXEL WAS COMPLETELY SPLIT IN TWO. I WAS REALLY MAD BECAUSE I JUST PAID $800 TO HAVE THE INTAKE VALVES FIXED. WHEN THE TAXI CAME TO PICK ME UP HE LOOKED IT UP AND SAID THERE WAS A RECALL. HE ALSO SAID HIS INTAKE VALVES WENT OUT ON HIS 2000 WINDSTAR AND THAT'S NOT COVERED EITHER. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO A LADY CAME IN AND BROUGHT HER VAN TO HAVE THE BACK AXEL FIXED. SO NOW MY HUSBAND AND FATHER IN LAW HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING TO BRING IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING IS OPEN TODAY OR TOMORROW AS IT'S LABOR DAY. MIND YOU I JUST BOUGHT THIS VAN IN MARCH AS THE MILEAGE WAS LOW AND THE PRICE WAS REASONABLE. I HAVE NOW REALIZED I AM FORCED TO BUY A VEHICLE WITH PAYMENTS.