NHTSA Complaint #10548468 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

MY WIFE WAS TAKING MY YOUNGEST TWO CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IN OUR VEHICLE WHEN SMOKE STARTED POURING IN THROUGH THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE AND AT THE SAME TIME SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING SLIDING OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ONCE MY WIFE MADE SURE EVERYONE WAS OUT OF THE SMOKE FILLED VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTIFIED ME AND WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A MECHANICS SHOP WHERE WE FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SPRING HAD BUSTED CAUSING THE TIRE TO BE SHREDDED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED BUYING TWO NEW TIRES FOR THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, HE ALSO ADVISED BUYING TWO NEW SPRINGS AND REPLACING BOTH OF THEM ON THE FRONT. THE VAN WAS FIXED AND WE PAID FOR THE BILL AND TIRE COST OUT OF OUR OWN POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE INFORMED ME TODAY THAT THEY WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR ANY OF THESE COSTS EVEN WHEN A RECALL LETTER 01S19/01M03 STATES "WE WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SHIELDS AROUND THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS OF YOUR VEHICLE. THESE SHIELDS WILL PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF TIRE PUNCTURE SHOULD THE SPRING FRACTURE. ---- MOTOR COMPANY WILL ALSO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS DIRECTLY RELATING TO THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS OF YOUR VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE ( PARTS AND LABOR) SO TO ME THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE RESPECTED COMPANY FROM FULL FILLING WHAT I SEE IN MY EYES AS A OBLIGATION TO THE CONSUMER. I ALSO FEEL THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS..NOT INSTALL SHIELDS WHICH I AM SURE WAS A MUCH CHEAPER ROUTE.I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS THAT CONCERN THIS MATTER. THANKS! *TR