NHTSA Complaint #10550395 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

PURCHASED A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR ON 10/14/13,DROVE VEHICLE TO SOUTH CAROLINA FROM NEW JERSEY ON 10/15/13,ABOUT HALFWAY THERE NOTICED A LOUD CLUNKING WHILE BRAKING, OR TURNING VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT.HAD VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC ON 10/24/13.IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A COMPLETELY ROTTED SUBFRAME AND MOTOR MOUNTS.I LOOKED INTO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND FOUND ONE FOR THE SUBFRAME ,NUMBER 11S16.I CALLED FORD MOTOR CORPORATION ON OCT30,AND 31ST ABOUT THE RECALL.I WAS TOLD IT WAS REPAIRED BACK IN APR18,2011.REPAIRS DONE WERE AN INSPECTION OF SUBFRAME,AND ALL LOOKED WELL.SUBFRAME WAS NEVER REPLACED ,NOW 2 YEARS LATER,FORD HAS WIPED IT'S HANDS CLEAN OF THE RECALL SAYING IT WAS SATISFIED ON APR18,2011,BY A MECHANIC CLAIMING THE SUBFRAME LOOKED OK AT THE TIME.HOW DOES A FAULTY PART THAT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT,BECOME OK BECAUSE IT LOOKED GOOD AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION?I AM APPALLED AND DISHEARTEN THAT A MAJOR CORPORATION SUCH AS FORD WOULD TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT AND SAY IT'S NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR A PART THAT THEY RECALLED INITIALLY,AND NOW SAY THAT BECAUSE IT WAS INSPECTED,IT NOW IS FINE.I THOUGHT A RECALL WAS IN PLACE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY,AND IF SO,HOW DOES IT EXPIRE? *TR