NHTSA Complaint #10625916 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

WHILE DRIVING MY VAN I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE IMMEDIATELY WENT FLAT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO A STOP ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD MY VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY THE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT A COIL SPRING AROUND MY STRUT BROKE WHICH CAUSED MY TIRE TO BE SLICED OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I WAS VERY LUCKY I WAS NOT GOING ANY FASTER WHEN THE SPRING BROKE AND SLICED MY TIRE OPEN. I REVIEWED ISSUES ONLINE THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING RELATING TO MY ISSUE REGARDING THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE. APPARENTLY FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE WINDSTAR COIL SPRINGS FROM A DIFFERENT YEAR OF THE FORD WINDSTAR VANS DUE TO THE VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THE COIL SPRINGS BREAKING AND CAUSING THE TIRE TO BE PUNCTURED OR SLICED OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED AFTER READING THAT THE PART HAD TO FAIL BEFORE IT WOULD BE ADDRESSED. IT SEEMS THAT IF THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL IT SHOULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE A FAILURE OCCURS AND NOT AFTER. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE OR EVEN IF I WERE GOING 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY. I DID CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT FORD WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. I OWN TWO FORD VEHICLES AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT MY ISSUE WAS NOT OF A CONCERN TO FORD. I PROBABLY WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD BECAUSE OF THIS. MY FAMILY'S SAFETY HAS TO COME FIRST AND I AM NOT CONVINCED WE WILL BE SAFE IF THE COMPANY WON'T ADDRESS THESE TYPES OF SAFETY ISSUES. *TR