NHTSA Complaint #10627334 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

ONE WEEK PRIOR TO A SCHEDULED VACATION (900 MILE SOUTH) WE ASKED MECHANIC TO CHECK THE REAR AXLE BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS REPAIR FOR THE RECALL. BRACKETS INSTALLED 4/12/2011 BY HALDEMAN FORD IN ALLENTOWN, PA FOR THE RECALL 10S13 WERE IN PLACE PER OUR MECHANIC. SEVERAL SERIOUS CRACKS AND RUST AROUND THE BRACKETS WERE FOUND IN THE AXLE DURING THIS INSPECTION AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN. HALDEMAN FORD AGREED THAT THE AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BASED ON SEVERE DAMAGE AND RUST, SENT PICTURES TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, FOR APPROVAL OF REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR AXLE UNDER THE RECALL. FORD ENGINEERS EXAMINE THE PICTURES SENT BY HALDEMAN FORD DENIED THE REPAIR. FORD MOTOR CO. SAID " THE BRACKETS DID WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO". HALDEMAN FORD WAS SURPRISED THAT THE REPAIR WORK WAS DENIED CALLED SARA AT FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATION CENTER WHO INDICATED THAT THEIR POLICY WAS THAT THE FORD ENGINEERS DETERMINATION WAS FINAL. MANANGER TOLD US: FORD'S POLICY WAS THAT THE REPAIR WAS DONE PER REQUIRED BY THE RECALL 10S13 AND THAT THERE WAS A 1 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE REPAIR AND IT IS PASSED THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND AGAIN DENIED THE REPAIR REQUEST. WE WERE NEVER TOLD OF A ONE YEAR WARRANTY. (I HAVE THE ORIGINAL COPY OF THE FORD "REPAIR ORDER DETAILS" WITH NO "SMALL PRINT" OR OTHERWISE REGARDING THE WARRANTY). HALDEMAN FORD STATED THEY WAS UNAWARE OF A 1 YR. WARRANTY. HAD REAR AXLE REPLACED FOR THE COST OF $918 FOR VACATION 2 DAYS LATER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU COULD PROVIDE WITH SECURING PAYMENT FOR THE REPAIR THAT FORD WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR. NEVER RECEIVED A "RECALL NOTICE" FROM FORD MOTOR DESPITE BEING THE ONLY OWNER OF THE WINDSTAR (WAS A DEMO VEHICLE) LIVING AT SAME ADDRESS. WHEN WE FIRST TOOK IT TO HALDEMAN FORD ABOUT THE RECALL, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT REPAIR IT UNTIL THEY WERE NOTIFIED. *TR