NHTSA Complaint #10639916 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2001 FORD WINDSTAR SE MINIVAN WHICH NOW HAS A RUSTED, CORRODED AND BROKEN PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE SUBFRAME WHICH RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I COMPLIED WITH THE EARLIER FORD RECALLS WITH REGARD TO THIS ISSUE (11S16) AND THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETED (6/20/2012) AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. NOW AFTER 27 MONTHS AND LESS THAN 16,000 MILES LATER, THE ENGINE SUBFRAME BREAKS AND THE COST TO REPAIR OF ABOUT $5,000.00 EXCEEDS THE KELLEY BLUE BOOK VALUES FOR THE VEHICLE. FORD HAS REFUSED ANY HELP AND CLAIMS THEY HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL WORK AND THE MATTER IS CLOSED. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SUPPORT BRACKET THAT WAS INSTALLED WAS NOTHING MORE THAT A BAND-AID APPROACH TO CORRECT A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH SUBSTANDARD ENGINE SUBFRAME PARTS. I HAVE ASKED FORD TO BUY MY VEHICLE BACK, AS THAT WAS AN OPTION UNDER THE RECALL(11S16) BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED AGAIN SAYING THE MATTER WAS CLOSED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE ENGINE SUBFRAME PARTS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 13 YEARS OR 97,000 MILES. AFTER ALL FORD SUGGESTS THE 1ST ENGINE TUNE UP FOR THIS VEHICLE AT 100,000 MILES. I GUESS I WON'T BE WORRYING ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE THIS VEHICLE NOW FOR A SHORT WHILE AND I HAVE PICTURES OF THE BROKEN SUBFRAME. I WILL BE GETTING RID OF IT PROBABLY TO A JUNK YARD FOR SCRAP VALUE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT ALL THE OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS DRIVING AROUND WITH THIS SAME POTENTIAL CONDITION ON OUR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. I WANT YOU TO INITIATE A FOLLOW UP INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RECALL FIX(11S16) AS SEEN ON MY VEHICLE AND OTHERS. AS A RESULT OF THIS EXPERIENCE, I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD IN MY LIFE. *TR