NHTSA Complaint #10716872 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

THE REAR AXLE BROKE WHEN OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT. WHEN SHE GOT HOME SHE TOLD US THAT THE VAN WAS NOT HANDLING WELL AT ALL. IT TURNS OUT THE REAR AXLE HAD CRACKED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL TO PUSH UP INTO THE WHEEL HOUSING AND START RUBBING AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED NEAR OUR HOME AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH FURTHER TO GO AS IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. ALSO LUCKY THE SPEED WAS ONLY ABOUT 30 MPH, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IT WOULD HAVE MADE IT SAFELY HOME IF IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED. OUR VAN WAS PART OF A RECALL THAT WAS DONE IN 2011 WHERE THEY INSTALLED BRACKETS/CLAMPS INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE REAR AXLE. THE BREAK HAS OCCURRED RIGHT UNDER THE CLAMPING BRACKET. IT ALSO APPEARS TO BE CRACKED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AS THE TIRE IS TILTING INTO THE WHEEL WELL ON THAT SIDE ALSO. IT APPEARS FORD HAS LEFT MANY WINDSTAR DRIVERS IN A POTENTIAL VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.