NHTSA Complaint #10731123 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

REAR AXLE IS CRACKED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. FORD RECALL IN 2011 FOR ISSUES WITH THE REAR AXLE - DEALER INSTALLED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BRACKETS IN LIEU OF REPLACING THE AXLE WITH A NEW AXLE OF CURRENT DESIGN. IF THEY WOULD HAVE DONE THE REPLACEMENT WITH THE CURRENT AXLE DESIGN AND NOT ADDED A TEMPORARY FIX TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF A DEFECTIVE AXLE, TODAY I WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL REPLACEMENT. I AM VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOTICED AN ISSUE AND BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER WHO DISCOVERED THE CRACK. I DO HAVE A CONCERN THOUGH WITH THE FORD DEALER - THEY KNOW ABOUT THE AXLE ISSUES, FAILURES AND RECALL. THEY RECENTLY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS, ETC. AT A COST OF $2,800 INCLUDING BRAKES, DRUMS, ETC. THEY SAW THE CONDITION OF THE AXLE - THEY HAD TO KNOW IF WAS DUE TO FAIL SOONER THAN LATER - VERY CONCERNING. FORD IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAW AND LACK LUSTER RECALL WHICH AMOUNTED TO ADDING SOME BRACKETS TO CAUSE THE AXLE TO BREAK IN A CERTAIN AREA TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF A COMPLETE FAILURE / FATAL ACCIDENT.