NHTSA Complaint #10787869 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

REAR AXLE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS WERE INSTALLED IN MY FORD WINDSTAR UNDER SAFETY RECALL 10S13, BY AN AUTHORIZED FORD (DEALER'S) REPAIR SHOP IN 2011. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD REPAIR SHOP THAT "BRACKETS" WERE THE ONLY TYPE OF REPAIR FORD AUTHORIZED THEM TO DO UNDER THAT RECALL NOTICE. I RECENTLY RECEIVED ANOTHER REAR AXLE RECALL NOTICE, 15S27, THAT SAID REPAIR BRACKETS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED UNDER THE PRIOR RECALL, MAY RESULT IN A REAR AXLE BEAM FRACTURE. THE RECALL NOTICE SAID IF AXLE REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY, FORD WOULD REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE SAME FORD REPAIR SHOP, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS INDEED CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THAT FORD IS REFUSING TO REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE AND REQUIRES A COPAY OF $300. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I BELIEVE THE "BAND AIDE" REPAIR ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED BY FORD UNDER THE FIRST REAR AXLE RECALL, WAS INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT STRESS POINTS IN THEIR DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE FROM CAUSING A SUBSEQUENT FRACTURE THAT NO AMOUNT OF PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE COULD DETER. I BELIEVE THE SECOND AXLE RECALL NOTICE INDICATES THAT FORD HAS PLACED THE PUBLIC IN JEOPARDY WITH "CHEAP FIXES" TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF ETHICALLY REPLACING THE AXLE, FORD NOW SEEMS TO BE CUTTING THEIR LOSSES BY OFFERING A "DISCOUNTED" AXEL REPLACEMENT (ONLY) AT ONE OF THEIR AFFILIATED SHOPS. BECAUSE A REAR AXLE CAN COST ABOUT $1000 TO REPLACE, FORD'S "DISCOUNT" EFFECTIVELY STEERS THE BUSINESS OF CUSTOMERS WHO NEED THIS REPAIR INTO FORD'S CONTROLLED BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY FORD AGAIN, TO CORRECT THEIR ERROR AND KEEP US SAFE. PLEASE CALL ME AT [XXX] CAR IS CURRENTLY AT LUCAS FORD, BURLINGTON NJ. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).