NHTSA Complaint #10944359 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

IN SEPT 2016, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM FORD TO RE-INSPECT A PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIR FOR MY REAR AXLE FROM 2012. IT STATED THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE FREE OF CHARGE IF DEFECTS WERE FOUND IN THE REPAIRS. IT ALSO STATED THAT IF I CHOSE TO DO SO, EVEN IF THE REPAIRS "PASSED", I COULD REPLACE THE AXLE FOR $300. SINCE I WORKED IN KY FROM FEB THROUGH OCT, I SCHEDULED THE INSPECTION AFTER RETURNING HOME IN NOV, BUT DID NOT ACTUALLY GET AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL DEC 6TH. AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL INSPECTION ON DEC 6TH, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE MADE CORRECTLY, BUT THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE AXLE. THEY STATED IT WOULD COST $1,100 TO REPAIR IF I CHOSE. SINCE I WAS NOT TOLD IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WAS PRESENTED TO ME AS "OPTIONAL", I DID NOT REPAIR. WHEN I WENT TO INSPECT THE VAN FOR ANNUAL PA INSPECTION ON JAN 5TH, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS BECAUSE OF THE CRACKED AXLE. THEY SHOWED ME THE AXLE, AND IT IS CRACKED THE ENTIRE LENGTH ON BOTH SIDES. I WENT TO SPEAK WITH THE NAZARETH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF ON JAN 6TH, AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND I SHOULD CALL FORD DIRECTLY. I CALLED FORD DIRECTLY ON JAN 6TH AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE "ALLOWABLE TIMEFRAME" ENDING OCT 31ST HAS PASSED. ANOTHER CALL TO THE NAZARETH FORD SERVICE MANAGER ON JAN 6TH YIELDED NO PROGRESS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FORD CAN GET AWAY WITH CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD LIKE THIS, NOT REVEAL HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION IS, AND EXPECTING A CONSUMER TO DROP WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO DEAL WITH A "FIRE SALE" APPROACH TO REPAIR IN A 2 MONTH WINDOW. THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WITH THE FAULTY PART, THE FAULTY REPAIR, AND THE MISLEADING "SUCCESSFUL" INSPECTION, NOT THE CONSUMER. MY AXLE WAS FINE UNTIL THEY PUT THEIR REPAIR BRACKETS ON. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW, AND IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. THIS VEHICLE HAS 107,200 MILES ON IT.