NHTSA Complaint #10959000 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

REAR AXLE FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING FROM SCHOOL TO HOME, THERE IS UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT AND GOING INTO THE FIRST STREET ROADS INTERSECTION, I HEARD A NOISE IN THE REAR WHILE CROSSING THIS UNEVEN SURFACE INTERSECTION, HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE BECAME NOTICEABLE DIFFERENT AND A SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER AND SMOKE STARTED, AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR WHEEL WAS CROOKED AND AFTER FURTHER OBSERVATION I OBSERVED THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED CLOSE TO THE REAR WHEEL (DRIVING SIDE) CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO RUB AGAINST THE INNER WHEEL HOUSE AND AFFECTING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FORD FIRST INSTALLED BRACKETS OVER THE AXLE TO REINFORCE IT IN 2010 (RECALL 10S13), THEN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2016 SENT ME ANOTHER LETTER (SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 15S27) TO BRING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO VERIFY IF THE BRACKETS WERE INSTALLED CORRECTLY, AFTER BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THE BRACKETS WERE INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND IF I WANTED MY AXLE REPLACED ANYWAY I WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE PART COST. I CALLED TO THE FORD PHONE NUMBER IN THE LETTER TO REQUEST THE CHANGE OF MY REAR AXLE AT NO CHARGE BUT THEY DID REJECT MY REQUEST AND SAID THAT BRACKETS WERE INSTALLED CORRECTLY IN THE PAST BUT MY REAR AXLE WOULD BE REPLACED IF I WOULD PAY THE $300 USD, THEY COULD NOT GIVE FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT WHY I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE AXLE IF THEY STATED THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS WERE PROPERLY INSTALLED.