NHTSA Complaint #11022987 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 8 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER WAS PRESENT. ALSO, THE CONTACT LOST STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE NOT LINED UP AND THE AXLE HAD FRACTURED IN THE AREA WHERE BRACKETS HAD BEEN INSTALLED BY BAY VALLEY FORD IN SAGINAW MICHIGAN APPROXIMATELY 1 AND 1/2 YEARS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HAGAN'S FORD IN BAY CITY, MICHIGAN WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.