NHTSA Complaint #11073829 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

I LEARNED TODAY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SUSPENSION:REAR AXLE NON POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY IN 2010. THE FIX WAS TO PLACE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS (RECALL # 10V385000), AND THIS WAS DONE. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VAN IN APRIL 2016 I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRE 4 TIMES! I ASKED THE TIRE SHOP ATTENDANT HOW COULD THIS BE AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE POINTED OUT THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME REPAIR DONE ON THE AXLE AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE A CRACK IN IT NOW. HE SAID THE TIRE IS LEANING SLIGHTLY INWARD BECAUSE OF THIS. HE WENT ON TO SAY HE'S SEEN MANY FORD WINDSTARS WITH THIS ISSUE AND I SHOULD REACH OUT TO FORD ABOUT RECALLS. I SEARCHED ONLINE FIRST AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SECOND RECALL ON THE AXLE ASSEMBLE (RECALL # 15V608000). THIS WAS ABOUT THE REPAIR BRACKET, THAT IT COULD BE INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. I CALLED FORD AND TO MY SURPRISE THE OPERATOR (RALPH) SAID MY VIN WAS NOT APART OF THE NEWER RECALL. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE IF IT WAS APART OF THE INITIAL RECALL AND HAD THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET PLACED ON THE AXLE. PLEASE HELP. I WAS DRIVING WHEN I NOTICED THE PROBLEM. I HADN'T HIT ANY MAJOR POT HOLES OR ANYTHING! NORMAL BUMPS IN THE ROAD BUT NOTHING MAJOR. I NOTICED THE ISSUE MORE WHEN I TURNED A CORNER EVENTUALLY MY TIRE BLEW OUT (MAKING A LOUD NOISE) AND I HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW. THE TIRE REPAIR ATTENDANT SAID IT EVEN LOOKED AS IF THE TIRE WAS LEANING INWARD. THE PICTURE ATTACHED IS OF THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE PART YOU CAN'T SEE BY LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE. *JS