NHTSA Complaint #11174950 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

WHILE DRIVING ON X WAY APPOX. 60 MPH, NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM REAR OF CAR AND BEGIN HEARING A CLICKING SOUND. AS I WAS PULLING CAR OVER TO SIDE THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED. TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, UPON LOADING OF VEHICLE ON BED OF TRUCK WAS ABLE TO SEE REAR AXLE IN THE MIDDLE TOWARD PASSENGER SIDE HAD RUSTED THRU RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BRACKET FORD HAD INSTALLED IN 2011 DUE TO A RECALL. WAS INFORMED THAT IN 2015-16 FORD DID ANOTHER RECALL ON THE BRACKET NOT BEING IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. AS SHOWED IN THE ATTACHED PHOTO THERE IS ONLY ONE BRACKET INSTALLED, MY UNDERSTANDING THERE SHOULD BE TWO. BUT EVEN THEN THAT DOES NOT RESOLVED THE RUST PROBLEM, IT JUST HOLDS THE AXLE WHEN IT DOES BREAK OR CORRODE THRU.