NHTSA Complaint #11176240 — 2000 FORD WINDSTAR

MY REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON A CITY STREET. I TWICE GOT THE PREVIOUS RECALL WORK DONE ON THE AXLE (THE "BRACKET FIX" AND THE SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE "FIX"). I WAS TOLD MY THE DEALER THAT THE AXLE LOOKED GOOD AND I DIDN'T NEED TO REPLACE THE AXLE FOR THE DISCOUNTED $300 PRICE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE NHTSA ALLOWED FORD TO CHARGE MONEY FOR AN ACTUAL FIX AND ONLY OFFER A STOP GAP FIX THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL ANYWAY AS A SOLUTION. IN MY ATTACHED PICTURE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE AXLE FAILED UNDER THE RECALL REPAIR BRACKET. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ON A CITY STREET AND ABLE TO QUICKLY GET MY VAN INTO A PARKING PLACE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I AM WRITING MAINLY TO IMPLORE YOUR AGENCY TO NEVER AGAIN ALLOW A PIECEMEAL RECALL LIKE THIS AGAIN. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION MY AXLE WAS FIXED BY THE PREVIOUS RECALL.