NHTSA Complaint #11182225 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

1. REAR AXLE FRACTURED SEVERELY & BROKE MAKING THE CAR UN-DRIVABLE ON 24 JAN 2019 WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC. FORD PUT BRACES ON THIS VEHICLE UNDER RECALL# 10S13, BUT THEY FAILED TO PREVENT FURTHER CORROSION AND METAL FATIGUE. THE AXLE WAS A BAD ENGINEERING DESIGN FROM THE DRAWING BOARD COMBINED WITH NOT E-COATING THE METAL DURING MANUFACTURING TO PREVENT CORROSION OF THE METAL DUE TO ROAD SALT. THE AXLE FRACTURED NEXT TO THE BRACE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AS SHOWN IN THE 4 IMAGES BELOW. I HAVE ONE TOW BILL (FLAT-BED) TO GET THE CAR OFF THE DOWNTOWN STREET TO MY HOME & WILL HAVE ANOTHER TOW BILL TO TRANSPORT IT TO WHERE I CAN REPLACE THE AXLE. 2. FRONT CRADLE FRAME'S MOUNT RUSTED OFF THAT ANCHORS THE STABILIZER BAR SO THE STABILIZER BAR HAD TO BE REMOVED. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THE CRADLE FRAME PROBABLE WAS NOT E-COATED DURING MANUFACTURE EITHER. I CAN TAKE A PIC AND PROBABLE HAVE THE REPAIR INVOICE DETAILING THE DATE AND THE MECHANIC'S WORK TO REMOVE THE STABILIZER BAR. TO FIX THE CAR WILL NEED A NEW FRONT CRADLE FRAME, STABILIZER BAR, AND POSSIBLY MOUNT BRACKETS.