NHTSA Complaint #11252329 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL ABOUT THE POSSIBLE AXLE CRACKING DUE RUST I TOOK MY CAR IN AND HAD THE BRACKETS PUT ON AND THEN I RECEIVED A RECALL THE HAVE THE BRACKETS CHECKED WHICH I DID AND THEY WERE CORRECT. TODAY I TOOK MY VAN IN FOR PA INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD MY REAR AXLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAD A CRACK IN IT WHICH YOU COULD SEE THROUGH THE OPENING OF THE BRACKET THEY INSTALLED. WHEN I ASKED THE MECHANIC IF FORD WAS GOING TO PAY TO REPLACE IT NOW SINCE THE BRACKET DIDN'T KEEP IT FROM CRACKING HE SAID NO. THEN I ASKED IF THE BRACKET WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD IT SO I CAN KEEP DRIVING, HE SAID HE WOULDN'T TRUST IT. I ONLY HAVE A 115,500 MILES ON IT, SO WHAT I'M BASICALLY BEING TOLD IS THE MINUTE THE RECALL WENT OUT I SHOULD HAVE HAD THEM REPLACE THE AXLE, INSTEAD OF THE STUPID BRACKETS WHICH WERE JUST BAND AIDS TO PLACATE UPSET OWNERS. I ONLY HAVE ONE CAR SO I HAVE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED OR BUY ANOTHER CAR. I'M JUST ONE PERSON, HOW MANY MORE ARE FACED WITH THE SAME SITUATION. I ONLY HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER WHEN MY INSPECTION EXPIRES AND I'M PANICKING TRYING TO FIGURE WHAT I CAN DO. FORD KNEW THOSE BRACKET S AT BEST JUST BOUGHT THE OWNERS A COUPLE OF MORE YEARS BEFORE THEIR CARS COULD AGAIN BE A HIGHWAY HAZARD. IT'S STILL RUSSIAN ROULETTE IN MY OPINION THE AXLE AT A MINIMUM SHOULD BE REPLACE WITH A DISCOUNT TO THE ORIGINAL OWNERS.