NHTSA Complaint #11348434 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

I CONTACTED THIS AGENCY PREVIOUSLY REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE REAR AXLE IN DETAIL. THIS NOTE IS SENT TO FURTHER EXPLAIN THE FAILURE OF FORD, GARLITCH FORD, AND THE NHTSA TO PROPERLY ASSURE ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ADEQUATELY. IT WAS NOT. I REMOVED THE USELESS BRACKETS GARLITCH FORD INSTALLED UNDER YOUR AND FORD'S DIRECTION, AND THE RECALL 10S13 WAS NOT PERFORMED PROPERLY. I HAVE THE EVIDENCE. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE POINT IN A RECALL WHEN ABSOLUTELY NOBODY WILL STAND BEHIND IT? WE MAY AS WELL JUST IGNORE THEM ALL IN THAT CASE. SO TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM, PER THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE RECALL THE TECHNICIAN WAS SUPPOSED TO REMOVE ALL UNDERCOAT/PAINT/E-COAT FROM AREAS SPECIFIED TO THE BASE METAL IN ORDER TO INSPECT THE AXLE FOR CRACKS. THIS WAS NOT DONE. ORIGINAL E-COAT IS CLEARLY VISIBLE IN THE PHOTOS. SO THE INSPECTION OF THE AXLE WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. I CANT SAY I AM SURPRISED. THEN, SINCE THE AXLE PASSED THE IMPROPERLY PERFORMED INSPECTION, THEY INSTALLED THE ATROCIOUSLY "DESIGNED" BRACKETS TO THE AXLE. AGAIN, THE INSTRUCTIONS SAY TO REMOVE ALL PAINT, UNDERCOATING, OR E-COAT FROM THE AXLE TO BARE METAL, AS THE EPOXY OR ADHESIVE OR WHATEVER IT IS WILL NOT ADHERE TO ANYTHING BUT BARE METAL. THIS WAS NOT DONE EITHER, OBVIOUSLY. I DID NOT TAKE THIS IN FOR RECALL 15S27 AS THERE WAS NO POINT. THE ONLY CONCERN OF THAT RECALL WAS TO MAKE SURE THE SPACING FROM THE AXLE WELD TO THE BRACKET WAS WITHIN SPECIFICATION, AND IT WAS. AUTONATION FORD OF TUSTIN CONFIRMED THAT. HOWEVER, THIS RECALL DOES NOT TELL ANYONE IF THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY AND IF THESE WERE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO ADD STRUCTURAL STRENGTH TO THE AXLE THEY COULD NOT HAVE IN MY CASE AND WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ITS ULTIMATE FAILURE GIVEN THAT THEY WERE NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED. STEP UP AND GET FORD TO COVER THIS FAILURE. FORD IS BLAMING THE "INDEPENDENTLY OWNED" DEALER. WHAT A JOKE.