NHTSA Complaint #11390801 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

REAR AXLE CRACKED THROUGH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, EVEN AFTER A RECALL PATCH/REPAIR WAS MADE. NO COLLISIONS, NO HARD DRIVING. NOT A CORROSION ISSUE. METAL IS CRACKED PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXLE..ACROSS THE GRAIN. AXLE WAS HEARD TO MAKE NOISE WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, THEN VEHICLE FELT FISH-TAILING WHILE DRIVE DOWN PAVED NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. TURNING TO THE RIGHT MADE NOTICEABLE GRINDING NOISES FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL. ON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE REAR WHEELS WERE SEVERELY TILTED IN AT THE TOP, AND THE AXLE WAS CLEARLY, OBVIOUSLY VERY CRACKED OPEN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND APPEARS READY TO BREAK INTO 2 HALVES. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN 2010 FOR AXLE DEFECTS, BUT THE REPAIRS MADE SEEM INADEQUATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEALERSHIP MAINTAINED.