NHTSA Complaint #750988 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

MY WIFE PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ROAD AND HEARD A HORRIBLE SCREECHING/SQUEALING SOUND AND SMELLED RUBBER BURNING. SHE PULLED INTO THE CENTER LANE, APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM OUR DRIVEWAY AND STOPPED. SHE ASKED OUR DAUGHTER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. SHE SAID, "MOM, THE TIRE IS TOUCHING THE REAR BUMPER". MY WIFE TURNED THE VEHICLE AROUND IN THE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY AND DROVE BACK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. SHE CALLED ME OUT AND I LOOKED AT THE REAR RIGHT CONTROL ARM ON THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. IT WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED AND PULLED APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES APART. THE REAR RIGHT TIRE WAS SCRAPING THE BUMPER AND HAD GOUGES IN THE TREAD (THE TIRE IS RUINED). THE LEFT WHEEL WAS PUSHED SLIGHTLY FORWARD. I KNOW IF SHE HAD MADE IT TO THE EXPRESSWAY AND THIS PIECE HAD BROKE AT 70 MPH, MY CHILD, HER 3 FRIENDS, AND MY WIFE WOULD BE DEAD. I AM WORRIED THAT ANYBODY WITH THE SAME STYLE AND YEAR VEHICLE COULD HAVE THE SAME DEFECT, AND I WANT IT MADE AWARE TO ALL. I AM PETRIFIED TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. I ALSO HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE DEFECT WHICH COULD BE E-MAILED AT YOUR REQUEST.