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Rear Axle Problem Prompts Recall Of Ford Windstar Minivans

By Chrissie Cole

Federal regulators announced a recall of 575,000 Ford Windstar vans in several states and in Canada where road salt is used in cold weather, because the rear axle may fracture due to corrosion.

In May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a preliminary investigation into the problem, after the agency received 234 reports of rear axle fractures and two minor crashes. The number has since risen to 950.

The recall affects about 463,000 vehicles in the U.S. and the remaining in Canada, according to a Ford spokesman. The model years involved are 1998-2003.

The states affected by the Windstar Recall are listed below:

Canada and Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Ford Motor Co. will repair the recalled vehicles free of charge by installing brackets to reinforce the rear axle, Ford said in the statement.

The NHTSA is also investigating a potential design defect of the gas tank in about three million Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles that could pose a fire danger in case of a collision.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Full post as published by New York City Personal Injury Lawyer on August 27, 2010 (boomark / email).