{"count":1,"message":"Results returned successfully","results":[{"odiNumber":10322103,"manufacturer":"Ford Motor Company","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/19/2010","dateComplaintFiled":"03/25/2010","vin":"","components":"SUSPENSION","summary":"I AM A RETIRED FORMER TECHNICIAN/MANAGER FOR FORD DEALERS FOR 41 YEARS. TO KEEP MYSELF BUSY, I WORK ON FRIENDS VEHICLES. RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED A CONCERN WITH FORD WINDSTARS. THE REAR AXLES (I-BEAM ASSYS) BREAK IN HALF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE REAR OF THE VEH TO LOSE CONTROL. THE FIRST ONE I SAW ( A 2001 MY VEH) WAS ONLY CRACKED HALF WAY, I REPLACED IT BEFORE IT BROKE. LAST WEEK I HAD ONE ( A 1999 MY VEH) TOWED TO ME BROKEN IN HALF. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS GOING SLOW & WAS PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. I ALSO NOTICED THE CRACK & THE BREAK OCCURRED AT ALMOST THE SAME LOCATION ON THE AXLE (APPROX. 12\" FROM THE LEFT SIDE).  IN BOTH CASES I REPLACED THEM WITH USED PARTS FROM AN AUTO WRECKING YARD. THIS WAS DUE TO THE OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH PRICE OF A NEW PART FROM FORD. I ASKED AROUND AT LOCAL SHOPS & EVEN WITH SOME OF THE TECH'S WHERE I USED TO WORK & WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD INDEED SEEN THIS CONCERN BEFORE. I WAS WONDERING IF THE NHTSB WAS AWARE OF THIS CONCERN. AS A FORMER FORD DEALER EMPLOYEE, I KNOW MANUFACTURERS HAVE PROGRAMS ASKING CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR A \"SAFETY CHECK\" & POSSIBLE REPAIR. I BELIEVE THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO \"SUGGEST\" TO FORD BEFORE ONE OF THESE AXLES BREAKS AT SPEED CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE OR LOSS OF LIFE. I HAVE ACCESS TO THE BROKEN AXLE IF ANYONE CARES TO INSPECT IT. I ALSO CUT THE CRACKED SECTION OUT OF THE FIRST AXLE & GAVE IT TO THE OWNER TO RETAIN SHOULD ANYTHING PROGRAM-WISE EVER OCCUR. NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THE CONSUMER PORTION OF THIS FORM IS MINE, NOT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLES REPAIRED. SINCE THERE IS MORE THAN ONE VEH INVOLVED I LEFT THE VIN SECTION EMPTY. IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY I CAN SUPPLY BOTH VINS. BUT SINCE THE YEAR OF PRODUCTION DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER THE VIN SEEMS IRRELEVANT. *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"1999","productMake":"FORD","productModel":"WINDSTAR","manufacturer":"Ford Motor Company"}]}]}