{"count":1,"message":"Results returned successfully","results":[{"odiNumber":10347151,"manufacturer":"Ford Motor Company","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/22/2010","dateComplaintFiled":"08/03/2010","vin":"2FMDA53481B","components":"STRUCTURE","summary":"FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED A CREAKING/THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR OF OUR 2001 FORD WINDSTAR SEL, WHICH HAS 111,000 MILES ON IT.  THE SOUND WAS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS AND AT THE SAME TIME EXPERIENCING AN ELEVATION CHANGE (E.G., ENTERING A DRIVEWAY FROM THE ROAD).      THE FORD DEALER TOLD US WE NEEDED NEW REAR SHOCKS, WHICH WE REPLACED FOR $500+.  THE VEHICLE HANDLED A LITTLE BETTER AND THE SOUND SEEMED TO BE REDUCED, BUT NEVER TOTALLY WENT AWAY.  OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, THE SOUND GRADUALLY WORSENED.  WE WERE PLANNING A LONG ROAD TRIP FOR OUR SUMMER VACATION, SO WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER THE DAY BEFORE WE WERE GOING TO LEAVE.  THIS TIME, THE DEALER TOLD US THE REAR AXLE BEAM WAS CRACKED.  I'M SURE THAT WAS PART, IF NOT ALL, OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE EXPERIENCED THE FIRST TIME WE BROUGHT IT IN, BECAUSE THE SOUND WAS THE SAME.  REGARDLESS, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO DISCOVER THE PROBLEM BEFORE WE WERE ON THE ROAD WITH OUR THREE CHILDREN AND A VAN FULLY LOADED FOR A 10-DAY VACATION.      I ASKED THE FORD TECHNICIAN HOW IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THAT FORD COULD MAKE A MINIVAN WITH A REAR AXLE BEAM THAT FAILED AFTER ONLY NINE YEARS OF ROUTINE USE.  HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY, BUT ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE AXLE BEAM TO UNDERSTAND WHY.  IT'S AS THIN AS AN ALUMINUM BASEBALL BAT, AND IT'S JUST AS HOLLOW.  A POP CAN HAS MORE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY.  I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO A NEIGHBORHOOD AUTO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THIS HAPPENS ON 'ALL' WINDSTARS.  RATHER THAN PAY THE $1000 REPAIR BILL, AND GIVEN THE DOZENS OF OTHER ISSUES WE'VE HAD WITH THIS SUBSTANDARD VEHICLE, WE DECIDED TO JUST BUY A NEW VEHICLE.  WE WERE CONSIDERING TRADING THE WINDSTAR, BUT BEFORE DOING SO, I DECIDED TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM WAS AS COMMON AS THE LOCAL MECHANIC IMPLIED.  TURNS OUT IT IS.       THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2001","productMake":"FORD","productModel":"WINDSTAR","manufacturer":"Ford Motor Company"}]}]}