On or about November 8 the front wheels fell off our 2001 Ford Winstar. It happened just as we drove into our driveway, following a night trip to a grocery store down an unlit, road with deep ditches on either side. We could have been seriously injured or worse, had it happened just three minutes before. We had it hauled the next morning, to a Ford dealer who had serviced it since it's purchase. They checked at the dealer to see about a recall, and informed us that the rear wheels had been under a recall, and our vehicle had been checked and found not affected, but no recall as of yet on the front. It was suggested I contact Ford directly, to see if one was either in the works or the dealer hadn't learned of an existing one yet. I did, and was told that yes, there was one on the rear, but nothing on the front, and when I asked about incidents like ours, was told nothing on record. I informed the person I talked with that the cost of this repair wasv $2075. And the value was pegged at approximately $3000. We are senior citizens and didn't want to have to purchase a new vehicle, just have the company stand behind it. My husband had worked for Ford Motor for 37 yrs., and had bought nothing but Fords for over 50 yrs.! I asked that she file the complaint and if a recall should happen, please inform us. Six weeks later a recall on this problem was announced! It most certainly had to have been in the works when I talked with them. I then sent a registered letter refreshing their mind of this matter, along with the complaint number, asking that they do the honorable thing and just stand behind the car as they should. Especially since my husband bought another Ford Flex, despite the fact that we needed a van again because I am disabled and we were in the midst of purchasing a handicap scooter for my transportation, and the proper lift required a vehicle 1 1/2" larger than what Ford currently sold. No vans in the 2011 lineup. We had to buy an inside/outside lift which would pick up and lift the scooter into the van from the outside. However, after buying it, we found that we weren't strong enough to put the lift together each time it had to be used, and had to spend another $2000. For another lift that carry's the scooter on the outside only. All of this because my husband seem's to have more integrity than Ford Motor. He says he earned his living at Ford's and owes them his allegence. Apparently Ford doesn't feel the same way. They claim the only way they would honor the claim were if we'd had the van fixed and still had it. The right thing for them would be to stand behind their vehicle, under the existing circumstances. Six Weeks, and in the works even then! In my opinion, my telephone call to them at the time of the incident should be more than sufficient for them to honor it. We received $50.00 in trad-in for that van, and just a few weeks later the recall is called? Shame on Ford. If this is how Ford treats it's own employees, I must suggest that a stranger buying one of their vehicles had better take a close look at the other car companie's records in handling complaints and recalls before making the decision to buy. Still feeling discusted and disturbed, we had an attorney send a letter, and to date that has been ignored also. We'd like to be proven wrong and that Ford is just still reviewing the claim, and hasen't gotten back to our attorney or us. If so, I'll most certainly apologize and let all of you know on this site.
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