MI Ford Dealers Could See Ford Windstars Piling Up On Their Lots

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Detroit, Michigan, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) November 13, 2010 -- DETROIT, M.I. – MI Ford Dealers will begin to see more of a backload repairs due to the pending availability of parts required to fix Ford Windstar minivans involved in a recall.
According to USA Today’s recent report, the axles needed to fix any broken or damaged axles brought in from the recall of 575,000 Windstars, model years 1998 to 2003, are not readily available. Ford is reported to have said the part won’t be available until the first months of 2011. It was also said the majority of the minivans need only small repairs that could be completed by the year’s end.

MI Auto Times reported the MI Ford recall back in August, and has recently learned that the delay in repairs will add to the total cost of the recall. MI Ford dealers are seeing a lot of Windstars because of they are located in the snowbelt states where heavy road salt is used during the winter months; the cause of the recall is entrapment of winter road salt in the rear axle, which is shaped like a “U”. The trapped salt causes corrosion that could lead to a cracked or broken axle.
According to Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood who made comments in Automotive News, if the Windstar has a broken axle, driving possibilities are over; MI Ford dealers are left with no choice other than to store them until the required parts arrive.

MI Ford dealers are also providing the Windstars’ owners with rental cars and Ford is said to be providing those funds, approximately $38 per day per car. The rental cost could bump up the total recall cost by millions. Windstar owners are also being offered an incentive on a new Ford or money toward a pre-owned vehicle, which also would increase the recall costs.
For more information about this ongoing recall, visit http://miautotimes.com
MI Auto Times covers all Michigan automotive news, vehicle recall information, Michigan automaker news, vehicle ratings and comparisons, and everything else auto-related Michigan and world readers need to know.
Connect with us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MichiganAutoTimes
[Source(s): USA Today, Automotive News]

ford     Ford Windstar     MI Auto Times     MI Ford Dealers