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MI Ford dealers face a bigger push for a recall, originally not widely publicized, after a man from Massachusetts dies in an accident due to a cracked rear axle.
DETROIT, M.I. – MI Ford Dealers will have to get ready for more owners coming into the dealerships to have their rear axle checked for corrosion and damage after Sean Bowman from Massachusetts died in an accident that was directly caused by the recall defect announced by Ford in August.
In August 2010, Ford announced that there were potentially 575,000 Ford Windstars that may have a rust issue that could cause accidents. Model years for the Windstar ranged from 1998 to 2003. Also, the recall only affected 21 states in the U.S. and areas in Canada that experience heavy road salt which can cause rust under the vehicle.
The main cause for concern is the possibility of the axles rusting away, which could ultimately lead to a crack in the axles. These cracks could cause the axles to snap or break while the car is in motion.
The Bowman family told The Associated Press that the recall notice they received about the problem arrived one week after Sean Bowman died in the accident. They felt that Ford was very lax with its notice.
After the announcement of the accident, MI Ford dealers heard the announcement that Ford was expanding the recall to include 37,000, which brought the recall number to 612,000 throughout the U.S. and Canada. This notice began during the first week of December and included vans in other states like Utah where the axles are heat-treated.
Ford also said in a press release that as of September the automaker knew of seven accidents with three injuries that were not serious. Other than that there were 950 complaints that Ford was aware of.
For any more information about MI Ford dealers that can complete the thorough check needed to ensure owners are safe with their vehicles, owners should call Ford at 866-436-7332.
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