The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun two separate investigations on the Ford Windstar and Chevrolet Corvette following complaints of malfunctions. USNews.com reports that the NHSTA has received 234 complaints on malfunctions of the rear axles of 1999-2003 Ford Windstar models.
The investigation on the Corvette resulted from 30 complaints from consumers of leaking fuel tanks. The report states that no injuries or accidents in the Corvette have been reported at this time; however, two minor incidents have been reported with the Ford Windstar. A recall of both vehicles could potentially occur if the NHSTA deems it necessary.
It is no secret that the automotive industry has been plagued by recalls of all kinds. The most recent, and most significant, is the Toyota recall of several thousand cars of differing models for various reasons. As a result of Toyota’s delay in their recall, they were forced to pay fines of around $16.4 million. Since that time, automakers have been voluntarily recalling vehicles for various flaws and malfunctions in a timely manner seemingly in order to avoid a similar fate.
It is very important that automakers follow all government enforced rules regarding recalls in order to prevent injury to consumers. Although incidents of accidents or injuries are minimal in the case of the Windstar, there could potentially be more serious incidents if no action is taken to remedy the situation in their vehicles. Although many accidents on roadways occur due to driver error, there are still cases when an auto accident can be caused by a malfunction in the vehicles involved.
If you are involved in an accident, a manufacturer malfunction may be one of the causes, but the malfunction may not be readily apparent. For more information on manufacturer malfunctions and how to identify them, visit the Solomon & Relihan Auto Defects page.
