Golomb & Honik File Class Action Lawsuit Against Ford Alleging Unsafe Minivans

PHILADELPHIA, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to complaints by owners of a Ford Windstar, model years 1999-2003, alleging a risk of severe injury caused by a defect in the design of the vehicle's rear axle, Golomb & Honik, P.C., filed a class action law suit against Ford Motor Company ("Ford") in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The rear axles on Ford Windstar model years 1999-2003 are unsealed hollow cylinders that collect and trap water and other corrosive agents.  According to the complaint, Ford's failure to install proper drainage ports into these axles causes them to rust from the inside out. This rust eventually causes the axles to crack, and ultimately split into two separate pieces.  The axles on affected Ford Windstars are susceptible to failing while the vehicle is being operated. It is believed that more than 949,000 Windstars were manufactured with a defective axle.

The plaintiff, Aaron D. Martin and the Class are represented by Damien Zillas, Esquire, of Golomb & Honik, P.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In May 2010, while plaintiff Martin's 2001 Windstar minivan was being operated, it cracked and broke apart into two separate pieces due to internal rust.

Although this design flaw has been widely discussed in the automobile community and failures of the axle assembly have been previously documented, Ford has failed to remedy the defects or offer replacements for this potentially dangerous product. Nor has Ford notified owners of 1999 – 2003 Windstars that their vehicles might be prone to sudden failure during operation.

The lawsuit alleges that Ford is in breach of its implied warranty of merchantability and its express warranty. According to Mr. Zillas, "The axle on these minivans can fall apart while they are being driven, potentially causing serious injury or death, and for that reason we urge anyone in possession of a 1999-2003 Windstar to contact us."

SOURCE Golomb & Honik, P.C.