DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. said it is recalling Windstar minivans due to problems with rear axle corrosion problems with in snowy, northern states.
Ford said 1998-2003 Windstars registered or sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia Wisconsin and Washington DC were involved in the recall, The Detroit News reported Saturday.
The 21 states define the nation's "Salt Belt," the newspaper said. In addition to the 463,000 U.S. vehicles covered in the recall, 113,000 Canadian vehicles have also been recalled, Ford said.
Concerns over weakened rear axles have been the focus of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation, which began in May.
With more than a quarter of the axle failures occurring with vehicles driving 40 or more mph, the potential for serious accidents is among the NHTSA's concerns, the newspaper said.
