Family Says Windstar Recall Notice Came Too Late

WHITMAN (CBS) -- "We're speaking out, because we don't want this happening to another family," says Justine Bowman of Whitman.

She's talking about the accident that killed her husband, Sean, last October.

Sean Bowman was driving a 2001 Ford Windstar, when he lost control and crashed into a building, killing him. Several days later, Bowman's family received a recall notice from Ford, warning them that the axle was in danger of fracturing.

WBZ cameras took pictures of Bowman's axle -- clearly showing corrosion and a complete fracture.

WBZ-TV's Bill Shields reports.

The State Police have yet to issue a report, determining what caused the accident, but Bowman's family is convinced it was the axle. "Ford knew about the problem in August," says Jeff Bowman, Sean's brother, "but they didn't send out the recall notices until October. Even now, it's the quietest recall I've ever seen."

Down the street from the accident scene, mechanics at Conley's garage say they've replaced the rear axels on a number of Windstars. "It's shaped like a U," says mechanic Mike Green," and it collects moisture. We've seen the cracks."

Ford has issued recalls for nearly 600,000 Windstars, but so far, only 75.000 owners have taken the vehicles in for new axels.