[fielderLS3]

One has to ask how long the manufacturer should be responsible for parts that wear out as a result of normal wear, age, and salt corrosion. I can understand if this was happening to newer vehicles, but the Windstar has been out of production for nearly 10 years now.

Should Ford be required to retro fit all remaining Model T's and A's with seat belts and air bags? Should GM today be required to retrofit all remaining Corvairs with new suspensions? Can I sue if a 15 year old serpentine belt breaks, and the resulting loss of power steering causes an accident? If you are driving a car with 200K+ miles and the shocks are worn out, or the brakes are shot, is the manufacturer responsible for that? Where should the cutoff be?

At some point, owners/drivers have to take on the responsibility for ensuring that their car is in good working order. The manufacturers can't drive the cars to the garage to ensure they are being properly maintained themselves, and it certainly isn't realistic to expect unlimited lifetime bumper to bumper warranties.