1999 Ford Windstar Tires & Wheels Problems

SKIMMED TO A STOP,VEHICLES ARE DANGEROUS,BRAKES TIED UP AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TOOK IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT ADVISED SYSTEM WAS GOOD,NOW I READ YOU GUYS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAPPEN TO ME,PROVING ITS A DEFECT I WANT TO BE GIVEN CREDIT FOR A NEW FORD WINDFREE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. HE OBSERVED THAT THE STUDS ON THE WHEEL BROKE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. HE STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE DRUM, HUB AND ROTOR ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A VIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,100.

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE NEAR INSTANTLY DEFLATED CAUSING TOTAL TIRE FAILURE BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. TIRE SIDEWALL WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. SPARE INSTALLED. NO PUNCTURES, TEARS OR CUTS WERE FOUND ANYWHERE ON THE TIRE TREAD OR SIDEWALL. THE ONLY KNOWN CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE WAS A CRACKED (CUT) VALVE STEM IN THE AREA WHERE THE STEM SEATS AGAINST THE ALUMINUM WHEEL ALLOWING AIR TO EXHAUST QUICKLY FROM THE TIRE ONCE THE CRACK PROPAGATED TO INSIDE. PHONED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE FOUR NEW REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE INSTALLED 3 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AND 23,170 MILES PRIOR TO DISCUSS THE BLOWOUT ISSUE. IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THIS IS THE 4TH TIRE OUT OF 8 THAT I HAD PURCHASED FROM THEM (THREE ON MY OTHER VEHICLE AND ONE ON THIS VEHICLE) WHERE I HAD TIRE FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED VALVE STEMS. REFERENCE ODI #'S 10254187, 10254189 AND 10254191). CRACKED VALVE STEM INFORMATION; TR 413, 217 EHA, GERMANY, 03. TO DATE, THE TIRE AND VALVE STEM HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AND ARE BEING SAVED FOR REFERENCE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE'S TIRE WAS OBSERVED TO BE RELEASING AIR FROM THE STEM. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PUT AIR INTO THE TIRE, THE AIR WAS RELEASING FROM THE STEM FASTER THAN THE TIRE COULD BE FILLED WITH AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COSCO WHERE ALL 4 TIRES HAD BEEN PURCHASED 2-3 YEARS AGO. THE TIRE'S STEM WAS REPLACED. A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE COSCO MENTIONED THAT THE TIRE REPAIRED WAS FROM A DEFECTIVE BATCH OF TIRES. ON 7/23/06, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER ANOTHER TIRE WAS FLAT AND OBSERVED TO BE RELEASING AIR EXPEDIENTLY FROM THE STEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SHUTTER. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE HAD SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIRE HAD A BULGE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALERSHIP AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE TIRE WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SHUTTER AGAIN. UPON INSPECTION, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS SHREDDED. THIS OCCURRED A THIRD TIME HOWEVER IT WAS THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE AND IT SEPARATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TIRE DEALERSHIP, THE TWO TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE ONLY TIRE THAT DID NOT HAVE A FAILURE WAS OF A DIFFERENT BRAND. THE THREE TIRES WITH FAILURES WERE COOPER LIFELINE TOURING SLE. UPDATED 8/30/2006 - *NM

STUD BOLT ON PASSENGER (RIGHT) FRONT HUB FAILED AND BROKE OFF WHILE CONDUCTING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE- LUGS HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECS- 1999 FORD WINDSTAR VAN HAS ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES- NO EVIDENCE OF CROSS THREADING/STUD THREADS WERE CLEAN. NOT YET REPAIRED. *JB

SEVERE SIDEWALL BLOWOUT OF A 3 YEAR OLD MICHELIN WEATHERWISE WITH APPROX 30K MILES ON IT. THE TIRE HAD AN EVEN TREAD WEAR PATTERN, AS IT HAD BEEN ROTATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO EMAIL YOU PHOTOS OF THE BLOWN TIRE. BOTH WEATHERWISE TIRES ON THE FRONT OF MY 99 FORD WINDSTAR HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED. *NM

WHEEL STUD BREAKAGE IN MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR VEHICLES. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD SIDEWALL SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED A TIRE BLOWOUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.TIRE SIZE 32560R16.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. HEARD A NOISE. FRONT PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. GOODRICH TIRES, P2151/70R15. *AK

THE RETAINING NUTS: BOLTS WERE LOOSE CAUSING THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE NUTS, BUT PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. *AK

FORD WINDSTAR AUTO - 1999 - STEEL STUDS BROKE OFF FROM ONE OF MY WHEELS. SEARS AUTO HAD TO FIX THAT. WASHINGTON POST, APRIL 15, 2003 , PAGE E@, ARTICLE INDICATED NHTSA IS CONSIDERING RECALL. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? WE DRIVE THE CAR WITH FEAR THAT THE WHELLS MIGHT POP OFF BECAUSE OF FAULTY STUDS>*AK

3 WHEEL STUDS ON FRONT RIGHT WHEEL OF OUR 1999 WINDSTAR VAN BROKE - CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THE WHEEL COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF AT ANY SPEED. THE MECHANIC (CRAVEN AUTO AND TIRE OF GAITHERSBURG, MD) REPAIRED THE WHEEL AND TOLD ME THAT AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A 1999 WINDSTAR. THE FIRST SYMPTOM NOTICED WAS A RATTLING NOISE AROUND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AREA. THEN ON SATURDAY 6/7/2003 WE PULLED INTO OUR DRIVE AND HEARD A VERY LOUD "CLUNK". I QUICKLY REALIZED THE VAN WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND HAD A TOW TRUCK TAKE THE VAN TO OUR MECHANIC.*AK

WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20MPH FRONT PAX WHEEL CAME OFF.*AK CONSUMER STATED ALL 5 LUGS SNAPPED AT THE ROTOR, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THAT THE LUGS WERE LOOSE.*JB

2 AMERI-GS60 TIRES FAILED ON OUR FORD WINDSTAR WITHIN 2 MONTHS. FIRST INCIDENT IN MID APRIL. FRONT DRIVER SIDE TREAD SEPARATED AT 55MPH. OUTSIDE TEMP APPROX 70 DEGREES. TIRE REMAINED INFLATED LONG ENOUGH TO REACH NEARBY DISCOUNT TIRE. THEY REPLACED IT AT NO CHARGE AND KEPT TIRE. SECOND INCIDENT ON SAME VEHICLE ON 6/8/2002 AT 75MPH ON DRIVER REAR TIRE. OUTSIDE TEMP APPROX 75 DEGREES. THREW TREAD AND TIRE WENT FLAT SENDING VAN OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS LANE OF TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE. NO ACCIDENT, BUT DEPARTING TREAD RUINED WHEEL WELL, BUMPER, AND REAR FENDER. ALSO LODGED PIECE OF TREAD ABOVE GAS LINE AND PULLED GAS FILLER SPOUT PARTIALLY THROUGH THE FENDER AND BROKE OFF GAS CAP. NO INJURIES. I HAVE REMAINDER OF TIRE AND PORTION OF TREAD. COST $120 TOW PLUS YET TO BE DETERMINED (MY GUESS $1500-$1800 DAMAGE) AS WELL AS COSTS (IF ANY) OF REPLACING OTHER 3 AMERI-GS60 TIRES THAT I REFUSE TO LEAVE ON CAR AFTER FIRST 2 FAILURES!*AK

ALL 4 TIRES CRACKED BETWEEN THE TREADS AND WERE DELAMINATING. *AK

AT FREEWAY SPEED WE HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND THE VEHICLE LIFTED UP SUDDENLY IN THE REAR, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD SLAPPING SOUND. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TIRE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF PUNCTURE MARKS OR OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. WHEN WE GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED "BULGES" IN THE SIDEWALLS OF THESE TIRES AND ASKED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. GENERAL SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL THESE TIRES. MANY WERE PUT ON WINDSTAR MINIVANS AND THIS WAS A VERY VIOLENT SEPARATION THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE WITH LESS EXPERIENCE WAS DRIVING, OR ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET OR SLIPPERY!*AK (DOT NUMBER: A3M3 TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)

PURCHASED WHAT THOUGHT WERE NEW TIRES FROM AMERICAN TIRE DEPORT IN 2001. HAD A BLOW-OUT ON ONE REAR TIRE IN JULY. HAD A BLOWOUT WITH SECOND REAR TIRE TWO WEEKS LATER. WHEN WENT TO REPLACE FROM ANOTHER DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT WHAT I THOUGHT WERE NEW TIRES WERE ACTUALLY SECONDS....HAVE SECOND TIRE TO SHOW THE DEFECT...TIRES HAD LESS THAN 25,000 MILES ON AT TIME OF BLOWOUT. NEED TO KNOW WHO TO FILE COMPLAINT WITH.BOTH FOR TIRE AND FOR AMERICAN TIRE DEPOT FOR SELLING SECONDS AS NEW. *AK

AT ANNUAL INSPECTION ON MAY 4, 2001, WITH 21,000 MILES ON CAR, THE ORIGINAL GENERAL TIRES WERE DECERTIFIED DUE TO DRY ROT, CRACKING, AND VISIBLE WEAR BARS ON TIRES. TIRES WERE JUST SHORT OF 2 YEARS OLD, WITH 21,000 MILES ON THEM.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

CONSUMER WAS ON ROAD TRAVELING TO FLORIDA AND FOUND A NAIL IN TIRE. CONSUMER WENT TO 4 DIFFERENT TIRE CENTERS TO GET TIRE PLUGGED, AND WAS TOLD THAT TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THEY COULDN'T HELP. TREAD HAD STARTED SEPERATING ON TIRE. CONSUMER OWNS A 1999, FORD WINDSTAR WITH ORIGINAL 215/70R15, AMERIGS60. *AK CONSUMER SAW THE OTHER 3 TIRES WERE CRACKING. THE TIRES ONLY LASTED 11-12000 MILES BEFORE GETTING SEVERE CRACKING AND TREAD SEPARATION. DOT #'S ACME 44D 368,A3M3 AB7 160 AND ACMS 44D 368. *YH