Wheel & Tire complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Econoline equipped with radar radial rlt-9 tires, size p245/75/r16. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the rear driver's tire blew out. The condition of the road were dry and the approximate temperature was 90 degrees fahrenheit. The failure recurred and the rear passenger tire blew out. The condition of the road was again dry and the approximate temperature was 80 degrees fahrenheit. The tires were not taken to dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileages on the vehicle was 62,000. The failure and current mileages on the tires were 6,000.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Ford Econoline e-150. The contact stated that three cooper American prospector 225/70r15 tires on the vehicle have failed. The vehicle began vibrating and the dealer confirmed that the rear driver side tire needed to be replaced. Two weeks later, the rear passenger side tire blew out and was replaced. One week after the rear tire blew out the front passenger side blew out and was also replaced. The dealer stated that all of those tires must have been defective; however, the contact was not reimbursed for the repairs. The manufacturer stated that there was no warranty or free repair available. The failure mileage was 15,000.
Sidewall split and blew out on new vehicle w\ 190 miles. Ford dealer replaced tire. We have 6 other vans produced at the same time with razor thin cracks in the sidewalls that run bead to tread on all steeltex tires. (dot number: 8x1l 1x1 tiresize: lt22575r16)
Consumer heard a funny noise while driving, and was told by passing motorist that the rear tire was shimmying back and forth, and was ready to fall off. Upon inspection of the tire by the dealership, they indicated that a lug broke.
Tl* the contact own a 1999 Ford Econoline 350 equipped with kelly tires, tire line: safari lt, tire size lt23585r16. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, a loud banging noise and the sound of metal being dragged on the ground was heard from outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road. The contact noticed that the front passenger's side tire exploded. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The defective tire had not been replaced.the manufacturer had not been notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 300,000. The tire failure mileage was unknown.
Noticed 2 seperate cracks or splits on the front left tire of my vehicle. The cracks are on the sidewall of the tire about 1/2 inch each.they are seperate and about a 1 inch space betwween them. But a very fine line or crack can be seen conecting the two from one end to the other.I've taken the vehicle to the Firestone dealer at bustleton and street rd. In feasterville,pa 19053 iwas told my tires were not on the recall list , I mentioned that these tires were on the news for blow outs and tire seperation.the dealer then said if the cracks get worse to bring them back and he would reinpspect them but for now it looked minor.also I pointed out that very small cracks surrounding the diameter of the tires below the tread on the side wall could be seen on all the tires. …
Was traveling on rt 80 near exit 123 in pennsylvania on straight road, at 65 MPH, temperature of 75 degrees, dry, sunny day. We heard a loud boom. The inside rear tire (driver side) had blown. It appeared that the sidewall (facing out) had failed. The sidewall separated along a straight line from the wheel to the tread. Also, in that area about 10 inches of tread was starting to separate on that side of the tire - the tread separation was 'centered' on that sidewall failure. Fortunately we experienced no other damage.
The consumer was driving at highway speed, and attempted to make a turn and it felt as though the right rear tire was flat. The mechanic put the car on the lift, and discovered the rim was broken and the tire fell off.
Related recalls (1)
Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Vehicle description: cutaways and stripped chassis with single rear wheels. The lug nuts can potentially bottom out on a shoulder on the studs.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear wheel attaching studs.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Econoline years have wheel & tire problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (15), 1996 (13), 1999 (12), 1995 (6) and 1998 (6) model years. Wheel & Tire complaints make up 19% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for Ford Econoline wheel & tire problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 00V-115 (lugs/nuts/bolts/studs, Apr 19, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Econoline wheel & tire problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles; 36% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the tread/belt (19 mentions), followed by the sidewall (5).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.