Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I had to replace the second stock rim on my 1995 Ford Windstar. I have never had a rim leak air on any other car that I have owned and was quite agrivated to learn from the wheel shop owner that he has done around 30 such replacements this year. All on Ford windstars. No other manufacture or model. I realize that the 1995 Windstar was the worst year for Ford windstars, but after having to put up with headgasket blowouts at 58,000 miles, transmission blowouts at 70,000 and assorted other electrical failures, the wheels seem another rediculous manufacturing blunder that I should not have to pay the brunt of. They are dealer only part and $90+ a piece. I have now replaced 2. The first time, a few years ago, when this happened, the dealer had to special order the part. Now they carry them in stock. (I wonder why???)
Goodyear 215-70-r15 allegra tires purchased at sams club purchased appx 2 yrs ago. Appx. 14 months ago and then last week had 2 tires replaced due to belt seperations. Mechanic at sams indicated that this particular type of tire is in his shop frequently due to belt failures. I have replaced 4 tires already and there is only 20,000 miles on the set. I am concerned due to the frequency with just myself and the indicated volume of the problem indicated by the sams club mechanic. The belt seperation did not cause an accident but did lead to control difficulty due to extreme vibration as all failures occured on the front. These tires were routinely rotated and balanced, kept at 35 p.s.I. And were not severly used or abused. The vehicle they were on is a 1995 Ford Windstar lx.
Left-front and right-rear slow air leaks. Tire shop couldn't find leaks under water and suggested that vehicle weight stresses the welded seams of the wheels causing the leaks. Ford service parts wants $110 per wheel but cannot guarantee that leaks will stop. Online repair forums know of this problem and suggest using a hot glue gun at the welded seam but then there's nobody who wants to do that and I can't single-handedly remove the tires and apply the glue and remount the tires. It seems that Ford has been having this problem with wheels on their vehicles for many models over many years but I couldn't find any recalls in your database.
I bought tire from Firestone under warranty when it gets bad I took it to the store and asked them for new tire, they refused to give me one even it was under warranty. Then I called the main office they apologize and they told me to take it back to the store and they will taker of it. After they contacted the store called me and if asked me to take to back to store and get new tire. Five month's later when I was driving on hw 59, the layer of the tire tore off and hit the curb. It didn't hit another cars, because I was on left lane and the tire was left side. Other ways innocent human life would be lost.
My daughter, while traveling on interstate highway s.w. Loop 410 at a speed of approximately 60 miles per hour, heard a loud thumping noise from the driver side rear tire. She stopped the vehicle (1995 Ford Windstar) to investigate. She observed that the tread had partially separated from the tire carcass and the tires separated steel belt was flapping against the inside of the wheel-well causing considerable damage. I took the car to a local reputable repair shop for an estimate. They said the repair cost would be from $1,000 to $3,000.
I had the tread separate from this tire on our 1995 Ford Windstar van while going through atlanta, ga. 10/18/05. The flying debris bent the muffler up into the back right quarter panel of our van and caved in the wheel well. The inertia switch was tripped so the vehicle wouldn't start. We had to be towed to a Ford dealership.
I have owned this van since 1999. Since I have owned it we have had nothing but problems with it. I have had the rotors turned, and replaced at least 3 times, and they need it again. I have had the head gasket replaced 3 times and one of them times was at 99,000 miles when it was under the warrenty. It had been replaced at least one time before that. My sliding door won't stay closed, even though I just spent $300 getting a new latched put on. My windows won't work. I had larson motors fix a head gasket and my electronic windows, cost me over $250 for the window, that only worked 2 times. I called, and since they put "May not be the problem" on the invoice, they think that clears them, and they wanted me to spend more money on another part. My speedometor has been replaced once and is broke again. The alternator has been replaced. I could go on and on. …
Three of the five lug studs in one front wheel broke simultaneously, causing severe vibrations of the whole car. We were able to maintain control and slow down to a safe stop at the side of the freeway. We were towed 150 miles from akron to columbus. We have followed the manufacturer had had an alignment and wheel rotation at germain Ford in columbus in March 2002. Three possible causes: metal failure of the studs, torquing the lugs too tight when the tires were rotated, or lugs coming loose. The service people at germain Ford have ruled out loose lugs due to the finding that none of the lug holes were out of round. If all five lug studs had failed at once, we probably would have had a fatal accident. We had driven about 10 hours from manchester, ct and broke down just east of akron, oh. Speed was generally between 65 & 75 MPH. We were towed home to columbus. …
Transmission went at 70K no help from Ford. Head gasket leaking 120K no assistance or help from Ford. Window motor do not work no help from Ford. Steering problems no one can find a problem, but I keep replacing tire prematurly. I paid for the tramsmission $1500. Now the van is in the shop at sam galloway Ford for a head gasket. The only reason I had it towed into sam galloway is because they said there was a recall on the head gasket and they will take care of it . Covered by the recall. They called after looking at it and said $1700 to repair the gasket and others problems caused by the leaking head gasket. Recall states 60K 0r dec 31 2000 wich ever comes first. If they are putting faulty products in their vehicles they are causeing safety concerns and they should be responsible for repairs.
While driving back from rome ga to cartersville ga my van made a funny noise and my speed dropped from 60 to 50 and then my back tires felt funny like I had run over something but I know I had not hit any thing so as I got closer to the exit then my ABS light came on. After I stopped at a station I checked my brake fluid but it was full, I checked my tires they where good because they are new. When I got home I had my breaks & plugs checked and they are good. I don't know what else to do. The ABS light is still on, while driving my van still lose speed on hills and level ground. Help me please this is my only way to get where I need to go.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 1995 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 59 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 1995 Ford Windstar, 2% of the model year's 3,326 complaints. The component named most often is rim (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Ford Windstar wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 1995 Ford Windstar, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Windstar wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 116,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to wheels & tires problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.