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 1998 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal noise and vibrations coming from the rear driver side of the vehicle. The contact observed that the rear driver side wheel turned inwards and the check engine warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Tl*- the contact stated that while driving his 1998 Ford winstar at 35 MPH on June 26, 2005 the passenger side front tire came off the vehicle and fell to the ground, the vehicle ran over the tire. On January 15, 2007 the passenger side front tire fell off and went behind the vehicle then hit a fence across the road. The front passenger side went into the ground and the vehicle spun around once and came to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed and repaired on both occasions.
My wife was taking my youngest two children to school in our vehicle when smoke started pouring in through the vents of the vehicle and at the same time she lost control of the steering sliding off onto the shoulder of the road. Once my wife made sure everyone was out of the smoke filled vehicle she noticed the tire was completely shredded on the passenger front side of the vehicle. She notified me and we had the van towed to a mechanics shop where we found out that the front passenger spring had busted causing the tire to be shredded. The mechanic advised buying two new tires for the front of vehicle, he also advised buying two new springs and replacing both of them on the front. The van was fixed and we paid for the bill and tire cost out of our own pocket. …
My front passenger wheel came off my car when I came to a stop to allow a car pass by, I went to make a left handed turn when my entire wheel came off my car and shot across the road. My husband came to look at the car and well as a tow truck had to take our car home, both made the comment that all five bolts scheered off. State farm our insurance company plugged this information into their system and said that it is a Ford issue and that I need to fill out this complaint form for ya'll to investigate. State farm is saying that it has to do with the rotar and vibration if the wrong parts are installed this situtation could happen. Well I told state farm and I will tell you, the rotars are from the factory and so the "wrong parts" were not used and it is not a possiblity because it did happen to me. …
My front driver side wheel was making a clunking noise. Thought it was something inside. I took it to a les swabb tire dealer to have it looked at. The reason for the noise was a cracked rim, about 6 inches long. They said this is not supposed to happen, very dangerous. It costed me $45.00 to replace the rim. They suggested to look into other reports. On your web site I found several reports of others having the same problem, some had to replace all 4 rims. They said if this cracked all around my tire would of fell off. Scary thought for my family and other drivers on the highways,etc. I called Ford to report this and requested them to replace all 4 rims. They refused to take responcibility for this. Tried to blame it on my tires and my driving. Tires are all new and driving shouldn't crack the rim like it did. …
My wife was turing left at a red light and was waiting for pedistrians to cross the street. As she turned the corner the right front tire snapped off of the hub and almost hit a lawyer! All five of the studs broke off, the metal indicated they were fresh breaks. There was not any indication of the nuts being lose, the nuts were still screwed on the studs. The wheel and nuts did not look scared as if they had been lose. Pior to the wheel coming off there had been no shimmy or vibration at all. I had driven the vehicle the previous night and had not felt anything out of the ordinary. She had only accelerated from the left turn position about 15ft and could not have been going faster than 5 MPH. The vehicle had not been serviced after we purchased it. Thank god she was not on the interstate in 5'oclock traffic!
I was driving at 65 MPH and felt a vibration as though I May have a flat tire,checked and the tires were fine so I proceeded forward only to have the front left wheel collapse inward, all 5 lugs were sheared completely off, the service center had no explanation for this occurrence, one month to the day the same thing occurred again and I was again charged the repair cost and new bolts and lugs were installed along with the tire being rotated to the back,this lasted for 6 months and the lugs broke again, I am just now learning that there are other consumers with this problem. Lug nuts should not be sheared off as though a hot knife cut through butter. I purchased my vehicle when it was 2 years old and though I have had no other major problems but this is one that could cost me or my children our lives.
1)all 5 lugs: nuts sheared off from the right front passenger hub, causing the wheel to leave the vehicle. The body of the vehicle traveled approximately 200 feet until it stopped. 2)the rear brakes had to be replaced with new pads and rotors. Dealer couldn't explain why this was a problem. 3) the next day the right passenger mirror electical system no longer worked. 4)the parking brake consistently does not disengage after use. We no longer use it, possibly creating a safety hazard. 5) the vehicle intermittently stalls out at low speeds or upon stopping. Additionally the initial gears shift hard and loud. 6) the rear seat will not move on the track.
While driving my Mini van the right rear wheel (the complete wheel) fell off! Upon safely parking the van, I came to realize the entire rear axel had sheared in half! By a stroke of luck I found out there was a recall for this and also for the cruise control. I am having it replaced/fixed at dealers cost. Since this vehicle was bought used off a used dealers lot, I would like to make the following suggestion...there should be some type of mandatory law that all dealers, new and used, should have access to this website and be legally forced to check each and every vehicle prior to being sold.
In the past four years we have had the wheel bolts on the right front wheel break off six times. The last time, the fix was to replace the wheel. That was done in May 2003 and no problem since with that wheel but its only been two months. Now in July 2003 we have had the bolts break on the left front wheel twice! On July 22 2003, we had a new wheel and all five bolts replaced on the left front. One week later the van is again at the Ford dealership because three bolts have broken on the newly replaced left front again.
NHTSA investigations
Wheel stud fracture
Analysis of odi and Ford data has identified 1619 incidents of wheel stud fracture in my 1998 through 2000 Ford windstar vehicles, including 69 wheel separations and 11 crashes.Ford has not been able to identify any design or manufacturing defects in its analyzis of the problem.Ford maintains that the failures are caused by either:(1) inadvertent overtorquing of lug nuts during removal or installation; or (2)…
Wheel stud fracture
The subject vehicles range in age from 4?7 years in service, with average mileages estimated to range from 50 to 100 thousand miles.at these mileages, the subject wheels are likely to have been removed and reinstalled multiple times for various service procedures.odi is concerned about the high wheel separation rates in the my 1997-98 windstar vehicles equipped with aluminum alloy wheels.however, analysis of failure…
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 1998 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 139 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 1998 Ford Windstar, 10% of the model year's 1,433 complaints. The component named most often is lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (53 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Ford Windstar wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 1998 Ford Windstar, though it has 11 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 1998 Ford Windstar wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 96,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 13 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.