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 1999 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The factory recall notice required trailing axle reinforcement brackets to be installed on the rear axle. They were installed at the dealership, along with an upgrade to the front control arm mounts. The rear axle broke while driving on the highway, the speed I was travelling at was only 45 MPH at the time of the break. As the axle collapsed, the rear tires began rubbing against the wheel wells. I slowed down and pulled over immediately, seeing smoke from the rear. The crack occured on the driver's side of the axle, underneath the repair bracket that was installed by Ford. ( obviosly placed over the weak/defective area.) the vehicle had only 80,000 miles on it in May of 2011 when we obtained it, the same year the recall repair was performed. …
The axle on the back driver's side is terribly rusted to the point of no repair. The mechanic stated it is a recall problem and needs to be taken to the Ford dealer. He also stated that it is dangerous to drive due to the problems that it was causing the wheel to not fit or stay on correctly causing it to rub on the vans surface causing a blowout and making driving almost impossible and dangerous. Thank god my son drove it and not myself. Thank god that he is okay. This problem needs to be dealt with asap. I am a foster mom and drive children in this van and it definitely needs to be inspected for the problems and repaired. My son was on his way to put gas into the vehicle when this happened. The kids and I were going to hit the highway and go to a food pantry in the adjoining city. Thank god we didn't. …
This vehicle was serviced at 102,654 miles, in March-April of 2011 by koons Ford of maryland, (invoice#w70829, dated May 5, 2011) in response to Ford recall, related to "broken front subframe" and "collapsing rear axle".--front subframe was, at that time, broken on the right side, due to rusting. Replacement was not done, instead it was patched via a bolted together "clamshell" reinforcing device. It now has become apparent that after using the vehicle after this initial frame separation, the metal of the left side was unduly stressed, and has now broken at its weldment point, resulting in an unsafe vehicle, that swerves to the left, if brakes are applied while in motion on the street or other roadway. Wheels are no longer kept in alignment, with left front wheel free to move to the front or rear, in response to applied stress! …
Too make a long story short.I had about three recall on my Ford Windstar and now my whole van shut down on me.my computer I guess got it on auto theft lock and I can't even turn over now.it's just sitting in my parking lot just helpless.I have another recall but I cant take it to the Ford dealership because I cant turn over.oh yea.it kept cutting off while im driving,don't let me stop at a light it will cut off on me there alot.it does that alot.I bought it from a car lot but he doesn't want to do anything about it.so I lost out of my money.when I turn it also cut off.
I just purchased the 1999 Ford winstar and. 2 months later I was driving to work and the rear axle beem broke causing me to looae control. I am just now finding out about the recall please advise this I s my only vehicle
This is regarding recall # 10s13. In 2010 Ford issued this recall because there was a weak part on the rear axle that rusts away and cracks. There fix is to inspect the weld and then replace the axle if there is a crack. If no crack is present, the dealership is to clean the rust off the weld. When this recall came out, Ford made it difficult for dealers to replace broken axles. They made it so difficult for the dealers to get a replacement axle that they where "backordered" for several months. I live in an area that has some rust and had Ford "inspect" my weld for excessive rust. They said it was fine and sent it down the road which then voids my recall. Now the rear axle has broken at the very same weld which was mentioned in the recall. It even broke under the same conditions described in the recall. …
Left rear and left front hub and bearing assemblies began making loud humming/grinding sounds suddenly at 51,000 miles. Ford dealership diagnosed and replaced defective hub and bearing assemblies for the standard price as it is no longer under warranty. This item should last much longer without failing. Steering pump began intermittently making whining/hissing sounds when the slightest turning input was applied. By the time the failed power steering pump was diagnosed, and the whining was constant, it had caused the rack and pinion seals to fail and steering fluid to leak from the rack and pinion sleeves. When steering fluid got low and steering was no longer power assisted, my wife almost had a collision with a vehicle full of children. Not trusting Ford anymore, I ordered the parts myself and hired a local mechanic to replace the power steering pump and rack and pinion. …
Our 1999 Ford Windstar began to shake and then rear axel cracked in half while traveling approx. 60 MPH on the highway. Luckily we were able to get to the side of the road safely...I still do not know how my husband was able to do that as there was so much "smoke" (from the metal rubbing the road and the tires riding at an angle) and it was dark outside and we had to get over 2 lanes. Part was replaced at our own expense. This was not the first one the mechanic had seen. This incident happened spring 2008 but I just read on the internet of the pending investigation and had not previously known where to report it. When we reported it to Ford, they just tried to get us to want to buy a new car from them. Also, we told friends of ours that have a 2000 Windstar to watch out for the shaking and to get it checked. …
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). …
My husband was driving with my daughter leaving the driveway, the car was difficult to drive. He said it felt like the brakes were stuck or rusty, we had not driven the van in about 7 days. He continued to drive thinking the brakes would release and the car would be fine. When he realized that was not the issue and it was something more serious he immediately came home and we inspected the front drivers side tire and found the coil spring was resting on the tire and rubbing. The smell of burning rubber was apparent as he drove back in the driveway. We took of the tire and found the front drivers side coil spring had broken near the bottom. We are currently getting estimates to replace the one coil spring, our first estimate from a Ford dealer was $400 to $450, with out seeing the car, it is not drivable. …
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 1999 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 1999 Ford Windstar, 3% of the model year's 1,522 complaints. The component named most often is lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Windstar wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 1999 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 1999 Ford Windstar wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles.
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.