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 2000 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The rear axle broke for the second time on a Ford Windstar, after already breaking prior to a recall in 2010. It appears to have broken where a clamp was attached. This caused the rear wheels to fall into, and grind against the wheel well. This happened on a side street near my house. Had it happened at highway speeds, the rear wheels could have locked up or perhaps broken free causing loss of control. The axle problem has been known to Ford, but it is concerning that this is the second one to fail. I have not yet contacted ford or a a repair facility to evaluate. There were no warning lamps or other indication. The axle simply broke abruptly. I thought it was a tire blow out until I saw the wheels tilted in. The vehicle is older, but I maintain it well.
I got this van used from a family member then checked with local Ford dealer to make shure recall work was done aka rear axle beam and front subframe were done they assured me that it was done about 2 monthes later the axlebeam broke due to corosion under the clamp they put on to stop this from happaning I almost lost control of the van went to the dealer next morning and they told me there weas nothing they can do as case was closed this repair does not fix the problem or prevent it from seperating if I was at highway speed the van whould have flipped they have sence sent us a letter stating the clamps May not have been installed right and want to charge for a replacement axle 300 I was travaling 25 miles an hour when this happened I have more pictures then this will allow me to upload but I have replaced the axle using my own garadge seeing how I cannot trust the dealler
I watched last night as my wife and kids were coming home on the parkway, the rear axel snapped in. Two and both tires just dangeling basically,we had a blow out also managed to get the2000 Ford Windstar lx off of the main road where I had to call several to companies and no one with a wrecker was able to help, so I called a toe company with a roll back, to get our van home then I found out abt the complaint hotline and the recalls after my wife and kids could have been killed, the vehicle was going straight,and the speedlimet wich was 45 MPH, when the axel just snapped in two pieces, and out of control she managed to slow down, my kids are 1 and 2, we want reinbursement for the van and the tow bill as this is a manufacturer defect
Dot# plx05jhr4007, m6x05jhr2008/0708 Goodyear assurance comfortred 225/60r16 tires. Separated by splitting on first semi rim/tread groove. Improper design to have groove there. Tread grooves today are now closer to center of tire because of the less flexing compared to the assurances rim groove too close to the rim. It splits and separates. Bad design flaw. Tires in question have 8 and 9/32 of tread remaining.
9/1/2015 entering northern state parkway west went over bump/pothole rear axel suspension cracked and dropped also blew driver side rear tire. Van had to be towed to shop. Corosion on rear axel, brackets sealed to old axel,Ford must reinforce axel. Axel recalled 2010/2011 must be refixed by Ford.
Went to "credit karma" and was informed that my vehicle was the subject of a Ford NHTSA recall. Ford failed to notify me of recall on my vehicle. Recall id # 233939 dated 10/21/2015. Please help resolve this as I don't want to be driving an unsafe vehicle
Traveling 70 MPH on the front driver side tire, rim, and all lugnuts just flew off. I went into a ditch. Major damage. I am discovering that this is a common issue with these vans and I plan to sue Ford.
While driving in a rain storm my van was shaking, I thought I hit a puddle wrong after driving a bit more my car starting shaking and it was hard to control, I thought I had a flat tire. I pulled to a gas station, where man saw me look at my tires, and advised due to the large amount of rain it was probably hydroplaining. I continued on. The next day when it was dry I had the same problems. My van was shaking, and at time hard to control, I was so scared and just wanted to make it home. I told my husband, he noticed the inner portion of the 2 back tires were worn down to the metal belts, and did not allow it to be driving again. I had a retail fix it shop advise it would be 650.00 for new tie rods and shims plus 2 new tires(even though we just purchased them 1 1/2 years prior). We were debating to get it fixed or take to a different more trusted mechanic. …
I bought my van used just a month before I noticed this defect, I came outside to get in the van and noticed the rear wheels leaning slightly inward at the top. My son in law inspected it further to discover that the rear axle had bent. Upon further investigation we discovered that there had been a recall on all Ford Windstar models between 1998 and 2003. We notified Ford and they told us that this vehicle had already been recalled and repaired in 2011 and the repair had a 12 month warranty. My son in law checked and sure enough there were repair sleeves wrapped around the rear axle at both ends. This repair did not fix the original problem because the rear axle had cracked right under where the repair sleeve was placed and had bent bad, bad enough that both rear tires were rubbing the inner fenders at the top and the van was sitting much lower in the rear end than it should have been. …
While driving on an interstate highway at 55 MPH, my 2000 Ford Windstar lx made a loud noise and black smoke and the smell of burning rubber filled the vehicle. It was with great difficulty that my husband was able to maintain control of the vehicle and get it over to the side of the road. My self and our 3 children were very fortunate to escape injury. The rear tire axle had snapped in two. I have since read of numerous complaints regarding this same defect. Why hasn't anything been done about this serious issue? The vehicle is currently in auto shop and I am waiting to hear if it can be repaired. I am extremely apprehensive about driving this car ever again. Will the same situation happen again if I replace it with another Ford part? Why hasn't there been a safety recall on this issue. I am the original owner and this car has been properly maintained. …
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 2000 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2000 Ford Windstar, 3% of the model year's 1,675 complaints. The component named most often is lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Windstar wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 2000 Ford Windstar, though it has 15 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 2000 Ford Windstar wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 125,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries and 3 deaths 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.