Ford Windstar Wheel & Tire Problems

Wheel & Tire complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
  98
• Rim
  46
• Tread/belt
  37
• Pressure monitoring and regulating systems
  16
• Sidewall
  8
• Hub
  5
• Bead
  2
• Valve
  2

Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  116%
• 25k–50k
  106%
• 50k–75k
  2213%
• 75k–100k
  3219%
• 100k–150k
  5532%
• 150k+
  4224%

What owners report

The rear axle on my vehicle snapped while I was driving causing me to lose control and leave the roadway. I contacted Ford who told me there was a recall for the rear axle of my vehicle and that I would have no out of pocket expenses for the repairs and the towing of the vehicle to the service center. After they set up the towing I received a message saying I had to pay $381 for the towing before they would dispatch the tow truck. I called Ford customer service and they told me that now they can't find in their notes where they told me towing was covered. After asking to speak with a supervisor and being told they're not going to transfer me because they know their supervisor can't do anything more then what they can do I was placed on hold for an hour just to be told they can't find it in their notes and then I was hung up on. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the front passenger wheel separated from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V030000 (structure). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the failure was included in the recall; however, the dealer refused to perform the repair due to the manufacturer's refusal to perform the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,863. Updated 10/18/16

The rear axle of my 2002 Ford Windstar completely fractured while traveling on Interstate 75. The rear axle broke while driving about 60 miles per hour on Interstate 75 in Florida. By the grace of GOD my passenger and I survived. In attempting to stop, the van hit the guard rail on the Highway. I was able to keep the van in the right lane. The van gave us NO warning. While waiting for the AAA tow truck, a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT} patrol vehicle stop to ensure we were alright. The FDOT driver inspected the Windstar, took pictures and stated he has never seen a broken rear axle like that before.

Rear Axle . Fell on the highway split in half while I was driving on a state Hwy 71 at 45 mph. Cracked rear axle. 2002 Ford Windstar part of a recall for Rear axle. No warning was given and didn't know about the recall until after it happened. Inspection was preformed by a mechanic. I could have flipped or rolled or caused a major collision as this highway is very heavily traveled.

1. Rear axle fractured severely & broke making the car un-drivable on 24 jan 2019 while in motion driving in city traffic. Ford put braces on this vehicle under recall# 10s13, but they failed to prevent further corrosion and metal fatigue. The axle was a bad engineering design from the drawing board combined with not e-coating the metal during manufacturing to prevent corrosion of the metal due to road salt. The axle fractured next to the brace on the driver side as shown in the 4 images below. I have one tow bill (flat-bed) to get the car off the downtown street to my home & will have another tow bill to transport it to where I can replace the axle. 2. Front cradle frame's mount rusted off that anchors the stabilizer bar so the stabilizer bar had to be removed. This happened several years ago. The cradle frame probable was not e-coated during manufacture either. …

While driving the vehicle at highway speeds, I heard a crunching sound in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle then began to sway on the road. I had to slow my speeds and pull over at a safe spot, which was a parking lot to inspect what the issue was. After inspection, I noted the passenger rear tire was at an angle with the top of the tire inward touching the frame. I took the vehicle to the closest repair shop where I found from their inspection that the axle was broke and the vehicle was not driveable. My vehicle was part of the Ford Windstar axle recall, which was serviced by the local Ford dealer in 2012. This vehicle had the reinforcements added to the axle in 2012. The axle broke between the reinforced plates welded to the axle during the recall check. …

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

NHTSA investigations