Ten problems related to tire have been reported for the 1996 Ford Windstar. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
While driving, the entire wheel/tire fell off of the vehicle, it is unknown if it was the tire or wheel that failed, one person was injured, claim 13-7497-974.
At approximately 7:20pm on Wednesday evening, August 22, 2001, I was traveling at the speed limit, 75mph, south on interstate 70, near richfield, ut, when, without warning, the left front tire delaminated. I managed to keep control of my vehicle and got it to the right shoulder of the highway. The tire's tread was completely gone, having deformed, blackened and taken paint off the left front fender, detached the left portion of the bumper from the fender, destroying and casting away the majority of the inner fender skirt, badly denting the rear portion of the wheel well/fender, and shredding the mud guard there to the extent that most of it had to be cut off later. The tire continued to hold air though so I was able to creep along the shoulder the approximately one mile to the first richfield exit. I parked in the parking lot of a large gas station just off the interstate and got the by-now-deflated-DE-laminated tire off the vehicle, and the "spare" tire on in its place. I then proceeded into richfield where I found a tire dealer who was willing to sell, mount, balance and install two replacement tires for me, charging me a $55 "after hours" fee in addition to the price of the two tires. The Ford dealer in richfield, the following morning, gave me little hope that michelin would accept responsibility for the incident, and there was no michelin dealer in richfield that I could contact. Since returning home last Friday, I have not had a chance to get estimates for repairs, but, knowing what similar repairs have cost friends, my own estimate is between $300 and $500 for the actual repairs to my vehicle, plus the cost of the replacement tires/after hours charge ($189. 96). I feel that I was exceedingly lucky to have been driving straight at the time of the DE-lamination; to have had both hands on the wheel; and to have had very little traffic around me which could have prevented me from making a safe maneuver to the side of the highway.
On August 16, 2000 I was the victim of a minor automobile accident that occurred when a new fr440 tuwsps21570r15 tire, purchased on may 22, 2000 and located on the front right side of the vehicle, explicably burst while I was traveling around a corner at a low rate of speed. My minivan slid off the side of the road and into a tree, doing damage to the body and the frame. The tire was so shredded after sliding off the road it was impossible to tell what caused it to burst. However, I had purchased road hazard insurance on the tires (after replacing tires I had just bought in April that were punctured by a sharp stone). A firestone tire center would not fix the damage caused in the accident and I was forced to utilize insurance to repair the damage. The tire had approximately 5,000 miles in usage when it burst. (tiresize: 21570r15)( dot number: tire size: 21570r15 ).
Four tirerims have cracks on them, causing tires to leak air at all times.
Four rims at a time will leak air without prior warning. Also, tires will go flat, even on highway.
Tire rod fittings were not properly greased. Which can cause a break while turning.
Consumer has been experiencing problems with right front tire. While driving, front tire fell off. As a result, consumer was involved in a crash. The manufacturer has yet to be contacted.
While driving the van between 55-60 mph, the front driver's side tire came off the wheel. Driver lost control of the van, but was able to avoid a crash. Both wheels and tires on the driver's side were replaced at the owner's expense.
The right front tire broke off the post.
Problem w/tires. Qcaw.