48 problems related to wheel bolts have been reported for the 1998 Ford Windstar. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Front wheel bolts fell off, and tire came off.
All 4 wheels have had lugs: nuts sheared off and have fallen into the hubcap.
Passenger's side front tire bolts sheared off and wheel rolled down the highway. Car rested on front disc brake. Then it came to a stop. Mechanic said the bolts broke off, and nuts were still on them.
While driving at 70 mph front right wheel lugs sheared off causing wheel to come off.
1998 Windstar's front right wheels lug bolts sheered off causing wheel to fly off while driving on highway.
Lug nuts broke off of right front tire and hub of wheel/brake drum, resulting in tire falling off of vehicle and causing damage to vehicle. (ohio traffic crash report). Mjs.
The left wheel lugs: nuts broke off or sheared off which may cause the wheel to fall off. Occurred twice. Please provide further information.
While driving at 70 mph 2 lugs: nuts came off, and the consumer had to pull over to the side of the road. Consumer took off the hub cap and noticed that two of the lugs: nuts came off, and the other three were coming off. The studs sheared off inside the lug nuts.
Vibration from rear drivers side wheel due to 4 lug nuts falling off wheel, wheel was being secured by 1 loose lug nut.
Consumer owned a 1998 Windstar that lost lugs in three instances since vehicle was bought. This always happened to the right front tire. Consumer maintained that replacing the lugs was not a solution since the lugs on that tire were replaced twice. The lugs won't remain tight. Over tighten them and they would break. Under tighten them ,and the lugs nuts would loosen, and then lugs would break. There was no middle ground except to constantly check them for tightness.
While driving down the freeway the front passenger side wheel seperated from the vehicle due to all five studs snapping off.
Missing or improperly adjusted lug nuts are a factory problem on 1998 units manufactured in canada.
Consumer possibly experienced problems with the wheel studs breaking off. (claim#38-j687-126).