1998 Ford Windstar wheels problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER TRAILMARK TIRES, SIZE: P265/65/R18 (NA). THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE BRAND NEW TIRES FROM WALMART. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED THAT STATED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE COMPLETELY GONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. WALMART FILED A CLAIM WITH THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH STATED THAT WALMART FOLLOWED PROCEDURES WHEN THEY INSTALLED THE TIRES AND WERE NOT LIABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH HER STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 246,233.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND VIBRATIONS COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TURNED INWARDS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.”

“ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE LUG BOLTS HAVE BROKEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IN MOTION. THE LAST OCCURRENCE LOST 3 LUG BOLTS AT THE SAME TIME. THE LUG BOLTS SHEAR OFF ALONG WITH THE LUG NUTS. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 1998, AND FORD STATES THAT MY VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR FOR THE RECALL. THIS HAPPENS ON THE FRONT AND BACK WHEELS. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS HAPPENING. *TR”

“MY WIFE WAS TAKING MY YOUNGEST TWO CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IN OUR VEHICLE WHEN SMOKE STARTED POURING IN THROUGH THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE AND AT THE SAME TIME SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING SLIDING OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ONCE MY WIFE MADE SURE EVERYONE WAS OUT OF THE SMOKE FILLED VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTIFIED ME AND WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A MECHANICS SHOP WHERE WE FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SPRING HAD BUSTED CAUSING THE TIRE TO BE SHREDDED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED BUYING TWO NEW TIRES FOR THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, HE ALSO ADVISED BUYING TWO NEW SPRINGS AND REPLACING BOTH OF THEM ON THE FRONT. THE VAN WAS FIXED AND WE PAID FOR THE BILL AND TIRE COST OUT OF OUR OWN POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE INFORMED ME TODAY THAT THEY WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR ANY OF THESE COSTS EVEN WHEN A RECALL LETTER 01S19/01M03 STATES "WE WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SHIELDS AROUND THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS OF YOUR VEHICLE. THESE SHIELDS WILL PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF TIRE PUNCTURE SHOULD THE SPRING FRACTURE. ---- MOTOR COMPANY WILL ALSO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS DIRECTLY RELATING TO THE FRONT COIL…”

“WHILE DRIVING MY MINI VAN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL (THE COMPLETE WHEEL) FELL OFF! UPON SAFELY PARKING THE VAN, I CAME TO REALIZE THE ENTIRE REAR AXEL HAD SHEARED IN HALF! BY A STROKE OF LUCK I FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS AND ALSO FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. I AM HAVING IT REPLACED/FIXED AT DEALERS COST. SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED OFF A USED DEALERS LOT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTION...THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF MANDATORY LAW THAT ALL DEALERS, NEW AND USED, SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THIS WEBSITE AND BE LEGALLY FORCED TO CHECK EACH AND EVERY VEHICLE PRIOR TO BEING SOLD. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY AND THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT NOTICED ONE OF THE LUG NUTS WAS MISSING AND THAT THE STUDS AND RIM WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE RIM AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE LUG NUTS, THE STUDS, THE AXLE SEALS AND THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V095000(WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”