NHTSA Complaint #10126501 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE. THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING INSIDE. I TOOK IT TO A LES SWABB TIRE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE REASON FOR THE NOISE WAS A CRACKED RIM, ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG. THEY SAID THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN, VERY DANGEROUS. IT COSTED ME $45.00 TO REPLACE THE RIM. THEY SUGGESTED TO LOOK INTO OTHER REPORTS. ON YOUR WEB SITE I FOUND SEVERAL REPORTS OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 RIMS. THEY SAID IF THIS CRACKED ALL AROUND MY TIRE WOULD OF FELL OFF. SCARY THOUGHT FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAYS,ETC. I CALLED FORD TO REPORT THIS AND REQUESTED THEM TO REPLACE ALL 4 RIMS. THEY REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONCIBILITY FOR THIS. TRIED TO BLAME IT ON MY TIRES AND MY DRIVING. TIRES ARE ALL NEW AND DRIVING SHOULDN'T CRACK THE RIM LIKE IT DID. I THINK IT IS SAD THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED NOR CARE THIS COULD CAUSE A FATAL CRASH. I AM GOING TO CALL KING 5 NEWS. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY VAN NOW. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, DANGEROUS. PLEASE MAKE FORD TAKE RESPONCIBILITY FOR THIS, BEFORE A FATAL CRASH IF HAS NOT HAPPENED ALREADY.