NHTSA Complaint #736132 — 1996 FORD WINDSTAR

THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SHEARED OFF THE LUGS AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO JUST ABOUT FALL OFF WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR. THE DEALER REPLCED THE LUGS (ONLY THE BROKEN ONES AND NOT ALL OF THEM). JUST OVER ONE YEAR LATER, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED; THAT IS, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHEERED OFF THE LUGS AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO ALMOST FALL OFF. A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE SECOND INCIDENT, ALL 4 TIRES WERE CHANGED BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE PLACE. THAT TIRE PLACE SWEARS UP AND DOWN THAT THEY PROPERLY TORQUED THE BOLTS AND THAT THEIR STANDARD INSPECTION CALLS FOR A SECOND INSPECTION TO CONFIRM THIS. I TEND TO BELIEVE THAT THEY DID THIS. I THINK THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE WHEEL DESIGN BY WHICH THE LUG NUTS ARE KNOWN TO BACK OFF DURING USE, CAUSING THE WOBBLY WHEEL TO SHEAR OFF THE OTHER LUGS. I HAVE SEEN THIS CONDITION REPORTED BY OTHERS ON THIS SITE.