1996 FORD AEROSTAR Wheels Problems

CONDENSED VERSION: @ 70MPH POSTED SPEED LIMIT GOODYEAR ALLEGRA TOURING TIRE EXPLODED LIKE A 1/4 STICK OF DYNAMITE AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE IF MY REACTIONARY TIME HAD BEEN ANY SLOWER. 3 OTHER TIRES SAME LEAKING THROUGH SIDEWALL GOODYEAR DECORATIVE GILLS ON SAME THIS HAS NOT RESOLVED. SELLER HAS NOT RESOLVED AND REFUSES THOUGH GOODYEAR SAID TO REPLACE BEFORE THE MAIN ISSUE OF THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER TIRE EXPLODING AT 70 MPH, . LITIGATION IS NEXT STEP IF AMICABLE RESOLUTION CAN NOT BE HAD. CONTACT HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE WITH GOODYEAR TO NO RESULTS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD AEROSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ROARING SOUND. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL SPOKES FAILED. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRE OR VEHICLE. THE WHEEL WAS INSPECTED BY THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE WHEELS WERE THE ORIGINAL WHEELS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE CRACKED. THIS WAS NOTICED FROM A VISUAL INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND STATED THE WHEELS CRACKED UNDER STRESS FROM THE VEHICLE.

ALUMINIUM WHEELS HAVE CRACKS IN THEM. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *TT

THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAS FATIGUE CRACKS AROUND LUG NUT HOLES, CHP SUGGEST THAT WE CONTACT YOU, COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

THREE OF ORIGINAL ALUMINUM SPOKE WHEELS HAVE BROKEN ACROSS THE SPOKES. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK *JG

CASTING ON ALLOY WHEELS FAILED. OF SEVEN SPOKES ON WHEELS THREE HAD BROKEN. WHEELS WERE FALLING OFF THE AXLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND FORD. FORD STATED DID NOT HAVE A RECALL ON ALLOY WHEELS. DEALER STATED WILL NOT REPLACE WHEELS UNLESS UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

BOTH FRONT WHEELS HAVE CRACKS IN THE FORD MANUFACTURED SPOOK WHEELS. FORD CONTACTED AND HAD NO EXPLANATION AND STATED IT IS MY PROBLEM. ONE FORD MECHANIC CONTACTED AND 4 WHEEL SHOPS CONTACTED AND STATED IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. FORD REPRESENTATIVES HAD NO CONCERN CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE. AS OF THIS DATE FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY LIABLITY.

THREE OUT OF THE FOUR ALUMINIUM WHEELS ON THE AXLE OF THE CAR WHERE CRACKING UNTIL CONSUMER SWITCHED TO STEEL WHEELS AT HIS EXPENSE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR REIMBURSEMENT, BUT REFUSED TO HONOR CONSUMERS REQUEST. *AK

1. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT A WHEEL HAS DEVEOLPED A CRACK IN ONE OF ITS SPOKES. 2. A BOLT THAT HOLDS THE FRONTSIDE DRIVER SEATBACK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION SHEARED OFF AND ALLOWED THE SEATBACK TO MOVE FREELY BACK AND FORTH.*AK

VEHICLE PARKED. OWNER NOTICED 3 WHEELS WERE CRACKED/BROKEN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE WHEELS REPLACED. MECHANIC GAVE NO INDICATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE WHEELS TO BE CRACKED OR BROKEN. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING HEARD LOUD CLICKING NOISE FROM LEFT FRONT WHEEL, DISCOVERED CRACKS IN LEFT WHEEL, REPLACED THE WHEEL

ALUMINIUM WHEELS HAVE A CRACK ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE WHEEL. *AK

DURING A BRAKE INSPECTION AT A TIRE STORE, IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT THE ORIGINAL ALUMINUM WHEELS WERE CRACKED. TWO OF THE LARGE SPOKES ON ONE WHEEL WERE CRACKED THROUGH. ONE OTHER WAS CRACKED BUT NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I CALLED WENDLE FORD WHO HAD SOLD ME THE CAR. THEY SAID IT WASN'T A WARRANTY ITEM AND THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A FAILURE BEFORE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER SHIP TO SHOW THEM THE CRACKED WHEELS. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT I WAS THE SECOND PERSON TODAY (JANUARY 14, 2000) WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CRACKED WHEELS ON AN AEROSTAR, BUT IT STILL ISN'T A WARRANTY OR RECALL ITEM AND THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO SELL ME NEW WHEELS. I DON'T BELIEVE WHEELS SHOULD BE CRACKING AFTER 3 YEARS. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN. LUCKILY THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND BEFORE IT CAUSED AN...

WHEEL RIMS FAILED. AFTER FEELING SEVERE WOBBLE AT SPEED, DRIVER PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE ALUMINUM WHEEL RIM ON FR WHEEL WAS FAILING. 3 OF 4 WHEELS SHOWED SEVERE FRACTURES IN SPOKES. WHEELS ARE ALUMINUM WITH 7 SPOKES. WHEEL TYPE 49 FOR 1996 AREOSTARS. RF HAD 4 COMPLETELY FRACTURED SPOKES AND 1 PARTIAL, WHEEL WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND READY TO COME OFF IF DRIVEN FURTHER. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. RR SHOWED 1 SPOKE COMPLETELY FRACTURED AND 2 PARTIALS. LF SHOWED 1 SPOKE PARTIALLY FRACTURED. LR SHOWED NO DEFECTS. THIS VEHICLE IS A FAMILY USE, WITH SOME LIGHT TOWING AND NO ABUSE. NO WHEEL DEFECTS WERE NOTED AT PRIOR FORD DEALER SERVICE 42000 MILES OR BY OWNER AT 48500 MILES. WHEEL FAILURES SEEM TO BE SUDDEN. NO ROAD HAZZARDS WHERE INVOLVED. FORD DEALER IS HOLDING FAILED RIMS.