1998 FORD WINDSTAR Tires Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WITH STAR FIRE FLITE LINE IV ALL WHEEL DRIVE TIRES SIZE 215 /70 R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD PEELED OFF OF ALL FOUR TIRES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH LESS THAN 18000 MILES ON THE TIRES. THE TIRE DISTRIBUTOR TOLD THE CONTACT THAT TIRES ONLY LAST FIVE YEARS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 1998 FORD WINSTAR AT 35 MPH ON JUNE 26, 2005 THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE AND FELL TO THE GROUND, THE VEHICLE RAN OVER THE TIRE. ON JANUARY 15, 2007 THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE FELL OFF AND WENT BEHIND THE VEHICLE THEN HIT A FENCE ACROSS THE ROAD. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WENT INTO THE GROUND AND THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND ONCE AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED ON BOTH OCCASIONS. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SIX HOURS, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. ALSO, THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE TIRE AND DETERMINED THE CONTACT OVER INFLATED THE TIRE, RESULTING IN THE TIRE EXPLODING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIRE, BUT REFUSED TO GIVE THE DAMAGED TIRE BACK TO THE CONTACT. THE TIRE WAS SIZE: P21570R15. THE BRAND NAME WAS AN ALL SEASON COOPER DOMINATOR.

PURCHASED 2 COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES, TIRE IDENTIFICATION NO. 2UTM3C2J4702, ON JANUARY 17, 2003. SINCE THAT TIME, TIRES HAVE NOT HELD AIR AND HAVE SUFFERED LOSS OF TREND AND TRACTION CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. RETURNED TO RETAILER IN MARCH OF 2005 AND TIRES WERE TAKEN OFF AND RESEALED AT A COST OF $15.00 BUT TIRES STILL CONTINUE TO LOSS AIR. SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE, ONLY 23,000 HAVE BEEN PUT ON THESE TIRES. *NM

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER HAVING THE FLUID AND PAN GASKET CHANGED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 6 MONTHS. SINCE IT IS A '98 AND ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION AS EARLIER YEARS (WHOSE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER BECAUSE OF EITHER RECALLS OR SECRET WARRANTIES) FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION AT COST.

THIS VAN HAS ALL THE DEFECTS AND COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THEGOVT. RECALLS THE NHTSA SITE AND OTHERS IHAVE TOO MUCH INFO TO PUT ON THIS SITE IF THERE IS ANYONE I CAN SEND MY COMPLAINT TO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IAM PUTTING IT BACK INTO THE SHOP AGAIN IVE BEEN THRU A NIGHTMARE ALONG WITH TRYING TO ASSURE MY 4 KIDS THAT THEY WERE SAFE IN THIS VAN THANKYOU ANGELA WALLACE AND BY THE WAT THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME THIS VAN WILL NOT COOPERATE AT ALL

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE VEHICLES RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL OFF. *NLM

WHILE IN MOTION, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. SIZE P215/70R14, DOT 30913URBW16895-1, ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 10,000-15000 MILES ON THEM. *AK THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD EXPLODED. THE CONSUMER WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE LEFT PASSING LANE WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SAW THE TIRE WAS NOT DEFLATED AND THE TREAD WAS TIGHTLY WRAPPED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION, THE OTHER BAD EXPERIENCES WITH THE TIRES. ONE HAD BLOWN OUT THROUGH THE TREAD AND THE SECOND TIRE DEVELOPED A BULGED THAT CAUSED A WOBBLE IN THE STEERING. *SCC *JB

TIRES ARE GOODYEAR INTEGRITY. CONSUMER HAD ALL FOUR TIRES FAIL ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *JG *JB *NLM

WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE VAN WOULD VIBRATE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS, HOWEVER THE CONDITION STILL PERSISTS. THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM OF UNKNOWN VIBRATION. NLM *JB THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WORE OUT. THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. *JG

TIRE BLEW UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *AK (TIRESIZE: P20570R15)

I WENT TO PURCHASE 2 NEW TIRES AFTER AN AVERAGE ROAD HAZARD BLOWOUT AT COSTCO FOR MY FWD WINDSTAR W/ ANTILOCK BRAKES. THEY REFUSED TO PUT THE NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT, EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES NOT BEING REPLACED HAD GOOD TREAD WEAR REMAINING. THEY SIGHTED AN ARTICLE ON THE COUNTER AND A HANDOUT FROM MICHELIN STATING IT WAS THEIR "POLICY" TO PLACE THE TIRES ON THE REAR. THIS MAKES NO SENCE!. IT APPEARS TO BE A PLOY TO SELL MORE TIRES BY LEAVING OLD TIRES ON THE FRONT WHERE THEY WEAR FASTER, EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE NEW TIRES BY LETTING THEM WEAR LESS ON THE REAR, AND DECREASING POSSIBLE TIRE LIABILITY BY HAVING THE NEW TIRES NOT CONTROL (STEER) THE VEHICLE! DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT THIS PRACTICE IS SAFER OR IS IT A MARKETING PLOY THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL??.

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE FRONT TIRE TIRES WERE BALLED INSIDE. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS AND TIRE ROD ENDS WERE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER REPLACED THEM. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *AK

MY WIFE PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ROAD AND HEARD A HORRIBLE SCREECHING/SQUEALING SOUND AND SMELLED RUBBER BURNING. SHE PULLED INTO THE CENTER LANE, APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM OUR DRIVEWAY AND STOPPED. SHE ASKED OUR DAUGHTER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. SHE SAID, "MOM, THE TIRE IS TOUCHING THE REAR BUMPER". MY WIFE TURNED THE VEHICLE AROUND IN THE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY AND DROVE BACK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. SHE CALLED ME OUT AND I LOOKED AT THE REAR RIGHT CONTROL ARM ON THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. IT WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED AND PULLED APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES APART. THE REAR RIGHT TIRE WAS SCRAPING THE BUMPER AND HAD GOUGES IN THE TREAD (THE TIRE IS RUINED). THE LEFT WHEEL WAS PUSHED SLIGHTLY FORWARD. I KNOW IF SHE HAD MADE IT TO THE EXPRESSWAY AND THIS PIECE HAD BROKE AT 70 MPH, MY CHILD, HER 3...

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THREE GOODYEAR TIRES SIZE: P215/70R15, DOT: 4BN3DDWR037 ON 1998, FORD, WINDSTAR. FIRST TIRE HAD 23,000 MILES ON IT, AND BELTS BUNCHED UP IN IT, DISTORTING THE SHAPE OF THE TIRE, EGG SHAPED. SECOND TIRE HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE STEEL BELT CAME THROUGH SIDEWALL OF TIRE. THIRD TIRE HAD 46,000 MILES ON IT, AND STEEL BELT BUNCHED UP, ALLOWING A BUBBLE TO FORM IN TREAD OF TIRE. *AK GOODYEAR INVICTA GS. *SLC

PURCHASED TIRE FROM T & T TIRE ON 6/23/2000. TIRE SEPARATION AT 75 MPH. STORE SOLD TIRE TO ME AS NEW WHEN IT WAS 9 YEARS OLD. MICHELIN IS WORKING WITH ME ON IT BUT STORE OWNER DOESN'T SEEM TO FEEL THAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE AND FUTURE DEBTS TO BE ASSESSED TO GET BODY DAMAGE REPAIRED. DO NOT FEEL THIS IS RIGHT AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGES MADE TO HOLD THE STORE OWNER LIABLE FOR ALL DAMAGES WHEN KNOWINGLY SELL A TIRE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM STOCK. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 1991 TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)

RIGHT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE VEERED TO RIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. HAD TIRES REPLACED WITH BRAND NEW ONES. DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE TIRES TO LEFT. *AK

FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. WHEN COIL SPRING BROKE, IT CAUSED FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO BLOWOUT. CONSUMER REPLACED ORIGINAL TIRE WITH A SPARE, RESULTING IN SPARE BEING DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BROKEN COIL SPRING. *AK *JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

JUST AN ANGRY CITIZEN WHO HOPES THAT MAYBE YOU CAN STEER ME IN A PROPER DIRECTION. I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH CALIFORNIA TO SANTA CRUZ FOR VACATION. I OWN A 1992 MAZDA EXTENDED CAB 4X4 AND WAS THE LAST OF FOUR CARS IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN WHICH A BRAND NEW LOOKING (I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL YEAR) BLEW A TIRE (OR LOST FRONT WHEEL) AND FLIPPED. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALLED AND IT WILL COST ME THOUSANDS TO REPLACE SINCE MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER ALL DAMAGES. POLICE FILLED OUT REPORTS, PEOPLE TAKEN AWAY IN HELICOPTERS.... YET MY INSURANCE COMPANY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY POLICE REPORTS. DO I HAVE ANY RIGHTS TO PURSUE AS THE CONSUMER? SHOULDN'T FORD OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE MINIVAN PAY FOR MY LOSSES? I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND SELFISH OR COLD SINCE MANY PEOPLE WERE HURT, BUT I AM CURRENTLY BEING PARTIALLY COVERED...

FRONT LEFT FIRESTONE TIRE ON FORD, WINDSTAR, 1998 BLEWOUT. *AK FIRESTONE FR680 P205/70R15, DOT# E4027490, CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM CLAIMS PRECESSING STATING CONSUMER WOULD RECEIVE A DECISION WITHIN 30 DAYS, HOWEVER HAS HEARD NOTHING, CONSUMER STATES 1 PERSON WAS INJURED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH FRONT TWO COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND VEHICLE'S FRONT DROPPED. *AK ALSO A TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BLEW OUT. THE SPRING WAS REPLACED. *YH

HAD TWO TIRES WORN TO STEEL BELT WITHIN 3 MONTHS IN SAME LOCATION. FORD SAYS ITS THE TIRES! IT SEEMS ODD TO ME THAT 2 TIRES IN SAME LOCATION WOULD WEAR DOWN TO BELT IN SAME SPOT . THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED WITHIN 3 MONTHS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FORD HAS BEEN UNCOOPERATIVE IN HANDLING A SERIOUS CONCERN! *AK (TIRESIZE: 21570R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 21570R15 )

TWO TIRES BLEW OUT AND THE THIRD WAS CAUGHT JUST BEFORE FAILURE. TREAD SEPARATION WAS EVIDENT ON THE THIRD TIRE. ALL TIRES HAD BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND HAD 67% TREAD REMAINING. TIRE PRESSURE MAINTAINED BETWEEN 30 AND 36 PSI. DEALER WHO IDENTIFIED FAILURE MODE AND REPLACED TIRES IS: ALPINE TIRE CO., 2750 S GLEN AVE, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO (970)945-6662. THE DEALER WAS GOING TO RETAIN THE TIRES FOR ADJUSTMENT FROM GOODYEAR (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

ON 9/7/00 I WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER TELLING THEM WE WERE LEAVING FOR VACATION IN FLORIDA ON THE 9TH AND TO PLEASE DO AN EARLY OIL CHANGE AND ROTATE THE TIRES, MAKING SURE THE TIRES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION (BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH FIRESTONE TIRES). I WAS TOLD THE TIRES WERE FINE AND ACTUALLY WATCHED WHILE THEY ROTATED THEM. WE GOT TO FL AND, BECAUSE OF THE ROCKY RIDE DOWN IN THE RAIN, MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VAN TO SEARS TO GET IT ALIGNED. HE WAS HORRIFIED TO LEARN THAT THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE 'OUT OF ROUND' AND THAT ONE OF THOSE FIRESTONE TIRES HAD TREAD THAT WAS ON THE VERGE OF SEPARATING. THIS IS WHAT HAS KILLED SO MANY PEOPLE. OUR VAN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. WE BROUGHT THE TIRES BACK WITH US AND THEY ARE STORED IN OUR GARAGE, SO I...

ON 9/7/00 I WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER TELLING THEM WE WERE LEAVING FOR VACATION IN FLORIDA ON THE 9TH AND TO PLEASE DO AN EARLY OIL CHANGE AND ROTATE THE TIRES, MAKING SURE THE TIRES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION (BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH FIRESTONE TIRES). I WAS TOLD THE TIRES WERE FINE AND ACTUALLY WATCHED WHILE THEY ROTATED THEM. WE GOT TO FL AND, BECAUSE OF THE ROCKY RIDE DOWN IN THE RAIN, MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VAN TO SEARS TO GET IT ALIGNED. HE WAS HORRIFIED TO LEARN THAT THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE 'OUT OF ROUND' AND THAT ONE OF THOSE FIRESTONE TIRES HAD TREAD THAT WAS ON THE VERGE OF SEPARATING. THIS IS WHAT HAS KILLED SO MANY PEOPLE. OUR VAN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. WE BROUGHT THE TIRES BACK WITH US AND THEY ARE STORED IN OUR GARAGE, SO I...

TIRE BLEW OUT ON A HOT DAY WHILE TRAVELING AFTER 1.5 HOURS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15/235R )

ON FEB. 27 OF THIS YEAR, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

ON FEB. 27 OF THIS YEAR, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

I HAVE EXPERIANCED "RAPID DEPRESSURIZATION" OF THE LR TIRE ON MY MINI-VAN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CROSS THE CENTERLINE . I WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. AFTER I CAME TO A STOP THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL 11/2 IN. WIDE BY 3" HIGH. THESE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN ABUSED, ALWAYS PROPERLY INFLATED, NOT OVERLOADED AND PROPERLY ROTATED AND INSPECTED. THE CAUSE (PER GOODYEAR DEALER) WAS PLY SEPERATION WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235-70R15 )

REAR TIRE BLEW.

WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING TIRE BLEW OUT, AND AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED. DRIVER COULD NOT GET AUTOMOBILE TO STOP.- VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK

*SINCE PURCHASE NEW, ONE TIRE WOULD GO NEARLY FLAT WEEKLY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED WHEN THEY CHECKED THE WINDOW MECHANISM AND THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT--NO PROBLEM FOUND. TOOK IT TO 3 DIFFERENT TIRE STORES (2 GOODYEAR)--NO PROBLEM FOUND. IT WENT BALD AFTER ONLY 18K AND 2 ROTATIONS. NO PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING 2 NEW TIRES. ALIGNMENT WAS NOT A PROBLEM--DONE @ 10K & 21K. WEATHER DID NOT EFFECT AIR LOSS, EITHER. *DRIVERS "AUTO-DOWN" FEATURE HAS NEVER WORKED CONSISTANTLY. HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS & IS VERY FRUSTRATING. DEALER HAS CHECKED IT TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT--SAME WITH THE *ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH COMING ON AND NOT GOING OFF. I THINK THEY CHANGED FUSES ONCE--STILL HAPPENS, BUT NOT AS OFTEN. WOULD THAT EFFECT SAFETY? I DON'T KNOW IF THE SYSTEM WILL WORK PROPERLY WHILE THE LIGHT IS FLASHING. *WIPER PROBLEM IS VERY INTERMITTENT--OF COURSE. WHEN ON SLOW...

TIRE RIM LEAKING. YH

TIRES BLEW (FIRESTONE). *YC

TIRES BLEW OUT ON HIGHWAY SPEEDS.