2002 Ford Windstar: tire blowout or tread separation

Filed Feb 20, 2018 · Suspension · 147,000 miles · NJ

I learned today there was a recall on the suspension:rear axle non powered axle assembly in 2010. The fix was to place reinforcement brackets (recall # 10v385000), and this was done. Since I purchased the van in april 2016 I've had to replace the rear tire 4 times! I asked the tire shop attendant how could this be and upon further inspection he pointed out there seemed to be some repair done on the axle and it appeared to have a crack in it now. He said the tire is leaning slightly inward because of this. He went on to say he's seen many ford windstars with this issue and I should reach out to ford about recalls. I searched online first and found that there was a second recall on the axle assemble (recall # 15v608000). This was about the repair bracket, that it could be installed improperly. I called ford and to my surprise the operator (ralph) said my VIN was not apart of the newer recall. I don't believe that to be true if it was apart of the initial recall and had the reinforcement bracket placed on the axle. Please help. I was driving when I noticed the problem. I hadn't hit any major pot holes or anything! Normal bumps in the road but nothing major. I noticed the issue more when I turned a corner eventually my tire blew out (making a loud noise) and I had to call for a tow. The tire repair attendant said it even looked as if the tire was leaning inward. The picture attached is of the inside of the tire. The part you can't see by looking at the vehicle.

Filed Apr 28, 2017 · Body, Suspension · 110,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. In 2010, the dealer repaired the vehicle per the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v608000 (suspension) concerning the reinforcement brackets. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the rear axle fractured and the rear driver side tire blew out. The contact was able to coast the vehicle over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was extensive rust and corrosion and the rear axle needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

Filed May 3, 2016 · Tires · 2,300 miles · TN · crash · 2 injuries

Windstar ford 2002 tires they just keep going down very quick no holes had a blow out an wrecked into a tree with these tires bad tires ended up seat belt cut my neck an seat belt cut my 1 year olds testacles

Filed Jul 22, 2015 · Steering, Suspension · 146,000 miles · NE

Rear axel cracked after period of time resulting in blow out tire in a parking lot. After researching this online, I have found ford recalled this same van for this same problem but did not in our state although the recall was due to states with weather like snow, ice, salt, etc which caused said issue. Why wouldnt nebraska be included in this since its nebraska and its snowy alot? Luckily we were in a parking lot, we were not driving at high rate of speed down highway like I saw while researching this online which a man was killed who had this happen. I have found that this seems to be a very dangerous and tragic mistake made by ford and now my van sits in a parking lot with no way for me to get it to a shop to get a repair made even if I did have the funds to do this. At least I would want my van in my driveway, not in a grocery store parking lot with no means of getting it home, besides the fact that being a woman, I would have kept driving it not knowing and could have been in a serious accident such as ones I have seen since looking into this issue. I have taken photos of cracked axel in rear and also front due to weather and climate and found the court papers saying which states were included in this recall, yet nebraska not one of them? Makes no sense. So do I go and drive it home anyways and just hope we dont die in the process..or do I let it sit in a shady part of town parking lot forever? Being a single mother of 3, I would have thought ford might see the all the news about this and have done more to prevent so many incidents, one of which someone died. The court papers indicated that they knew about it 10 years before recall. I noticed the van drove rough over bumps recently, but thought maybe it was shocks, until I found my tire not just flat, but looking as if it was slashed in the parking lot because it literally blew up.

Filed Dec 2, 2013 · Suspension · 140,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. The vehicle was included in and repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v195000 (suspension). The contact was driving approximately 65 MPH when the rear driver's side tire blew shortly after the recall repair. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis, who stated that the axle was fractured. The mechanic replaced the axle shaft, break hose lock clips, the wheel, rear brake hose and the rear shocks. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Mar 13, 2012 · Suspension · 150,000 miles · IA

While driving approximately 30 MPH the drivers side front coil spring broke in two and caused the tire to blow out.

Filed May 5, 2010 · Suspension · 185,887 miles · OH

Drove car and parked along street. When I returned around 4 hours later I opened car door and sat down in driver seat. A loud bag was heard and I thought someone threw something or shot my van. Got out and could not find anything. When I drove away my left front tire exploded. The next morning I found the coil spring had broken and cut the tire when I tried to drive away. Had I been driving down the road this would have caused me to lose control of the van. After researching the internet this seems to be an ongoing issue with ford coil springs and I believe there was a recall for model years 1999-2001.

Filed May 5, 2010 · Suspension · 185,887 miles · OH

Drove car and parked along street. When I returned around 4 hours later I opened car door and sat down in driver seat. A loud bag was heard and I thought someone threw something or shot my van. Got out and could not find anything. When I started to drive away my left front tire exploded. The next morning I found the coil spring had broken and cut the tire when I tried to drive away. Had I been driving down the road this would have caused me to lose control of the van. After researching the internet this seems to be an ongoing issue with ford coil springs and I believe there was a recall for model years 1999-2001.

Filed Jun 30, 2008 · Tires · VA

My wife has a minivan that I had the tires replaced on within the past two years. I purchased a set of 4 high quality michelin tires with 75k warranty from sears at fair oaks mall in fairfax, va. Earlier this year my wife had a blow out and I took the vehicle back to sears for them to inspect the tire. Once they removed the tire there was no indication of a puncture anywhere on the tread or sidewall - I was a tire repair technician back when I was in college. I asked the technician why the tire would have blown if there was not a puncture, he didn't have an explanation. I asked if that should be covered under the manufacturer warrant and they seemed unwilling to help. I ended up buying another tire for $150.00. Then just this weekend as I was driving I heard a hissing sound coming from the left front tire. When I got out of the vehicle I noticed the tire was leaking air from the valve stem. I took the tire in to have the valve stem replaced and they mentioned to us there has been a recall on valve stems. I believe the previous incident was also caused by a valve stem issue since there was no other indication of a puncture. I'm planning to have all of the valve stems replaced on the remaining tires so that my wife will not suffer a blow out with our 3 children in the van. I think there needs to be a greater campaign on this issue to increase awareness as it could potentially impact all 4 tires on a vehicle.

Filed Jun 28, 2008 · Tires · VA

I purchased new 4 tires from sears auto center in dulles, va on 1/46/07 which they installed on our 2002 ford windstar. My wife, 3 year daughter and myself were traveling on interstate i81on 4/24/08 with this ford windstar experienced a front passenger side tire blow out. It was a good thing I was the driver and not my wife as this could of been tragic!! I quickly pulled it on the highways shoulder after traveling at 70 MPH. I replaced the blown tire with the temporary spare. We then proceeded to have it replaced. The sears auto center in winchester, va told us they did not carry that exact tire and did not have one with the same speed rating and can not legally install one the doesn't match the rest. We needed to get home to our two children who were coming home from school, therefore, we were forced to purchase two new tires along with fees associated with doing so. We didn't know what caused this tire blow out and the sears technician was baffled as he said he found no holes or puncture in the blown tire. The two front tires are now new and the two rear tires were still in place from the original 4 tire purchase on 1/6/07. On 6/12/2008 we experienced a sudden loss of tire pressure on the passenger side rear tire and the tires valve stem was hissing from a sudden crack that had formed. I had the stem replaced at walmart in front royal, va. On 6/27/08 I had the last of the original tires have a sudden valve stem failure causing instant pressure loss. I was now suspecting the valve stems must have a major flaw and requested that the walmart technician give me the failed valve stem after he replaced it. After I returned home from getting this repaired, I researched on the internet for any tire valve stem recalls and I discovered the tech international recall under your investigation campaign id 08t018000. I have saved this remaining stem with the part number dill-acp tr413 on the base.

Filed Nov 27, 2006 · Tires · MO

Blowout on highway on (goodyear viva touring )purchased at walmart washington missouri. Incurred $377.00 bill, new tire and towing bill. Neither goodyear or wal mart will take responsibility. Wife and daughter in vehicle thank god nobody was hurt. Blowout in 2002 ford windstar, less than 15,000 on tire. Thank you

Filed Mar 19, 2006 · Suspension · 104,700 miles · NY

Front left leaf spring broke and dislodged from base thereby piercing front tire causing a blowout while vehicle was moving. Fortunately,we were not traveling at a high rate of speed when blowout occurred.