Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIRES | |||||
| 12589 | 03/01/1999 | 605314 | Information on wheel and tire size and its effect on vehicle speed. *tt | 06/08/1999 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIRES | |||
| 08/10/2008 | 150000 | 1 | |
| My husband was driving with my daughter leaving the driveway, the car was difficult to drive. he said it felt like the brakes were stuck or rusty, we had not driven the van in about 7 days. he continued to drive thinking the brakes would release and the car would be fine. when he realized that was not the issue and it was something more serious he immediately came home and we inspected the front drivers side tire and found the coil spring was resting on the tire and rubbing. the smell of burning rubber was apparent as he drove back in the driveway. we took of the tire and found the front drivers side coil spring had broken near the bottom. we are currently getting estimates to replace the one coil spring, our first estimate from a ford dealer was $400 to $450, with out seeing the car, it is not drivable. we are uncertain at this time if the tire also needs to be replaced or if there is other damage we can't see. old part will be retained by us after the vehicle is fixed. *tr | |||
| 02/26/2007 | 116948 | 2 | 04/18/2001 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford windstar. while driving 40 mph, the contact lost control of the vehicle. he noticed that the front passenger side tire had flattened. upon changing the tire, he discovered that the coil spring had failed. the vehicle was towed to the repair shop. the failure recurred at 116,948 miles with the front driver side tire. the current mileage is 119,000 and failure mileage was 116,948. the consumer stated the first incident lost control near intersection going 40 mph and inspected vehicle found tire blew out and left front coil in tire. the consumer further stated the 2nd incident was in a parking lot going 10-15mph and tire blew out found broken right front coil in tire. the consumer provided repair invoices. updated 09/05/07 *tr | |||
| 07/23/2006 | 52909 | 02/15/2000 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated while in a parking lot, the vehicle's tire was observed to be releasing air from the stem. when the contact attempted to put air into the tire, the air was releasing from the stem faster than the tire could be filled with air. the vehicle was towed to cosco where all 4 tires had been purchased 2-3 years ago. the tire's stem was replaced. a representative at the cosco mentioned that the tire repaired was from a defective batch of tires. on 7/23/06, while driving 65 mph on a highway, a loud noise was heard. once the vehicle was pulled over another tire was flat and observed to be releasing air expediently from the stem. | |||
| 09/25/2005 | 1 | ||
| Severe sidewall blowout of a 3 year old michelin weatherwise with approx 30k miles on it. the tire had an even tread wear pattern, as it had been rotated in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. i would like to email you photos of the blown tire. both weatherwise tires on the front of my 99 ford windstar have since been replaced. *nm | |||
| 04/08/2005 | 25000 | 3 | 06/01/2000 |
| Our 1999 ford windstar has 51,000 miles and transmission has failed. yesterday (4/8/05) while driving kids home from school the van made a loud clunking noise and would not go into forward or reverse. was able to roll to shoulder. we replaced battery a month ago, and while driving over the bay bridge (maryland) easter sunday our headlights and dashboard lights began to dim and van seemed as if it was going to stall. by the time we drove 4 miles to home all lights were out and car was sputtering, wouldn't start. we then replaced the alternator. the o/d light has been flashing. interior lights stay on sporadically as well as door ajar light when all doors are closed. interior lights sometimes don't come on when van is parked and doors opened. no rhyme or reason to this. tires have been replaced twice due to abnormal wear. we are getting quotes of between 1,600 and 2,800 for transmission. also windshield cracked where mirror was reattached after it fell off. when we were just over 3 years and at around 25,000 miles, all dashboard warning lights came on also while driving on bay bridge. took van to dealer (bob bell in glen burnie, md) and they said they'd have it done that day but kept it a week. i threw a fit and got a loaner - a tin can on wheels. ford eventually covered some of the repairs through a 'special program.' i cannot beleive there has been no recall on these pieces of garbage with the number of transmission failures i see on this website. nhtsa should force ford to take responsibility for this nonsense and pay for these outrageous failures. we also have a ford pickup and will never buy another ford product. henry must be rolling over in his grave.*ak | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 76000 | ||
| * vehicle leans since purchased sept 13, 2003. * allignment problems. * transmission does not properly change gears. * low treads on tires. * a frame problems. * suspension steering makes a clunking noise. * brakes must be pumped to stop, and make a ticking noise when applied. * vehicle has overheated. * power steering fluid leaked. * gears do not shift properly. * primer scotch guard on seats wearing after coat applied. | |||
| 3 | 08/02/1999 | ||
| The rear tires did not perform as designed. dealer was notified.*jb | |||
| 06/01/2002 | 4 | 06/01/2099 | |
| All 4 tires cracked between the treads and were delaminating. *ak | |||
| 08/01/2001 | 2 | 03/01/2000 | |
| Purchased what thought were new tires from american tire deport in 2001. had a blow-out on one rear tire in july. had a blowout with second rear tire two weeks later. when went to replace from another dealer, was told that what i thought were new tires were actually seconds....have second tire to show the defect...tires had less than 25,000 miles on at time of blowout. need to know who to file complaint with.both for tire and for american tire depot for selling seconds as new. *ak | |||
| 05/04/2001 | 4 | 06/01/1999 | |
| At annual inspection on may 4, 2001, with 21,000 miles on car, the original general tires were decertified due to dry rot, cracking, and visible wear bars on tires. tires were just short of 2 years old, with 21,000 miles on them.*ak (tiresize: p215/70r15)( dot number: tire size: p215/70r15 ) | |||
| TIRES - SIDEWALL | |||
| 08/24/2003 | 1 | ||
| While driving at 40 mph front right tire had sidewall separation which caused a tire blowout. dealer has been notified.tire size 32560r16.*ak | |||
| 10/15/2001 | 2 | 07/01/1999 | |
| At freeway speed we heard a loud bang, and the vehicle lifted up suddenly in the rear, followed by a loud slapping sound. i was able to keep control and get to the side of the road. the tire tread had completely separated from the tire. there is no evidence of puncture marks or other damage to the tire. when we got this vehicle from the dealership, i noticed bulges in the sidewalls of these tires and asked the dealer and was told this was normal. general should be forced to recall all these tires. many were put on windstar minivans and this was a very violent separation that could have resulted in a major accident if someone with less experience was driving, or road conditions were wet or slippery!*ak (dot number: a3m3 tiresize: p215/70r15) | |||
| TIRES - TREAD/BELT | |||
| 07/21/2006 | 65000 | 3 | 03/01/1999 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 70 mph, the vehicle began to shake and shutter. upon inspection of the vehicle, the driver side rear tire had separated. the vehicle was taken a local dealership where it was determined the tire had a bulge. the vehicle was then taken to a tire dealership and the tire was replaced. fifteen minutes after the tire was replaced, the vehicle began to shake and shutter again. upon inspection, the driver side front tire was shredded. this occurred a third time however it was the rear passenger tire and it separated. when the vehicle was towed to a tire dealership, the two tires were replaced. the only tire that did not have a failure was of a different brand. the three tires with failures were cooper lifeline touring sle. updated 8/30/2006 - *nm | |||
| 07/11/2003 | 1 | ||
| While traveling about 55mph on the highway and without prior warning. heard a noise. front passenger tire tread separated from the vehicle. goodrich tires, p2151/70r15. *ak | |||
| 06/08/2002 | 2 | 02/01/2099 | |
| 2 ameri-gs60 tires failed on our ford windstar within 2 months. first incident in mid april. front driver side tread separated at 55mph. outside temp approx 70 degrees. tire remained inflated long enough to reach nearby discount tire. they replaced it at no charge and kept tire. second incident on same vehicle on 6/8/2002 at 75mph on driver rear tire. outside temp approx 75 degrees. threw tread and tire went flat sending van out of control across lane of traffic on interstate. no accident, but departing tread ruined wheel well, bumper, and rear fender. also lodged piece of tread above gas line and pulled gas filler spout partially through the fender and broke off gas cap. no injuries. i have remainder of tire and portion of tread. cost $120 tow plus yet to be determined (my guess $1500-$1800 damage) as well as costs (if any) of replacing other 3 ameri-gs60 tires that i refuse to leave on car after first 2 failures!*ak | |||
| 03/30/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer was on road traveling to florida and found a nail in tire. consumer went to 4 different tire centers to get tire plugged, and was told that tire was defective, and they couldn't help. tread had started seperating on tire. consumer owns a 1999, ford windstar with original 215/70r15, amerigs60. *ak consumer saw the other 3 tires were cracking. the tires only lasted 11-12000 miles before getting severe cracking and tread separation. dot #'s acme 44d 368,a3m3 ab7 160 and acms 44d 368. *yh | |||
| 03/20/2001 | 4 | 05/01/2000 | |
| All 4 original tires split within the treads of the tires. the splitting was discovered at 14,155 miles. the ford dealer insisted that the tires be replaced prior to driving the vehicle any further. general tire co. requested that the tires be returned to the manufacturer.*ak (tiresize: p215/70r15)( dot number: tire size: p215/70r15 ) | |||
| 07/19/2000 | 4 | ||
| Consumer noticed continental general tires were losing air, dealer inspected that tires were cracking between the treads, divits were on the inside and outside, and tires experienced tread separation. *slc | |||
| 12/01/1999 | 1 | 12/01/1999 | |
| Tread seperated from tire. i had dealer replace all 4 tires. this size should be added to your tire warning list. i am using these tires on a 1973 dodge w-200 pickup with a large camper at full 8,000 lb capacity.( dot number: vdxf/wbu/3 tire size: 33x12.5r16 ) | |||
| TIRES - VALVE | |||
| 12/28/2008 | 67724 | 1 | |
| Traveling at approximately 65 mph when left rear tire near instantly deflated causing total tire failure before the vehicle could be pulled to side of road. tire sidewall was totally destroyed. spare installed. no punctures, tears or cuts were found anywhere on the tire tread or sidewall. the only known cause of the tire failure was a cracked (cut) valve stem in the area where the stem seats against the aluminum wheel allowing air to exhaust quickly from the tire once the crack propagated to inside. phoned the dealership where the four new replacement tires were installed 3 years, 7 months and 23,170 miles prior to discuss the blowout issue. it was mentioned that this is the 4th tire out of 8 that i had purchased from them (three on my other vehicle and one on this vehicle) where i had tire failure due to cracked valve stems. reference odi # | |||