1996 Ford Aerostar Complaints

ONE OF SEVEN SPOKES ON LEFT FRONT ALLOY WHEEL/RIM IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. RIGHT REAR WHEEL/RIM IS STARTING TO CRACK (SHOWING ON TOP SURFACE). LOCAL FORD DEALER SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS ITEM. ONE LOCAL USED AUTO PARTS DISTRIBUTER SAID HE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SELL THIS TYPE OF RIM BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL LIABILITY SUITS. ANOTHER USED PARTS DISTRIBUTER SAID HE GETS SEVERAL REQUEST A MONTH FOR THE SAME RIM. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, FORD SHOULD RECALL THE RIMS BEFORE FAILURES/FATALITIES. *JB

MY 1996 FORD AEROSTAR HAS 14X6 ALUMINUM ALLOW WHEEL RIMS. THE RIMS HAVE 7 TRIANGULAR SLOTS AND 7 WIDE/FLAT "SPOKES". ONE OF THESE RIMS IS CRACKING. THE CRACK IS PROGRESSING FROM ONE SPOKE TO ANOTHER. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALL TOGETHER. AFTER ALMOST A MONTH OF SEARCHING FOR A USED REPLACEMENT RIM I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I SUSPECTED THAT THIS MAY BE THE CASE WHEN I COULD NOT FIND ANY ON-LINE COMPANY THAT HAD THESE IN STOCK (USED OR NEW). TODAY I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN AT ACKERWHEELS.COM AND LEARNED THAT THIS RIM CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. SHE WARNED ME THAT IF I ORDERED ONE FROM THE DEALER TO LOOK IT OVER CAREFULLY FOR CRACKS. I ASKED HER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHE SAID IT WAS AND THAT I SHOULD NOT EXPECT FORD TO RECALL IT. I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF MY OTHER THREE RIMS ARE NOW SUSPECT. WHAT CAN YOU DO? *JB

I NOTICED A "PINHOLE" ON MY VIPER GT TIRES, CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THEM, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT ON A RECALL LIST BUT WOULD REPLACE THEM FOR A "DIFFERENCE" COST. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT 1-2 YEARS EARLIER COOPER (THE MANUFACTURER) GAD A RECALL ON A SIMILAR ISSUE. THE DOT NUMBER OF THE TIRES THAT HAD ON MY VAN WERE AS FOLLOWS: 30 HY UDN2802 - THIS TIRE HAD NO NOTICABLE PINHIOLE 30 HY UDN2401 - PINHOLE WITH VISIBLE WIRE THREADS VISIBLE 30 HY UDN2402 - PINHOLE WITH VISIBLE WIRE THREADS VISIBLE 30 HY UDN3001 - PINHOLE BUT NO VISIBLE WIRES SHOWING YET. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *AK *JB

ON 9/17/02 THE RIGHT FRONT ALLOY WHEEL CRACKED WHILE ON VACATION. WE WERE UNABLE TO TRAVEL IN IT. IT WAS EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. ON 2/1/03 (ALSO OUT OF TOWN) THE LEFT BACK ALLOY WHEEL CRACKED. WE ARE SEARCHING FOR A REPLAEMENT. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND MUST BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THERE ARE SEVERAL SIMILAIR COMPLAITS PLEASE EVALUATE AS IT COULD CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT.