Let's say for the sake of argument that a puzzle has gotten down to only vowels remaining. All three players are stumped by the puzzle, and the only contestant with money has $250-$500. That contestant calls a vowel that's not in the puzzle, so none of the contestants have $250.

What happens? Clearly each contestant's only option is to attempt a solve. If all three are stumped, is the puzzle a deadlock? Is it thrown out? Do they tough it out until one player figures it out?

Ha.
While I probably don't have an accurate answer for you; it reminded me of something that happened while playing the Vanna White WoF game on the NES.

I was down to $200 and only vowels were left. I attempted to solve multiple times and was unsuccessful in doing so; the game kept trying to force me to solve the puzzle. I eventually shut it off.

Funny thing, that's not what happens with the Family Edition. If all players (computer and human) have less than $250, and vowels are gone, the game will declare the round a draw, and have a do-over puzzle, as if it never happened.

Somehow I think it's odd that they'd actually change the code for what happens probably one or two times over the life of the cart. As to the OP question, I would think anyone on the board who appeared on Wheel came across something like that in their contestant release.

Don't think it ever came across my eyes when I saw it. If anyone else is going to be on the show, ask that question for future reference because I sure would like to know.

If I were to make a guess, I'd say they just keep going down the line until someone finally guesses it right, and the winner gets the $1,000 House Minimum.

Either that or just throw the round out due to tedium and time wasting.

This scenario was clearly addressed in the rules when I was on the show; I can't imagine it's changed since then. Simply put, if only vowels are left and no one has enough money to buy one, they throw the puzzle out and begin anew.

And in the alternate universe where Bert or Allen hosts Wheel, they leave the puzzle in the show, get good laughs about it, and mention it again later in the week. ;)

You forgot Tom Kennedy.

I'm so glad I kept a copy of the official rules :)

No, no. Tom would be too busy losing it if the word FRENCH appeared in the puzzle.