Page 14 of 29 · complaints 651–700 of 1,450

1996 Ford Explorer complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 11, 2000UT

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A SOUND. HE PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER, AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BULGE. HE TOOK IT TO SEARS. SEARS REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELIN TIRES. THE FIRESTONE #AT P23570R15 NO INJURIES.*AK

Tires
Filed Sep 11, 2000KY

TIRE BLEW OUT FROM SIDE AS DESCRIBED BY THE 15" RECALL, TREAD WAS STILL GOOD. BLOWOUT WAS ON INTERSTATE, FORTUNATELY PERSON DRIVING WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET TO SIDE OF ROAD. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AFTER FAILURE, HOWEVER, STILL HAVE SPARE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

Tires
Filed Sep 11, 2000TN

WHEN APPLYING FOR AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE IN TENNESSEE (HAVING RECENTLY MOVED HERE FROM MICHIGAN), THE INSURANCE AGENT/ADJSTOR INSPECTED THE TIRES. EVEN THOUGH THE TREAD IS STILL GOOD, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE A STRESS CRACK ON THE SIDEWALL BELOW THE TREADS. THE ADJUSTOR INDICATED THIS WAS THE FINAL STAGE BEFORE THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, AND ADVISED ME TO REPLACE THEM IMMEDIATELY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THESE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED; THEREFORE, HE WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM AT NO CHARGE. THE TIRES HAVE 25,000 MILES ON THEM AND SHOULD LAST AN ADDITIONAL 25,000 MILES. I AM GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY ON THE ROAD. WHAT CAN I DO? I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THEM WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: 8XHLIPY169 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 11, 2000TX

THE TREADS OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPERATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND NOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS EXACT TIRE. I STILL HAVE ONE OF THE TIRES AS A SPARE UNDER TEH TRUCK. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 11, 2000CO

THE TIRE "BLEW OUT" SIMILAR TO THE IMAGES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE TIRES OF RECENT REPORTS. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A FORIEGN OBJECT. WE STILL HAVE THE TIRE IF YOU NEED TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. WE ARE CONCERENED THIS IS PART OF A MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH FORD AS SOME COMPLAINTANTS HAVE STATED. PLEASE ADD THIS DATA TO YOUR INVESTIGATION AND CONTACT US IF THERE IS A RECALL OF FORD EXPLORERS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: RT/S )

Tires
Filed Sep 11, 2000KY

CASINGS ARE CRACKED ON ALL 4 TIRES AROUND EDGE TOOK TO ALTON BLAKELY FORD THEY SAID NOT TO DRIVE ON THESE TIRES ON THE INTERSTATE BAD TIRES MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF LOOSING HER LIFE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P25570R16 )

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 11, 2000CA

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND IS CONTINUING TO EXPERIENCE FAILURE. *MJS

Tires
Filed Sep 11, 2000CA

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED A WHIRRING NOISE, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

Tires
Filed Sep 9, 2000AL

BEEN ON A "LIST" FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TO GET MY RECALLED FIRESTONE ATX TIRES REPLACED. DEALER TOLD ME THIS WEEK TO GO FIND ANOTHER DEALER. THIS IS THE ONLY FIRESTONE DEALER IN MY TOWN. CAN NOT GET THROUGH TO FIRESTONE ON THE 1-800 NUMBER. CONTACTED FIRESTONE THROUGHT WEBSITE AND ONLY GET A "FORM EMAIL". ONE OF THE TIRES SEEMS TO BE GOING BAD, DEALER WON'T LOOK AT IT OR REPLACED WITH OTHER BRAND UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. I WANT MY FIRESTONES REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL, WHAT DO I DO NEXT? CAN I HAVE FIRESTONE PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR WHILE MY EXPLORER SITS WAITING FOR REPLACEMENTS? LOCAL FORD DEALER ONLY SENT ME TO THE SAME TIRE DEALER AS I BOUGHT MY EXPLORER USED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TiresCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 9, 2000CA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT <SHREDDED ACTUALLY>. I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND SIDESWIPED A VEHICLE IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME. I PULLED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I SAW THAT THE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE, AND POUNDED THE WHEEL WELL FLAT. I INCURRED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I AM ON A WAITING LIST FOR TIRES, BUT I CANNOT FIND A TIRE REPLACEMENT FOR MY SPARE. I AM THEREFOR DRIVING AROUND ON THESE DANGEROUS TIRES, WITH NO SPARE. I CANNOT SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT, AND I HAVE TO DRIVE AT LEAST 500 MILES A WEEK FOR WORK. I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES. I HAVE A $500 DEDUCTIBLE TO PAY TO FIX MY CAR, AND I CAN'T AFFORD THIS. I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED IN FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM405 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires › Tread/BeltCrash4 injured
Filed Sep 8, 2000WA

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY IN T FAST LANE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT OUT ANDF CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. FIRESTONE ATX. *AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 8, 2000MI

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE, DEALER INDICATED THAT TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL. BUT, CONSUMER INSPECTED THE TIRES, AND FOUND CRACKS ON THEM. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, P255/70R16. *AK THE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THESE WERE THE SAME TIRES FORD HAD RECALLED OVERSEAS AND ARE NOT SAFE. *YH

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 8, 2000IL

ON AUGUST 9, 2000, EXPLORER WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT THERE HAD BEEN SOME SLIPPING, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock
Filed Sep 8, 2000IL

THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. WHEN IN DRIVE THE CAR COASTS AT ABOUT 1 MPH. IT WILL GO INTO REVERSE AND PARK OK. THE CAR IS DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL TO LIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS. I HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS BEEN CHECKED AND IT IS FINE. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 3/9/2000. JUST A WEEK PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION WARRANTY WORK WAS COMPLETED ON THE TRANSFER CASE AND NOTHING WAS NOTED AS BEING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE LAST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2000. THE BRAKES PULSATE WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGH SPEEDS. THEY WERE SERVICED ONCE BY FORD FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE SERVICING DID NOT CORRECT IT. FORD REFUSED TO SERVICE THEM AGAIN AND THEY CONTINUE TO PULSATE WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGH SPEEDS.

Tires
Filed Sep 8, 2000FL

FIRESTONE/EXPLORER TIRE BLOWOUT; PHOTOGRAPH OF TREAD SEPARATION WAS TAKEN AND IS AVAILABLE; TIRES REPLACED, MY COST( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 8, 2000VA

WHILE HAVING MY VEHICLE INSPECTED RECENTLY ATTENTION WAS CALLED TO EACH OF MY TIRES. THERE ARE TINY HAIR LINE CRACKS ALL AROUND EACH TIRE AT THE TREAD AS IF THIS IS WHERE IT WOULD SEPARATE. I COMPARED THE TIRES TO MY DAUGHTER'S TIRES WHICH WERE RECALLED, AND SHE HAD NO SUCH CRACKS OR LINES.( DOT NUMBER: VNCUIPL245 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Sep 8, 2000IN

I KNOW LEAKING OIL FROM VENT TUBE IS A LARGER PROBLEM BECAUSE FORD HAS HAD TO HAVE A RETRO KIT MADE TO SOLVE LEAKING OIL. I RECEIVED NO HELP FROM FORD FOR REPAIR COST.

Tires › Tread/BeltCrash
Filed Sep 7, 2000CA

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. A PIECE OF TIRE TREAD WAS MISSING. MOLDING WAS DAMAGED, AND LEFT REAR TIRE WAS DAMAGED. FIRESTONE, #ATX P23570R15. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE.*AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 7, 2000CO

I PURCHASED 4 ATX TIRES 04-28-1997 FROM THE FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER,6783 W. CANYON AVE, LITTLETON CO 80123. ON JULY 17TH, 1997 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE THREW ITS TREAD WHILE I WAS GOING AROUN A CURVE ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. THE FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE TIRE BLAMES THE TREAD SEPARATION ON A ROAD HAZARD BUT THEY DID REPLACE THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75 15 )

Seats
Filed Sep 7, 2000MO

SEAT BACK FAILURE DRIVERS BUCKET SEAT, BOLT FRACTURED, SEAT BACK FELL TO RECLINE, LOSS OF CONTROL POSSIBLE IF AT DRIVING SPEED

Tires
Filed Sep 7, 2000MI

THE 1ST INCIDENT REPORTED WAS A CATASTROPHIC BLOWOUT OF A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT LT235/75R15 DOT VDHK AWZ. IT OCCURRED LATE AT NIGHT ON A COLD FEBRUARY NIGHT (2/21/99) ON A WISCONSIN INTERSTATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO SIGN OF ANYTHING ON THE ROAD, AN( DOT NUMBER: VDHK AWZ TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 7, 2000MI

I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT JUST TODAY IN A PRIOR REPORT, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE NECESSARY INFO., SO THIS IS THE COMPLETE INFO. THIS TIRE FAILED IN A CATASTROPHIC BLOWOUT, LATE ON A VERY COLD NIGHT ON INTERSTATE 94 IN WISCONSIN. THERE WAS N( DOT NUMBER: VDHKAWZ TIRE SIZE: LT23575R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 7, 2000MI

THESE 3 INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS ON A VERY HOT DAY (>100) IN ID. ONE PUNCTURE AND THEN ONE BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON DIRT ROADS. THE LAST BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON PAVEMENT. BOTH BLOWOUTS INVOLVED SEPARATION OF THE TREAD FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: W2UU1MX TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 7, 2000WI

I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE , HENCE NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT 74960 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE FIRSTONE STORE IN MADISON, WI AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE WOULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE BLOWOUT WAS DUE TO 'ROAD HAZARD' AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I BOUGHT A NEW TIRE AND THEN CONTACTED FIRESTONE DIRECTLY AND EXPLAINED THAT I THOUGHT THAT THIS FAILED TIRE HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT; FIRESTONE THEN SENT ME A CHECK COVERING THE COST OF THE NEW TIRE. THE BLOWOUT POINT WAS WHERE THE TREAD WAS VULCANIZED TO THE SIDEWALL. ALSO STARTING IN MAY, 2000 (80702 MILES) I HAD TROUBLE KEEPING THESE TIRES BALANCED; AFTER THE TIRES WARMED UP THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION STARTING AT APPROXIAMETLY 55 MPH. THE TIRES WERE BALANCED THREE TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT SIX WEEKS. I HAD THE TIRES INSPECTED BY FIRESTONE AND JUST ONE OF THE TIRES HAD THE 'DOT VD' MARKING. I WAS TOLD BY THE FIRESTONE REP THAT THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL OF THE TIRES, FIRESTONE WOULD REPLACE THE ONE TIRE AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OTHER THREE. FIRESTONE DID NOT HAVE ANY REPLACEMENT TIRES IN STOCK AND COULDN'T GIVE ME A TARGET DATE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT THE VIBRATIONS WERE DUE TO THE VEHICLE AND NOT THE TIRES SO IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE, AT MY COST, REPLACED THE FIRESTONES WITH MICHELINS; THE NEW TIRES CURED THE VIBRATIONS. I HAVE MY TIRES INFLATED AT 32 TO 3

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 7, 2000NC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 16" TIRES ARE STARTING TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUESTS FIRESTONE REPLACE FAULTY TIRES. *SLC

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Sep 6, 2000WV

WHILE HAVING TIRE SERVICED NOTICE A BUBLE ON THE OUTER SIDEWALL OF TIRE. *AK IN ADDITION, ALL FOUR TIRES HAD CRACKS ON THE OUTER TREAD. *YH

Tires
Filed Sep 6, 2000TX

AS REPORTED ON 9/5/00 (BEFORE THE TIRE RECALL HEARINGS ON 9/6/00) TO SENATORS RICHARD SHELBY AND FRANK LAUTENBERG AND HOUSE REPRESENTATVES W.J. "BILLY" TAUZIN AND FRED UPTON: I RECENTLY READ IN THE TIMES THAT THE EXPLORER TIRE THAT BLOWS OUT MOST OFTEN IS THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE, WHICH MAKES ME WONDER IF THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. UPON CLOSELY EXAMINING MY 96 EXPLORER (WHICH DIDN'T COME WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, BY THE WAY), I FOUND THAT THE BODY LEANS TO THE LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE), RESULTING IN A VERTICAL SAG OF ABOUT HALF AN INCH ON THAT SIDE. I CONFIRMED THAT THE SAG IS NOT RELATED TO VEHICLE LOADING - THE SAG PERSISTS WITH BOTH VEHICLE AND GAS TANK EMPTY; OR TO WEAKENED SPRINGS - THE CHASIS STAYS LEVEL, ONLY THE BODY SAGS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. SINCE THEN, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OR SO, I HAVE BEEN CLOSELY OBSERVING EXPLORERS AND OTHER SUV'S ON THE ROAD AND IN PARKING LOTS. THE RESULTS OF MY ADMITTEDLY NOT-SO-SCIENTIFIC SURVEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) ABOUT 50% OF THE OLDER EXPLORERS ON THE ROAD SHOW A SIMILAR SAG TO THE LEFT. (2) NONE OF THE EXPLORER'S OBSERVED SHOWED A SAG TO THE RIGHT. (3) LESS THAN 5% OF THE OTHER SUV'S OBSERVED SHOWED ANY SAG, WHICH WAS EQUALLY LIKELY TO BE TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT I SHOULD PASS ON THIS INFORMATION TO YOU, FOR WHATEVER IT IS WORTH, BEFORE THE TIRE RECALL HEARINGS IN THE SENATE TOMORROW. SINCERELY, RAMESH DHINGRA. *AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 6, 2000TX

THESE TIRES HAVE SEPARATED FROM THEMSELVES AND I HAVE THEM FOR ANY ONE WHO WOULD LIKE THEM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2IPY TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

TiresCrash
Filed Sep 6, 2000MS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/75/15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 6, 2000KS

THESE TIRES DISPLAY THE WARNING SIGNS OF THE PUBLISHED REPORTS OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES. I REPLACED THE TIRES TODAY WITH GOODYEAR TIRES. THE GOODYEAR EXPERTS INSPECTED THE TIRES AND ADVISED ME THAT THE TIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY MEET THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERSTICS OF THE RECALL TIRES. THE TIRES ARE SEPERATING AROUND THE SIDE WALL AND TREAD. I LEFT THE GOODYEAR STORE AND PROCEEDED TO THE FIRESTONE STORE FOR THEM TO INSPECT THE TIRES. THE MANAGER AT THE FIRESTONE STORE TOLD ME THAT ALL THE INFORMATION THAT HE HAD WAS WHAT I COULD GET ON THE FIRESTONE WEB SITE. HE DID NOT INSPECT THE TIRES BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BEEN TOLD WHAT TO INSPECT FOR FROM FIRESTONE. I HAVE THE TIREES IN MY GARAGE AT THIS TIME AND WOULD LIKE FOR AN INVESTIGATOR TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEM. IF WHAT THE GOODYEAR EXPERTS REPORT IS TRUE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNCU1PL TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

Tires
Filed Sep 6, 2000NC

THE AUTO WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THANKFULLY DID NOT CRASH OR OVERTURN AS OUR 20 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND HAD 3 PASSENGERS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 6, 2000GA

WHILE TRAVELLING I-20 WESTBOUND SUN OCT 3, 1999. (3 OCCUPANTS WERE IN THE EXPLORER) THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD AN UNCONTROLLABLE VIBRATION. I THOUGHT THE TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE. THE FASTER I DROVE THE SMOOTHER THE RIDE WAS.. AFTER RETURNING HOME (20MILES). MY HUSBAND (WAS NOT IN THE EXPLORER AT THE TIME) INSPECTED THE TIRE. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE INSIDE SIDEWALL. HE COULD LITERALLY PUT HIS HAND BETWEEN THE TREAD AND THE TIRE. THE LENGTH OF THIS SPLIT WAS APPROX 5 INCHES. WE REPLACED THESE TIRES ON OCT 6, 1999 WITH A NEW SET OF FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. THE OLD TIRES WERE STILL IN VERY GOOD SHAPE AND DID NOT NEED REPLACING. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A "FLUKE". IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW. THANKS, PENNY GARNER( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75SR15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 6, 2000IN

TIRES TURNED "LUMPY" IN 1998. GOODYEAR DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO TIRE SEPARATION AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ON THEM AND HAVE JUST RECENTLY ORDERED NEW TIRES. .( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255 70 R16 )

Tires
Filed Sep 6, 2000NY

ON A VERY WARM DAY IN MAY, I HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A UNIQUE PROBLEM, HOWEVER WITH ALL THE FIRESTONE INVESTIGATION AND REPORTS ABOUT DEFECTIVE TIRES, I BELIEVE THAT MY TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER CONTACTING BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE DEALERS WITH MY CONCERN, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THE NHTSA HAS ISSUED WARNINGS AGAINST MY TIRES,THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO REPLACE MY TIRES. ACCORDING TO PRESS STATEMENTS MADE BY JASON VINES FROM FORD AND CHRISTINE KARBOWIAK FROM FIRESTONE, IF A CUSTOMER HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THEIR TIRES, THEY WILL BE REPLACED AT NO COST. OBVIOUSLY, THE FORD AND FIRESTONE DEALERS ARE NOT HONORING THESE COMMENTS AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED NOT TO REPLACE THE TIRES UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH MY TIRES AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP AND SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE REGARDING MY CONCERN. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND INFORM ME OF HOW I SHOULD PROCEED.( DOT NUMBER: W2UU TIRE SIZE: 235/70/15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000MD

PE00 020; WHEN CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY HE HEARD A WASH BOARD SOUND, TIRES WERE FALLING APART. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE RETAILER. AND THE ATTENDANT TOLD HIM THAT THE TIRES WERE UNSAFE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT P25570R16 #DOT NUMBER W2. *AK THE TIRES HAD 65000 MILES ON THEM BUT 25%-30% TREAD WEAR LEFT *YH.

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Sep 5, 2000SD

PE00 020; TIRES WERE CRACKING AROUND SIDEWALL, AND TIRES WERE REPLACED BY FIRESTONE. PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *AK

Tires › Tread/BeltCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 5, 2000CA

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. TREAD SEPARATED FROM LEFT REAR TIRE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER.*AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED DUE TO THE TREAD SEPARATION, THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *SLC

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000CA

CONSUMER REPLACED BOTH REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P225/70R15 DOT W2UU DUE TO TREAD PEELING, 15-20 THOUSAND MILES LATER, WHILE DRIVING, REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL AND PULL OVER, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000NE

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES HAD BIG BULGES IN THEM WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE BADLY WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS DEFECT IS WHAT CAUSED THE WHEEL BEARINGS TO FAIL. NLM

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 5, 2000UN

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKS AROUND THE TREAD. *MJS

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 4, 2000CA

ALTHOUGH THIS TIRE IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, I ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO THOSE DESCRIBED FOR THE RECALLED TIRES. THE TIRE, WHICH WAS THREE YEARS OLD AND STILL IN PRETTY GOOD CONDITION, AS FAR AS TREAD DEPTH, COMPLETLY SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALLS AND DISINTEGRATED RAPIDLY. THE TIRE WAS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING IN BAJA, MEXICO ON A ROAD THAT WAS PAVED, BUT FAIRLY ROUGH. ALTHOUGH THE TIRE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL OF FIRESTONE TIRES, THE METHOD OF FAILURE WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE DESCRIBED FOR THE RECALLED TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

Tires
Filed Sep 2, 2000CA

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

Tires
Filed Sep 1, 2000GA

AFTER CONSUMER'S TIRES WERE TAKEN TO A TIRE SERVICE STATION, MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKING FROM THE TREAD TO THE BLACKWALL SIDE OF THE TIRE. TIRES WERE THE WILDERNESS AT. TIRE SIZE P255R70/16, DOT# W2CU1PX. TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED W/ VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS A 1996 FORD, EXPLORER. PE# 00020. *AK TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE RECOMENDATION OF FOR DEALER. *YH

Tires
Filed Sep 1, 2000CA

AT ABOUT 44K MILES, DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, THE GARAGE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE SEPARATING. SINCE I COULDN'T SEE THE PROBLEM, I DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. AT 61K MILES, JUNE 29, 2000, THE MECHANIC TOLD US TO REPLACE THE TIRES YESTERDAY. I RAN MY HAND ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE REAR TIRE AND CUT MY FINGER ON SOME SHARP STEEL COMING THROUGH THE TREAD AREA. REPLACED THE TIRES IMMEDIATELY WITH NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT'S. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE NEWS ABOUT FIRESTONE PROBLEMS STARTED APPEARING. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED THE NEW FIRESTONE TIRES AND REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELIN'S. MY FAMILY WAS VERY LUCKY. SINCE I DON'T HAVE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES, I DON'T KNOW THE SERIAL NUMBERS, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Unknown or Other2 killed
Filed Sep 1, 2000MA

NO SUMMARY

Tires
Filed Sep 1, 2000CT

STEEL BELT CAME THROUGH FRONT TIRE WHILE DRIVING. TOWN FAIR TIRE EXAMINED AND FOUND A SECOND TIRE WITH SEPARATION.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 1, 2000NY

ALL 4 TIRES HAVE SPIDER CRACKES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE RUBBER LUGS. THIS TIRE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I SHOULD GET 2 MORE YEARS OUT OF THEM, BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE AND THINK I'M TAKE THE OFF. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS TIRE SIZE. THANK YOU( DOT NUMBER: W2CULPX TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

TiresCrash
Filed Sep 1, 2000TX

TIRE FAILURE. TRAVELING ON I-20, NEAR WEATHERFORD,TX, TRAVELING AT 70, THE REAR LEFT TIRE PEALED OFF. I LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND HIT A SIDE RAIL. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH SAME TIRE MODEL. A SET OF 4 TIRES WAS PURCHASED. THIS IS MY MAIN COMPLAINT.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM475 TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 1, 2000NJ

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P255 70 R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

Tires › Tread/Belt1 injured1 killed
Filed Sep 1, 2000LA

FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX(P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING A BLOWOUT WHICH THEN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN UNTIL IT CAME IN CONTACT WITH A TREE, THERE WAS ONE DEATH AND ONE INJURY. *SLC

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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