1996 Ford Explorer complaints

I WAS DRIVING ON I20 AT APPROX. 50 MPH WHEN THE TREAD CAME OFF THE LEFT REAR TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. (NO INJURY OCCURRED.) I HAD BEEN TO THE FIRESTONE OFFICE IN TYLER, TX TWICE SINCE THE RECALL. THE FIRST TIME THEY LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND SAW THAT THEY WERE ALREADY BEGINNING TO BREAK LOOSE, BUT HAD NO TIRES TO REPLACE THEM, SO THEY PUT MY NAME ON THE LIST. LAST FRIDAY I CHECKED TO SEE WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE THE TIRES. THEY REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES THEN, JUST SAID THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 140 MORE AHEAD OF MINE. THEY SAID THAT MY NAME WAS #2 ON THE ATX LIST, BUT THAT WILDERNESS ATS WERE THE ONLY ONES THEY WERE CHANGING OUT NOW. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE 2 MORE WEEKS BEFORE MY NUMBER WOULD COME UP, EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM AGAIN THAT THE TREAD WAS ALREADY COMING LOOSE AND THAT I DRIVE 50 MILES A DAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK ON HIGHWAYS.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PM095 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I HAD TWO TIRES THAT BLEW OUT ON ME RESULTING IN TWO MAJOR DENTS IN MY VEHICLE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-95, TO FLORIDA THE FRONT TIRE, DRIVERS SIDE, BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ON JULY 29, 2000 WE HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE/BACK TIRE. IT RESEMBLED AN ORANGE THAT HAD BEEN PEELED WITH THE OUTER EDGE LODGED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE EXPLORER. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WAS IN SHREDS. WE HAD PURCHASED THESE TIRES IN MARCH OF 2000 AND THEY HAD LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THEM. FIRESTONE AND FORD WILL NOT TALK TO ME BECAUSE THEY ARE P255 AND NOT P235. WE ARE LUCKY WE WERE NOT KILLED ON THE INTERSTATE WE WERE ON. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME. AFTER A MONTH NO ONE WILL TAKE MY CALLS OR TELL ME I AM WASTING MY TIME WHEN I COME IN PERSON BECAUSE WE HAVE 16 INCH TIRES. DO WE HAVE TO DIE TOO?( DOT NUMBER: W2CU -VNCU TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRE ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TIRE BLOWOUT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, UPON INSPECTION THE REMAINING TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF SEPARATION AS WELL, ALL FOUR TIRES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *MJS

AT 70 MPH REAR TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, TEMP ABOUT 102 DEGREES ON THAT DAY ABOUT 2PM, TOTALED

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO TIRE BLOWOUTS DUE TO DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL(00T-005), CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE NATIONALLY ISSUED RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF TIRES. *YH P235-75-R15 *DB

4 FIRESTONE TIRES 1 ATX AND 1 AT OF THE ONES RECALLED BLEW. 2 OTHER FIRESTONE TIRES AT NOT RECALLED DID NOT BLOW.( DOT NUMBER: ATX < ATVD TIRE SIZE: 235 75 R15 )

THE STEEL BELT COMPLETELY PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING A BLOWOUT. A DADE COUNTY D.O.T. REPRESENTATIVE ASSISTED ME AT ROADSIDE. BOTH OF US WERE AMAZED AT THE POOR CONDITION OF THE SHREADED REMAINS OF THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD PEELED COMPLETELY OFF. REPLACED THE TIRE WITH SPARE. WENT TO FIRESTONE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL FOUR TIRES MIGHT SHOULD BE REPLACED SINCE ONE WAS BAD. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH THE ATX. SUBMITTED CLAIM TO FIRESTONE FOR DAMAGE TO CAR AND TIRE NOT KNOWING AT THE TIME, THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I THOUGHT IT WAS SHORT OF A MIRACLE THAT FIRESTONE ACTUALLY PAID FOR THE TIRE AND DAMAGE. NOW, I KNOW WHY. MY HUSBAND HAS THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES AND WE ARE PROCEEDING TO GET HIS TIRES CHECKED OUT. THERE IS A WAITING LIST IN SC (BEING THAT WE ARE THE LAST STATE FOR THE RECALL) FOR TIRES TO BE REPLACED. I AM ON A LIST BUT I AM NOT HAPPY THAT I HAVE TO WAIT, KNOWING WHAT IT IS REALLY LIKE AND WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

WE TOOK OUR CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ROTATION AND BALANCING OF TIRES. WE WERE TOLD WE HAD 4 GOOD TIRES. WHEN WE LEFT THE STORE, I FELT BUMPING IN THE TIRES. WE GOT ON THE THRUWAY AND DROVE ABOUT 30 MILES. WHEN WE RETURNED, WE SAW THE RUBBER HAD PEELED OFF ONE OF THE TIRES AND THE CORE WAS SHOWING. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR BACK TO FIRESTONE. THEY DISCLAIMED ANY REPSONSIBILITY FOR THE TIRE PEELING AND HAD NO CLUE WHY IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THEY TRIED TO SELL MY HUSBAND A BRAND NEW TIRE WITH NO PRO-RATING OR ANYTHING. JERRY WAS ANGRY AND TOLD THEM TO PUT THE SPARE ON. IN SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, THEY REPEATEDLY DENIED THAT THEIR WORK HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTED THE TECH WAS NEW AND HAD LUMPED ALL THE TIRES TOGETHER DURING ROTATION. WE WERE FURIOUS AND VOWED NOT TO RETURN. A FEW DAYS LATER, I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND HE GOT US A NEW TIRE IN LIEU OF A $100 SALES COMMISSION FOR BRINGING IN ANOTHER BUYER. TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE, THEY ASKED WHERE WE HAD GOT THE TIRE AND CHARGED US TO MOUNT IT. I CALLED THEM ON THE PHONE AND ASKED FOR AN ADDRESS FOR THE FIRESTONE CO. AND HE THEN REIMBURSED US THE MONEY HE HAD CHARGED TO MOUNT IT. WE'RE EVEN MORE ANGRY NOW BECAUSE THEY ACTED AS THOUGH THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND, YET, THEY APPARENTLY KNEW ABOUT THIS. WE LIKE TO TRAVEL AND ARE NOW AFRAID TO GO ANYWHERE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00020, TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. TREAD WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE AND SEIZED THE BRAKES, CAUSING A FIRE. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, ATX, P235/75R15, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. FOUR OTHER PASSENGER'S WERE IN THE EXPLORER. NO ONE WAS INJURED. TIRE AND REPAIRS TO VEHICLE WERE MADE BY A FORD DEALERSHIP AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY SHE DIDN'T HEAR A NOISE AT THAT TIME. BUT LATER ON, SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE REAR BACK, TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND TIRE PEELED OFF. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND SHE RAN INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND IT STARTED ROLLING. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY. HER DAUGHTER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A FORD EXPLORER 1996, SIZE P23575R15. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH TIRE DELAMINATED, RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD CAME OFF. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHECLE. *AK THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

LEFT REAR TIRE, TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. TIRE STILL FULLY INFLATED AT 30 PSI. VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER. FIRESTONE RECEIVED TIRE AND ONLY "VERBALLY" CLAIMS NOT THEIR TIRES FAULT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

SENT [email protected] A LETTER ON 8/17/00 DETAILING PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: VDH1P5328 TIRE SIZE: 235-75-15 )

SIDE WALL BLEW OUT ON TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. TIRE SEPERATED FROM TREAD ON REAR PASSENGER TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ON 1 MAY 1998, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY EXPLORER WHEN A TIRE BLEW. THE TREAD PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE. SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65-70 MPH (SPEED LIMIT WAS 70). THIS HAPPENED IN THE AFTERNOON ON AN OVERPASS. SHE KEPT HER COOL AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS SHAKEN UP . A PASSERBY STOPPED AND CHANGED THE TIRE. I COULDN'T BELIVE THE LOOKS OF THE TIRE. I HAD TO GO BUY NEW ONES (2EA) ON 2 MAY 1998. I WENT TO GOODYEAR. ON 11 MAY1998 I WENT AND REPLACED THE BACK TWO FIRESTONES. MY SPARE TIRE IS A TIRE IS A FIRESTONE THAT WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE CAR WHEN TIRES WERE REPLACED. I WAS UNAWARE THAT YOU COULD CONTACT ANYONE OF THIS ISSUE, UNTIL AT THIS TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND FIRESTONE OF THIS MISHAP AND FORD WROTE ME BACK WAS GLAD MY DAUGHTER WASN'T HURT AND TO CONTACT FIRESTONE. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO ANY FIRESTONE AND PICK UP AN APP;ICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT. BUT WHAT I AM HEARING AND READ THEY WILL ONLY HONOR FROM 1 JAN 2000-16 AUG 2000. THAT IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. THOSE TIRES THAT WERE ON MYVEHICLE WERE ORIGINALS LIKE ALL THE OTHERS ON THE ROAD. LIKE I SAID I DIDN'T KNOW A COMPLAINT COULD BE LODGED FOR TIRES THAT WERE TWO YEARS OLD. I AM A WIDOW ON A FIXED INCOME AND IT WAS HARD TO COME UP WITH MEANS TO REPLACE 4 NEW TIRES. I BELIEV E I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED SOME. I ALSO HAVE MY ORIGINAL RECEIPTS FROM THE NEW TIRES. I THANKYOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. SINCERELY, DONNA L. MILLER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

SINCE 1998 I HAVE A NOISE (CLUNKING) COMING FROM SOMEWHERE IN MY CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TWICE TO JORDAN FORD AND ONCE TO MY MECHANIC FOR THIS PROBLEM. JORDAN FORD HEARD IT BUT COULD NOT LOCATE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. I ALSO WAS TOLD THEY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. BUT THEY TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. WHEN I ACCELERATE OR COMING OUT OF MY GARAGE, TURNING CORNERS I HEAR THIS NOISE. IT IS VERY LOUD. I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ACCELERATER PEDAL, BUT I WAS NEVER TOLD OF THIS BY FORD. WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM, COULD MY PROBLEM BE FROM THAT? I'M THINKING TOO MAYBE THE CLUNK IS COMING FROM THE WHEELS. IF ANY INFO ON THIS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANKYOU, DONNA L. MILLER

TIRE SEPARATED AND WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE A REPLACEMENT WAS PURCHASED. WITH DEALERS RECEIVING THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES, SHOULDN'T SOMEONE HAVE KNOWN EARLIER THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

WITH ALL THE RECENT REPORTS OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REPORT MY INCIDENT TO SEE THE FULL SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM.MY WIFE HAD JUST EXITED THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 50 M.P.H. WHEN HER TIRE BLEW OUT. SHE CAME CLOSE TO LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.I REMEMBER IT AS BEING A VERY WARM, DRY AFTERNOON BECAUSE I CHANGED THE TIRE AND I WAS POURING SWEAT. MY WIFE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND THE TIRE WAS NOT PUNCTURED, IT JUST BLEW OUT AND CAME APART. THE SHOP THAT CHANGED THE TIRE SAID THEY SAW NO PUNCTURE THE TIRE JUST BLEW APART. THIS HAPPENED OVER A YEAR AGO, I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT IT SINCE IT WAS SIMILIAR TO THE OTHER REPORTS OF TIRE PROBLEMS.THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: E4026556 ? TIRE SIZE: 235/75 R15 )

DRIVING DOWN 435 FREEWAY GOING TO THE MOVIE DRIVE IN AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL TIRE PEELED DOWN THE CENTER CAUSING ME TO SPIN AND LOSE CONTROL AND SPIN OUT, SLAMMING INTO THE GUARDRAIL, WRECKING THE FRONT LEFT CLIP AND BUMPER AND THE LEFT REAR SIDE, ALONG WITH THE BUMPER AND WINDOW AND HATCHBACK OF MY SUV . THE WHOLE QUATERLEFT SIDE IS TOTALLY WRECKED. TIRE NEVER DEFLATED IT JUST SEPARATED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM016 TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

BACK REAR TIRE BLEW. TREAD WAS DETACHED FROM THE TIRE IN PLACES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/70R15 )

PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. INVOLVED INTO AUTO CRASH 7/1/1998 SERIOUS INJURIES, MONTHS OF HOSPITALIZATION, RIGHT HIP REPLACED....ETC. EX HUSBAND DRIVING FORD EXPLORER, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VE HICLE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS BLOWN ON VECHICLE. I STILL HAVE THE PICTURE. THIS ACCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED ME MY LIFE, AND NOW I'M PERMANENTLY HANDICAPPED. I WAS UNAWARE I HAD AN AVENUE TO REPORT THIS TO. THANKS FOR MAKING THIS PUBLIC. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS INVOLVED. VECHICLE APPRANENTLY SPINNED DOWN THE I-10 ROTATING AT 180 DEGREES, AND THE ROLLED RIGHT ACCORDING TO PHOENIX POLICE. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU COULD OFFER WOULD BE APPRECIATED.( DOT NUMBER: )

THIS IS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM THAT FIRESTONE ANNOUNCED 08/15/2000 THEY ARE ONLY ALLOWING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TIRES REPLACED FROM 08/09/2000 TO 08/16/2000. EVEN THOUGH THE PROGRAM WAS ONLY ANNOUNCED 1 DAY PRIOR TO THE END DATE. THIS DOESN'T SEEM QUITE FAIR.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

TIRES ARE SPLITTING AT THE TREAD AND WILL NOT PASS VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P25570R16 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R-15 )

HAD A BLOW OUT. ALSO HAPPENED IN 1998. SAME THING.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ON 2 SEPERATE OCCASSIONS, AN ORIGINAL REAR FIRESTONE ATX TIRES' TREAD PEELED OFF RESULTING IN 2 SEPERATE ACCIDENTS. BOTH OF THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE THE AUTO WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED DURING HOT DAYS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. DURING THE FIRST INCIDENT, 5 PEOPLE WERE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE WHICH ALMOST ROLLED. THANKFULLY, TRAFFIC ON THE FWY WAS EXTREMELY LIGHT AND WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION AND GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALL 5 PASSENGERS ENDURED EXTREME MENTAL ANGUISH THAT PREVENTED THEM FROM CONTINUING THEIR TRAVEL. WE CONTACTED FIRESTONE WHO WOULD NOT ADMIT ANY DEFECT WITH THE TIRE, BUT DID PAY FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, WE WERE VERY SUSPICOUS OF THE TIRES AT THAT TIME SINCE IT SEEMED SO UNLIKELY THAT A TIRE WOULD DO THAT. SO WE ASKED TO HAVE ALL TIRES REPLACED. FIRESTONE REJECTED OUR REQUEST. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER THE OTHER REAR TIRES' TREAD PEELED OFF UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. AGAIN, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. FIRESTONE HOWEVER REFUSED TO REPLACE THAT TIRE AS WELL AS ANY OF THE OTHER TIRES. NOW THAT THE NEWS OF THIS PRODUCT DEFECT IS ARISING EVERYTHING IS STARTING TO MAKE SENSE. WE FEEL BOTH ANGRY AND BETRAYED BY FIRESTONE THAT THEY HAD THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE, REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS SO APPARENT ON OUR VEHICLE, AND KNOWINGLY PUT MY ENTIRE FAMILY'S LIVES IN JEAPORDY. WE INTEND TO FILE SUIT AGAINST FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

I WENT OUT TO THE TRUCK AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A RUBBER FLAP... I DROVE IT HOME CAREFULLY AND PUT THE SPARE ON IT. ABOUT 5 DAYS LATER, ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, I HEARD FLAPPING AGAIN.. THIS TIME, IT WAS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. SINCE I WAS SELLING THE TRUCK, I STOPPED AT GATEWAY TIRE ON BERT KOUNS, SHREVEPORT, LA TO HAVE "ONE-OFFS" PUT ALL THE WAY AROUND. I'M NOT LOOKING TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF THIS AS I'VE SOLD THE TRUCK, I JUST WANT IT NOTED FOR REFERENCE. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: )

THE TIRES IN QUESTION, ARE COMING APART THE RUBBER IS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 35 MPH. I ALSO TRIED TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED BUT IT DID NO GOOD . THE TIRES HAS MORE THAN 4/32 OF RUBBER LEFT BUT ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE 16" WILDERNESS SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE LIST OF TIRES RECALLED BY FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLEWUP. DRIVER WAS ALONE IN THE TRUCK AND WAS NOT INJURED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, AT, P25570R16, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. OWNER DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF THE SITUATION AT THE TIME, AND JUST REPLACED THE TIRE HIMSELF. PLEASE LIST DOT #. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SHE DID NOT HEAR A NOISE, BUT IT FELT LIKE SHE RAN OVER A ROCK. THEN, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TREAD HAD SEPARATED. DEALERSHIP AND FIRESTONE WERE NOTIFIED.*AK

NOTICED BUMPY RIDE ON ROAD TRIPJ(LIKE RUNNING OVER BUMPS).

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE TREAD CAME OFF ON FREEWAY WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH, CAR SHOOK AND THE TREAD DID SOME DAMAGE TO THE CAR.........I REPLACED ALL MY TIRES IN JANUARY WITH WILDERNESS AT,I FEEL ALL THE WILDERNESS TIRES SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND NOT JUST A WAY TO CUT BACK ON THE RECALLS BY BLAMING IT ON THE DECATUR PLANT ..I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES ON MY CAR, I HAD IT HAPPEN ONCE WITHOUT INJURIES AND DONT WANT TO WAIT TILL MORE PEOPLE DIE OR HAVE INJURIES.....( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )

HE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ON TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

FIRESTONE ATX TIRE P235/70R15 DOTVDHL1PM086 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED, IT ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. *SLC

1996 FORD EXPLORER TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 95. DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD CAME OFF CAUSING THE SUV TO FLIP TWICE. ALL 3 OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED AND HOSPITALIZED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: P235/75A15 TIRE SIZE: 105 SM/S )

TIRE REMAINED INFLATED (LATER CHECKED TO CONFIRM CORRECT INFLATION PRESSURE); TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY, DAMAGED VEHICLE, LODGED AROUND AXLE IN WHEEL WELL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM136 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT (FIRESTONE). NLM

WHEN DRIVING MY 1996 EXPLORER AT 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY I HEARD A LOUD CLICK AND LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR CRANKED BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. MY MECHANIC TOWED THE CAR AND UPON EXAMINING THE CAR FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BROKEN. HE FELT THAT MY EXPLORER'S CRANKSHAFT HAS A DEFINITE MANUFACTURING DEFECT SINCE THE CAR MILEAGE IS ONLY 28000MILES. HE URGED ME TO CONTACT TOWER FORD WHERE I PURCHASED THE EXPLORER. TOWER FORD ADVISED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY ANYTHING TOWARD THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I AM FRUSTRATED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE INJURY ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 28000MILES WITH A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT -WITH NO HELP FROM FORD. I BELIEVE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT IN MY EXPLORER HAS A DEFINITE MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND FORD NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.*AK

TREAD PEELED OFF TIRE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID, DAMAGED REAR QUARTER PANEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

A VERY LOUD SLAPPING NOISE STARTED, I PULLED OFF ROAD AND FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE TREAD HAD COME OFF THE RR TIRE, ALSO SEVERING THE BRAKE LINE AND DAMAGING THE RESIN FENDER FLARE. AFTER CONTACTING FIRESTONE AND SENDING THEM THE TIRE CARCASS, THEY DID IN FACT SEND A CHECK FOR THE COST OF THE TIRE AND THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT TIRE SEPARATION, FOR PEACE OF MIND, I PURCHASED 3 WILDERNESS AT TIRES, TO MAKE ALL FOUR "NEW.'' TIRES. HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE PUBLICITY THAT THE FIRESTONE RECALL OF THE WILDERNESS TIRES, MY WIFE REFUSES TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENTLY, IT SITS IN THE GARAGE. I WANT FIRESTONE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 16 INCH SIZE, AND RE-IMBURSE ME FOR MY EXPENSE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/R16 )

WHILE WESTBOUND ON HWY 58, 26 MILES WEST OF NEEDLES, CA., THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPERATED AND WAS THROWN FROM THE TIRE. THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I HAD FELT AND INCREASING VIBRATION IN THE CAR PRIOR TO THE SEPARATION. I HAVE SUBMITTED THE TIRE AND REPAIR ESTIMATES TO FIRESTONE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM086 TIRE SIZE: P235/75 R1 )

TIRE SEPARATION WAS WITNESSED BY MELBOURNE, FL. FIRESTONE STORE MANAGER -TED MCKERCHER (321) 723-4618. TIRES WERE REPLACED 4-24-2000.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME APART. ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION OF THE REMAINS, WHICH INCLUDED THE TREAD BUT NO SIDE WALL, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THERE WAS NO CUT, PUNCTURE OR OTHER EXTERNAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE CAUSE FOR THE BLOWOUT. I TOOK THE REMAINS TO THE FIRESTONE STORE FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE TIRES AND THE MANAGER AGREED WITH ME THAT THE TIRE HAD FAILED AT THE SIDEWALL , AND INVOLVED AN APPARENT HIGH TEMPERATURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. THAT TIRE ALONG WITH THE OTHERS ARE SHOWING, IN MY OPINION, A STRANGE PATTERN OF "WEAR" ON THE SIDEWALLS AND NEAR THE BEAD. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN NOV. 1999. THESE TIRES ARE NOT THE SIZE TIRES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN RECALL AS OF 8-14-00, BUT I BELIEVE THEM TO BE FAULTY. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: 000 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

I KNOW THESE TIRES WERE NOT RECALLED, BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE EXPERIENCED A TIRE SEPARATION AND BLOW OUT ON THIS FIRESTONE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE NOT WORN OUT, BUT I REPLACED ALL OF THEM. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SPARE IN STORAGE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/R15 )

TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE FLIPS AND FATALLY INJURED. THE PASSANGER IN THE BACK SEAT, THOUGH SERIOUSLY AND SEVERLY INJURED, SURVIVED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM116 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I ORIGINALLY HAD THE ATX'S ON MY EXPLORER. ONCE THE RECALL WENT INTO EFFECT, I WENT TO A FIRESTONE CAR CARE CENTER IN NASHVILLE (STORE # 028150) AND THEY REPLACED THEM WITH THE BRIDGESTONE DUELERS. I DROVE TO WORK AFTERWARDS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN I NOTICED A SHAKING IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD JUST HAD A BALANCE AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT TO GO ALONG WITH THE REPLACEMENTS. SO THE NEXT DAY, I TOOK IT BACK AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE MANAGER. IT WAS BUSY AND AT THE END OF THE DAY SO I SAID I WOULD BRING IT IN THE FIRST THING SATURDAY MORNING. THEY PLACED MY TIRES ON THE BALANCING MACHINE AND I WATCHED AS WE ALL NOTICED A WOBBLING IN ALL THE TIRES. THE MANAGER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE CAUSE OF THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHEN THEY MANUFACTURE THE TIRES, THEY HAVE A LIGHT AND HEAVY SPOT IN THEM. IF THAT HEAVY SPOT IS OFF OR EXTREMELY HEAVY, IT CAN CAUSE A WOBBLE. NEVERTHELESS, I ASKED WHAT AM I TO DO NOW. THE MANAGER STATED THAT I WOULD NOW BE PLACED ON THE REPLACEMENT LIST. I WOULD PREFER TO GO TO A FORD DEALERSHIP NOW, BUT SINCE I ALREADY HAD A REPLACEMENT DONE, I DOUBT IF THEY WILL REPLACE THEM AGAIN. THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP. I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION STATING THE DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT TIRES. CAN YOU SEND ME A LETTER AUTHORIZING A DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN? OR CAN YOU HELP ME OUT IN ANY WAY OR SUGGEST WHAT ALTENATIVES I HAVE? ALSO, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD TO REPURCHASE THE LIFETIME WARRANTIES ON THE BALANCE AND ROAD HAZZARD WHEN I HAD THEM ORIGINALL