1996 Ford Explorer complaints

I EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT AND LOST CONTROL OF MY SUV. THE SUV SPUN AROUND 3 TIME AND ALMOST FLIPPED OVER I STARTED OFF IN THE RIGHT LANE AND ENDED UP IN THE FAR LEFT LANE FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD JUST HAD MY TIRE CHECKED A MONTH EARLIER AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE FINE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: P235/75R15 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I HAVE HAD 4 INCIDENTS WITH THESE TIRES. ALL OCCURRED ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE AT SPEEDS OVER 55 MPH. ONE OCCURRED ON AUGUST 23, 1999, COMING HOME FROM MY PARENTS HOME IN WEST PALM BEACH. THE THREADS SEPARATED. I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE AND UPON ARRIVING AT HOME A PIECE OF THE TIRE WAS LOOSE AND I HAD BEEN TRAVELLING ON THE INSIDE PART. BOUGHT A NEW TIRE, SAME BRAND. TWO MORE OCCURRED AS MY SON WAS DRIVING FROM MIAMI TO TALLAHASSEE TO RETURN TO SCHOOL. FUNNY, I TOLD HIM TO TAKE MY CAR BECAUSE I HAD "GOOD TIRES". HE HAD TWO BLOW OUTS, BOTH REAR WHEELS AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL. REPLACED THESE TWO IN TLH AT A SEARS STORE, WITH OF COURSE, THE SAME BRAND AND TYPE. THE FIRST ONE WAS RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE INCIDENT. THATS AN AWFUL COINCIDENCE. TOOK MY VEHICLE TO LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER, AND WAS NOT TREATED VERY KINDLY. I MOSTLY DRIVE MY VEHICLE ON THE EXPRESSWAYS AND TURNPIKE, SINCE I HAVE TO TRAVEL BETWEEN MIA AND FLL AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 25570S16 )

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

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT WANTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM TOOK VEHICLE TO TIRE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT TIRES HAD BOTH SEPERATED FROM THE TREAD BOTH TIRES HAD BUBBLES IN THEM( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX455 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

OVER A PERIOD OF TWO MONTHS, VEHICLE PERFORMANCE DETERIORATED SEVERELY. ROUGH BUMPY RIDE ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT, AND VERY STRONG PULL TO THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT I HAD AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY, I WAS UNABLE TO STEER A STRAIGHT LINE AT SPEED ABOVE 45, AND I NOTICED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. I COULD INSERT FINGERS BETWEEN TREAD AND TIRE ON TWO TIRES; I DO NOT RECALL WHICH TWO. FOR THE LIFE OF THE TIRES, I HAD MAINTAINED PRESSURE AT THE FORD-RECOMMENDED 26 PSI, THOUGH I NEVER ROTATED THE TIRES. WHEN I DISCOVERED THE TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE, I WENT TO A FIRESTONE DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD THAT I MUST REPLACE THE TIRES; I HAD FAILED TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN FIRESTONE-RECOMMENDED PRESSURE, AND HAD FAILED TO ROTATE. I BOUGHT FOUR NEW WILDERNESS AT TIRES, BUT I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN USED.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM016 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND TIRE JUST CAME APART, IT LOOKED LIKE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE BIG TRUCK TIRES COME APART, I DID NOT REPORT IT TO ANY ONE BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FREAK OCCURANCE, I'VE GOTTEN GO SERVICE OUT OF THEM BUT KNOW I AN AFRAID FOR MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WHO USE TE VEHICLE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 25570R16 )

AFTER NOTICING FLUID ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM FRONT AXLE. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

PE00020;TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER COULD NOT CONTROL EXPLORER, WHICH ROLLED OVER. THREE OTHER PASSENGER'S WERE IN THE EXPLORER. ALL FOUR PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. TWO PASSENGER WERE TREATED FOR INJURIES. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, AT. TIRE SIZE P23575R15. TIRES WERE NOT PURCHASED ON THE EXPLORER. TIRE MILEAGE 22,000. THE EXPLORER WAS TOTALLED.. *AK THE DOT # IS VDHL1PY316. *SLC

FIRESTONE ATX TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15 *MW

TREAD ON LEFT REAR SEPARATED AT 35 MPH, CAUSING REAR QUATER TO BE DAMAGED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK TIRES WERE FIRESTONE P23575R15. *SLC

REAR RIGHT SIDE FIRESTONE ATX (P23575R15) TIRE BLEW OUT, AND REAR LEFT TIRE'S TREAD PEELED OFF, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT- CONSUMER WAS INJURED ALONG WITH A PASSENGER. *AK DOT#VDHL1PM186. *SLC

RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AT 70MPH, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 96 EXPLORER P235 SIZE. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15 *MW

FIRST TIRE FAILED IN APRIL. TIRE WENT FLAT. WHEN INSPECTED, THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE BODY. REPLACED IT AND ITS MATE. STILL HAVE THE MATE (UNMOUNTED) WHICH NUMBERS ARE BEING REPORTED. SECOND INCIDENCE OCCURRED IN JULY WHILE DRIVING ON I45 SOUTH OF CONROE TEXAS. CAR HAD BEEN VIBRATING AND WAS GETTING WORSE. WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND LOOKING OUT REAR VIEW MIRROR SAW TREAD PORTION OF TIRE FLY OFF. THE TIRE AND ITS MATE WERE AGAIN REPLACED. STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SPARE. BOTH OF THESE INCIDENCE APPEAR TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE BEING REPORTED. FOR BOTH TIMES, THE EXPLORER STARTED VIBRATING BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY UNTIL THE TIRE FAILED.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM485 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING, LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF OF CAR. TREAD PULLED ENTIRE LEFT REAR CORNER PANEL OFF.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 25/70R15SL )

THE FIRESTONE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH REAR LEFT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. BUT, CONSUMER KEPT CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15 *MW

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH TREAD ON THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET EXPLORER ON THE SHOULDER. DRIVER AND ONE ANOTHER PASSENGER IN THE EXPLORER. NO ONE WAS INJURED. TIRE SIZE WAS P22570RX15, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. ALL TIRES ON THE EXPLORER WERE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

TRAVELING 70MPH & HEARD A THUMP SOUND & VEHICLE STARTED SWERVING. STOPPED VEHICLE & CHECKED TIRES. NOTICED TREAD CAME OFF TIRE. IT HAD WHIPPED THE MOLDING OFF SIDE OF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A DITCH. HAD TIRE REPLACED & DID NOT HAVE TIRE. IT WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX, SIZE P235/75R15 WITH 10,000 MILES. *AK

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, TREAD ON DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE CAME OFF, CAUSING EXPLORER TO ROLLOVER. DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE BOTH INJURED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, ORIGINALTIRE EQUIPMENT. EXPLORER WAS TOTALLED. OWNER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH FIRESTONE. PLEASE LIST TIRE SIZE AND DOT #. *AK

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE EXPLORER, WHICH RESULTED IN A ROLLOVER. 3 OTHER PASSENGER'S WERE IN THE EXPLORER. NO ONE WAS INJURED. EXPLORER WAS TOTALLED. TIRE WAS NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. PLEASE LIST TIRE NAME, SIZE, DOT # AND MILEAGE IF POSSIBLE. ALL CLAIMS WERE HANDLED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES P235/75R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD PEELING AWAY FROM THE SIDEWALLS, TIRE MILEAGE WAS ONLY 32000, ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED. *SLC

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD LOUD POPPING NOISE. REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. AND EXPLODED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE ATX, AND SIZE #P23575/R15. ALSO, TIRE DAMAGED THE FENDER. *AK

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 96 EXPLORER. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AT 65MPH, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *AK THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE BEFORE THE TREAD OF THE TIRE CAME OFF. *YH

IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY I WAS ON A RETURN TRIP FROM ORLANDO, FLORIDA AND ON MY WAY TO TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA HOME. APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES NORTH OF ORLANDO I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS DRIVING ( 1996 FORD EXPLORER ). I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND AS I CONTINUED TO DECREASE IN SPEED THE VIBRATION INCREASED AND BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP I FELT A LARGE BANG IN THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS IF THE TIRE BLEW, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL NEARLY MISSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. I REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE THAT WAS ON THE VEHICLE AND MADE IT TO TALLAHASSEE. DURING THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE TO TALLAHASSEE I OBSERVED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REMAINING TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. MY CONCLUSION WHEN I ARRIVED IN TALLAHASSEE WAS THAT I DID NOT FEEL THAT THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE SAFE AND WOULD NOT BET MY FAMILIES LIFE THEM SO I HAD THEM REPLACED. WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK I HAD FOUR OF THE FIVE TIRES REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE, THE SPARE STILL REMAINS UNDER THE VEHICLE UNTIL SUCH TIME THIS MATTER IS RESOLVED. TO MY SURPRISE ON AUGUST 8, 2000 I HEARD RUMORS THAT THE TIRE OF THE SAME BRAND AND MAKE "FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX" SERIES MAY BE RECALLED. HOWEVER THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE FROM THE STEEL BELTED RADIAL THAT TORE AWAY FROM THE WHEEL ITSELF CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST MY LIFE FROM THE TIRE IN QUESTION. I FEEL THAT IT WOULD NOT BE UN

TIRE FAILED AS TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE BODY. ALTHOUGH TIRE WAS REPLACED VIA PRO-RATA VALUE OF TIRE TREAD USED, WE REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH MICHELIN TIRES ON MARCH 24, 1999. WE DID THIS BECAUSE OF LACK OF TRUST IN THE FIRESTONE TIRES, AND EVEN THOUGH THE FIRESTONE TIRES WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR ANOTHER 20000 MILES OR SO BASED ON TREAD LEFT.. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

TIRE BLEW CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL 3 TIMES, RESULTING IN MAJOR INJURIES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE DONE TO CAR FROM THE RECALLED TIRE? THE TREAD WAS PARTIALLY DETATCHED FROM CASING AND SLAPPED THE REAR QUARTER PANEL AND TAIL GATE. WHO DO WE CONTACT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I HAVE HAD TWO TIRE SEPARATIONS ON MY FIRESTONE ATX II TIRES WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 60 DAYS. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES PURCHASED IN PAIRS (AT DIFFERENT TIMES). BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 50 MPH, AND AT APPROPRIATE TIRE PRESSURES OF APPROXIMATELY 33PSI.( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE SEPARATED GOING ABOUT 20 MPH ON A GRADED BUT UNPAVED ROAD. TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 102 DEGREES. THE SEPARATION LOOKED IDENTICAL TO MEDIA PICTURES OF OTHER TIRE SEPARATION PROBLEMS. TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 20,000 ON IT. PLENTY OF TREAD WAS LEFT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75R15 )

WE WERE DRIVING BACK FROM MAMMOTH THROUGH THE MOJAVE DESERT ON WEEKEND OF JUNE 22, 2000. WE STOPPED FOR LUNCH IN BISHOP CALIFORNIA AND WHEN WE RETURNED TO OUR CAR WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. WE CALLED AAA AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOOK US TO THE ONLY STATION IN TOWN THAT WAS OPEN OF A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE TIRE THEY NOTICED THAT INSTEAD OF A PUNCTURE IN THE TIRE THAT CAUSED THE FLAT A TOP LAYER OF THE TIRE HAD PEELED AWAY AND WIRES WERE EXPOSED. I GUESS THIS IS THE DEGLAZING EFFECT THAT IS OCCURING WITH THE FIRESTONE ATX RADIALS. THE STATION DID NOT HAVE THE ATX TIRES WE ORIGINALLY HAD SO WE REPLACED THE FLAT WITH THE WILDERNESS TIRES. WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TIRES SO THEY WOULD MATCH. THE TEMPERATURE THAT DAY THAT WE WERE TRAVELING WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 DEGREES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ENGINEERS REPORT BY CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED DEFECTIVELY IN THAT THE TREAD WAS NOT PROPERLY BONDED TO THE BELTS, WHICH ALLOWED THE TREAD TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE BELTS, ALTERING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TIRE. THIS SEPARATION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP FIVE TIMES, TOTALING THE VEHICLE AND INJURING THE DRIVER. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN TEXAS, IN HOT WEATHER AND ON A HIGHWAY. THE FAULTY TIRE WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM126 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. TIRE HIT THE BUMPER AND DAMAGED IT.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. *AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE/ VIBRATION. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STILL ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD FIRESTONE ATX TIRES, DOTVDHL1PM146, AND TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15 *MW

ENTERING FREEWAY, TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND KNOCKED OFF MOLDING AND BENT BODY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75-15 )

TREND CAME OFF TIRE , DAMAGE TO REAR FENDER-TRAVELING APROX. 65 ON FREEWAY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

ON JULY 13, MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING FROM YUMA, AZ TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. OUR RIGHT FRONT TIRE'S TREAD CAME AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE WHILE WE WERE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR. THESE TIRES WERE INSPECTED BY ALEXANDER FORD IN YUMA AZ IN APRIL AND DETERMINED TO BE FINE. ON JULY 24TH, I WAS ONCE AGAIN TRAVELING FROM YUMA,AZ TO CALIFORNIA AND THE TREAD ON MY BACK LEFT TIRE CRACKED AND PART OF IT CAME OFF AS WELL. BOTH THE TIRES WERE OBVIOUSLY REPLACED, AND IN FACT I STILL HAVE ONE OF THE TIRES IN MY POSSESSION.( DOT NUMBER: )

MY SON WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75 GOING APPROX. 75MPH AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE JUST PEELED AWAY AND CAUGHT THE REAR PANEL AND PULLED IT OFF. NOTHING WAS IN THE ROADWAY TO CAUSE SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. THANK GOD TIRE DIDN'T BLOW. AT TIME ROADSIDE REPAIR HELP ADVISED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE -- SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. SINCE LEASE WAS UP THE NEXT MONTH, WE TURNED EXPLORER IN TIRE AND ALL PAID DEDUTIBLE TO HAVE REPAIRED AND INS. CO. COULDN'T PERSUE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KEEP THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. 95 DEGREES OUTSIDE. ALMOST FLIPPED SUV. ONE WEEK LATER, I WITNESSED THE SAME PROBLEM (FIRESTONE WIDERNESS ON AN EXPLORER) CAUSE A GRUESOME DEATH BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FLIPPED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

THE TREAD OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT TIRE CAME DETACHED FROM THE TIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-5 IN SAN DIEGO. MY CAR NEARLY FLIPPED OVER AND SOME DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY FRONT QUARTER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DID NOT KNOW THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TIRES DOING THE SAME THING TO OTHER PEOPLE, SO I REPLACED THE TIRES MYSELF AT A COST OF $546 OUT OF FEAR FOR SAFETY WITH THOSE TIRES. I'M CONCERNED THAT FIRESTONE WILL TRY TO IGNORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED NEW TIRES ON THEIR OWN, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FIRESTONE'S DEFECTIVE TIRES THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE HELP US MAKE SURE THAT FIRESTONE OWNS UP TO THEIR MISTAKE AND COMPENSATES PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.( DOT NUMBER: )

TRAVELING OFF SANIBEL ISLAND AND ACCELERATING TO 50 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND SLAPPING AT THE REAR OF THE CAR AS IF I HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD SHREADED. THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED BUT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED, TEARING OFF THE REAR WHEEL GUARD AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE RUNNING BOARD. THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE WAS ALSO DENTED. SINCE I HAD JUST ACCELERATED TO 50, I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE HIT BY THE FLYING DEBRIS. WE CHANGED THE TIRE AND DROVE TO THE NEAREST FIRESTONE DEALER TO REPLACE THAT TIRE AND THE OTHER REAR TIRE. THEY DID NOT INFORM US OF EXISTING PROBLEMS WITH THE ATX AND SOLD US TWO NEW ATX TIRES. AFTER WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION -- WHICH WAS A FAMILY REUNION OUT OF TOWN -- WE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEMS WITH ACCIDENTS RELATED TO FIRESTONE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION WHICH HAD RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS AND EVEN FATALITIES. UPON RETURN HOME WE WENT TO THE FIRESTONE STORE AND THEY TOOK THE TWO ATX TIRES BACK AND REPLACED THEM WITH BRIDGESTONES. THE BODY DAMAGE ESTIMATE IS $1,100. WE STILL HAVE TWO FRONT ATX TIRES AND A SPARE AND ARE WAITING TO SEE IF A RECALL IS PUT IN PLACE FOR THOSE.( DOT NUMBER: )

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND TREAD SEPARATION INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THESE TIRES. FIRST ONE OCCURED NEARLY SIX MONTHS AGO. I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND TOOK OFF THE RUNNING BOARD ON THE RIGHT SIDE TRYING TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, DANGEROUS TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: )

RIGHT REAR TIRE THREAD CAME OFF AND ALMOST CAUSED WRECK. I KNOW THAT YOU KEEP STATISTICS ON DEFECTS SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I ALMOST HIT A CAR BUT MANAGED TO SWIRVE INTO A DITCH.

FOLLOW A LONG WEEKEND TRIP, I NOTICED A LARGE SECTION OF THE OUTSIDE TREAD WAS MISSING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE REVEALING THE STEEL BELT. IT IS WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRE, THE FIRESTONE ATX, THAT CAME WITH THE EXPLORER WHICH WE PURCHASE NEW IN '96. THE MISSING PIECE WAS AT LEAST FIVE INCHES IN LENGTH AND TWO INCHES WIDE. I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THE DAMAGED TIRE WITH THE MATCHING SPARE. IN EARLY JUNE I REPLACE THE ENTIRE SET OF FIRESTONE TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD BY A DISCOUNT TIRE EMPLOYEE THE DAMAGE WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY HITTING A LARGE POTHOLE (WHICH I DIDN'T BELIEVE.) PLEASE ADD OUR COMPLAINT TO YOUR FILE SURROUNDING THE FIRESTONE TIRES. WE HAVE A TWO-YEAR OLD SON WHO WE DROVE AROUND EXCLUSIVELY IN THE EXPLORER. THANK GOD NOTHING HAPPEN, BUT I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE DELAY FORD AND FIRESTONE DISPLAYED WITH THIS RECALL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 )

ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, A REAR TIRE SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION THAT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. AFTER THE SECOND ONE, I REMOVED THE REMAINING FIRESTONE TIRES AND REPLACED ALL FOUR WITH MICHELINS.( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: ? )

MY FAMILY & I WERE DRIVING TO CA. FROM LAS VEGAS DOWN I-15, ABOUT 25 MILES OUT OF LAS VEGAS. THE TREAD COMPLETELY BLEW OFF OUR RIGHT, REAR TIRE, DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH. MY HUSBAND FOUGHT TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR, IT SWAYED & ROCKED VIOLENTLY. WE HAD HEARD A LOUD "BANG" BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS & DIDN'T SUSPECT A FLAT TIRE, THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HIT US.THE ROAD WAS CLEAR AT THE TIME; HAD USUAL TRAFFIC BEEN PRESENT WE WOULD'VE HIT ANTHING IN THE LANE NEXT TO US, DUE TO SEVERE SWERVING. HAD WE TURNED OVER AND ROLLED, MOST DEFINITELY WOULDN'VE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED IF NOT KILLED. PULLED OVER, SAW THAT TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE. REAR LIGHT WAS BROKEN, QUARTER PANEL DENTED, REAR BUMPER DISENGAGED FROM CAR. AFTER GETTING TIRE CHANGED BY AAA CLUB, IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO LV. AT GOODYEAR SHOP, TOLD THEM TO TAKE OFF ALL TIRES & BOUGHT NEW ONES FOR TOTAL OF $500. THE PREVIOUS WEEK HAD HAD CAR SERVICED FOR TRIP TO CALIF. & NO PROBLEMS NOTED WITH TIRES (HAD SPECIFIC CONVERSATION). NO CLUE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. AM CURRENTLY WORRIED ABOUT GOODYEAR STEEL BELTED TIRES THAT HAVE BEEN ON SINCE 7/99 SINCE I LIVE IN DESERT & IT'S FREQUENTLY OVER 100 DEGREES. I HAVE THEM CHECKED FREQUENTLY TOO BUT NOW I HAVE NO PEACE OF MIND AFTER HARROWING EXPERIENCE OF LAST SUMMER.( DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I WENT TO THE TIRE STORE TO HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME TWO OF MY FIRESTONE ATX RADIALS WITH THE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THESE TIRES SHOWED VERY LITTLE WEAR AND SHOWED NO OTHER OBVIOUS DAMAGE. I WANTED TO INFORM YOU OF THIS DEFECT TO HELP POINT OUT A QUESTIONABLE TIRE DESIGN. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT I WAS LUCKY THESE TIRES DID NOT COME APART DURING USE. I WAS ABOUT TO START ON AN EXTENDED TRIP.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R17 )

I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC TO LOOK OVER AND RECOMMEND WHAT WORK NEEDED TO BE DONE IN ORDER FOR ME TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL LIST. AMONG THE THINGS THAT I SAID NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED/REPLACED WERE THE TIRES. THE DEALER REFUSED. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND I BEGAN DRIVING IT. IT IS MY FIRST SUV AND I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE WAY IT HANDLED ON BUMPS IN THE ROAD, OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, IN DIPS IN THE ROAD, ETC. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE WAY IT HANDLED. BECAUSE THE DEALER "COULD NOT DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT BECAUSE IT IS AN SUV I SHOULD GET USED TO THE ROUGHER RIDE. THE PROBLEM HOWEVER WAS IN THE WAY I FELT I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, NOT THAT THE RIDE WAS ROUGH. I CONTINUED TO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE WAY IT HANDLED ON SUBSEQUENT VISITS. I EVEN BEGAN ASKING THEM TO LOOK AT THE TIRES. I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIRES AS I SAW DRY ROT ON THE OUTER EDGES OF EACH OF THE TIRES. AGAIN, I BELIEVE EVERYTIME I TOOK IT IN I ASKED THEM TO EXAMINE THE TIRES AND LET ME KNOW IF I SHOULD BE CONCERNED. THEY WOULD NOTE THE TIRE TREAD ON MY PAPERWORK BUT NO ONE EVERY COUNSELED ME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION NEAR MY HOME TO SEE WHAT THEY THOUGHT. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO TRY NOT TO DRIVE FOR MANY MILES AT A TIME AND ESPECIALLY DURING HOT DAYS. I REPLACED

REAR TIRE TREAD FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE ROLLOVER( DOT NUMBER: )

2 SEPARATE FAILURES DUE TO DELAMINATION( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )