1996 Ford Explorer complaints

ON 9-12-99, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30PM, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER EXPLORER AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE BELTWAY 8 IN HOUSTON. THE LEFT REAR TIRE SHREDDED AND HAD A BLOW OUT. SHE THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE AUTO. THE AUTO TURNED RIGHT AND TRAVELED TOWARD THE RIGHT HAND CONCRETE BARRIER. SHE FRANTICALLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, AND JUST BEFORE HITTING THE BARRIER, SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR TO THE LEFT. THE CAR THEN DID "360'S" CAREENING ACROSS ALL THE LANES OF THE TOLL WAY. THE CAR STOPPED PARALLEL TO THE LEFT CONCRETE BARRIER, APPROX. 12" FROM THE BARRIER. A HARRIS CO. CONSTABLE STOPPED AND HAD THE CAR TOWED, DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE CAR. WE ADVISED MACHAIK FORD THAT THEY SHOULD PAY FOR REPLACING THE TIRE, DUE TO ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. SERVICE MANAGER MARY STATED "WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES." SHE WAS TOLD THE MATTER WOULD BE REFERRED TO MY ATTORNEY. AT THAT POINT, I ASKED THAT THE TIRE BE PUT INSIDE MY CAR AND MY SPARE PUT ON. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, NO ONE AT MAK HAIK HAD ANY IDEA WHERE MY TIRE WAS. NOBODY KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO IT. I FEEL THEY INTENTIONALLY HID EVIDENCE ON MY TIRE PROBLEM, AFTER I ADVISED THEM AN ATTORNEY WOULD BE INVOLVED.( DOT NUMBER: )

ON JULY 8, 2000 AT 12 NOON, THE FIRESTONE TIRE ( FRONT PASSENGER SIDE) ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER SEPERATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. THE FORCE OF THE SEPERATION PULLED ME OUT OF THE LEFT LANE INTO THE RIGHT LANE. LUCKILY THE LANE WAS CLEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE AND PULL TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONDITION OF THE ROADS WERE CLEAR. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND HOT. THE INCIDENT OCCURED ON HWY 6 NEAR NAVASOTA, TX. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES, THERE WAS APPROX. $1200.00 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY FILED A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I SHIPPED THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE FOR ANALYSIS, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO COVER THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR. I STILL HAVE 2 REMAINING FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY VHECILE AND INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECALL RECENTLY ISSUED BY FORD/FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM455 TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

WHILE TRAVELING FROM ORLANDO TO FT. LAUDERDALE TO VISIT MY FAMILY ON THANKSGIVING DAY, 1999, THE TIRE TREAD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED SUDDENLY WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED (ABOUT 65 - 70 MPH) ON I-95 NEAR JUPITER, FLORIDA. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS HARD TO CONTROL. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO CAR TO THE RIGHT (MY WIFE AND I WERE IN THE LEFT LANE) AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WE CHANGED THE TIRE ROADSIDE, AND HAD BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED THE NEXT DAY AT TIRE KINGDOM AT LAUDERDALE BY THE SEA. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL CAUSED BY THE PEELED AWAY TIRE, WHICH WE HAD FIXED AT A LATER DATE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT GREENWAY FORD IN ORLANDO. THE MECHANIC AT TIRE KINGDOM SAID THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL THAT THE TREAD CAME OFF WITHOUT CAUSING A BLOWOUT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE TIRE FAILED CONSISTENT WITH REPORTS THAT ARE CAUSING THE RECALL OF THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. THE TREAD PEELED OFF, THE TIRE BLEW, AND MY WIFE LOST CONTROL INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN BARRICADE.( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE BLEW ON FREEWAY IN FAST LANE. LUCKY TO BE ALIVE WITH NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE..( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: F235/75 15 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A GRINDING NOISE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM WHEEL. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN SHE HEARD A POP, AND LOST CONTROL, HITTING THE GUARDRAIL/ CONCRETE WALL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. AFTER SHE CAME TO A STOP, THE POLICE STATED THAT TREAD WAS COMING OFF FROM THE TIRE.*AK

CONSUMER SON'S TIRES BEGAN TO LOSE TREAD AFTER RIDING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER PUTTING AIR IN TIRES. THEN, TREAD PEELED OFF.*AK

PE 00020: WAS DRIVING 60MPH & HEARD A NOISE FROM LEFT REAR. AFTER PULLING OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD & CHECKING TIRES, NOTICED TREAD HAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY. TREAD HAD WRAPPED AROUND REAR AXLE. TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. TREAD HAD BEAT AGAINST THE FENDER & UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE, CAUSING A LOT OF DAMAGE. CHANGED THE TIRE. STILL HAS TIRE, AND WILL MAIL IN WHEN LABEL WAS RECEIVED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX; DOT #VDHL1PM395; SIZE P235/75R15 AND HAD 40,000 MILES ON TIRES. *AK *SLC

PE00 020; CONSUMER HAD JUST COME BACK FROM A TRAVELING TRIP AND GAS ATTENDANT TOLD HIM THAT HIS TIRES DIDN'T LOOK GOOD. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE ATX#. HE HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED. *AK

FIRESTONE TIRE (NO SIZE OR BRAND) EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER NOTICED A SPLIT IN SIDEWALL ALL AROUND THE TIRE, CONSUMER STATES THE CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER FELT VIBRATION AND COULD HARDLY STEER VEHICLE, PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD, AFTER INSPECTION OF THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRE P235/75R15 DOT VDHL1PM TIRE IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A LARGE SEPARATION ON DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE, 10 DAYS LATER ANOTHER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND ON THIS TIRE THE STEEL BELTS COULD BE SEEN, THE SECOND BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FENDER, RUNNING BOARD, AND BUMPER, ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED AND ANOTHER FAULTY TIRE WAS FOUND, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

PE00020, ORGINIAL EQUIPMENT ON THE 1996 EXPLORER. REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING IN WHICH TREAD WRAPPED AROUND REAR AXLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND. FIRESTONE FIXED DAMAGE AND REPLACED ALL TIRES WITH SAME BRAND. FIRESTONE SAID IT WAS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

SPONTANEOUS TREAD SEPARATION. OUR EXPERTS DETERMINED NO INJURY TO TIRE: DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. HAVE FILED SUIT IN FEDERAL COURT, 10TH CIRCUIT, CIVIL NO. 00-1144-BB (10TH CIRCUIT). CONTACT US OUR OFFICES IF YOU WISH MORE INFORMATION.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

JUST LEFT THE ON RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY SPEED APPROCED 45 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE STERING WHEEL BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. ALMOST LOST CONTROL, AND THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER. PROCEDED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGWAY AND INSPECTED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND DAMGED THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER/QUARTER PANEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ON OCT 12, 1999, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A 2-LANE STATE HIGHWAY NEAR MOJAVE, CA ON A HOT, AUTUMN DAY, MY RIGHT REAR TIRE LOST TREAD/DELAMINATED CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. I SWERVED SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE SUV ROLLED COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT, LANDING UPRIGHT FACING THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING OR TRAILING TRAFFIC, SO NO OTHER VEHICLES/PERSONS WERE INVOLVED. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT & WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO SUSTAIN ONLY VERY MINOR INJURIES & WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE SUV W/ SOME ASSISTANCE FROM PEOPLE WHO STOPPED TO HELP. AS I COMPLAINED OF NECK PAIN, I WAS AMBULANCED TO THE ANTELOPE VALLEY HOSPITAL, BUT WAS RELEASED W/ ONLY MINOR BRUISES, CUTS & SORE MUSCLES. MY INSURANCE COMPANY (20TH CENTURY) DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS (PICTURES AVAILABLE) AND PAID ME $24,072.70, PLUS COVERED MY AMBULANCE & EMERGENCY ROOM BILLS. PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT I HAD ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY SUV IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. TIRE PRESSURE WAS ROUTINELY CHECKED IN CONJUNCTION W/ REGULAR OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES. ALL TIRES HAD PLENTY OF REMAINING TREAD & HAD BEEN RECENTLY ROTATED & BALANCED. I CONTEND THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE FIRESTONE AT TIRES. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED A 2000 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER W/ THE INSURANCE PROCEEDS PLUS ANOTHER APPROXIMATE $11,000 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. ADDITIONALLY, I IMMEDIATELY TRADED IN THE STANDARD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES FOR MORE TRUSTWORTHY ( & MO

FILDED INCEDENT REPORT WITH FIRSTONE IN MAY. THEY READILY PAID FOR NEW TIRE NAD REPAIRS TO VEHICLE. OUR 20 YEAR OLD SON WAS TRAVELING HOEM FROM COLLEGE ON I75 IN MIDDLE LAND WHEN TREAD SEPARATED . THREW HIM TO LEFT EMERGENCY LAND. LUCKILY HE CONTROLLED VEHICLE AND CAME TO STOP. TIRE DID NOT LOSE PRESSURE ANDLUCKILY THE SHREDING TORE UP TEH REAR FENDER ETC AND DID NOT GO INTO AXEL. TORE UP WHEL WELL, QTR PANEL, REAR, R. BUMPER,A DN LIFTGATE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM096 TIRE SIZE: 23575SR/55 )

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE, VEHICLE BEGAN BOUNCING AND SWERVING VIOLENTLY. I STOPPED AT A AUTO CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I HAVE THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AT HOME IE. DOT NUMBER. FIRESTONE PAID FOR THE DAMAGES TO OUR VEHICLE BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE TIRES. WE REPLACED ALL FIVE TIRES AT OUR OWN EXPENSE. THESE TIRES ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THEM. WE WERE JUST LUCKY WE WEREN'T KILLED. WE STILL HAVE ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRES AT HOME, IT HAS A BULGE ON IT LIKE IT IS GETTING READY TO LOOSE IT'S TREAD. PLEASE CALL IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 75R15 )

I THOUGHT MY FRONT END WAS SHAKING FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELLING ABOUT 40MPH BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIRE. MY CHILDREN AND I HEARD A LOUD BANG AT THE SIDE OF THE CAR. MY HUSBAND WAS FOLLOWING IN HIS CAR AND SAW THE TIRE FALL OFF. IT ALSO KNOCKED OFF PART OF THE SIDE PANEL OF THE CAR. THE CAR SWERVED VIOLENTLY BUT I GOT IT UNDER CONTROL TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE RAOD. THE ENTIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND COME OFF. THE TREAD BLEW OFF THE ENTIRE SIDE PANEL OF THE CAR. INSURANCE ESTIMATE WILL BE ABOUT $1500.00 NOT COUNTING THE COST OF TIRE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE ENTIRE SET WITH MICHELINS. WE COULD ALL HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED. WE WERE LUCKY! *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: UNKNOWN )

ALL 4 OF OUR FIRESTONE TIRES WERE QUITE NEW, AND THE TREAD WAS EXCELLENT. FOR NO REASON, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. ALL THAT REMAINED OF THE TIRE WERE RUDIMENTS OF THE TREAD. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL HAD BLOWN OFF. THE FIRESTONE DEALER INITIALLY CLAIMED THAT WE MUST HAVE RUN OVER SOMETHING, BUT THEN CHANGED HIS MIND AND REPLACED THE TIRE. NOW THAT WE ARE READING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A REAL NEED TO PULL ALL OF THEM OFF THE MARKET BEFORE MORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR. IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR FIRESTONE TO VOLUNTARILY INSPECT THE TIRES BECAUSE THE TIRES LOOK FINE. IT IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THAT IS NOT APPARENT TO THE NAKED EYE, AND THAT MAKES IT ALL THE MORE DANGEROUS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOMMENDS THESE TIRES, AND FIRESTONE STANDS BEHIND THEM. THE TIRES POSE A KNOWN RISK, AND IT IS TIME FOR THESE TWO COMPANIES TO REPLACE THEM. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER. KEN LLOYD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE TREAD SEPERATING FROM THE FIRESTONE ATX, I HAD TO REMOVE AND REPLACE WITH THE SPARE THE PASSANGER SIDE REAR TIRE DUE TO AN EGG FORMING ON THE TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2000. WHILE ON A TRIP THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEW. IT WAS IN SHREDS WHEN WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO STOP. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE FIRESTONE IN SPRINGFIELD, MO REPLACED THE TIRE AFTER CHARGING US $24 FOR MOUNTING. THAT EVENING WE SAW ON THE NEWS THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND FEEL LIKE THE DOT SHOULD HEAR ABOUT EVERY OCCURRENCE. WE WERE LUCKY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOLLOW UP ON MY ORIGINAL E-MAIL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: 109S M/S TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225X70RX15 )

TREAD SEPARATED FROM CASING. TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE PARKED. ON RE-INFLATION, BUBBLE IN TREAD APPEARED WHEN AIR LEAK WAS BLOCKED WITH FINGER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70R16 )

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW FORD EXPLORER IN 09/1996. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EVERY ORIGINAL TIRE, INCLUDING THE SPARE, BECAUSE OF TREAD SEPERATION. THIS DID NOT OCCUR ALL AT ONCE, BUT OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SOME OF THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND SOME OF THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT FIRESTONE DEALERSHIPS, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED, THE CAUSE GIVEN FOR THE BAD TIRES WAS CONSISTENTLY THE "BEGINNING OF TREAD SEPERATION". UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM NATIONALLY, BECAUSE HAD WE KNOWN, WE WOULD NOT HAVE REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH THE SAME MODEL/MAKE OF TIRES. I DO NOT READILY HAVE AVAILABLE THE DATES, THE VEHICLE MILEAGE OF WHEN THE TIRES WERE REPLACED NOR WHICH TIRES WERE REPLACED (E.G. FRONT RIGHT OR REAR LEFT) AT THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT, BUT I WILL SEARCH FOR THOSE RECORDS. I ALWAYS CAREFULLY MONITOR ANY SUBTLE CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MY VEHICLES, WHICH IS WHY I WAS ABLE TO DETECT EARLY, THE SEPERATION OF THE TREAD FROM THE TIRES. THE SYMPTOM I DETECTED WAS A NOTICABLY ROUGHER RIDE BEGINNING AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH. CONTACT ME, SHOULD YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TREAD CAME OFF OF TIRE AFTER CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY ON HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES AND WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 3 1/2 HOURS. THE SHAKING OF THE CAR BEGAN SLOWLY WHEN THE CAR REACHED 65 MILES PER HOUR AND OVER A DISTANCE OF 60 MILES THE SHAKING INCREASED DRAMATICALLY UNTIL THE TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREADED. BOTH BACK TIRES WERE REPLACED AND A FREE FIRESTONE INSPECTION HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE ORIGINAL FRONT TWO TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

AT APPROX. 5:00 PM ON MARCH 2000, WHILE RETURNING TO CHARLOTTE, NC FROM TRIP TO COLUMBIA, SC THAT MORNING (DRIVING TIME APPROX. 1 HR. 15 MINUTES EA. WAY), HANDLING BECAME ROUGH FOLLOWING NOISE OF SOMETHING HITTING UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. UPON PULLING OFF HIGHWAY, WE EXAMINED LEFT REAR TIRE AND DISCOVERED THAT TREAD HAD COMPLETELY PEELED AWAY, LEAVING EXPOSED SMOOTH RUBBER SURFACE. CHANGED TIRE AND CONTINUED BALANCE OF TRIP WITHOUT INCIDENT. TIRE WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 1999 FROM SEARS. IN LIGHT OF RECENT PUBLICITY, WE FELT WE SHOULD REPORT THIS. WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT TOOK THE REMOVAL ACTION BY SEARS TO SPOTLIGHT THIS PROBLEM AND WHY THE NTSA DID NOT MAKE THIS PROBLEM PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE BEFOREHAND. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF OF TIRE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. FIRST OCCURANCE IN APRIL WITH NO CRASH OR INJURY. SECOND OCCURANCE CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT BODY SHOP GETTING ESTIMATE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-15 )

WHILE DRIVING SOUTH FROM ATLANTA ON I75 AT 70MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WITH A ROAR.MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING, MANAGED TO EASE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. THE TIRE WAS TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED. WE CALLED AAA WHO REMOVED THE WHEEL AND INSTALLED THE SPARE. ON JUNE 28 WE TOOK THE CAR TO FIRESTONE TIRE CO AT 2211 APPALACHE PKWY, TALLAHASSEE, FL , 32301 TEL 850-877-0184. THEY COULD OFFER NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE TIRE DISINTEGRATED SO TOTALLY. WE BOUGHT A NEW FIRESTONE RADL ATX I I TIRE WHICH THEY INSTALLED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

TREAD SEPARATION AT 75 MPH DRIVING FROM PHOENIX TO LA LAST THURSDAY. I SAVED THE DEFECTIVE TIRE DUE TO NEWS COVERAGE BUT HAD TO REPLACE THE REST TO MAKE THE RETURN TRIP WITH CONFIDENCE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE CAME APART SUDDENLY, AND DESTROYED LR FENDER AND DAMAGED UNDERCARRIAGE. TOTAL REPAIR COST $2400. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 )

AFTER READING SOME INFO ON THE RECENT FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEMS I HAD THE SAME FAILURE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT JUST SOME MINOR DAMAGE FROM THE TIRE SLAPPING THE REAR BUMPER AND WHEEL WELL. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THE INCIDENT. JUST LAST MONTH I BOUGHT ANOTHER EXPLORER WITH THE SAME TIRES. I GUESS I HAVE TO GET THEM REPLACED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

ONE SPOT ON ONE TIRE WORE THROUGH INTO THE STEEL BELT WHILE THE REST OF THE TIRE TREAD HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH QUITE A BIT OF TREAD LEFT ON THEM. IT WAS ONLY BY CHANCE THAT I NOTICED THE WORN SPOT AND FORTUNATELY IT WAS BEFORE GOING ON A LONG TRIP. NEW TIRES, SAME TYPE WERE PURCHASED. MORE RECENTLY, I ROTATED THE ORIGINAL SPARE ONTO THE CAR AND NOTICED A STEERING PULL TO ONE SIDE AND FOUND IT WAS NOT AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. IT TURNED OUT THE ORIGINAL SPARE ALSO HAD ONE WORN OUT SPOT DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT WHILE THE REST OF THE TIRE WAS FINE. AT THE STORE I ASKED WHY IT MIGHT HAPPEN IN PARTICULAR ON TWO TIRES. THEY MENTIONED THERE PROBABLY WAS A DEFECT IN THE TIRE AND THEY WERE TO SAVE THE TIRE SO I COULD CONTACT FIRESTONE. HOWEVER, THEY SAVED THE WRONG TIRE SO I DON'T HAVE IT. BUT HEARING OF THE DEFECTS ON THE ALL TERRAIN FIRESTONE TIRES PROMPTED ME TO RELAY THIS EXPERIENCE OF TWO ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FIRESTONE TIRES THAT HAD SINGLE SPOTS WORN DOWN PAST THE STEEL BELTS ON OTHERWISE 1/2 WORN TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

PE00200 TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE EXPLORER AND WAS NOT HURT. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE , ATX II, P23575R15, DOT VDHL1PM226, NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. TIRE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 7,000. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE CUSTOMER SHIPPED THE DAMAGED TIRE TO FIRESTONE ON REQUEST BUT NOT REFUNDED NEITHER FOR THE SHIPMENT OF THE TIRE NOR FOR DAMAGE CLAIM TO THE VEHICLE. *YH

THE WILDERNESS ATX II MODEL TIRE EXPLODED WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH, RAPPED AROUND THE REAR AXLE, AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER. MANUFACTURER NEVER CONTACTED. *AK

PE02000; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. EXPLORER FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. TWO OTHER PASSENGER'S WERE IN THE EXPLORER. DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE OTHER TWO PASSENGERS WERE TREATED AT THE SCENE. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE ATX, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE EXPLORER WAS TOTALLED. *AK

RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. FORD WAS CONTACTED. *AK FIRESTONE ATX II TIRES WZHL1NM405. *SLC

WHENEVER PLACEING IN 4X4 MODE, AND THEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD SLIP OUT OF 4X4 MODE. THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM , BUT IT WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

PE00-020 TIRES ON A 1996 FORD EXPLORER; WHEN DRIVING 60-70 MPH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP AND ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIMES. TIRE SIZE NOT AVAILABLE, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. *AK THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES DUE TO VEHICLE ROLLOVER. *SLC

PE00-020, FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P23575R15) WHICH CAME WITH 1996 EXPLORER, PASSENGER'S FRONT DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE TIRES WHICH WAS COMING OFF THE BELT. *AK DOT#W2HL1PM385. *SLC

12/30/1999 - DRIVER SIDE, REAR TIRE SEPARATED AND BLEW OUT ON I-40 NEAR MORGANTON, NC TRAVELING WEST AT 65 MPH. MY WIFE WAS FORTUNATE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND GET IT ONTO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER BEFORE ANY FURTHER DAMAGE OCCURRED. TIRE WAS REPLACED AT MARTIN FAMILY FORD IN MORGANTON, NC ON 12/30/1999. 07/10/2000 - THE PASSENGER SIDE, REAR TIRE SHOWED A NOTICEABLE TREAD SEPARATION FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES ALONG THE OUTSIDE TIRE WALL AT TREAD DEPTH. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO THE FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER AT 510 W. MARKET STREET IN GREENSBORO, NC AND REPLACED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: 25570R16 )

FIRESTONE ATX TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, INJURIES AND FATALITY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1 PM TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75-15 )

WHILE TRAVELLING ON THE INTERSTATE AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREADS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE AND CATASTROPHIC BLOWOUT OF THAT TIRE. CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED AT LEAST ONCE AND ALL THREE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. A GEORGIA STATE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT REPORT, POST-ACCIDENT PICTURES AND VIDEO ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. UNFORTUNATELY, MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA, HAS TO DATE, BEEN INEFFECTIVE AT RECOVERING THE FAILED TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P235/75RX1 )

TIRE PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM BODY. VEHICAL WAS STOPPED BEFORE TOTAL SEPARATION. TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH SAME TYPE TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE SIDE WALL BLEW APART. LOOKED LIKE A DONUT. CONTACTED NEAREST FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP WHO WOULDN'T REPLACE ACCORDING TO TIRE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY. CONTACTED ELK GROVE FORD (NEAREST DEALERSHIP) WHO COLLECTED TIRE AND SENT TO FIRESTONE WHO AS OF AUG. 4, 2000 HAS NOT REPLACED DEFLECT TIRES NOR REFUND MONEY SPENT ON DUE TO REPAIRS AS A RESULT OF DEFLECTIVE TIRE ACCORDING TO BIG-O EMPLOYEE ADAM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235-75-15 )

THE TREAD PEELED OFF THE TIRE WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING FROM CHARLESTON, SC TO SAVANNAH, GA ON INTERSTATE 95 DOING 70 MPH. WHAT SAVED OUR LIVES WAS THAT THE TIRE STAYED INFLATED THROUGH OUT THE WHOLE ORDEAL. THERE IS NO DOT FROM THE TIRE BUT PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE CASING( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

I NOTICED IN SPRING OF 2000 THAT MY EXPLORER WOULD SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED. MECHANIC, AS WELL AS MY HUSBAND WERE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT A HUNK (APROX. 5"/5") WAS GONE FROM THE TIRE! INSTEAD OF A NORMAL BALANCING, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECENT FIRESTONE PROBLEMS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT PART OF THE TIRE JUST CAME OFF. THE REST OF THE TIRE IS STILL IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING A GOOD DRIVER, ESPECIALLY WITH A 1 YR OLD, SO I DON'T THINK I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR EXCESSIVELY HARD. WE STILL HAVE THE TIRE, IF THAT HELPS, OR IF YOU NEED TO SEE IT. THOUGH NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, I DREAD TO THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, WITH MAYBE JUST A FEW MORE MILES DRIVEN.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )