1996 Ford Explorer complaints

TIRE DELAMINATED WHILE DRIVING ON A MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED AND MY WIFE REACTED BY FURTHER SLOWING THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT FURTHER VEHICLE JARRING/SWAYING. SHE WAS ABLE TO FIGHT THE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND CROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER. THE TIRE FLAP TORE THE WHEEL WELL AND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING OVER$2000 DAMAGE. THIS FAILURE PUT THE LIVES OF MY WIFE, TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, TWO OTHER PASSENGERS, AND OTHER DRIVERS IN GRAVE DANGER. I AM OFFENDED THAT FIRESTONE AND FORD HAVE NOT ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY AND PUT CONTAINMENT PLANS INTO ACTION. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRANCE OF A TIRE ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE (WITH THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES). WHEN THE FIRST OCCURRED, WE NOTICED A THUMPING SOUND AND UPON INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE TREAD WAS MISSING (DOWN TO HE STEEL BELT) IN ONE LOCALIZED AREA OF THE INNER EDGE OF THE TREAD (ABOUT 4" DIAMETER FAILURE). I FOUND THIS AN ODD FAILURE AND APPROACHED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WHO ATTRIBUTED IT TO WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THEY CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY AND OFFERED NO SUGGESTION. THE SERVICE MANAGER EVEN RESORTED TO VULGER LANGUAGE DIRECTED AT ME. I SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER MEDIATOR AND BERGE FORD EVENTUALLY PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT FREE, BUT I PAID FOR THE TIRE REPLACEMENT (2 TIRES). I DID NOT REPORT THIS TO FIRESTONE AT THE TIME. THE FLUID HAS LEAKED OUT OF BOTH FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS. I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH ENGINE PING AND GAVE UP AFT

TIRE TREAD DELAMINATED./VEHICLE ROLLED MULTIPLE TIMES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM116 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

JUST WANTED TO ADD OUR NAME TO YOUR LIST OF INCIDENTS REPORTED ABOUT TREAD SEPARTION ON THESE FIRESTONE TIRES. WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO DAMAGE WAS DONE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED ON BOTH OUR REAR TIRES ON TWO SEPARATED OCCASIONS THIS SUMMER WHILE WE WERE ON VACATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: DHL1PM116 )

FRONT LEFT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES SEPARATED AND WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, CAUSING DAMAGES TO THE FRONT LEFT FENDER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 235/75/R15 *MW

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WILDERNESS/ATX TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLEWOUT,CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT, FOUR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *MJS

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. EXPLORER FLIPPED OVER ABOUT 3 OR 4 TIMES. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE AND BOTH WERE INJURED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE ATX (235/75R15). OWNER IS NOT SURE IF THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE. TWO VEHICLES WERE TOTALLED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE CRASH, AND CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY. *AK *MJS

WILDERNESS FIRESTONE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE SHOWING WEAR. TWO FRONT TIRES STEEL BELTS ARE SHOWING. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH REAR RIGHT TIRE LOST ALL OF THE TREAD, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL AND HITTING O A BRIDGE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK BOTH DRIVER SIDE TIRES WERE ALSO RUINED WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT THE CONCRETE BRIDGE WALKWAY. *YH

PE0 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SHE HEARD VIBRATION, AND THEN VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. DRIVER RIGHT REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, BUT TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15 *MW

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX LEFT REAR TIRE P235/75R15 EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING A THUMPING NOISE, TIRE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL, TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 75 MPH, TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE, NO INJURIES. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED, SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 75 MPH, TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE, NO INJURIES. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED, SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

CASING EXPLODED LEAVING ONLY INSIDE CORD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM216 TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

TREAD SEPARATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE TIRE TREAD BLEW OFF FLATTENED THE TIRE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL BUT NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THIS IS THE 6TH TIRE THAT THE TREAD HAS PEELED OFF. THE FIRST FEW TIMES IT WAS THE MANUFACTURER'S ORIGINALS. I AM REPORTING THIS ONE BECAUSE IT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE TIRE.THIS LAST INCIDENT -- THE TIRE ONLY HAD 1100 MILES ON IT. CAUSED US TO SKID AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. (AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON THREE OF MY ATX RADIAL TIRES. ONCE THIS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REPLACED ALL MY TIRES NOW BECAUSE THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES MADE MY VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPLACING MY TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70MPH WHEN THE REAR TIRE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILED. THE TIRE FELL APART . THE TIRE DID NOT EXPLODE IT JUST FELL APART. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THESE TIRES WERE RELETIVELY NEW BECAUSE THERE WAS PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT ON THEM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

A 1996 FORD SUV BLEW A TIRE ON THE NJ TURNPIKE, HIT MY WIFE'S CAR AND CAUSED BOTH VEHICLES TO VEER OFF THE ROADWAY INTO THE WOODS. MY WIFE'S CAR LANDED ON ITS SIDE AND WAS TOTALLED AS WELL AS THE EXPLORER.FORTUNATELY, THE INJURIES WERE VERY MINOR. THE TROOPER WHO INVESTIGATED FOUND THAT THE TIRES ON THE EXPLORER WERE ATX FIRESTONES. WE WISH TO ADD OUR NAMES TO THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED OR PUT IN SERIOUS DANGER FROM THESE TIRES. IF YOU CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PENDING LAWSUITS, WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR CONTACTING US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH . ARNOLD & JUDY HOFFMAN( DOT NUMBER: )

REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OFF WHILE CRUISING AT 70MPH ALONG I-75 BRIDGEPORT, MICHIGAN. CAR THEN SWERVED ERRATICALLY. THANKS GOD I WAS DRIVING ON THE RIGHT LANE AND ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. ALMOST GOT AN ACCIDENT.PLEASE INVESTIGATE THOROUGHLY AS I HEARD REPORTED DEATHS WITH SIMILAR INCIDENTS. I WANT FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF MY EXPENSES FROM FIRESTONE. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT ,BUT IT DID NOT GO FLAT. TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH SPARE, AND AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING AT 70 MPH , LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE ,SPUN AROUND, AND ROLLED OVER,CAUSING 1 FATALITY AND 4 SERIOUSLY INJURED. TIRE AND TREAD WERE SENT TO HR BAUMGARDNER TIRE CONSULTANTS ,JAY HALPERN, TO 3330 LAKEWIND WAY ,ALPHARETTA, GA 30005 TELE#18008827006 BY ATTORNEY. ( FIRESTONE ATX RADIAL TIRE DOT VDHL1PM196). *AK *MJS

ON JULY 2, 2000 THIS VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH ONE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE AND THREE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES WAS ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH, AND SUFFERED A REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLOWOUT, TAKING THE LIVES OF TWO OF THE OCCUPANTS, AND INJURING 3 OCCUPANTS. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ON ROUTE 15 SOUTH BOUND SUDDENLY HEARD A BANGING. THIS LATER TURNED OUT TO BE TREAD SEPARATION FROM DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE VIBRATION SO CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE CENTER WHERE TIRES WERE ROTATED, 2 MONTHS LATER THERE WAS STILL VIBRATION AND WHEN INSPECTING TIRES, FOUND 1 WAS EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION, DEALER ALIGNED, ROTATED AND REPLACED TIRE, ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT ANOTHER TIRE HAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

TREADS SEPARATED FROM TIRE ON ONE AT 18,000 MILES AND AT 23,000 MILESA BLOW OUT. WE WERE NOT DRIVING FAST. ONE WAS IN YELLOWSTONE AND THE OTHER WAS ON A FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 65MPH. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED ROLLOVER ON THE FREEWAY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

RIGHT REAR TIRE PEELED COMPLETELY AROUND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL SLAMMING INTO THE GUARDRAIL ON THE FREEWAY MULTIPLE HITS TO LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. PINBALL EFFECT.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM016 TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

THE ACCIDENT OCCURED OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN TEXAS AND RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF MY BROTHER JOHN CHRISTOPHER HOUSTON AND HIS FIANCE, DANA WILLENBERG. 3 OTHER PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT IS ON FILE WITH THE GEORGETOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE 3 OTHER PASSENGERS, WHO RESIDE IN AUSTIN, ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TREAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEADS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE ROLL OVER ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURIES( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIGHWAY. TREAD SEPARATED FROM REST OF TIRE. THIS WAS VERY SIMILAR TO PUBLISHED REPORTS OF FIRESTONE/EXPLORER FAILURES. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REMAIN IN CONTROL AND PULL OVER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

VEHICLE WAS EQUIPTED WITH FIRESTONE ATX TIRES ( P235/75R15). TIRES WERE CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE, FOUND OUT THAT CORDS WERE BAD IN THE TIRE. THEY EVENTUALY BLEW OUT.DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY TIRE TREAD CAME UNDONE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP OUT OF CONTROL, ONE INJURY . *AK *MJS

BOTH TIRE DEFECTS APPEAR AS LARGE BUBBLES IN THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. THE FIRST TIRE DEFECT BECAME APPARENT THE FIRST TIME THAT TIRE WAS MOUNTED AFTER HAVING BEEN USED AS THE SPARE TIRE ALL OF IT'S LIFE, NEVER HAVING BEEN MOUNTED UNTILL THEN. THE BUBBLE BECAME APPARENT TO ME AS A VIBRATION AND ROAD SLAP NOISE. THE MOST RECENT DEFECT (DIFFERENT TIRE) APPEARS AS A BUBBLE APPROXIMATELY 12" IN LENGTH, APPROXIMATELY 3" WIDE ALONG THE INSIDE TREAD SURFACE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THEN, FIRESTONE ATX TIRE WENT FLAT. CONSUMER SAID THERE WAS A GOODYEAR TIRE PLACE NEARBY. *AK

PE00020: DRIVING VEHICLE 77MPH WHEN TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE ATX TIRE WITH 12,000 MILES & WRAPPED AROUND & HIT THE BACK OF TRUCK. HAD MADE A LOT OF NOISE WHEN IT HIT. TRUCK LIFTED UP OF PAVEMENT. CHANGED TIRE P235/75R15 & TOOK TRUCK TO FIRESTONE SHOP TO HAVE TIRE REPLACED. SENT OTHER TIRE & INFORMATION TO FIRESTONE MANUFACTURER FOR REIMBURSEMENT. NOT SURE IF TIRES WERE ORIGINAL OR NOT. *AK

ODI# 6141; WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY GOING APPROX. 60 MPH LEFT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRE SIZE WAS 255/70R16. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES OTHER TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO CRACKS ALONG THE EDGES. *SLC

I LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED MY FORD EXPLORER WHEN MY FIRESTONE ATX TIRE LOST ITS TREAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CA. MY EXPLORER WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND I FORTUNATELY WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY MINOR BACK AND NECK PROBLEMS AND A CONCUSSION. IT WAS RECENTLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS WAS NOT A FREAK ACCIDENT BUT SOMETHING THAT HAS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY AND I WANTED TO LOG MY COMPLAINT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 32 PSI )

WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 75MPH FELT REAR END WOBBLING BADLY. PULLED OVER & NOTICED A BUBBLE IN THE TREAD OF ORIGINAL FIRESTONE ATX. EXCHANGED LEFT REAR WITH THE SPARE. TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE STORE & BROUGHT TWO FIRESTONE ATX & PLACED ON VEHICLE. DO NOT HAVE TIRES OR DOT NUMBER. P225/70R15. TIRES HAD 54,000 MILES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE TREAD SEPARATED FROM LEFT REAR TIRE, AND DAMAGED THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL, KNOCKING OFF THE CHROME COVER OFF, AND BOLTS BROKEN AND BENT THE REAR QUARTER PANEL. *AK

FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX P23575R15 TIRES ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 96 EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55-60MPH TREAD SEPARATED ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE, RESULTING IN BODY DAMAGE. *AK *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE IN REVERSE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, RESULTING IN A COLLISION, AND MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAD ACCELERATED FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE AFTER STARTING DISPITE FRANTIC BREAKING BY DRIVER. *YH

PE00020 TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, LOST CONTROL OF THE EXPLORER AND CRASHED. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE EXPLORER BECAUSE THE TREAD ON THE REAR RIGHT TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN VEHICLE AND NOT SERIOUSLY INJURIED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE ATX, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 23575R15. THE INSURANCE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. OWNER WAS TOLD TO CONTACT FIRESTONE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION.*AK

TREAD CAME OFF PARTIALLY OFF THE TIRES WHILE DRIVING, AND WAS BANGING AGAINST THE VEHICLE. THESE WERE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH ANOTHER SET OF ATX. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15 *MW

PE00-020, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE TREAD SEPARATION; WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 70-75 MPH TREAD ON THE REAR TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OFF, WHICH CAUSED A CRASH. EXPLORER WAS TOTALLED IN THE CRASH. DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO SUSTAINED A SHOULDER INJURY. FIRESTONE ATX TIRES WERE ON THE TRUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TIRE TREAD SEPERATED ON THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE. TIRE WAS A STOCK REPLACEMENT FROM FORD DEALER. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15. VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MPH. VEHICLE RECEIVED ABOUT $2000 WORTH OF DAMAGES. *AK