TREAD SEPARATING FROM TIRE . TAKEN TO TIRE SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2C1PX TIRESIZE: P25570R16)
1997 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 1997 record →
HELP! I HAVE A REPORT THAT SAYS THERE IS OVER 2 MILL CLAIMS ON THIS TIRE. STILL NO RECALL. PLEASE HELP ME TO HAVE THESE TIRES RECALLED. WHO CAN I TALK TO? THE DEALER WILL NOT HELP AND FIRESTOME FABRICATED A STORY TO ME! SINCERELY TAMMY FORRESTER 949-587-3299 THANKS*****AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
ALL FOUR OF MY FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON MY '97 EXPLORER SPORT HAVE CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALLS ABOUT 1/2 INCH FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRES THAT RUN THE FULL CIRCUMFERENCE OF EACH TIRE. (DOT NUMBER: BM07459-3 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
DURING APRIL WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED I NOTICED AND HEARD A THUMPING NOISE IN MY FRONT WHEEL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL SERVICE GARAGE THAT I TRUST AND THEY DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WAS WITH A TIRE. THIS GARAGE ROTATED THE TIRES. IT WAS AFTER THIS THAT I LEARNED OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL. I HAD THE TIRES INSPECTED AGAIN BY THIS SERVICE GARAGE AND THEY GAVE ME THE TIRE NUMBERS SO I COULD GO TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER. AT THE FIRESTONE STORE I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM OF THE "THUMPING TIRE" AND GAVE THEM THE TIRE NUMBERS. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TIRES WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY DID NOT OFFER TO INSPECT THE TIRES. STILL HAVING CONCERN I WENT BACK TO MY TRUSTED SERVICE STATION IN MARTINSBURG WV AND THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES AGAIN. NOTED SMALL CRACKS AORUND THE RIM AND ALONG THE EDGE OF THE TREAD ON ALL TIRES. NOTING THE POTENTIAL RISK OF TIRE FAILURE I PURCHASE 5 NEW TIRES ON 9/20/2000 FOR $ 420.82. PLEASE NOTE I COULD NOT FIND TIRES AVAILABLE EVEN THOUGH I WENT TO MORE THEN ONE PLACE, E.G., COSTCO - PRICE CLUB. I THEN WENT BACK TO FIRESTONE AND THEY THEN INSPECTED THE TIRES. THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE THE MARKED UP WILDERNESS AT TIRES AND CRACKS. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THESE WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I CURRENTLY HAVE ALL 5 TIRES IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THEM. I DONOT BELIEVE FIRESTONE ACTED IN GOOD FAITH. ONE FINAL COMMENT, FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS NOT BLAMELESS IN THAT THEY PUT A C GRADE TEMPERTURE TIRE ON A VEHICLE THAT IS KNOWN TO
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P265 75 R16) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL AND VIBRATE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *SLC
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC
AFTER HEARING NEWS ON TV CHECKED ALL THE TIRES. NOTICED THAT CRACKS APPEARED AROUND EDGES WHERE TREAD MEETS THE CASING. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, P235/75R15, DOT CODE VNHL WITH 30,000 MILES. *AK
FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES CAUSE A VEHICLE TO PULL TO ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER AND A CONSTANT SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, CONSUMER HAD SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS DONE BUT TO NO AVAIL, AFTER THE TIRES WERE REPLACED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15). NLM
THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL (00T-005). OWNER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *CJ
ONE OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRE AT THAT TIME, TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R13)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R13 )
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R13)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R13 )
I HAVE SUBMITTED INFORMATION TO FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE AND THEY CLAIM THAT I DO NOT HAVE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME AS THEY PREVIOUSLY STATED THAT THEY WOULD. WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP OF MY COMPLAINT? *AK (DOT NUMBER: DOTVD TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
ALL 4 TIRES SHOW DEFINITE CRACKING ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE WHERE TREAD MEETS BODY. MFR REFUSES TO REPLACE (DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
TIRE PLACARD IS NOT REQUIRED IN SUV'S, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE SUV TO A SHIPPING COMPANY OR AN INSPECTION STATION TO GET THE VEHICLE'S CORRECT WEIGHT. *CJ
TICKING NOISE IN ENGINE SINCE PURCHASE. HAD THE SUV IN A FORD SERVICE CENTER SEVERAL TIMES FOR RECALLS ETC. HAD ONLY 21,000 MILE AT PURCHASE. WENT TO ANOTHER FORD SERVICE CENTER WITH ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ON AT 36,200. TOLD I NEEDED THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED AT MY COST. ACCORDING TO YOUR WEB POSTING A SERVICE BUL. HAS GONE OUT ON THIS PROBLEM LONG AGO. FORD SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL . IF NOT FIXED IN OTHER ENGINES THIS WILL COUSE MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE AND MAJOR EXPENSE TO OTHERS. FORD SHOULD HAVE COVERED THIS! ACCORDING TO YOUR WEB CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO BE PUSHED ON THIS PROBLEM BEFORE MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE HAPPES TO OTHERS WITH POSSIBLE INJURIES ETC. *AK
3 WEEKS AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS AND 4 WEEKS AFTER INSPECTION BY FORD DEALERSHIP THE TREAD WAS OFF MY TWO FRONT TIRES. LUCKILY THIS WAS CAUGHT BEFORE IT KILLED SOMEONE. I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH MORE WILDERNESS TIRES THOUGHT THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE INSTANTANIOUS TREAD LOSS. FORD WAS ALSO NOTIFIED AT THE TIME. AFTER IT CAME TO LIGHT ON THE TIRE PROBLEMS I GOT WITH FORD WHO SAYS IT'S FIRESTONES PROBLEM. FIRESTONE SAYS IT'S MY PROBLEM. I FEEL THE 16 INCH WILDERNESS SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE MORE ARE KILLED. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN !!! (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL AND SHAKE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *SLC
CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TWO OF THEIR FIRESTONE TIRES AND DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
CONSUMER RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT ($100) FROM FIRESTONE FOR RECALLED SPARE BUT HAS NOT RECIEVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE OTHER WILDERNESS AT TIRES. NLM
FAULTY FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES CAUSED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AND CONSUMER NOTICED CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES. NLM
WE HAVE BEEN TO TWO FORD DEALERS, FIRESTONE AND NO ONE WILL COMPLY TO REPLACE THESE TIRES, I DO NOT WANT MY WIFE DRIVING THIS TO AND FROM WORK WITH THESE TIRES ON IT. FORD SEEMS TO PASS THE BUCK TO FIRESTONE AND VICE VERSA. SUPPOSIDLY IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE FRIENDS IN SHOPS AND ARE REPLACE ALL TIRES ON THE EXPLORER. GETTING NO SATIFACTION IN DEALERS IN FLA. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
WHILE DRIVING 60MPH & HEARD A THUMP NOISE BEFORE TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF. LOOKED AT A RECAP TIRE. IT HIT THE SIDE FENDER WELL. TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED AT THE TIME. DO NOT HAVE THE TIRE. HAD PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON IN ITS PLACE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 WITH 100,000 MILES.*AK
LEFT REAR TIRE WOULD LOSE AIR ALONG WITH THE OTHER TIRES. LEFT REAR TIRE WAS ONLY THE ONE THAT HAD CRACKS ALL AROUND TIRES, NEAR THE TREAD & CASING. WOULD HEAR A LOT OF NOISE COMING FROM TIRES WHEN DRIVING. TAKING VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE RETAILER TO CHECK & HAVE EXCHANGE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, DOT VNHL P235/75R15 WITH 39,000 MILES.*AK TWO OR THREE TIRES HAD SEPARATION CRACKS ALONG EDGE OF THE TREAD AND SIDE WALL. *YH
TIRES HAVE CRACKS IN THE RUBBER NEAR THE LUGS. BEEN TO 3 FIRESTONE DEALERS TO HAVE THEM CHECKED FOR SAFETY. FIRST DEALER SAID "DRY ROT". SECOND DEALER SAID "OZONE CRACKING". THIRD SAID "ALL TIRES WITH LARGE LUGS ON SUV'S GET THAT CRACKING". THESE ALL SOUND LIKE B.S. TO ME! SHOULDN'T THESE TIRES BE REPLACED BY FIRESTONE ALSO BEFORE ONE COMES A PART AND CAUSES DAMAGE/INJURY? I LEASE THIS VEHICLE AND I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS! PLEASE ADVISE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
TIRES REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL (OOT-005) DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, OWNER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *CJ
TIRES WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED(AT OWNER'S EXPENSE), PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (00T-005) DUE TO REPEATED TIRE FAILURES IN LESS THAN 13,000 MILES. OWNER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM FIRESTONE. *CJ
CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT ALL FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15) HAD A CUT LINE APPEARING COMPLETELY AROUND EACH TIRE AND THAT THEY WERE CAPABLE OF TREAD SEPARATION, ONLY THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE UNDER RECALL 00T005, THE TWO REAR TIRES WERE IN THE SAME SHAPE (INCLUDING SPARE), BUT DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR TIRES NOT UNDER RECALL. *TT
CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005 (FIRESTONE RADILA ATX TIRES), CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
FIRESTONE ATX TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL OF THE TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL 00T005 AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, CONSUMER HAS A SPARE TIRE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS ON A WAITING LIST FOR THE REPLACEMENT. *SLC
WAS WASHING VEHICLE & NOTICED CRACKS ON ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. CRACKS ARE LOCATED WHERE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. TOOK TO DEALER & INDICATION WAS THAT TIRES WHICH WERE NOT AFFECTED DUE TO BEING MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15 WITH 39,000 MILES.*AK
PE00-020 ;CONSUMER HAD FOUND CRACKS ON THE TIRES AFTER SEEN THE RECALL INFORMATION ON IT. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED FIRESTONE DEALER. FORD, EXPLORER, 1997, P235/75R15.*AK DOT#VNHL1PY077. *SLC
TIRE WAS KNOCKING, TOOK SUV IN TO FIRESTONE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. (IT HAD NOT YET DEPARTED THE TIRE).*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY157 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
CONSUMER IS BEING REFUSED RECALL (00T-005) REIMBURSEMENT OF THE FAILED FIRESTONE (P235/75R15) TIRES WHICH WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, THE DATE OF REPLACEMENT DOES NOT MEET WITHIN THE RECALL GUIDELINES. *MJS
CONSUMER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL BUT ARE BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. NLM
THE FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED IRREGULAR TREAD WEAR, NOISE AND VIBRATION, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2000. NLM
TWO OF THE CONSUMER FIRESTONE TIRES STARTED SHOWING THE CORDS, CONSUMER REPLACED THOSE TWO AND ABOUT 45 DAYS LATER THE OTHER TWO STARTED SHOWING THE CORDS, TIRES WERE RECALLED BUT CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ALL THE ORIGINAL TIRES SO THE DEALER WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE ONE THE CONSUMER STILL HAD. NLM
WHILE GOING UP HILL CAR WAS BACKING BACK DOWN HILL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD TRANSMSSIION REPLACED. FEBRUARY 2000, CONSUMER HAD TO GET A TOTAL OF 3 TRANSMSSIONS.ON 07-OCT-2000, WHILE WAITING AT A LIGHT, CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF OF BRAKE AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. *AK
ORIGINAL TIRE ON FORD, EXPLORER SPORT, 1997, P255/70R16 (PROVIDE DOT). ONE OF THE TIRES, CONSUMER DOES NOT NO WHICH ONE, HAD SLITS ALL AROUND THE TIRE. *AK FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
I HAVE THE WILDERNESS AT FIRESTONE TIRES. THEY SEEM TO NOT BE THE RECALL TIRES BUT THE DOT # IS W2HL. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ON A ROAD TRIP AND GOING 70 MPH AND THE TREAD JUST RIPPED OFF THE REAR RIGHT TIRE. OUR EXPLORER SPORT JUST SWERVED HARD TO THE RIGHT TILTING UPWARDS AND THEN COMING DOWN, THEN SWERVING TO THE LEFT TILTING UPWARDS AND THEN COMING DOWN, ANOTHER SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND THEN TO THE LEFT BEFORE WE STOPPED. THIS WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND EVERYONE BEHIND US BEGAN SLAMMING ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID US. THAT SCARED ME VERY MUCH BUT WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT NO ONE CAN HELP US. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK AND I HAD TO BUY TWO NEW TIRES AT MY COST. WE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT ANOTHER TIRE AND WE COULD ALMOST MOVE THE TREAD IT WAS GETTING THAT BAD. IT WAS READY TO BLOW HE SAID. SO WE BOUGHT TWO. I AM UNHAPPY WITH FIRESTONE RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T WANT THESE TIRES ON MY TRUCK. ALL THE TIRES HAVE THE SAME DOT #. I NEED TO GET THREE MORE TIRES AND GET MY TRUCK FIXED AND I DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED SWERVING LEFT AND RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE P23575R15 #DOT W2HL. *AK
CONSUMER FIRESTONE TIRES WERE FAULTY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WEAVE AND VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITOR PRIOR TO AUG 9, 2000 (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT).
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, VEHICLE JERKED AND ROLLED, CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE.*AK
MY MECHANIC,WHILE DOING AN OIL CHANGE,NOTICED THE SEVERE CUT AT SEPARATED TREAD ON MY RIGHT REAR TIRE.ALSO CHECKING OUT THE OTHER TIRES,THE REAR LEFT IS BADLY CRACKED AND STARTING TO PEEL.THEY BOTH HAVE UNEVEN TREAD WEAR.THE RIGHT REAR HAD TO BE CHANGED IMMEDIATLY.THE LEFT IS IN NEED OF IMMEDIAT REPAIR ALSO.I HAVE A TYPED STATEMENT FROM THE MECHANIC.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY496 TIRESIZE: P235/75RI5)
THE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT RESULTING IN VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, TWO INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING THE FIRESTONE TIRES BLEWOUT AND THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE QUARTER PANEL OF THE VEHICLE (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 HAD 17000 MILES ON IT). NLM
CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE, DEALER REFUSED TO REFUND THE FULL COST OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. NLM
FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P235 75 R15) ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T005, DEALER STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE 5 DIFFERENT TIRE BRANDS TO CHOOSE FROM, HOWEVER WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED TO GET THE REPLACEMENT TIRES THE BRANDS WERE DOWN TO 2 AND THERE WERE NO ALL TERRAIN TIRES LIKE THE ONES CURRENTLY ON THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE REPLACEMENT TIRES SHOULD BE THE SAME TYPE AND QUALITY OF TIRES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. *SLC
CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P235 75 R15) ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO TWO OF THE TIRES EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND PEDAL BAR THAT WAS WELDED TO THROTTLE PEDAL, METAL PART CAME COMPLETELY OFF. DEALERSHIP BOLTED BACK ON, THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
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.
Full record for the 1997 Ford Explorer → · Every Explorer year → · How the figures are calculated →