Page 22 of 35 · complaints 1,051–1,100 of 1,731

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 →

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 5, 2000MD

PEOOO20; ORIGINAL TIRE ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER P22575R15. AT LEAST TWO TIRES ARE CRACKING AROUND WERE THE TREAD MEETS THE TIRE BODY.*AK THE TIRES ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT MADE IN CANADA AND ARE NOT ON RECALL. *YH

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Sep 5, 2000SC

I HAVE A 97 FORD EXPLORER - THE TIRES ON MY SUV NOW ARE DIRECT FROM FIRESTONE. I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT FACTORY TIRES THAT I HAD ORIGINALLY DID IN FACT 'ALMOST' SPLIT. BY THE TIME I HAD THEM REPLACED (AT AROUND 50,000 MILES) THERE WAS A 6" LINE OF STEEL SHOWING THROUGH RUBBER ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL ON THE BACK TWO TIRES. I'M VERY GLAD THAT I GOT THEM REPLACED WHEN I DID - BUT I THOUGHT THAT THIS INFORMATION MIGHT BE OF SOME HELP. THE ONLY SYMPTOM THAT I HAD WAS A SHAKE IN MY CAR ONCE I HIT 70 MPH. IF I HAD NOT DONE ANY HIGHWAY DRIVING I NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. (EXCEPT FOR HAVING IT SERVICED AND LIFTED - REGULAR MAINTANCE WOULD NOT HAVE REQUIRED SOMEONE LOOKING AT THAT INSIDE SIDEWALL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 5, 2000IN

BELT SEPERATION AT SIDEWALL HAS EXPOSED STEEL CORDS, TIRE HAS MORE THAN 8/32 IN. OF TREAD ON TIRE , TIRE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE UNSAFE BY DEALER BUT DUE TO THE WRONG DOT NUMBER REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER CURRENT RECALL STATUS. DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WAS OWED MORE THAN $30,000 IN TIRE REPLACMENT FROM FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 235 75 R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000TX

TREADS BEGAN TO PEEL FROM TIRE( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000WY

THE TIRES HAVE LARGE CRACKS WHERE THE TREAD TIES TO THE CASING AT EACH LUG. THERE IS A SEPARATION CLEAR AROUND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TIRES WHERE THE STEEL BELT ENDS. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE SMALL CRAZING CRACKS ALL OVER THEM. THE TREADS ALL HAVE SEVERE CRACKING THROUGHOUT. I HAD THE TIRES REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE ON AUG. 16, 2000 DUE TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL. AT THE TIME, I DID NOT KNOW THAT JUST THE TIRES WITH DOT # VDHL WERE INVOLVED. I STILL HAVE THE TIRES, BUT I AM GOING TO HAVE THEM LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES WHILE THEY WERE ON MY EXPLORER. I THINK MY ONLY SAVING FACTOR WAS THAT I DO NOT DRIVE AT EXCESSIVLY HIGH SPEEDS.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000FL

DURING REGULAR DRIVING MY TIRE EXPLODED AND FELL APART( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75 R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000MI

MY HUSBAND, EUGENE, ON 08/07/00 HAD THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD ALL FOUR 4 TIRES REPLACED AT DISCOUNT TIRE CO., INC. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF A RECALL UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE TIRES IN QUESTION WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R-15. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED FOR ME BY OUR SON, STEVEN E. SAKOWSKI ON THE FORD MOTOR CO. EMPLOYEES "B LOT" AND I PURCHASED IT FROM HIM AFTER 30 DAYS WERE UP. WE WANT TO REGISTER THE INCIDENT WITH YOU SO THAT IF IN THE FUTURE THERE IS A RECALL WE WILL BE ON RECORD. THANK YOU, DOLORES G. SAKOWSKI( DOT NUMBER: W2DOT TIRE SIZE: P235/75R-1 )

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000MI

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000MI

I FEEL THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE, PER MY AUTO MECHANIC AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME. THEY ARE WEARING BADLY.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 5, 2000TX

I FELT A WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED AT GAS STATION AND FOUND THAT A CHUNK OF TREAD WAS MISSING FROM THE TIRE ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE TREAD. IT WAS A PATCH ABOUT 4" IN DIAMETER, AND LEFT TWO STEEL BELTS EXPOSED. I TOOK TIRE TO FIRESTONE ON 8/5/00, WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH WILDERNESS AT TIRES- JUST BAD PRESS. THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME $100+ FOR REPLACEMENT, AS A ROAD HAZARD INCIDENT, AND WHEN I COMPLAINED THEY REDUCED THE CHARGE. I DID NOT INSTALL THE NEW TIRE, BUT LEFT MY OLD SPARE IN PLACE, WHICH WAS ALSO DATE CODE W2. THAT TIRE HAD COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION ON 8/31/2000 WHICH I HAVE SEPARATELY REPORTED ON ANOTHER VOQ. THE OTHER TIRE WAS ALSO OF SAME DATE CODE WITH EXACTLY SAME DOT NUMBER. WHEN I MADE THE OTHER REPORT I MENTIONED THE 8/5/00 INCIDENT, AND INCORRECTLY REPORTED IT TO BE A VD DATE CODE. I JUST FOUND FIRESTONE RECEIPT WHICH SHOWS THE FIRST FAILURE LIKE THE SECOND WAS WITH DOTW2HL1PY416 TIRE. WHEN I CONTACTED FIRESTONE ABOUT DAMAGE TO MY CAR CAUSED BY THE TIRE FAILURE, THEY ASKED ME TO SHIP THE DEFECTIVE TIRE AND ALL THE PIECES I COLLECTED OFF THE STREET TO THEM. SHOULD I DO SO?( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY416 TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000MI

ALL OUR TIRES HAVE A SMALL "SEPARATION" LINE AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE, ACCORDING TO FIRESTONE'S AUTHORIZED DEALER, BELLE TIRE. BECAUSE OUR SPECIFIC TIRES WERE NOT PART OF THE INITIAL RECALL BY FIRESTONE, BELLE TIRE TRIED TO CONTACT FIRESTONE TO GET A DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT TO DO ABOUT OUR TIRES. THAT WAS THREE WEEKS AGO. BELLE TIRE AND US HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT ANY DECISION MAKERS AT FIRESTONE-WE KEPT RUNNING INTO DEAD ENDS, EVEN THOUGH WE TRIED NUMEROUS PHONE NUMBERS AND 2 EMAILS, LAST WEEK, WE READ IN OUR LOCAL PAPER ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAD OUR TYPE OF TIRES WHERE FIRESONE SAID THEY WERE OKAY AND THEN 2 WEEKS LATER, THE TIRES RUPTURED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THOSE TIRES WERE MADE AT FIRESONE'S CANADIAN PLANT, AS WERE OURS. WHILE THE LINES AOF SEPARATION ARE SMALL CURRENTLY, THEY ARE ABOUT 3/8 INCH BELOW THE TREADLINE AND ARE PRESENT AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF EACH TIRE. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY PEEL AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE AND ARE LIMITING OUR DRIVING UNTIL WE HEAR DEFINITIVELY FROM FIRESTONE AS TO THE SAFETY OF THESE TIRES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL 1PY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000OH

THE FOUR TIRES DID NOT FAIL AS I REPLACED THEM WHEN I NOTICED A CONTINUAL CRACK AROUND THE ENTIRE TIRE, ON BOTH SIDES OF EACH TIRE, WHICH INDICATED THE POSSIBILITY OF TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. I SHOWED THIS TO TWO DIFFERENT FIRESTONE STORES AND ONE FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE MY TIRES UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE CODE ON THEM TO MEET THE RECALL CRITERIA. WHAT CAN I DO?( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 5, 2000WA

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE BLOWOUTS, TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIRESTONE RECALL. *MJS

Tires
Filed Sep 4, 2000NY

IT IS MY BELIEF THAT ALL THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, NOT JUST THE ONES MADE IN DECATOR. OUR TIRES WERE WEARING FROM 3 MONTHS INTO OWNING THE VECHICLE, BUT NEITHER FORD NOR FIRESTONE WOULD TAKE ANY ACTION. I BELIEVE IT'S A DESIGN FLAW! FIRESTONE SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS OF ALL THE TIRES. PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR INVESTIGATION FURTHER INTO ALL BRANDS, NOT JUST THE VDHL CODED TIRES. THANK YOU. GARY J. SPANEDDA( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 4, 2000WA

BOTH OF THESE TIRE BLOWOUTS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON WASHBOARDED GRAVEL ROADS. NO ROAD HAZARDS WERE FOUND DURING REPAIR (E.G. NO NAILS OR OTHER OBJECTS). THEY APPEAR TO HAVE JUST BLOWN OUT.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX446 TIRE SIZE: P255 70R16 )

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 4, 2000NJ

WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELAERATOR BRACKET(ARM) DETACHED FROM THE FIREWALL WHERE IT WAS WELDED. THIS IS THE SAME INCIDENT THAT WAS REPORTED ON ODI ID 858739.

Tires
Filed Sep 4, 2000FL

1/TIRE BLEW ON PAVED OFF-RAMP FROM I-4; 2/STEEL BELTS STARTED SHOWING AT 45,000 MILES.( DOT NUMBER: 25400URBMO TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 4, 2000FL

ENGINE MAKING TICKING NOISE WHERE TIME CHAIN IS. AFTER DISASSEMBLY BY MECHANIC FOUND TENSIONER WITH TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE. NEW TENSIONER AND TIMING CHAIN INSTALLED( DOT NUMBER: )

Tires
Filed Sep 4, 2000MD

TIRES ARE CRACKING AT BOTTOM OF TREAD LINE ON SIDE WALL, ALSO "CHUNKING"AT TOP OF TREAD, PIECES OF TOP OF TREAD ARE LIFTING FROM TIRE( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 2, 2000MI

HAVE BEEN COMPLAIN OF FRONT WHEEL SHAKE SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE AT 36,000. DEALER THOUGHT IT WAS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. DURING ROUTINE VEHICLE MANTINANCE FOUND LEFT FRONT TIRE INSIDE (DOT W2HL) WAS WORN AND BELT SHOWING. DEALER SAID BAD TIRE, FIRESTONE DEALER SAID NEED ALINEMENT. PUT ON SPARE TIRE ALSO DOT W2HL AND PURCHASED NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE P235/7515 DOT 8XHL. HAVE KEPT OLD TIRE. TWO REMAINING REAR TIRES SHOW CRACKS IN SIDE WALL. LITTLE HELP FROM DEALERSHIP OR FIRESTONE. TIRES ARE AT USE FULL LIFE, BUT GOOD TREAD IS STILL ON TIRES. PLAN ON REPLACING ALL FOUR THIS WEEKEND . WILL NOT BE REPLALCING WITH FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 2, 2000GA

TIRE LOST ALL TREAD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TIRE RECENTLY INSPECTED BY FIRESTONE DEALER AND SAID TO BE IN EXCELLECT CONDITION.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL IPY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires
Filed Sep 2, 2000CA

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 TIRES LISTED IN THE REPORT WERE ON THE REAR VEHICLE (FORD 1997 EXPLORER, EDDIE BOWER 4X4, 4 DOOR MODEL). THESE TIRES APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL. TOTAL VEHICLE MILES WERE APPROXIMATELY 62,000 MILES. TREAD WEAR WAS EXCELLENT FOR THESE TIRES. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY ONE-FOURTH INCH TREAD LEFT ON THESE TIRES. I HAVE BEEN INSPECTING EACH OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRES BEFORE AND AFTER EACH DAY'S COMMUTE. I NOTICED SMALL FRACTURES DEVELOPING AT THE EDGE OF THE TREAD WHERE IT MEETS THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. BOTH REAR TIRES EXHIBITED THE SMALL FRACTURES. DURING THE LAST INSPECTION (ON 08/23/00), I NOTICED THE FRACTURES WIDENING SIGNIFICANTLY. AT LEAST ONE OF THE FRACTURES ON THE OUTER SIDE OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXHIBITED STEEL WIRES PROTRUDING FROM THE BULGE. I IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTACTED A LOCAL FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE. BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL, THEY OFFERED TO INSPECT AND POSSIBLY PRORATE WARRANTY. I DID NOT WANT FIRESTONE REPLACEMENTS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THESE MODEL TIRES HAVE DESIGN DEFECTS. I HAD ALL FOUR WILDERNESS TIRES ON THE VEHICLE REPLACED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE SECOND REAR TIRE HAD LARGER BULGES AND STEEL WIRE PROTRUSIONS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I BELIEVE THAT THESE TWO REAR TIRES WERE IN IMMINENT DANGER OF CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION. THE FRONT TIRES APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND I DO NOT THINK THEY ARE ORIGINAL. THEY APPEAR NEWER WITH MUCH MORE TREAD REMAINING THAN THE REAR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 1, 2000MO

WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Tires
Filed Sep 1, 2000IN

CONSUMER INSPECTED TIRES AFTER SEEN THE RECALLS AND FOUND CRACKS ON FOUR SETS OF TIRES. THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER, AND DEALER POINTED OUTTHAT TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL. *AK

Tires
Filed Sep 1, 2000PA

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THOSE ALTERNATING TREAD BLOCKS WHICH DO NOT WRAP ONTO THE SIDEWALL. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS, "THAT SIZE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL" AND CALLS IT "NORMAL" BUT OTHER BRANDS OF SIMILAR TIRES I HAVE EXAMINED DO NOT HAVE CRACKS LIKE THESE. I WILL PROVIDE PHOTOS IF DESIRED. I WANT TO KNOW IF THESE TIRES ARE SAFE. IF NOT, I WANT THEM REPLACED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

Tires
Filed Sep 1, 2000FL

ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO TIRE EXPLODING OFF RIM. I HAVE ALSO GONE THROUGH 12 TIRES DUE TO IRREGULAR WEAR AND VIBRATIONS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TiresCrash3 injured1 killed
Filed Sep 1, 2000TX

TIRE SEPARATION AND ROLLOVER( DOT NUMBER: W2CU 1PX TIRE SIZE: P2557016 )

Tires
Filed Sep 1, 2000TX

MY REAR LEFT TIRE BLOW OUT IN A HOUSTON HIGHWAY ON MAY 09, 2000, PRIOR TO THE GENERAL WARNING AND FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL. THEN I LEFT THE US FOR MY VACATIONS ABROAD AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO COLLEGE LAST WEEK AND KNOWING ALREADY ABOUT THE RECALL, I TOOK THE EXPLORER'S TIRES TO THE FORD DEALER BUT TO MY SURPRISE, HE REFUSES TO CHANGE THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MANUFACTURED AT THE FIRESTONE'S DECATUR, IL. PLANT. I STILL HAVE THE WILDERNESS AT TIRE THAT BLOWNOUT, IT IS AS I SAID FROM ANOTHER FIRESTONE PLANT AND I WONDER IF MY TIRE BLOWOUT, SHOULDN'T ALL THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES FROM OTHER FIRESTONE PLANTS BE RECALL AS WELL?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 1, 2000OR

TREAD SEPARATION. HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 1, 2000CA

RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRE TREAD FAILED WHILE DRIVING(P235/75/15) THE DEBRIS FROM THE TIRE JAMMED THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER CAUSING IT TO LOCK UP AND BEGIN SMOKING. NLM

Tires
Filed Sep 1, 2000PA

CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES WERE SEPARATING AND STATED IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THEM, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE AND FIRESTONE STATED EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. NLM

Equipment
Filed Aug 31, 2000MA

BOTH RUNNING BOARDS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE A SERIOUS RUST PROBLEM. BOTH SIDES ARE RUSTING THROUGH IN THE EXACT SAME WAY, IN THE SAME AREA. THIS AREA IS ON TOP MAINLY NEAR THE PLASTIC TREAD. IN THE PAST 4 MONTHS I HAVE SEEN NEARLY 12 OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THIS IS ON THE IDENTICAL MODEL, THE IDENTICAL PART. IN SOME CASES, THE PROBLEM ON THE OTHERS IS MORE ADVANCED AND SEVERE. I HAVE TOLD LOCAL FORD DEALER AS WELL AS FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THERE RESPONSE IS NOT COVERED OUTSIDE 3YR./36 MONTH WARRANTY. MAINLY CONTACTING YOU TO SEE IF THIS SIMULAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS.

Tires
Filed Aug 31, 2000TX

3 WEEKS AGO A VD CODED WILDERNESS AT ON RIGHT FRONT OF MY EXPLORER LOST A CHUNK OF TREAD EXPOSING BOTH STEEL BELTS. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE WHO SAID THE STORIES IN THE PRESS WERE FALSE, AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THIS WAS AUGUST 8, 2000. THEY SOLD ME A REPLACEMENT TIRE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TO THIS STORE COMPLAINING OF WOBLE AT SPEED. THEY CLAIMED THE TIRES (ALL VD CODE) WERE GOOD, AND THE ALIGNMENT BY FORD DEALER WAS BAD. MY FORD DEALER HAD INSPECTED TIRES AND ALIGNMENT 7 MONTHS EARLIER AND SAID THE TIRES WERE BAD. I DID NOT INSTALL THE REPLACEMENT NEW TIRE SINCE THE RECALL NEWS CAME THE FOLLOWING DAY. SO I USED MY SPARE, DOT CODED W2HL WHILE RECALL ISSUES WERE BEING RESOLVED. TODAY I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH IN TEXAS, 107 DEGREES AT THE TIME. THE CAR STARTED WOBBLING SEVERLY, AND I SLOWED DOWN. THE ENTIRE TREAD OF THE TIRE THEN FLEW OFF, AFTER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT, FORTUNATLEY. I WALKED BACK DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND RETRIEVED THE TREAD IF ANYONE WANTS TO INSPECT IT. THIS WAS MY SPARE TIRE, ALSO MOUNTED ON RIGHT FRONT, AND IT WAS A SUPPOSEDLY GOOD DOT CODE. I HAVE HAD TWO DEFECTIVES IN 3 WEEKS ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE SAME CAR. I WAS CARRYING 30 LBS PRESSURE AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND FAILURE. I PUT THE NEW SPARE ON, DROVE TO A TIRE STORE AND BOUGHT 4 TIRES. I RETAINED ALL FOUR BAD TIRES (3 ARE DOT VD, AND THE OTHER W2HL. I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR OTHER BAD DOT PLANT CODES. I ALSO THINK THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE FORD SUSPENSION, BASED ON SEVERAL M

Tires
Filed Aug 31, 2000NY

BLOWN OUT TIRE WITHOUT REASON( DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires
Filed Aug 31, 2000TX

THIS TIRE SAYS "MADE IN CANADA" (I.E. NOT IN ILLINOIS), YET THE TREAD IS SEPARATING AND CABLES SHOWING. WE REPLACED IT LAST SPRING AND IT IS THE SPARE NOW.

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 31, 2000AR

UPON TAKING MY FORD EXPLORER TO FIRESTONE TO SEE IF MY TIRES ARE IN THE RECALL, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY FRONT TIRES WERE SO BADLY WORN ON THE INSIDE EDGE THAT THE STEEL BELTS COULD BE SEEN. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, HOWARD FORD OF WEST MEMPHIS, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CASTER AND CAMBER BUSHINGS WERE WORN OUT AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL WEAR ITEM. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS STATEMENT IS THAT I HAVE REGULARLY HAD FORD SERVICE MY EXPLORER AND ROTATE THE TIRES FROM DAY ONE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ASKED ME WHO HAS BEEN SERVICING MY EXPLORER RIGHT OFF THE BAT. HE SAID THIS AS IF WHOEVER IT WAS, SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS. WHEN I INFORMED HIM THAT HIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS THE ONLY ONE TO EVER DO ANYTHING TO THIS VEHICLE, HE CHANGED THE SUBJECT. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A SERVICE MANAGER AT A DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIP, IT IS MY FEELING THAT THIS POOR DESIGN OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, AND THE INFERIOR MATERIAL USED IN THESE BUSHINGS COULD BE JUST AS MUCH A CAUSE IN THE TIRE PROBLEM AS ANYTHING. MY REASONING IS THIS, I RECENTLY HAD MY TIRES ROTATED AND THE FORD DEALER NEVER MENTIONED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END. NOW, LESS THAN 5,000 MILES LATER, MY TIRES ARE SO WORN THAT YOU CAN SEE THE STEEL BELTS. I STRONGLY URGE NHTSA TO RESEARCH THIS MATTER AND MAKE FORD TO TAKE THERE SHARE OF THE BLAME FOR THESE ACCIDENTS AMD DEATHS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 31, 2000FL

THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE, UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FORM THE TIRE BUT THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED (P23575R15). NLM

Tires
Filed Aug 30, 2000MI

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDE WALL SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WITH A BLOW OUT AT 70 MPH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/75/16 )

TiresCrash2 injured
Filed Aug 30, 2000CA

OUR CAR ROLLED OVER AFTER BEING STRUCK IN THE RIGHT REAR , BOTH TIRES ON DRIVER SIDE SEPERATED FROM RIMS. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO ROLL OVER. OTHER 2 TIRES WHILE HAVING DEBRIS IN BEAD AREAS DID NOT SEPERATE FROM RIM( DOT NUMBER: UNK TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

Tires
Filed Aug 29, 2000TX

TIRES ARE WILDERNESS, BUT NOT PART OF THE RECALL. LEAST TWO OF THESE TIRES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS IN SOUTH TEXAS IN THE PAST YEAR, ONE WHICH LEFT A WOMAN A QUADRAPLEGI WHY ARE THESE WILDERNESS TIRES NOT MADE AT THE DECATER PLANT PART OF THE RECALL????

Tires
Filed Aug 29, 2000TX

ALTHOUGH MY TIRES WERE NOT PRODUCED IN DECATUR, I NOTICED A DISTURBINGLY LOUD NOISE SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE PURCHASE. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED, BUT NOT FOR THAT PARTICULAR TIRE. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND THE TIRES FEEL "MUSHY" WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, EVEN THOUGH PROPERLY INFLATED. I'VE CONTACTED OUR FORD DEALERSHIPS RE: REPLACEMENT, BUT THEY CANNOT ASSIST. HAVE CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND AM WAITING FOR AUTHORIZATION OR DENIAL.( DOT NUMBER: )

Tires
Filed Aug 29, 2000NJ

I WENT TO MY FORD DEALER & ASKED HIM TO INSPECT MY TIRES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 235 SERIES. HE SIAD " LOOKS JUST LIKE THE OTHERS, YOU SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED." MY TIRES ARE CRACKING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND THE BORDER OF THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL, AS WELL AS WITH IN THE TREAD ITSELF. I AM A BIT SCARED ABOUT THE TREAD TEARING OFF, THEY LOOK REALLY BAD( DOT NUMBER: VNCU1PX356 TIRE SIZE: 255 70R 16 )

TiresCrash3 injured
Filed Aug 29, 2000TX

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: )

Tires
Filed Aug 29, 2000TN

SUMMER 1999- TRIP TO FLORIDA, RAN INTO RAIN STORM AROUND DECATUR, ALABAMA. WE HAD SLOWED TO 35 - 45 MPH MAXIMUM AFTER FEELING WHAT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE TRYING TO HYDRAPLANE. THEN WE HEARD A SLAPPING SOUND LIKE THE RUBBER WAS LOOSE. STOPPED AND CHECK IT AND TIRES APPEARED OKAY. CONTINUED CAREFULLY. TO DATE, WE STILL HEAR A SOUND SIMILIAR TO A BALL BOUNCING WHILE DRIVING IT. LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MGR. SAID THE TIRES WERE CUPPING. WE HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED EVERY 10,000 MILES MAX. AND THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES; ALL HAVE BEEN OKAY. I RUN APPROX. 32 LBS. IN THE TIRES. DOOR LOCKS - LEFT REAR HAD TO HAVE 2 MOTOR REPLACEMENTS BEFORE IT OPERATED PROPERLY. NOW LEFT FRONT CONTROL LOCK IS NOT UNLOCKING PROPERLY WITHOUT NUMBEROUS ATTEMPTS.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY49 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

Tires
Filed Aug 28, 2000NE

FIRESTONE/FORD NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL SIZED TIRES NOT JUST THE 15 INCH TIRES. WE HAD OUR 16 INCH TIRES CHECKED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND HERE ARE THERE COMMENTS ABOUT EACH TIRES: LR TIRE BAD WEAR ON OUT SIDE TREAD, RR TIRE HAS CHOPPY TREAD, RF TIRE LOW SPOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE, LF ALSO HAS LOW SPOT IN THE MIDDLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 38,000 MILES AND THESE TIRES ARE USED FOR NORMAL DRIVING, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT FIRESTONE/FORD NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SHODDY CRAFTMANSHIP AND IT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE 15 INCH TIRES. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO LOSE THEIR LIVES BEFORE IT IS REALIZED THAT THE MANUFACURE HAS ROLLED OUT TIRES THAT ARE NOT MADE TO WITHSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

Tires
Filed Aug 28, 2000GA

THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CRACKING, DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS DRY ROT SYMPTOMS, TIRES NOT INCLUDED IN RECENT RECALL. *MJS

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 27, 2000IA

EXPERIENCING ON GOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM; 1. ABS LIGHT REMAIN ON, AND 2. REAR ROTORS WEAR EXCSSIVELY. FAULTY BRAKE SENOR HAVE BEEN REPLACE /REPAIRS ON FOUR OCCASION BY DEALER AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 27, 2000MD

SUSPECT DAMAGE RELATED TO RECALL. TIRE MADE IN CANADA. CRACKS IN VALLEYS OF TREAD. SMALL CRACKS AROUND SIDEWALL - ALL TIRES SIMILAR. REPORTED TO FIRESTONE 3 WEEKS AGO AND THEY INDICATED OXIDATION THEN SHOWED ME 4 OTHER TIRES THAT DID NOT HAVE SIMILAR CRACKS, EXPLAINING THIS WAS NORMAL. 8/26 FIRESTONE DEALER (COLUMBIA, MD) AGREED TO REPLACE, BUT HAD TO ORDER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255R16 )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 27, 2000TX

TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE BUT TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE. TIRE WAS REPLACED AT FIRESTONE DEALER UNDER PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED "ROAD HAZARD' WARRANTEE AT 50% COST. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL AT THIS TIME. PLEASE INCLUDE OUR DATA TO SUPPORT INCLUSION OF THESE (WILSON, NC PLANT) TIRES IN AN EXPANDED RECALL. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY097 TIRE SIZE: 235 75R15 )

Tires
Filed Aug 26, 2000VA

I FILLED THIS FORM OUT PREVIOUSLY CONCERNING THESE TIRES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TREAD IS SEPERATING FROM THE SIDEWALL ON BOTH REAR TIRES. I HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE TWO REAR TIRES, IN ADDITION TO THE TREAD SEPERATION PROBLEMS, HAVE LARGE "BLISTERS" OR "BUBBLES" IN THE INTERIOR OF THE TIRE. ONE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY THREE INCHES ACROSS, AND ONE-HALF INCH HIGH. THE OTHER MEASURES APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES ACROSS, AND ONE-HALF INCH HIGH. THESE 16-INCH WILDERNESS AT TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, AND OTHERS, AND NEED TO BE RECALLED( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX217 TIRE SIZE: P25570R16 )

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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.

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