1997 Ford Explorer complaints

I TOOK MY CAR FOR INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD MY TIRES DIDN'T QUALIFY. I POINTED OUT TO THE FIRESTONE MANAGER MY LEFT REAR TIRE. THE TREAD IS SEPARATING AND THERE ARE CRACKS AROUND THE TIRE AND THE OTHERS. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD COVER MY TIRES UNDER THE RECALL. I AM 400TH IN LINE. I HAVE HAD TO SWITCH LABOR DAY TRAVEL PLANS TO TRAIN TRAVEL. I DO NOT HAVE THE WHOLE DOT CODE FOR MY TIRES BUT IT DID INCLUDE W2. I WANTED TO NOTIFY YOU OF THIS FAILURE AS IT IS A DIFFERENT DOT# THEN THE CURRENT RECALLED TIRES.

CRACKING AT TREAD LAYER VERY APPARENT. FIRESTONE LETTER SAYS "THE FIRST INDICATION THAT [SEPARATION IN THE TREAD AREA] IS OCCURRING COULD BE A BULGE IN THE TREAD AREA AND/OR A THUMPING NOISE." THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS OCCURRING IN THE RIGHT-FRONT TIRE. THE TIRES LIVES SHOULD NOT BE OVER, THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY277 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE NOISE AND VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED, REPLACED TIRES BEFORE FAILURE OCCURED.( DOT NUMBER: WZUU1PO446 TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

PLEASE ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P235/75R15) DOT SERIES "VNHL". I HAVE A SERIES OF SPLIT SIDEWALL CRACKS THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 1/2-INCH DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE SIDEWALL THAT RUN THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFRANCE OF THE TIRE ON BOTH THE "INSIDE" AND "OUTSIDE" ON ALL FOUR (4) TIRE'S. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE OFF-ROAD OR ABOVE 70-75MPH. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AT 32PSI COLD AND HAVE 28,000 MILES. THE TIRE TREAD IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE AND STILL HAS OVER 10/32" (5/16") OF TREAD REMAINING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY FORD AS A LEASED VEHICLE AND IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. THIS IS NOT A DAILY DRIVER AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 450 MILES ONE WAY, OR FOR MORE THAN 5-HOURS AT ANYONE TIME. THE SERIES OF CRACKS WERE NOT PRESENT WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HAS OCCURED OVER THE LAST YEAR. I FIRST NOTICED THESE CRACKS AFTER RETURNING FROM A TRIP TO COLUMBUS, OHIO LAST JUNE. THEY APPEAR TO HAVE LENGTHENED AND HAVE OPENNED UP SLIGHTLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER. I HAD 32PSI IN THE TIRES PRIOR TO THIS TRIP. AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE DOT SERIES NUMBER IS "VNHL" AND THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. I URGE "ALL" CONCERNED TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THESE TIRES ARE NOT FROM THE DECANTUR, ILLINOIS PLANT, BUT FROM CANADA. THE CHANCE OF ONE INJURY OR FATALITY PER MILLION IS ONE TOO MANY AND THIS TIRE PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN USING AN AWL TO PUNCTURE THE AIR BUBBLES OR JUST TH

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A GRAVELED ROAD IN A REMOTE LOCATION IN NORTHWESTERN COLORADO THE LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY WENT FLAT . SOME PICTURES OF THE TIRE BEING CHANGED WERE TAKEN BUT MAY NOT SHOW THE DAMAGED TIRE. I MANAGE A FLEET OF GOVERNMENT VEHICLES AND THOUGHT THE TIRES LOOKED AS IF THERE WAS A BREAK DOWN OF THE MATERIALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THE TIRE GOING FLAT, IT JUST BLEW AND ALMOST CAME OFF THE RIM IN A DISTANCE OF LESS THAN 10 FEET.( DOT NUMBER: VD TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/AT LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED. WHOLE SIDEWALL CAME OFF. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

PE00 020;; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD TIRE TREAD HITTING THE BACK OF VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT WAS HAULING A BOAT. THEN, SHE WAS SUCESSFULLY PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE . CONSUMER REPLACED TIRE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT P23575 R15. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO VEHICLE. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

PE00 020; CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE STORE, AND THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES. LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #HT,TIRE SIZE P225/70 R15. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 225/70/R15 *MW

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. IT VEERED INTO MEDIUM STRIP BARRIER AND ROLLED MORE THAN ONCE. SHE WAS EJECTED FROM VEHICLE AND DIED. REAR TIRE EXPLODED AND DETACHED FROM RIMS. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT, SIZE P23575 R15. *AK MJS

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P255/70R16 EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT. *SLC

I HAVE THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WITH THE CODE VN MADE IN CANADA. I TOOK THE CAR TO FIRESTONE AND THEY SAID THE TIRES ARE SAFE, BUT, THERE IS A HAIR LINE CRACK ALL AROUBD THE TIRES (ALL FOUR) ON THE SIDE NEAR THE TOP OF THE TREAD AREA. THIS LOOKS LIKE ALL THE PICTURES OF THE TIRE SEPERATION THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND TV. FIRESTONE SAID THEY ARE SAFE, BUT THE CRACK DOES NOT LOOK SAFE TO ME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VN TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING APROX, 20 MPH MY LEFT REAR TIRE ALL OF A SUDDEN BLEW OUT. I DID NOT OR HAD NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. I THINK THE RECALL ON THE WILDERNESS AT TIRE SOULD INCLUDE ALL TIRE OF THE MAKE NOT JUST THOSE OUT OF THE DECATUR, IL PLANT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AND IT SEEMS THAT KNOW ONE REALY CARES UNLESS YOU HAVE THE TIRE WITH HAVE THE VD DOT # ON THEM. THE MOST REPORTS HAVE COME FORM THAT PLANT BUT IT IS THE SAME TIRE WETHER IT CAME FORM IL,OR GA OR WHERE EVER THAT TIRE IS MADE. I AM SURE IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED BY ALL WHO OWN THESE TIRE IF U MADE IT A TOTAL RECALL REGARDLESS OF THE PLANT THE TIRE CAME FROM. I HAVE 5 CO-WORKERS WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WE ALL JUST PURCHASED NEW CARS WHICH HAVE THESE TIRES AND WE ARE ALL VERY CONCEREND AND UPSET BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET OUR TIRES CHANGED.( DOT NUMBER: VNHLIPY097 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I LOST PART OF THE TREAD WITH ANOTHER PART PEELED BACK ALONG WITH STEEL BELT WHILE TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY NEAR MIAMI. I HEARD POPPING SOUND AND THEN A NOISE WITH EACH TIRE ROTATION. I DISCOVERED DAMAGE AFTER PULLING OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE LOST TREAD MEASURES ABOUT 12" LONG BY 3" WIDE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR LOSS OF CONTROL..JUST SEVERAL ANXIOUS HOURS RIDING TO AND FROM OUR VACATION WITH NO SPARE AND 3 OTHER POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHI IPY TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE PEELED OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. ONE OTHER PASSENGER WAS IN THE TRUCK. NO ONE WAS INJURED. TIRE WAS A WILDERNESS AT, NOT SURE IF TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. OWNER THOUGHT TIRE WAS A RETREAD TIRE ,AND DID NOT CONTACT FIRESTONE. *AK

PE 00020: WHILE DRIVING 75MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. WAS PULLING TO SIDE WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WENT TOWARDS MEDIAN & HIT GUARDRAIL. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. WHEN VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED, GOT OUT & CHECKED. NOTICED NO TREAD ON LEFT REAR TIRE. NO SERIOUS INJURY. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, SIZE P235/75R15 WITH 61,000 MILES ON IT. DID NOT HAVE THE TIRE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MP VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING,AND WHEN INCREASING THE SPEED STEERING WHEEL WILL STOP SHAKING. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN. TECHNICIAN FOUND OUT THAT TIRES TREAD WAS SEPARATING, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

PE 00020:; WHILE DRIVING 70MPH IN A LIGHT SNOW IN NEBRASKA LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW. TIRE & TREAD BECAME MANGLED & SHREDDED. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DOES NOT HAVE TIRE AFTER HAVING SPARE REPLACED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15 WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT. *AK

PE00 020;CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TIRES INSPECTED. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THERE WERE STRESS MARKS ON TIRES, BUT THESE TIRES WERE NOT THE ONES ON RECALL. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT#, P23575 R15 DOT#W2HL. *AK *SLC

MY TIRE LOST THE TREAD ON THE HIGHWAY AS DESCRIBED BY THE RECENT NEWS STORIES ABOUT THE FIRESTONE TIRES. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A FIRESTONE DEALER THEY WERE NOT RECALLING MY TIRES BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED BY THE DECATUR PLANT. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THAT ALL OF THESE TIRES ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AND ALL SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING WEST ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE RIGHT LANE AT APP. 75 MPH WHEN WE HEARD A STRANGE SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT TIRE. AT THAT MOMENT, I COULD FEEL THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE SLIDING OUT FROM UNDER US TO THE RIGHT, TURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT TOWARD THE CENTER MEDIAN. WE WENT INTO THE MEDIAN AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL. AFTER ROLLING APP. 3 COMPLETE TIMES, WE ENDED UP FACING EAST IN THE RIGHT LANE OF EASTBOUND TRAFFIC - RIGHT SIDE UP. MIRACULOUSLY, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. MY WIFE ESCAPED WITH SEVERAL BUMPS AND BRUISES AND I HAD CUTS AND SCRAPES WHICH REQUIRED STITCHES. BOTH OF US WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY REASON WE WERE NOT MORE SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. WE WERE BOTH TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE FOR X-RAYS, BANDAGES, AND STITCHES AND RELEASED ON THE SAME DAY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

DRIVING ON 1-75 TO NAPLES L REAR TIRE CAME APART. *AK

TIRE IS STARTING TO SEPARATE. DEALERS ARE BEING SLOW TO REPLACE IT. THE OTHER THREE TIRES ARE ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF SEPARATION.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

WE PURCHASED THE 97 EXPLORER IN 1999 - AS A NEW VEHICLE - WITH 9,000 MILES ON IT. WE ORIGINALLY NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAD A PROBLEM IN APRIL OF 2000 AND EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WE TOOK TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT THAT DID NOT HELP. THEY ROTATED THE TIRES THAT HELPED WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THE TIRES HAD ALREADY BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNED OF TREADWEAR CRACKING AND SIDEWALL CRACKING. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES AND WE SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH OUR TIRES AT THIS TIME. AFTER THE RECALL NOTICE, WE TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REFERRED US BACK TO FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE STATED THEY ARE NOT RECALLING OUR DOT NUMBER TIRE AT THIS TIME, BUT WE FEEL THAT THIS TIRE IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IN HAULING OUR FAMILY AND FEEL FIRESTONE NEEDS TO RECALL THESE TIRES AS WELL. WE HAVE ALWAYS USED FIRESTONE TIRES AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED OR SEEN THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE FIRESTONE RECALL THESE TIRES AS WELL, IN ORDER TO SAVE OUR LIVES AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF MANY OTHERS! THAT COULD VERY WELL BE PREVENTED NOW!( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P2357515 )

PE00020;3 TIRES REPLACED ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE P23575R15. 4 OUT OF 5 TIRES HAVE ABOUT 15000 TO 28000 MILES ON THEM, ONE OF THE FRONTAL TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED AT A DIFFERENT ASSEMBLY PLANT. ONE FRONTAL TIRE AROUND THE SIDEWALL AREA INSIDE AND THE OUTER SIDE OF THE TIRE HAS CRACKS. OTHER TWO TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED AT THE DECATUR ASSEMBLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER, P23575R15 BM07458-3, CONSUMER HAS NOTICEABLE CRACKS ON ALL FOUR TIRES, HALF INCH SLIT ON OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF TIRES. CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL ON THE OTHER FIRESTONE TIRES HAS INDICATED, AND IS VERY CONCERNED.*AK THE CRACK SLITS RUN THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. THE VNHL IPY 047 TIRES ARE MADE IN CANADA. *YH

TIRES ARE CRACKING WHERE THE TREAD IS FASTENED TO THE SHOULDER(SIDE WALL). THE TIRES HAVE ABOUT 40,00 MILES ON THEM. FAILURES HAVE BEEN VERIFIED BY A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER. SO FAR BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE DENY PROBLEMS WITH WILDERNESS AT TIRES NOT MADE AT THE DECATUR IL PLANT. THIS COMPLAINT SHOULD HELP PROVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN INDICATED BY BOTH COMPANIES.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE TREAD CAME OFF OF MY REAR LEFT TIRE WHEN I WAS EASTBOUND ON I-10. THE TREAD WRAPPED AROUND MY AXLE AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR SPUN 180 DEGREES AND FINALLY CAME TO A HALT IN THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE COMPLETELY EXPLODED AND WAS IN SCHREDS. WAS TOWING A RACE CAR ON A TRAILER AT NORMAL SPEED AT THE TIME. EXCELLENT DRIVING BY CREW MEMBER AVERTED ACCIDENT. CAR FELT AS IF IT HAD GONE OVER A LAND MINE. TWO WITNESS IN MY EXPLORER AND TWO WITNESS IN CAR DIRECTLY FOLLOWING MY CAR CAN VERIFY THE INCIDENT. THE SPARE TIRE WAS MOUNTED AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACE WITH ANOTHER WILDERNESS AT SHORTLY AFTER THE TIRE FAILURE. THE INCIDENT WAS NEVER REPORTED TO FORD OR FIRESTONE, BUT I FEEL SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE DATA BASE. IT OCCURED ON A WARM DAY IN EARLY MAY IN MASSACHUSETTS. I FEEL THAT THE TIRE FAILURES ARE MORE FAR REACHING THAN CURRENTLY REPORTED SINCE IT HAPPEND ON A TIRE THAT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED AT THE PLANT IN QUESTION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY117 TIRE SIZE: P235-75-15 )

BOTH OF THE PREVIOUSLY SPECIFIED 16-INCH WILDERNESS AT REAR TIRES ON MY EXPLORER ARE CRACKING WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX217 TIRE SIZE: P25570R16 )

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WILDERNESS (P235/75R15) AT TIRES BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE CRACKS ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. NLM

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF MY VEHICLE THE TREAD SEPARATED THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWING RIGHT AND RUN OFF THE RIGHT SHOULDER.

NOTICED ON 8/11 THAT MY LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD GOOD SIZED CUTS/SPLITS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THIS TIRE IS NOT CODED VD AS IN THE RECALL BUT CODED VN WHICH MEANS IT WAS MADE IN THE FIRESTONE CANADIAN PLANT. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CHANGED-OUT WITH THE RELATIVELY NEW SPARE TIRE BY MY FORD DEALER IN NEW YORK.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VN-------- TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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

TIRE SEPARTION CAUSED A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. TIRES CHECKED 2/25/2000 BY MECHANIC AND OK'D. MAJOR INJURY WAS SEVERING OF 4 FINGERS ON THE LEFT HAND OF THE DRIVER. TWO CHILDREN AND ANOTHER ADULT PASSENGER WERE INTHE BACK SEAT AND SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAMA EVEN STILL.( DOT NUMBER: )

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH, TREAD ON PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONE OTHER PASSENGER IN THE TRUCK. NO ONE WAS INJURED. TIRE SIZE P23575R15, DOT # W2HL1PY067, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. FIRESTONE WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE TIRE. DRIVER JUST THOUGHT THE TIRE EXPLODED AND CONTACTED AAA.*AK

TIRES STAY LOW ON PRESSURE, AND THERE IS EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER HAD TIRES INSPECTED BY FIRESTONE. TIRES WERE CRACKED ALL AROUND . THEY WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT, SIZE P235/75R15, DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILALE, BUT HAD W2 PRODUCTION CODE WHICH INDICATED THAT THESE TIRES WERE PRODUCED IN WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA. *AK

PE 00 020/TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO BLOWOUTS WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. NO INJURIES REPORTED. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE SAME LEFT SIDE OF 1997 FORD EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE AND DOT # NOT AVAILABLE. *AK THE TIRES ARE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE STARTED MAKING A LOUD FLAPPING NOISE. TIRE BLEW OUT AND PULLED VEHICLE HARD TO THE RIGHT, ACROSS A 3- LANE HIGHWAY. NO DAMAGES TO VEHICLE. TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL ONES, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, AND DOT# NOT AVAILABLE. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 107336. FIRESTONE SAID THEY WOULD MAKE NOTE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK FIRESTONE THINKS THE TIRE PROBLEM OCCURE ONLY IN THE SOUTH. *YH

PE00020, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT 1997 EXPLORER, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P25570R16, DOT W2CU1PX466, REAR DRIVER'S TIRE TREAD CAME OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A ROLLOVER. OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. *AK *MJS

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 DOT VNHL1P1486 WENT FLAT DUE TO SIDEWALL SEPARATION. *SLC

I WAS DRIVING TO AN AMUSEMENT PARK ON SUNDAY, 8/6/00 AFTERNOON. I WAS THE ONLY ADULT IN THE VEHICLE. MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, MY YOUNGER BROTHER, AND MY NEPHEW WERE ALL IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED THE VEHICLE VIBRATING QUITE A LOT AS I INCREASED MY SPEED TO 60 MPH. MY DAUGHTER EVEN REMARKED AT HOW BADLY THE CAR WAS SHAKING. I SLOWED THE SPEED TO 55 MPH. AS I DROVE SOUTH ON I-45 , TOWARDS THE PIERCE ST. EXIT, IN THE INSIDE LANE, I HEARD A LOUD POP, AND SAW A BLACK PIECE OF RUBBER, AND SOMETHING SHINY RIP AWAY FROM THE LEFT, REAR OF MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO GO OUT OF CONTROL, BUT I MANAGED TO STEER IT TO THE INSIDE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. MY SISTER WHO WAS FOLLOWING ME STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND GOT OUT OF HER CAR. WE BOTH TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT SHE TOLD ME WAS THAT MY LEFT, REAR TIRE HAD COME APART. SURE ENOUGH, THE REAR, LEFT TIRE TREAD HAD TORN COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. AFTER I CONTACTED MY HUSBAND, AND MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE FREEWAY, WE NOTICED THAT THE TREAD HAD CUT THE HOSES TO THE GAS TANK, EXPOSING THE MAIN LINE TO THE GAS TANK. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE COULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR, AND HAD TO HAVE A WRECKER TAKE THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL FORD DEALER IN TOWN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRES TREAD SEPARTED COMLETELY FROM THE TIRE.

THE LEFT REAR TIRE SHREDDED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. YH 2 INJURIES, 1 FOOT INJURY AND 1 FINGER INJURY. FIRESTONE TIRE, POLICE REPORT PROVIDED - ALABAMA UNIFORM TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORT #00062455. *SLC

ON MAY 10TH, 2000 WHILE DRIVING ON US41 AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 58 MPH, THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF THE VEHICLE CAME OFF OF THE TIRE CASING WHICH CAUSED ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLING THE SPARE TIRE, I WENT TO MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AND QUESTIONED IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY ON THE TIRE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOT. HE INDICATED THAT THE TIRE MIGHT HAVE BEEN RUN ON LOW AIR PRESSURE. NATURALLY I COULD NOT DISPROVE HIS THEORY. I PURCHASED TWO NEW TIRES BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING AGAIN. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT I WOULD BE BACK TO REPLACE THE OTHER TWO WHEN I HAD THE MONEY TO DO SO. IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT OUT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN SOME FIRESTONE 15 INCH TIRES OF THE SAME TYPE. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTIFY THE NHTSA THAT THERE IS ALSO A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE 16 INCH VERSION OF THIS TIRE MAY BE DEFECTIVE ALSO.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

I JUST WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE A DIFFERENT SIZE OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT'S, I HAVE TAKEN THEM TO FIRESTONE. THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THE "RECALL" SIZE. THE TIRES DO APPEAR TO BE SEPERATING. I AM NOT WAITING FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION. I FEEL MY FAMLIES LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN $450.00 FOR A NEW SET OF TIRES. I KNOW YOU ARE DOING ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION. IF YOU FIND THAT OTHER SIZES ARE AT FAULT, PLEASE CONSIDER THE PEOPLE THAT HAD THEM SWITCHED UPON ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I AM GOING TO KEEP MY FIRESTONE'S IN THE GARAGE FOR AWHILE UNTIL YOUR INVESTIGATION IS OVER. ALSO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT THE SIZE THEY RECALLED IS THE MOST POPULAR OF THE FIRESTONE'S INSTALLED ON EXPLORERS, BUT THE 16" WHEEL IS AN OPTION ON THE VEHICLE. SO IF "MOST" OF THE ACCIDENTS OCCURED ON THE 15" THAT WOULD JIVE WITH THE RATIO !! ALSO CONSIDER THAT THE VEHICLES SOLD IN THE SOUTH ARE THE ONES WITH PROBLEMS... MAYBE BECAUSE OF HEAT AS REPORTED. . DOES FORD SHIP VEHICLES FROM SPECIFIC ASSEMBLY PLANTS TO SPECIFIC AREAS OF THE COUNTRY ? IF SO THIS COULD EXPLAIN WHY IT APPEARS TO BE ONLY FROM THE DECATUR PLANT, WHEN IN FACT IT COULD BE THAT JUST THE MAJORITY OF VEHICLES THAT GET SHIPPED TO THE SOUTHERN STATES ARE THE ONES THAT GET TIRES FROM THE DECATUR PLANT ?? JUST A LOGICAL THOUGHT THAT CROSSED MY MIND. I APPRECIATE YOUR ORGANIZATION AND RESPECT THE OUTCOME OF YOUR INVESTIGATION REGARDLESS OF THE CONCLUSION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR READING MY E-MAIL DURING

TIRE FAILED DESPITE NOT BEING MADE IN DECATUR, IL( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH REAR RIGHT TIRE SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL, WANDERING SIDE TO SIDE. OTHER EXPERIENCE WITH FIRESTONE TIRES WILDERNESS AT WAS THAT REAR LEFT TIRE WAS PEELING. *AK

WHILE IN A PARKING LOT SPACE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING, LOST CONTROL AND STROKE A BULDING. *AK