1997 Ford Explorer complaints

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SEPARATING/CRACKING AROUND TREAD LINE. TIRE SIZE WAS P25570R16, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE TIRES. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TIRES. *AK ALL FOUR TIRES THAT CRACKED ALONG TREAD LINE WERE REPLACED BY THE CUSTOMER. *YH

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH WHEN HEARD SLIGHT THUMPING NOISE, FOLLOWED BY HUGE NOISE, WHEN I REALIZED MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE FORD EXPLORER REMAINED VERY STRAIGHT AND I PULLED OVER. THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED INTO PIECES. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS A STRANGE BLOW OUT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SEEM INSTANTANOUS. I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE IN GOOD SHAPE. ALWAYS ROTATED, ETC.. SINCE THE TIRES HAD 42,000 MILES I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE SAME BRAND!! IT WASN'T UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE TIRES ON THE NEWS THAT I REALIZED WHY IT HAPPENED. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHERS THERE ARE THAT NEVER EVEN REPORTED A PROBLEM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235-75/15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

THE REAR LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE I WAS TRAVELLING AT 60 MPH ON I-95 BETWEEN BALTIMORE AND WASINGTON D.C. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND ONLY HIT THE GUARDRAIL INSTEAD OF OTHER VEHICLES. THE TIRE COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND WRAPPED AROUND MY AXEL. IT WAS NOT DUE TO A PUNCTURE. I HAD TO GET THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE OF MY TRUCK REPLACED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WE WERE DRIVING BACK TO AZ FROM PA ON I-40 IN AR WHEN OUR FRONT LEFT TIRE DISINTEGRATED. THERE WAS NO NOISE JUST THE SUDDEN VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE, FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND GET IT TO THE MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN WE GOT OUT THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS THE TWO SIDE WALLS OF THE TIRE. WE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING A FEW HOURS THAT DAY AND IT WASN'T THAT HOT OF A DAY, IT HAD BEEN RAINING AND WAS GETTING READY TO RAIN AGAIN. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS OK JUST 1 WEEK PRIOR. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL OF THIS TYPE OF TIRE AND AM CONCERNED THAT EVEN THOUGH MY TIRES WERE NOT MADE IN THE EFFECTED ILLINOIS PLANT THEY ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. MY TIRES SAY THEY WERE MADE IN CANADA. *AK( DOT NUMBER: NOT LISTED TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED VEHICLE ROLL OVER. THIS WAS SECOND OCCURRENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION, THE FIRST NOT CAUSING ROLL OVER ALTHOUGH SPEED WAS ABOUT 70MPH (SAME BRAND TIRE) (RIGHT REAR TIRE, DAMAGE OF $883 TO REPAIR RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL, 11/10/99) HAVING NO PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH THE SECOND FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT AND RISK MY LIFE LIKE A DUMB FOOL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THESE TIRES DO NOT HAVE A DOT NUMBER BEGINNING WITH A "VD" RATHER BM. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION- THERE ARE FINE CRACKS AROUND THE COMPLETE CIRCUMFRANCE OF THE TIRE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE APPROXIMATELY 1/2-INCH DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: BM 07459-3 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

VEHICLE HAD BRAND NEW TIRES ON IT WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT IN APRIL, SO TIRES HAD LESS THAN 6000 MILES WHEN TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED.THE THREE REMAINING TIRES NOW HAVE ALITTLE LESS THAN 10,000 MILESAND THEY ALL SHOW SIGNS OF SEPERATION. THE TIRE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE 64 EAST, JUST WEST OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. THE ROAD CONDITIONS AND WEATHER WERE IDEAL EXCEPT FOR THE HEAT.WE HAD GONE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AFTER A LENGTHY STOP FOR FOOD AND GAS WHEN THE TIRE FAILED, WITH NO WARNING. WE SWERVED TO THE LEFT ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND LUCKILY THERE WAS ENOUGH SHOULDER TO "CATCH" THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE TIRE , IT BEAT UP THE FENDER AND THE FRONT BUMPER AND THEN KICKED OUT TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE IT TORE THE MOULDINGS OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.WE NOW HAVE A CLAIM FILED WITH FIRESTONE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUR INSUANCE DEDUCTIBLE AND COST OF A NEW TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VD TIRES TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CURRENTLY, TWO REAR TIRES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE APPROACHING A BRIDGE CONSUMER HEARD A "POP" NOISE, SECONDS LATER THE TIRE WENT DOWN (FIRESTONE WILDNESS AT 235-75-R15). NLM

TIRE SEPARATED WITH STEEL BELTING CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO QUARTER PANEL. DRIVER IS MILITARY AND IS TRAINED TO INSPECT TIRES BEFORE DRIVING VEHICLE AS HE DRIVES ON U.S. AIR FORCE RUNWAYS ON A REGULAR BASIS. HE HAD INSPECTED TIRES APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PRIOR TO INCIDENT. DRIVER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE THUS PREVENTING WORSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND BODILY INJURY TO HIMSELF AND PASSENGER. THIRTEEN DAYS PRIOR, TO INCIDENT, CAR WAS SERVICED WITH NO VERBAL MENTION OF TIRE PROBLEM. SERVICE REPORT READS LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TIRES EACH HAD 7/32 TIRE TREAD AND WEAR PATTERN GOOD. TIRES PRESSURE AT 26 PSI. IN REVIEWING PURCHASE CONTRACT DETERMINED STANDARD EQUIPMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN P225/7OR155L BSW A/S TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY436 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DOING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN MY BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. I COULD HAVE BEEN GOING A LITTLE OVER 80 HOWEVER. I DO NOT RECALL HITTING ANYTHING BUT JUST HEARING THE LOUD EXPLOSION AND SUDDENLY TRYING TO STEER ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AS I SLOWED DOWN. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPLACED. THEY SAID THE TIRE LOOKED TORN APART WITH A HOLE AROUND 9 INCHES OR SO. I DID NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT IT AT THE TIME OTHER THAN HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE IT. I DID NOT INQUIRE ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE OR IF IT SEEMED STRANGE. I WAS JUST GLAD TO HAVE NOT WRECKED AND JUST QUICKLY REPLACED IT. I SIMPLY WANTED TO REPORT THAT I DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS TIRE EVEN THOUGH I DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW IF THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE MADE BY FIRESTONE. AS I SAID, I JUST WANTED TO GO ON RECORD SAYING I DID HAVE AN INCIDENT WITH IT.( DOT NUMBER: )

I WAS DRIVING FROM L.A. TO PHOENIX ON 6/13/98. PRIOR TO MY DEPARTURE FROM L.A., ALL OF THE TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR THE DRIVE. THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION. AT 9:30AM I WAS DRIVING EAST ON I-10 @ 75MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE ROAD BECAME BUMPY AND I SWITCHED LANES. MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LUNGED TO THE LEFT AND I REALIZED THAT MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN, AND THE RIM HAD CAUGHT THE PAVEMENT. I WRESTLED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT WHILE HEADING FOR AN OFF-RAMP TO AVOID TRAFFIC & AN UPCOMING OVERPASS. IT FISH-TAILED BACK AND FORTH UNTIL AND BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. IT SLID THROUGH A ROAD SIGN AND THEN ROLLED OVER ENDING UPSIDE DOWN BESIDE THE ROAD, FACING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND I SUFFERED MANY CUTS TO MY HEAD (ALONG WITH MANY STRAINED MUSCLES.) I WAS LUCKY. THE CHP REPORT HELD ME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRASH. I CONTENDED AT THE TIME THAT THE BLOW-OUT WAS MORE ABRUPT AND SEVER THAN ANY I HAD EVER EXPERIENCED, AND THAT CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WITH SUCH AN ABRUPT BLOW AT THAT SPEED WAS IMPOSSIBLE. I DISPUTED THE REPORT. I ALSO COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, THE DMV AND THE INSURANCE AGENCY. ALL HELD ME RESPONSIBLE AND THE DEALER OFFERED THAT I COULD TRY AND SUE THE TIRE COMPANY. I DIDN'T. AS A RESULT, I LOST A NEW CAR, AND SPENT MANY WEEKS RECUPERATING. MY INSURANCE RATES ALSO INCREASED AS WELL AS RECEIVING A POINT ON MY DRIVERS LICENSE. I DID MANAGE TO HAVE SOME PICTURES TAKEN OF THE FORD & THE BLOWN TIRE FOLLOWING THE CRASH. THE POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN BY CHP OFFI

I WAS DRIVING 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD THE ENTIRE OUTER TREAD SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE HAD ABOUT 45,000 MILES OF USE. I THEN PAID TO REPLACE THE REMAINING TIRES AT BIG O TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I'VE HAD THREE WILDERNESS AT TIRE FAILURES. ONE RESULTED IN BLOWOUT AT INTERSTATE SPEED. THE LAST TWO WERE CAUGHT IN THE TREAD BUBBLE UP STAGE BY ME BEFORE A BLOWOUT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235X15 R75 )

MY 18 YEAR SON IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND WILL BE LEAVING FOR COLLEGE TEN DAYS. HIS SAFETY IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN AND AFTER SEEING THE AWFUL ACCIDENTS/DEATHS REPORTED IN RECENT WEEKS I WISH TO RECEIVED MORE INFORMATION. ALL THE INFORMATION I CAN GET FROM FIRESTONE IS THAT THE TIRES ARE SAFE. THIS IS EASY FOR THEM TO TELL ME AS THE CONSUMER. WE ARE PLAYING WITH THE LIVES OF MANY HUMAN BEINGS, MY SON INCLUDED. YES, I NEED A MORE INFORMED, CARING ANSWER THAN THE TIRES ARE SAFE. I HAVE DOCUMENTED EACH AND EVERY CONVERSATION I HAVE HAD WITH EITHER FIRESTONE OR FORD MOTOR COMPANY. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ? )

TIRE DELAMINATED COMPLETELY BUT BLADDER DID NOT DEFLATE. NO CRASH, BUT LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY TREAD AS IT LEFT VEHICLE. TIRE WAS SUBMITTED TO FIRESTONE UNDER CLAIM NUMBER 019721. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AND PAID INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE BUT DID NOT ADVISE AS TO CAUSE OF FAILURE. THEY SENT ME A CHECK FOR $397.76 WITH A LETTER DATED DECEMBER 10,1999. THE REMAINDER OF THE CLAIM WAS PAID BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA.( DOT NUMBER: UDHC1PY516 TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

WE WENT OFF THE ROAD AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE TREAD BREAKING LOOSE FROM THE TIRE. A DOUBLE TRAILER TRUCK BEHIND US ALMOST HIT US AS A RESULT OF OUR VEHICLE VIBRATING AND SLOWING DOWN. LUCKILY WE COULD PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE FRONT FENDER WAS DANGLING, AND THE WHEEL COVER WAS TORN AND BENT, RUBBING ON THE TIRE THAT REMAINED WITHOUT THE TREAD. A SCARY SITUATION. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS FAULTY. THEY ARE NOW TAKING LEGAL ACTION TO RECOVER THEIR COST OF REPAIR FROM FIRESTONE. MY HUSBAND HAD SEVERAL TREATMENT TO HIS SHOULDER, AND AN ORTHOSCOPIC OPERATION TO THE SHOULDER AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. I AM STILL FRIGHTENED EACH TIME I DRIVE THE EXPLORER, WORRYING ABOUT THE REMAINING TIRES FOR FEAR THE SAME THING MAY HAPPEN. FIRESTONE HAS NOT BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE. THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY. WE DID NOT KNOW TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO NTSA UNTIL THE RECENT NEWS THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS SIMILAR TO OURS. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HAVE OUR TIRES RECALLED, AND TO GET COMPENSATION FROM BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 OWL )

TIRE TREAD LAYER SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL-BELTED LAYER CREATING A 15-BY-5-INCH FLAP. WE WERE LUCKY....WE CAUGHT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW.( DOT NUMBER: )

WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH MY TIRES EXHIBIT A "HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION" SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED IN A 10-11-96 FORD MEMO, PROVIDED TO NHTSA. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS MATTER WITH A FORD DEALER WHO ADVISED ME THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT, BUT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, THE SUBJECT MEMO ALSO STATED THAT "THESE TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH LIKE TIRES". SO, AM I BEING LIED TO ? THESE TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED BEFORE AND ACCIDENT/INJURY/DEATH OCCUR.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P25570R/16 )

REGARDING THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES RECENTLY IN THE NEWS. I DO WANT TO REPORT THAT I DID HAVE A FIRESTONE ATX TIRE THAT CAME APART LAST YEAR (SEPT. 1999-THE TUESDAY AFTER LABOR DAY) AFTER A TRIP FROM CHARLESTON SC TO WILLIAMSBURG VA. I HAPPENED TO LOOK DOWN AT THE REAR LEFT TIRE AND DISCOVERED THAT A LARGE PIECE OF TREAD HAD PEELED OFF THE TIRE. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THE TIRE SHOULD NOT OF DONE THAT-I CALLED MY HUSAND AND HE ADVISED ME TO CALL AAA AUTOSERVICE, HAVE THE SPARE PUT ON AND GO TO FIRESTONE AND PURCHASE TWO NEW TIRES. THANK GOODNESS I NOTICED THE BAD TIRE WHEN I DID.

MY VEHICLE DID A 360 ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO CAUSE. THE ADJUSTER DETERMINED THERE WAS A DEFECT IN MY TIRE SO I HAD TO REPLACE A TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

MIGHT BE IN DIRECT RELATION OF THE TIRE RECALL ON THE FORD SUV'S - WE'VE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT END ALIGNED TWICE IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. DEALER SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORER AND THE TIRES THAT IS CAUSING THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM.

I OWN A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, VIN # 1FMCU24X2VUB50580 PURCHASED BY ME IN DECEMBER 1996 IN NJ, THAT HAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 TIRES. I WENT THROUGH A REPLACEMENT ON 12/11/98 THAT SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE RECALL PROBLEMS, WHERE I FOUND THE TREADS ON MY REAR TIRES TO BE SPLITTING AND STARTING TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. I HAD THE TWO REAR TIRES INSPECTED AND REPLACED AT THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN GASTONIA, NC AFTER PAYING A REDUCED PRICE DUE TO PRORATION ACCORDING TO TREAD WEAR SINCE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE STILL UNDER THE TIRE WARRANTY PERIOD (33,185 MILES). THIS ALSO BRINGS UP ANOTHER CONCERN, WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, SINCE THEY ARE RECALLING THESE TIRES, WILL I BE REINBURSED FOR THE MONIES SPENT IN REPLACING THE FIRST TWO TIRES DUE TO THE DEFECT? I STILL HAVE TWO OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON MY EXPLORER AND SINCE I LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA (ALSO A HOT STATE), I AM CONCERNED ON HOW LONG IT WOULD BE BEFORE FIRESTONE GETS THE RECALL TO THOSE OF US WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE FIRST TWO PHASED STATE GROUPS FOR THE RECALL. I DO MONITOR MY AIR PRESSURE CONSISTENTLY, BUT TRAVEL 56 MILES EACH WAY (112 TOTAL) TO WORK EACH DAY VIA HIGHWAY BETWEEN GAFFNEY, SC AND CHARLOTTE, NC. EACH OF THE TIRES INFORMATION FOLLOWS: ORIGINAL TIRES FROM PURCHASE DATE - STILL ON REAR OF VEHICLE: P255/70R16 (E4) O2 6555, 24815 UR BM06175-3, MADE IN USA. 24816 UR BM06175-3, MADE IN USA. REPLACEMENTS TIRES FROM 1999 - ON FRONT OF VEHICLE: P255/70R16 (E4) O2 6555, 24817 UR BM06175-4, MADE IN CANADA. 308

WHILE DRIVING ON IH 37, NEAR CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE AUTO ROLLED 4 OR 5 TIMES DOWN THE EMBANKMENT OF THE INTERSTATE. DRIVER TAKEN TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, AUTO TOTALLED BY INSURANCE COMAPNY. LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE FLATTENED FROM THE ROLL OVER. PLEASE DO SOMETHING!( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: ? )

I LIVE IN MD ,AND TIRE STILL FAILED NOT DUE TO HEAT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

TIRE BLOW OUT ON INTERSTATE 45 SOUTH. CAR TRAVELED ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES.CAR HIT CEMENT BARRIER AND CAME TO STOP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BACK WINDOW POPPED OPEN . PICTURES OF TIRE HAVE FLAP OF RUBBER SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: )

AS WE WERE RETURNING FROM VACATION ON 3/20/00 FROM FLORIDA, MY WIFE (THE DRIVER AT THE TIME) FELT WEIRD VIBRATIONS THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. (NOTE -WE WERE APPROX. 5 MILES IN TO GEORGIA ON I-75 JUST PASSED THE GA/FL BORDER - NEAR LAKE PARK?). AS WE CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE AWAY FROM OTHER TRAFFIC, WE HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM UNDER THE EXPLORER AS IF THINGS WERE KICKING UP FROM THE ROAD AND HITTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE. ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE, I LOOKED UNDER THE SUV AND DID A QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE TIRES, HOWEVER, ALL APPEARED TO BE NORMAL (NO FLATS, NOTHING THAT WE COULD VISIBLY SEE). WE PULLED BACK ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND BEFORE WE EVEN REACHED MERGING SPEED (55 - 60 MPH), THE POPPING NOISE RETURNED AND WE COULD ACTUALLY SEE SMALL BLACK PARTS EXITING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE MANAGED TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF THE ROAD AND ENTER A GAS STATION AT WHICH TIME WE DISCOVERED A FOOT LONG PATCH OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS COMPLETLY GONE. ALTHOUGH THE TIRE NEVER DEFLATED, A COMPLETE FOOT LONG SECTION OF TREAD, THROUGH THE STEEL BELTS AND ALL, WAS GONE. NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TIRE WAS VISIBLE (SIDE WALLS ALL OKAY, NO PUNCTURES, NAILS, ETC.). I INSPECTED THE REST OF THE TIRES AND WE CONTINUED OUR TRIP HOME ONCE THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED. ON 4/1/00, I WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE CENTER (940 OLD MONROVIA RD, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35806) AND HAD THEM INSPECT THE DAMAGED TIRE. ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT CONFIRM OR DENY THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE, THEY DID OFFER

I WANT TO ADD OUR NAME TO THE LIST OF THOSE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS TIRE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. BUT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING RUSHHOUR IN SEATTLE TRAFFIC WHEN IT WAS COLD (NOT HOT). THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. I WAS LUCKY TO MANEUVER T( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

AT APPROXIMATELY 11;30 P.M. MAY 28, 1999,AS WE WERE TRAVELING ALONG INTERSTATE 10, JUST OUTSIDE OF TALLAHASSEE ,FLORIDA, MY EXPLORER SUDDENLY VEERED TOWARD THE LEFT ABRUPTLLY. A LOUD CRASHING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. PULLING THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, MY WIFE AND I CHECKED TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. MUCH TO OUR SURPRISE THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXCEPT SHREDS OF A RADIAL TIRE. LUCKY FOR US , THAT AT THE TIME OF THE PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING AND NOT MY WIFE, AS SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MANUEVER DURING THE PROBLEM. ALSO THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE RIGHT LANE DUE TO THE LATE HOUR. WITH GREAT PROBLEM, WE CHANGED THE TIRE AND ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION QUITE SHAKEN UP. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE THE NEXT MORNING, WE REALIZED THAT THERE HAD BEEN MUCH DAMAGE TO THE UNDERPANELS OF THE CAR. I MUST NOTE, THAT AT THE TIME WE WERE TRAILERING A WAVE RUNNER . SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE AND THE BOAT ON THE ROAD. AFTER RETURNING HOME, I WENT TO FIRESTONE , A WHICH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I PURCHASED 2 NEW TIRES TO REPLACE THE BACK TIRES FROM FIRESTONE. ONE YEAR LATER , ALMOST TO THE EXACT DATE, WE WERE AGAIN VISITING IN THE TALLAHASSEE AREA, AND ON OUR WAY HOME THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE. AFTER GOING THROUGH THE ORDEAL THE LAST TIME, WE QUICKLY PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE TIRES AND SURE ENOUGH THE SAME THING WAS STARTING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. WE CHANGED THE TIR

TWO TIRE FAILURES WITHIN 8 WEEKS. ROTATED EVERY 3000 MILES, PROPERLY INFLATED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

NO SUMMARY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )

THE TIRES (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT) ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND CUPPING, VEHICLE ALSO PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT AND APPEARED TO BE VERY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE. NLM

RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE ATX TIRE (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DO A 360 DEGREE TURN ON THE INTERSTATE, VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES. *SLC

VEHICLE HAD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/ATX TIRES ON AT TIME IT WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR. AFTER BEING STRUCK, TIRES BUSTED IMMEDIATELY, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL, MAKING THE VEHICLE SPIN AND STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER DID NOT GIVE SIZE OR DOT NUMBER FOR TIRE. *SLC

ON JULY 21 2000, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE P23575R15 BLEWOUT, AND WHOLE SIDEWALL HAD COME OFF. CONSUMER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK THE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A POPPING NOISE. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM WHEEL. TIRES WERE FIRSTONE WILDERNESS HT. *AK *SLC

PE00 020; CONSUMER HEARD THAT THE FIRESTONE #ATX TIRES WERE ON RECALL. CONSUMER TOOK TIRES TO FIRESTONE, AND NOTICED CRACKS ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRES. *AK TIRES WERE REPLACED BY FIRESTONE DEALER PRIOR TO RECALL. *YH

CONSUMER HAD SEEN LEFT FRONT TIRE SHOW INITIAL SEPARATION. CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS THE AXLE. *AK

PE00020; WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE TREAD ON REAR DRIVER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE (P235 75 R15) SEPARATED. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT TIRE SIZE, DOT NUMBER FROM TIRE, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK THE TIRES DOT # IS VDHL1PY137.

WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, STEEL BELT WAS SHOWING WHILE THE TIRE STAYED INFLATED, FIRESTONE PRO-RATED TIRE, HOWEVER THE DOT WAS VDHL AND CONSUMER HEARD ABOUT RECALL00T005 AND HAD ALL TIRES REPLACED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRE THAT WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL 00T005. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 DOT VDHLIPY137. *SLC

NOTED HAIRLINE FISSURE CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AT EXACT LEVEL OF TREAD SEPARATION DEPICTED IN CBS NEWS REPORT OF AUG. 8,2000. TOLD BY LOCAL FIRESTONE STORE MANAGER THIS WAS "NORMAL". OFFERRED ME A NEW SET OF TIRES AT A DISCOUNT. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT WHICH ACCORDING TO LAW REQUIRES FREE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE PHOTOS OF DEFECT.( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE FAILED ON GARDEN STATE PARKWAY @65 MPH, VEHICLE VEERED WILDLY BUT WAS BROUGHT TO STOP WITHOUT CRASHING. TEMPERATURES WERE MID TO UPPER 80'S, ON A CLEAR DRY SURFACE. NEW TIRE OF SAME MAKE PURCHASED AT GW TIRE, COOKSTOWN RD, COOKSTOWN, NJ. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R16 )

AFTER STARTING MY TRIP TO NORTH DAKOTA, SOMEWHERE IN GEORGIA, MY SUV STARTED TO TRAVEL TO THE RIGHT AS IF THE CAR WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I DROVE TO NORTH DAKOTA AND THEN BACK. WHEN I ARRIVED BACK IN JACKSONVILLE, ON THE 24TH OF JULY, I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER ABOUT MY TIRES. I TRIED TO FIND OUT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HAVING THEM REPLACED, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY. I WENT TO A TIRE DEALER AND HAD ALL FOUR REPLACED. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A SIX-INCH OPENING AND WEAR SHOWING TREAD PEELING OFF. THE OTHER 3 TIRES HAD A CRACK THAT WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. AS THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL WORD, THAT I CAN FIND, ABOUT HOW TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY HAVING TO REPLACE THE TIRES, I AM PATIENTLY WAITING FOR SUCH INFORMATION. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR STILL SITTING IN SOME DITCH IN ONE OF THE MORE UNINHABITED AREAS THAT I DROVE THROUGH ON MY TRIP. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! I CHECKED MY AIR PRESSURE RELIGIOUSLY AS IT MAKES FOR BETTER TIRE WEAR AND GAS MILEAGE. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF THOSE TIRES THAT WERE RESOLD WHEN TURNED IN FOR NEW TIRES. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

THE TIRE BLEW ON INTERSTATE I-69 ON CLEAR ROADS, OVERCAST DAY. THE DRIVER REAR TIRE LOST ITS TREAD WHICH FLIPPED UP BEHIND THE SUV CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I BEGAN A RIGHT HAND SPIN WHICH I GOT OUT OF AND THEN SPUN 180 DEGREES AND ENTERED THE MEDIAN BACKWARDS TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. SEVERAL WITNESSES GAVE STATEMENTS TO THE EATON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT INDICATING WHAT OCCURED AFTER THE TIRE BLEW OUT. I SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING OVER A SET OF RAIL ROAD TRACKS FRONT RIGHT FIRESTONE TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, AND WAS LOST. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WILDERNESS AT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 97 EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 70MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPAREATED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FINDER AND BRAKE HOUSING.*AK THE CUSTOMER STATES THE PROBLEM THAT HAS CAUSED THE RECALL IS THE SAME WITH THAT THE CUSTOMER IS EXPERIENCING AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *YH

ORGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH 1997 EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS BECOME WORSE. FORD SAID NO PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER INDICATED THAT 55 PSI ON THE TIRES WAS TOO MUCH AND SHOULD BE 3O PSI. HOWEVER, THE CUSTOMER SAYS THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIRES. *YH

I AM SENDING THIS FORM AS I HAVE HAD 2 WILDERNESS TIRES PEEL APART WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I FEEL THESE TIRES ARE VERY UNSAFE, BUT, THE COST OF TIRES PROHIBIT ME FROM REPLACING. BOTH TIMES THE TIRES RIPPED APART WHILE MY BABY GIRL WAS IN THE CAR AND WE WERE LUCKY THAT OUR SWERVING DID NOT CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE NO DOUBT THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED BY FORD AND FIRESTONE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE A CIRCUMFERENTIAL CRACK WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY LEAD TO A TREAD SEPARATION THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PAST WEEKEND. I ACTUALLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.( DOT NUMBER: )