1997 Mercury Mountaineer complaints

I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED A VOQ MY ODI # IS 726973. I DID NOT HAVE THE DOT # IN MY ORIGINAL REPORT TO YOU. IT IS W2HL. IT IS NOT PART OF FIRESTONE'S VOLUNTARY RECALL. I BELIEVE AS YOU INVESTIGATE FURTHER, YOUR AGENCY AND CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS WILL EXPAND THIS RECALL. I HAVE KEPT THIS TIRE, AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO INSPECT IT THEY ARE WELCOME.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, TREAD DID NOT SEPARATE( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY227 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FEBRUARY 1998 WHILE DRIVING ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY BETWEEN PHOENIX AND TUCSON AT ABOUT 65MPH, THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT BY THROWING THE ENTIRE TREAD BELT OFF AND CAUSING THE CAR TO END UP CROSSING THE LEFT LANE AND GOING DOWN INTO THE MEDIAN. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN BACK TO FIRESTONE IN TUCSON IN FEB 98 AND THEY SAID TOO BAD, ITS ROAD HAZZARD, YOU HIT SOMETHING ON THE HIGHWAY AND JUST WEREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW IT. MERCURY AT LEAST REPLACED THE RIM. WE WERE SO DISGUSTED WITH FIRESTONE THAT WE BOUGHT TWO NEW TIRES FOR THE FRONT FROM A DIFFERENT DEALER. THANK GOD IT WAS THE REAR TIRE THAT BLEW OUT.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PY127 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I HAVE 5 TIRES ON MY MOUNTAINEER THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND ARE CRACKING SEVERLY BETWEEN THE TREAD AND THE TIRE. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS SAFE, AND MY LOCAL FIRESTONE STORE HAS SAID THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPLACE THESE TIRES. MY WIFE AND BABY RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AND I DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO THEM. I WOULD APPREICATE A RETURN E-MAIL ABOUT THIS !! MY E-MAIL - [email protected]( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

BOTH INTERIOR BACK DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT ALLOW ESCAPE FROM THE INTERIOR. I KNOW OF OTHER EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM

I LIVE IN SOUTHERN AZ I WAS RETURNING FROM A TRIP. I WAS GOING 75 MPH WHEN I HEARD A THUMPING NOISE. PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD & DISCOVERED THE TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD PEELED AWAY. DROVE 30 MILES BACK TO TUCSON & HAD SPARE PUT ON. WENT TO SEARS AND HAD TIRE REPLACED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 235/75/15 TIRE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF REMAINING TIRES (00T-005). *MJS

ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN TWO TIRES HAD THE TREAD DELAMINATION, SIMULTANEOUSLY (LUCKILY THE TIRES WERE BOTH ON TH REAR AND NO INJURIES RESULTED). RECENTLY I HAVE NOTED CONTROVERSY REGARDING THE TYPE OF DEFECT IN THESE TIRES AND BELIEVE THAT THE SIMULTANEOUS OCCURRENCE OF DELAMINATION MAY BE IMPORTANT. THE DAY WAS HOT AND SUNNY AND THE TIRES WERE BOTH AT THE SAME SPEED. I DO NOT HAVE DETAILS WITH ME, BUT HAVE THE DETAILS AVAILABLE (INCLUDING ONE DOT NUMBER) IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEAN RIEGER( DOT NUMBER: )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. THERE WAS NO SIDEWALL , AND TREAD WAS STRANDED. ACTUALLY, THEY WERE DRIVING ON THE RIM. TIRE WAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT. THERE WERE NO INJURIUES, AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE AND RIM. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

OTHER REMAINING ORIGINAL TIRES ARE CRACKED ALONG THE TREAD ON SIDEWALL. WE HAVE TRIED SEVERAL OPTIONS TO GET TIRES REPLACED BUT WERE TOLD THAT IT COULD BE 18 MONTHS. MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND WE HAVE TO TRAVEL TO THE DOCTOR 120 MILES A WAY ONCE A MONTH. WE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. TIRE WAS INFLATED TO 32 PSI. FIRESTONE DID NOT MENTION ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE, BUT THEY DID GIVE TREADWEAR CREDIT TOWARD A NEW SET OF TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

TREAD FAILED, IS A WILDERNESS AT BUT NOT A VD MANUFACTURED TIRE. NOT PART OF PRESENT RECALL BUT SHOULD BE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND DAMAGED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND REAR PANEL. WE WERE GOING APPROX. 50 MILES PER HR. THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT BUT DID CATCH ON FIRE. THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN ALEXANDER CITY, ALA. REPLACED THE TIRE AND REPAIRED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. TOTAL COST $985.75. THE COST TO REPAIR PANEL IS $534.21. FIRESTONE IN KENNASAW, GA. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES ON AUG. 5, 2000, AT A COST TO ME OF $100.00. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL MY COSTS RELATED TO THE TIRE RECALL. I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS IF NEEDED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/AT TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE, SIZE P235R75/15 HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES DUE TO SIDEWALL AND TREAD SEPARATION. THIS HAPPENED WHENEVER CONSUMER TRAVELED TO FLORIDA, AND ARIZONA. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ONE HIGH SPEED BLOW-OUT; AND A SECOND TIRE ALSO SEPARATED( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

VEHICLE HAD TIRE SEPARATION (FIRESTONE) . YH

TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-84 IN NORTHERN UTAH AT 75 MPH WHEN TIRE TREAD INSTANTLY AND COMPLETLEY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. FOUR OF THE FIVE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRE THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE VEHICLE ARE FROM THE W2 PLANT, SO THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT THE FAILED TIRE WAS ALSO FROM W2. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRES WERE REPLACED SINCE THERE WERE SIGNS OF HUNKS OF TIRE BEING THROWN FROM THE TIRE. THERE APPEARED TO BE EVENELY SPACED STRESS MARS IN THE TIRE. I FEARED FOR MY SAFETY AND HAD THEM REPLACED IN JANUARY.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE-00-020-TIRE SIZE P23575R15, DOT NUMBER W2HL1PY257, AND TIRES ONLY HAD 22000 MILES ON THEM. WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A VERY HOT DAY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL TREAD COMPLETELY CAME APART IN PIECES, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. CONSUMER CONTACTED A TIRE INSPECTION COMPANY, INSPECTOR NOTED THAT BELT WITHIN THE TREAD SEPARATED WHICH LOOKED TO BE A DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

ORGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 97 MOUNTAINEER. TREAD SEPARATED ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 235/75/R15 *MW

360 DEGREE CRACKS 5/32 & 3/32 DEEP ALL TIRES---FIRESTONE REFUSES TO INCLUDE IN RECALL. I HAVE THE TIRES AND CAN PROVIDE THEM TO YOU FOR ANALYSIS.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

TIRES WERE INSPECTED BY FIRESTONE & FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. FIRESTONE SAID THESE TIRES ARE NOT ON RECALL LIST BUT SAID THAT ALL TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, WE CHECKED ALL OF THE TIRES AND SAW NOTHING, CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND EVENTUALLY THE VIBRATION SUBSIDED SOME. LATER NOTICED SECTION OF TREAD MISSING ON BACK LEFT TIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE DEALER WHO IMMEDIATELY REPLACED DEFECTIVE TIRE AND KEPT IT. GAVE US SMALL CREDIT TOWARD NEW FIRESTONES. BOUGHT FIRESTONE ATX II TIRES. FILED COMPLAINT WITH FIRESTONE AND WITH TIRE DEALER ON 8/7/2000 FOR BOTH SETS OF TIRES. STILL HAVE ORIGINAL 3 TIRES AND ORIGINAL SPARE -NEVER USED- REVIEW OF 3 SHOWS WHAT APPEARS TO BE STRESS ALL AROUND OUTER EDGE OF TREAD. AM THANKFUL NO ACCIDENT RESULTED AND HOPE THIS INFORMATION ASSISTS IN INVESTIGATION.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PY157 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

MY LEASE EXP ON THIS VEHICLE 5/99 SO I NO LONGER HAVE IT. I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY APPROX 60 MPH WHEN I FELT THAT MY CAR WAS NOT GRIPPING THE ROAD. I SAW PIECES OF THE TIRE DISINTEGRATING THRU MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED FORD ROAD SVC. I REPORTED TO FIRESTONE, NO INTEREST IN HELPING. I WENT TO STAR LINCOLN DEALERSHIP TO PURCHASE RIM AND TIRE FOR $300.00. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND.( DOT NUMBER: )

AFTER MEDIA PUBLICITY ON THE TIRE MATTER, I INSPECTED TIRES ON VEHICLE STATED. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE TREAD AND THE SIDEWALL AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE. THE SEPARATION IS BOTH ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SIDEWALLS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED, AND THEY IN TURN SENT ME TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER. THE MANAGER OF THE STORE OBSERVED THE SEPARATIONS AND COMMENTED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. HE SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE RECALL NOTICE FROM FIRESTONE. I AM A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND WE ARE AMONG THE LAST STATES TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE RECALL (BY YEAR END 2001). MEANWHILE, I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CONCERNS MY FAMILY THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SOONER THAN 2001. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ON THIS CONCERN.( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I WAS DRIVING AND MY TIRE EXPLODED AND SHREDDED. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIRE LOOK LIKE THAT. FIRESTONE TOLD ME THEY FOUND A NAIL IN THE TIRE BUT EVERY FLAT TIRE I HAVE EVER AHD HAS NEVER DONE THAT. IT SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL PLANE WAS LANDING ON MY CAR. IN LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS I AM VERY HAPPY THAT ALL THAT WAS DAMAGED WAS HE TIRE AND THE RIM IT WAS A TERRFYING EXPERIENCE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575RX15 )

CHARLIE HENDERSON FORD SAY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRE FAILURE....FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE I DID NOT PURCHASE THE TIRES AND CAN NOT PROVIDE A RECEIPT. THESE TIRES WERE BRAND NEW. SOMEONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 5 BRAND NEW TIRES THAT PUT MY SON IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AND CAUSED 3500.00 DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R15 )

WE NO LONGER HAVE THE TIRES ON OUR CAR. HOWEVER, ALL FOUR TIRES HAD THE STEEL BELTS FALL APART AT ONE TIME. THE REAR RIGHT TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE WE WERE DRIVING CAUSING CLOSE TO $11,000 IN DAMAGE ON OUR VEHICLE, $3,000 IN PERSONAL EXPENSE FOR US AND OTHER EXPENSES TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE WEEK BEFORE OUR TRIP IN WHICH THE TIRES FELL APART, WE HAD OUR TIRES ROTATED, ALEIGNED AND CHECKED. WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR VEHICLES IN TOP SHAPE NOT ONLY FOR A TRIP, BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT I DID NOT KNOW SOME OF THE INFORMATION ASKED FOR ON THE FORM. I DID MY BEST. I AM HOPING THAT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FIRESTONE TIRES WOULD HELP TO RECOVER SOME OF THE EXPENSE WE AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAD TO PAY. DUE TO THE ACCIDENT, OUR RATES HAVE INCREASED AS WELL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: UNKNOWN )

THE RUBBER PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

DURING DECEMBER 1999 I HAD A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE BEGIN TO SEPARATE; THEREFORE, I REPLACED THE TIRE. ON APPROXIMATELY APRIL 16, 2000 I HAD ANOTHER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE ACTUALLY SEPERATE WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 10 AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ALL FOUR TIRES EXHIBIT CRACKING AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE AT THE TREAD / SIDEWALL INTERFACE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

ON BOTH INCIDENTS, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE..IN THE SECOND INCIDENT THE TREAD PEALED AT 75MPH, SLAPPED THE RIGHT REAR FENDER OFF THE TRUCK AND BROKE THE BACK TAIL LIGHT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING AT 75MPH FRONT LEFT FIRESTONE ATX TIRE (P23575R15) BLEW OUT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. DEALER PRORATED TIRE.*AK THE CONSUMER ALSO PURCHASED 3 OTHER TIRES. *SLC

THE TIRE CAME APART AT 60 MILES PER HOUR ON A CLEAN OPEN ROAD (I-70 IN FREDERICK, MD). I HAD IT REPLACED AND WAS THANKFUL IT WASN'T THE FRONT TIRE AS THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO BRING IT TO A STOP ALONG SIDE THE ROAD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY SPEED, MY REAR LEFT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. IT WAS NOTED THAT THIS TIRE WAS STILL COMPLETELY INFLATED, ONLY THE TREAD WAS MISSING. A WITNESS DIRECTLY BEHIND MY VEHICLE WATCHED THE TREAD COME OFF OF MY TIRE AND HIT HER CAR. AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE, A FIREFIGHTER TOLD ME OF THE NEWS SPECIAL ON CBS CHANNEL 2 NEWS THAT AIRED JULY 25TH. I BROKE MY HAND, BROKE A RIB, AND BADLY SPRAINED MY NECK. I AM NOW PAYING FOR A RENTAL CAR. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE MADE AWARE OF ANY UPDATING INFORMATION ON THE FIRESTONE TIRE INVESTIGATION. I HAVE LOTS OF PICTURES OF THE TIRE, AND I EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO THE TIRE (UNTIL THEY TOTAL MY CAR - WHICH MAY BE SOON) IT IS STILL INFLATED. IT LOOKS AS IF IT WAS SCALPED. THANK YOU! *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

AT LOW SPEEDS ABS WOULD KICK IN, AND CONSUMER COULD FEEL PULSE IN BRAKE PEDAL. MECHANIC SAID THAT ROTORS RUSTED AND DELAMINATED.*AK

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN GEAR. DOOR LOCKS, AND HAS TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE RUSTED WITH MARKS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER CALLED MANUFACTURER & WAS TOLD THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM, BUT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. VEHICLE WAS FIRST TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AT 5,000 MILES BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED & THE DEALER SAID IT WAS FINE.*AK

UPON PUTTING VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE THROTTLE STUCK & VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO THE GARAGE WALL. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

TWO REAR DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. HANDLES STICK OUT AND WONT MOVE FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY OCCUPANT MAY BE STUCK. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I DON'T KNOW THAT IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE I NEED TO BE, BUT MY SUV HAS QUITE A BIT OF RUST UNDERNEATH AND IN THE WHEELS, I CAN SCRATCH SOME OFF WITH CHIPPING COMING OFF, I HAVE MET WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE FORD REP, THEY SAY I HAVE SURFACE RUST AND IT WON'T RUST THREW THE STEEL, IN MY LIFE TIME, AND I AM UNEASE ABOUT THAT, MY SEAT BELTS HAVE A SMELL TO THEM AND I FEEL LIKE IT HAS HAD SOME WATER DAMAGED TO IT, BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN IT, THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE GASKETS, OIL PAN, CRANKSHAFT REAR SEAL, AND REAR MAIN SEAL, AND IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR A POPING SOUND. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO NEXT TO GET THIS MATTER TAKEN CARE OF, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS MUCH RUST, CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME, AND GIVE ME THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GO NOW. I THANK YOU SO MUCH.

INSIDE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE RELEASING. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE WILL HESITATE OR STOP MOMENTARILY WHEN VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STARTING TO ACCELERATE. MERCURY KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *AK.ET

RADIATOR LEAKS AROUND THE PLASTIC TANK WHICH IS CONNECTED TO CORE OF RADIATOR. PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY WHEN WEATHER IS COLD. ONCE VEHICLE HAD HEATED IT DID NOT LEAK. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & INFORMED VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY & NO RECALLS OR BULLETINS ON VEHICLE. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE & ACCELERATING. STARTED TO APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, BUT VEHICLE INCREASED IN SPEED. PUMPED BRAKES TO DECREASE SPEED. PROBLEM HAPPENED ONCE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK. *AK

AFTER GETTING MY MOUNTAINEER BACK FROM ACCIDENT RELATED REPAIRS I NOTICED THAT WHILE BACKING &/OR TURNING THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ONE OF THE CONTROL ARMS WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE ACCIDENT, THE OTHER ONE WAS REPLACED IN 9/1999 & THE VEHICLE IS MAKING THE POPPING SOUND AGAIN.

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK *ML

AS I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED FLAMES IN THE UPPER PART OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL. I PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FIRE HAD STARTED IN THE RELAY/FUSE BOX LOCATED IN THE LEFT REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I ASKED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY (UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION), IF A RECALL OR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND BEEN ISSUED BY FORD CONCERNING THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY FROM EITHER. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES (P235/75R15) WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION ON ALL 5 TIRES, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC