1998 Mercury Mountaineer complaints

VEHICLE PARKED WHEN NEWS WAS HEARD ON TV ABOUT TIRES. CHECKED TIRES AND LEFT FRONT TIRES SHOWED TREAD SEPARATION AND STEEL BELT STICKING OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD & MECHANIC REPLACED TIRE WITH THE SPARE. LATER, TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE & WAS INFORMED TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL DUE TO NOT BEING FROM DECATUR PLANT. FIRESTONE TIRES ON 1998, MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 38,000 MILES. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 WITH 34,000 MILES.*AK

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: ALL FOUR TIRES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. TIRES HAVE CRACKS ALONG THE SIDEWALL. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 AND ABOVE, THERE IS A VERY LOUD HUMMING NOISE. TIRE SIZE IS P235/75R15, DOT #W2HL. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 98, MOUNTAINEER. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 30,000. *AK THE CUSTOMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR FIRESTONE TIRES, BUT THE DEALER AFTER LOOKING AT THE TIRES INDICATED THAT THEY WERE NOT COVERED. *YH

BLOW OUT, VEHICLE ROLLED, HOSPITAL/SAN ANTONIO BY AIRFLIGHT. POLICYHOLDER CONFIRMED FIRESTONE TIRE ON VEHICLE EXACT MODEL NOT KNOWN YET BUT MOST LIKELY WILL BE WILDERNESS. HE SAID THAT HE HAD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES ON THE MOUNTAINEER. HE SAID THAT THE WRECKER YARD DOES HAVE THE PIECE OF TREAD THAT SEPERATED AND IT PEELED OFF ALL IN ONE PIECE. HE SAID THAT THE TIRE THAT IT CAME OFF OF IS STILL INFLATED. EXPLAINED AGAIN HE SAID THAT SINCE HIS FAMILY SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, HE IS GOING TO CONSULT WITH A LAWYER TO PURSUE A BL CLAIM AGAINST FIRESTONE. (CLAIM# 53-C601-172) *MW

TIRE BLEW-FIRESTONE ATX P235-75R15. (CLAIM# 36-A113-742) *MW

VEHICLE HAS THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/AT P23575R15, BUT IT WAS MANUFACTRUED IN NORTH CAROLINA. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE IS STARTING TO SEPARATE. TREAD HAS WORN COMPLETELY, AND IS NOW DEVELOPING CRACKS. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK BOTH FRONT TIRES STATED WEARING QUICKLY AND THE TREAD BEGAN SEPARATING. THEY ARE UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *YH

PE00020, TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. THERE IS A TEAR BETWEEN THE LETTERS R AND E IN FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE, WILDERSNESS AT, P23575R15, DOT #VNHL. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT WITH ABOUT 16,100 MILES.*AK

CONSUMER HAD SEEN RECALL INFORMATION ON FIRESTONE TIRES. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECALL, AND FIRESTONE WAS NOT WILLING TO HELP. *AK

PE00020, ORIGINAL TIRE ON 1998, MERCURY, MOUNTAINEER. ALL FOUR TIRES HAD CRACKS ALONG TREAD AND SIDEWALL. IT SEEMED THAT TREAD HAS BEEN PEELING OFF. TIRE SIZE P235/75R15 AND DOT # VNHLIPY337.*AK

THERE IS A CRACK (LINE) THAT GOES AROUND THE SIDE OF THE TIRE APPROX 1 TO 1.5 INCHES BELOW THE TOP OF THE TREAD( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

AFTER READING INFORMATION ON THE RECALL, INSPECTED THE TIRES, AND FOUND CRACKS ON THEM, AS WELL AS TREAD SEPARATION. FIRESTONE P235/75R15 DOT # VNHL1PY437. *AK THE FIRESTONE DEALERS CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FIRSTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES HAD CONTINUOUS CRACK ON OUTSIDE OF THE TREAD LINE. *YH

DRIVING EASTBOUND ON I-12 LOUISIANA EN ROUTE TO MD WHEN VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND WE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND DID A 360 AND SLAMMED INTO TREES . VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS AND 2 ANIMALS PERISHED , SPOUSE AND I WERE TAKEN VIA AMBULANCE TO SLIDELL MEM. HOSPITAL( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

NOTICED A ROCKING/ROLLING MOTION ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BUBBLED AREA WHICH HAD WORN AND BURST A HOLE IN THE TIRE. STEEL THREAD SHOWING. I PUT THE SPARE ON AND WHEN GOT BACK HOME I BOUGHT 5 NEW TIRES . I THINK I CAUGHT THE PROBLEM JUST IN TIME TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TOOK TIRES TO FIRESTONE DEALER, HE FOUND SEVERE CRACKS IN 2 TIRES, FRONT, BUT THEY WERE NOT PART OF RECALL. BOUGHT GOODYEAR TIRES TO REPLACE THEM. CAR SPENT 2 WINTERS IN BRADENTON, FLORIDA. TRIP DOWN LAST YEAR WAS IN OVER 90 DEGREE HEAT. RETURN TRIP THE SAME. PSI (30) AT ALL TIMES.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 15 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THIS MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS THREE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/AT TIRES P23575R15 MANUFACTURED IN CANADA THAT ARE DEVELOPING CRACKS AROUND OUTSIDE AND INSIDE WALLS. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK DOT VNHL. *SLC

THE STEEL BELT HAS BEEN EXPOSED ON THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE STEEL BELT ON 2 OF THE TIRES CAN BE LIFTED UP BY MY FINGERS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIRE WEAR LIKE THIS. I WOULN NOT HAVE NOTICED THIS UNLESS I READ OF CURRENT PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRES. UPON MY INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THIS EARLY WEAR PROBLEM. I FEAR FOR MY SAFTY AND MY FAMILY DRIVING ON AMY FIRESTONE TIRE OF THE WILDERNESS 'AT' TYPE. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE TIRES MFG. AT THE N.C. PLANT WILL BE RECALLED. I AM KEEPING THE CAR AT HOME. I CALLED FORD MOTOR AND THEY SAID ALL THEIR TIRES ARE SAFE. THEN WHY ARE THERE TIRES WEARING AND FAILING SO EARLY. I NEED HELP REGARDING THESE TIRES. ASAP. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

APPARENT TREAD SEPERATION CAUSED TIRE FAILURE. I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ON I294. DEFECT APPEARS EVIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P23575R-15 )

WHILE INSPECTETING TIRES AFTER SEEING THE NEWS ON TV, FOUND TREAD SEPARATION ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75 R15, DOT VNHNL. *AK

PREIVIOUSLY CONTACTED NTSHA REF # 866987 (INFO ON FORME SENT ME IS INCORRECT) CORRECT INFO FOLLOWS: WHILE DRIVING TO FL, IN GEORGA NOTICED A VIBERATIONS IN FROM END. CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID TRY TO HAVE TIRES BALANCED. FIRESTONE STORE SAID CAN'T BALANCE TIRE BECAUSE THE STEEL BELTS HAVE SEPERATED INTERNALLY. THERE IS AN APORX. HIGHT DIFFERANCE BETREEN TREADS OF 1/2": I DIDN'T WANT TO PAY $120 FOR A NEW TIRE SO I HAD THE STORE MOUNT THAT TIRE AS MY SPARE. I STILL HAVE THIS TIRE. FIRESTONE HAS SINCE SAID THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THAT TIRE, BUT SINCE IT IS NOT IN THE RECALL, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT THIS TIRE SINCE IT DID NOT TOTALLY FAIL?( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY467 TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

ON APRIL 2,2000 WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 10 AT 70 MPH I EXPERIENCED A TIRE SEPARATION AND BLOWOUT. AT THE TIME I HAD ALL FIVE ORIGINAL TIRES ON MY MOUNTAINEER. AFTER THE SEPARATION I PUT THE SPARE IN SERVICE AND THE NEXT MORNING I PURCHASED THREE NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES AND PLACED THEM IN SERVICE WHICH GAVE ME FIVE TIRES WITH ZERO MILES ON THEM.AFTER HEARING OF THE FIRSTONE RECALL AFTER RETURNING TO MINNESOTA I HAD MY FIRESTONE DEALER CHECK MY TIRES. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TIRES DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RECALL BECAUSE THEY HAD THE DOT#W2HL INSTEAD OF THE DOT#VDHL.ALL OF MY TIES HAVE THE W2HL NUMBER AND YET I WAS ONE OF THE PERSONE THAT EXPERIENCED A TIRE SEPARATION AND BLOWOUT JUST AS THET-V REPORT STATED WAS THE REASON FOR THE RECALL. I HAVE NO TRUST IN THESE TIRES. I WOULD LIKE A SUGGESTIONOR INSTRUCTION AS TO WHAT TO DO. M. L. GEISZLER, BEMIDJI,MINN.ESTONE RECALL( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P235/75R15) TIRE EXPERIENCED A SPLIT ON THE SIDEWALL AREA. *MJS

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE(P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, ALL TIRES EXCEPT 1 WERE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T0050, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRE THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *SLC

I HAS HAD 3 OF THE ORIGINAL 5 TIRES FAIL. ONE FAILED AT 7000 MILES; THE OTHER TWO AT 30,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DAMAGE WAS INTERNAL. THE TIRES BEGAN TO BULDGE ON THE EXTERIOR WALL. ONE OF THE TIRES FLATTENED AT 75 MPH ON THE FREEWAY BEYOND REPAIR; IN FACT, THIS TIRE IS IN MY GARAGE. THE LOCAL DEALER MADE THE PROBLEM MY FAULT--IMPROPER INFLATION. HOWEVER, THE DOT NUMBER ON MY TIRES DID NOT MATCH THOSE FROM THE RECALL. I WAS PROMPTED TO WRITE BECAUSE I DO HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THESE PARTICULAR TIRES AS WELL HAVE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. MY PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED TO ME AS BELT SLIPPAGE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THESE WERE THE "BEST" TIRES FIRESTONE MAKES. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REPLACE MY FIRESTONE TIRES WITH ANOTHER SET OF "DEFECTIVE" TIRES. NEVERTHELESS, OTHERS ARE PUTTING THESE SAME TYPE TIRES ON THE VECHICLES AS REPLACEMENTS FOR THE DEFECTS. I AM STATING FOR THE RECORD THAT THESE WILL ALSO WARRANT INVESTIGATION. ISN'T IT ODD THAT I HAVE REPLACED THREE OF FIVE TIRES WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES FOR BELT SLIPPAGE. WHAT ARE THE STATISTICAL ODDS OF THAT HAPPENING? KNOWING A BIT ABOUT STATISTICS, THIS NUMBER IS SIGNIFICANT, NOT A RANDOM OCCURRENCE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

PE00-020; 26,540 MILES WILDERNESS AT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1998, P235/75R15 AND DOT #W8JN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO CHECK TO SEE IF HAD A RECALL ON TIRES. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A RECALL , BUT THE LEFT REAR HAS WEATHER CRACKS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD OR FIRESTONE WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRES, BUT FORD WOULD PRORATE TIRES. FIRESTONE CLAIMED THERE WAS NO DEFECTIVE TIRE. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

WIFE OF OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON LEVEL ASPHALT PAVEMENT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT SPEED LIMIT. TIRE "EXPLODED" AND CAME APART SO VIOLENTLY THAT CHROME STEEL RIM WAS BENT ON IMPACT WITH PAVEMENT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PULL OFF ONTO SHOULDER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED FOR SERVICE. ALL TIRES AND ONE RIM WERE REPLACED. INFANT CHILD WAS A PASSENGER AT TIME OF INCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS MAKING NOISE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. BUT WHEN STOPPED, COULD SEE THAT IT WAS TREAD SEPARATION. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R15 05SMF. *AK *SLC

MY FAMILY WAS ON VACATION AND TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 85 SOUTH. ABOUT 1/2 HOUR BEFORE STOPPING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A CROSS WIND OR AIR POCKET CREATED AS WE PASSED OR WAS PASSED BY TRAITOR TRAILERS ON THE ROAD. THE FAMILY DECIDED TO STOP FOR LUNCH AND EXITED OFF I85 SOUTH AT 12B. WE PROCEEDED TO GOLDEN CORRAL - 807 E. ATLANTIC STREET - SOUTH HILL, VIRGINIA. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE LEFT REAR TIRE GOING FLAT. I INSPECTED IT AND NOTICE TWO SLASHES ABOUT TWO INCHES IN LENGTH ON BOTH SIDES IF TIRE ABOUT TWO FEET APART. THE CUT WAS ON THE SIDE OF TIRE WHERE THE TREAD BEGAN AND WAS SEPARATING. AT THIS TIME A CUSTOMER LEAVING THE GOLDEN CORRAL APPROACHED ME AND INSPECTED THE TIRE AND TOLD ME THIS IS THE SAME TIRE THAT WAS REPORTED ON THE 6PM NEWS ONE DAY EARLIER AS BEING DEFECTIVE. I CONTACTED AAA TO CHANGE MY FLAT TIRE. LATER THAT AFTERNOON WE STOPPED IN RALEIGH, NC AND PURCHASED ONE NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE. ONE USED TIRE BECAME THE SPARE AND TWO NEW TIRES WERE ON THE REAR(THE ORIGINAL SPARE AND THE NEW TIRE JUST PURCHASED). WE CONTINUED SAFELY ON OUR TRIP TO EUFALA, AL. ON AUGUST 23, 2000 I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP IN REFERENCE TO THE TIRES BEGING EXCHANGED. THE PERSON ANSWERING THE PHONE INDICATED THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REPLACEMENT BUT A FIRESTONE DEALER IN EMERSON, NJ WAS INVOLVED. LATE IN THE MORNING OF 8/23/00 I WENT TO THE EMERSON, NJ FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP AND THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD ONE TIRE WAS OK(I SUPPOS

CONSUMER HAD JUST TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TRAVELING ON A DIRT ROAD WHEN VEHICLE JERKED TO RIGHT AND THEN ROLLED OVER. CONSUMER AND HER DAUGHTER WERE THROWN OUT FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, AND DAUGHTER WAS KILLED UPON IMPACT. ALSO VEHICLE EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P23575R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK *SLC

VEHICLE HAS STALLED/HESITATED UPON ACCLERATION SEVERAL TIMES. IT HAS DONE THIS AT LEAST 10 TIMES (STALLED 3 THUS FAR...TODAY 8/23/00 WAS ONE INCIDENT OF THAT) DESPITE EFFORTS BY FORD TO REMEDY. I'VE HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE RECALLED THROTTLE, RE-ORIENT MY FUEL LINES, AND EVENTUALLY REPLACE MY ENGINE WITHOUT ANY REMEDY. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE (ONCE IT STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES. FORTUNATELY IT WAS CLEAR). I'VE OWNED EXPLORERS IN THE PAST WITH NO SUCH INCIDENTS.( DOT NUMBER: )

BOTH THE FRONT FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED SEVERE CRACKS, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES WITH GOODYEAR ONES. *MJS

I HAD TWO TIRES EXPERIENCE SIDEWALL FAILURE (LARGE BULGE ON OUTSIDE OF TIRE). TIRES WERE REPLACED BY FIRSTONE. THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CURRENT RECALL DUE TO THE PLACE OF MANUFACTURE.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY308 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. THEN, STARTED LOSING CONTROL, CAR SLID, AND WENT DOWN A HILL/ ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT, SIZE P23575 R15. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *SLC

A CRACK JUST BELOW THE TREAD ALL AROUND THE TIRE WAS DETECTED BY MY CAR DEALER WHILE IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE.THIS TIRE NOT PART OF RECALL IN THAT IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT QUEBEC FACTORY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75-15 )

MY TIRES HAVE DOT STARTING WITH VH, THEY HAVE A CRACK ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE ALL THE WAY AROUND JUST BELOW THE TREAD LINE. NO TIRE SHOP WILL REPLACE THESE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THEY APPEAR TO BE UNSAFE AND I DO NOT WANT MY FAMILY INJURED DUE TO MANUFACTURING NELIGENCE. I AM UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHERE THESE TIRES WERE MADE. I AM TOLD THE CRACK IS CAUSED BY DRIVING ON DIRT AND PAVED ROADS BUT THESE ARE ALL-TERRAIN TIRES AND SHOULD HOLD UP TO DIFFERENT ROAD TYPES. PLEASE HELP ME GET THESE TIRES OFF MY CAR BEFORE THE TREAD COMES OFF. THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF MILES LEFT ON THESE TIRES BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE WITH THESE TIRES CRACKED!*AK( DOT NUMBER: VH TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

BEEN TOLD MY TIRES HAVE STRESS CRACKS INSIDE AND OUT. NOT SAFE BUT NOT YET ON RECALL. TAKEN TO FORD, SMITH TIRE BARN, HUNTING TIRE, AND FIRESTONE TIRE IN JACKSON TN.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235-75-R1 )

CONSUMER HAD CHANGED THE FOUR SET OF TIRES BECAUSE OF CRACKS ON THE TIRE SIDEWALLS. FIRESTONE P235/75R15 WILDERNESS DOT W2HLIPY457. *AK THE FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE HAD INSPECTED THE TIRES AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SEEN UNTIL THE TIRES ARE REMOVED FROM THE RIM. *YH

THERE WAS NO CRASH INVOLVED. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES (WILDERNESS AT) MANUFACTURED IN DECATUR, IL. UPON EXAMINING OUR TIRES, TO SEE IF THEY WERE THE ONES MANUFACTURED IN DECATUR, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT ALL THE TIRES WERE SPLITTING, ON BOTH INBOARD AND OUTBOARD SIDES, WHERE THE SIDEWALLS MEET THE TREAD. THE SPLITS WENT AROUND THE ENTIRE TIRE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THERE IS A FAULT IN THE TIRE DESIGN ITSELF, AND NOT IN JUST THE TIRES MANUFACTURED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS PLANT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY367 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I INSPECTED MY TIRES AND DISCOVERED A DISTINCT LINE OF CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. THIS LINE OF CRACKS ENCOMPASSES AN EVEN RADIUS AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE SIDEWALL AND DOES NOT CHANGE DIRECTION AS IT PENETRATES EACH BLOCK OF TREAD. I HAVE A "VN" IDENTIFIER WHICH I KNOW IS NOT RECALLED, HOWEVER THE PATTERN I SEE IN MY TIRES IS SUSPECT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE TIRES MAY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL ALSO( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235R7515 )

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS MAKING A NOISE BECAUSE TREAD HAD SEPARATED, BUT TIRE STILL HAD AIR. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15. *AK

ON FRIDAY JAN 7, 2000 UPON LEAVING MY OFFICE, I NOTICED UPON APPROACHING THE 1998 MOUNTAINEER A SHINY OBJECT IN THE LEFT REAR TIRE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A NAIL, BUT UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD DEVELOPED AN INDENTATION THE SIZE OF A QUARTER ON THE TREAD SIDE OF THE TIRE, ON THE TREAD CLOSEST TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THROUGH THAT INDENTATION, YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE WHAT APPEARED TO BE A STEEL BELT. DROVE HOME (ONLY 1 MILE) SLOWLY. SATURDAY MORNING I CHECKED THE AIR IN THE TIRE- IT WAS 29 LBS. THEN I HEADED EARLY FOR MARTIN TIRE WHICH IS 8 MILES AWAY. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MARTIN TIRE THE SIZE OF THE INDENTATION HAD GROWN TO ABOUT 3 INCHES AND THE STEEL BELT WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE FOR MOST OF THE THREE INCHES. FRANK MARTIN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TREAD/BELT SEPARATION. DURING THE TRIP TO MARTIN TIRE THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF TIRE FAILURE. NO VIBRATIONS WERE NOTED, AND NO ADDITIONAL NOISE (THEY ARE NOISY TIRES TO BEGIN WITH) WAS NOTED. NOT WANTING TO TAKE A CHANCE WITH MY LIFE, I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH A NON-FIRESTONE BRAND IMMEDIATELY. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE WAY TO MY DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE, AND HAD THIS HAPPENED IT MIGHT BE MY ESTATE WHO COULD BE WRITING THIS REPORT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION OF 1 REAR TIRE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE 34, NEAR TIDEWATER, OREGON, REAR TIRE DISINTEGRATED AND WE WERE ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY NO-ONE WAS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT THE TIME. WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE ASSISTANCE FROM A NEARBY RESIDENT WHO CALLED TOW TRUCK FROM WALDPORT, OREGON. TIRE WAS IN SHREDS, AND SMOKING WHEN WE STOPPED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE TIRE THREAD BEGAN TO FALL APART. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

WE WERE GOING FROM HOUSTON TO MARYLAND. IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY, BEFORE WE COULD PULL IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE TIRE BLEW OFF THE TRUCK, AND MY WIFE AND MYSELF FOUND OURSELVES WRAPPED AROUND A TREE. WE HAD OUR TWO DOGS AND TWO CATS WITH US, IN THEIR CRATES IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. WE LOST ONE CAT, AND OUR GERMAN SHEPHERD HAD HIS SPINAL CORD CRUSHED, AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO BE PUT TO SLEEP. NOW WE HEAR THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MORE PEOPLE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULD BE SO NEGLEGENT. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE FATALITIES HAD WE NOT HIT THAT TREE EXACTLY WHERE WE DID. WE ARE CONSIDERING FILING SUIT, AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE. THANKYOU. WHEN YOU CALL US, WE CAN PROVIDE THE VIN NUMBER, I JUST DID NOT HAVE IT RIGHT NOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

ON TWO OCCASIONS ACCELERATOR CABLE SNAPPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE WITHOUT POWER FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN TRAFFIC, AND SECOND OCCURRENCE ON A DARK ROAD. BELIEVED BOTH INCIDENTS WERE DUE TO FAULTY PARTS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE AGAIN. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE WALL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, HAD TO SLOW DOWN, APPLIED BRAKES, BUT IT DIDN'T TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. KEPT APPLYING BRAKES, AND CRUISE CONTROL FINALLY TURNED OFF. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED FOR HOOD LATCH RECALL, AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO ORDER A CARBURETOR KIT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND RAN INTO DITCH. DRIVER TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF THE DITCH, AND WHEN STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A LOW WALL. DRIVER SUFFERED CHEST/HEAD, AND NECK INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

MAY 5,1998 CAR DIED WHEN IT WAS GOING UP AN INCLINE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY. JUNE 3,1998 THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK,PLUS THE STEREO WHEN WE STOPPED LET OUT A HIGH PITCHED NOISE AND THEN STOPPED WORKING ABOUT AN HOUR LATER IT WAS OK AGAIN. LATER THAT EVENING THE CAR TRIED TO DIE AGAIN THE LIGHTS WENT DIM. JUNE 9,1998 WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH (50 THRU 80MPH)WENT OUT. JUNE 19,1998 PROBLEMS AGAIN CAR NOT WANTING TO START ALL THE TIME-DEALERSHIP INSTALLED FLIGHT DATA RECORDER UNTIL JUNE 26,1998 WHEN STEREO STARTED AGAIN AND DATA RECORDER WENT OUT. JULY 14,1999 CAR MAKING LOUD NOISE BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEY HAD TO REPLACE ALTENATOR/TENSIIONER/BELT. JULY 26,1999 CAR OVERHEATS AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN A MILE AWAY TOWED TO DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACE THERMOSTAT/THERMOSTAT HOUSING/GASKET . PICK CAR UP ON JULY 29,1999 FROM DEALERSHIP DRIVE 3.3 MILES FROM DEALERSHIP AND THE CAR CATCHES ON FIRE ON DRIVERS SIDE UNDER AROUND WERE THE FUSES ARE. CAR GETS REPAIRED THEN ON SEPT.22,1999 HAD TO BRING BACK AFTER DRIVING CAR THE HEADLIGHTS START TO FLASH ON & OFF. WELL ARE REARVEIW MIRROR HAS THE AUTO DIMING HEADLIGHTS THAT HAVE NOT WORKED FOR A WHILE NOW BUT I AM TIRED OF MESSING WITH THIS LEMON. OH BEFORE THE FIRE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU PUT THE TURN SIGNAL ON IT WOULD BUZZ. THIS IS THE PROBLEMS WE BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. MANY TIMES THE LIGHTS DIMMED BUT IT WOULD BE OK AFTER A LITTLE WHILE. *AK