1999 Ford Expedition Tires & Wheels Problems

SPARE TIRE FELL OFF. THE TINY (1/8") STEEL CABLE THAT HELD SPARE IN PLACE UNDER THE TRUCK BODY FAILED ALLOWING HUGE SPARE TIRE TO DROP TO ROAD. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPEN AS I WAS PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AFTER A 2000 MILE TRIP. HAD THIS OCCURRED ON I95 IN 75MPH / BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER FOR THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES. A WEB SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON AND SHOULD THE SUBJECT OF A SAFETY RECALL.

1999 EXPEDITION XLT 4WD W/17" STEEL WHEELS. WHILE TRAVELING ON A WELL GRADED GRAVEL ROAD, ABOUT 35MPH THE RIDE SUDDENLY BECAME SHUDDERING, LIKE A TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. AS I WAS SLOWING TO STOP & CHECK IT, BUT WHILE STILL TRAVELLING ABOUT 20-25 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN THUMPING THUD, AND THE RIGHT REAR CORNER OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED, AS IF THE TIRE HAD FAILED, ACCOMPANIED BY IMMEDIATE LOSS OF SPEED. UPON STOPPING & EXITING TO CHANGE THE TIRE, I FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE & WHEEL WERE COMPLETELY MISSING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTING ON THE BRAKE ROTOR. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THERE WERE NO LUG BOLTS UPON WHICH TO MOUNT THE SPARE. I FOUND THE TIRE & WHEEL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, FULLY INFLATED; AND ALSO FOUND THE HUBCAP & ALL OF THE LUG NUTS STREWN ALONG THE ROADWAY. THE NUTS HAD THE SHEARED OFF/BROKEN STUBS OF THE LUG STUDS STILL ATTACHED TO THEM. NO INJURIES RESULTED, NOR WAS THERE ANY OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE; NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PERSONS WERE AFFECTED BY THE INCIDENT. WHEN THE WHEEL CAME OFF OF THE HUB, IT DID EXTENSIVE BODY DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AREA AND TO THE QUARTER PANEL/FENDER AREA. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY NOTIFIED FOR A POSSIBLE DAMAGE CLAIM. I SUBSEQUENTLY HEARD OF A RECALL OF NEWER FORD VEHICLES WITH 17" STEEL WHEELS EXHIBITING THIS SAME PROBLEM, SO DECIDED TO FILE A REPORT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P265/70/R16 DOT8X72 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CEMENT DIVIDER. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE FACE AND MOUTH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 127,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION WITH COOPER DISCOVER LFX TIRES WITH DOT NUMBER 4909. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE CONTACT HAD A REAR ALIGNMENT PERFORMED ON THE TIRE, BUT THE SIDE WALLS BURST ON EACH TIRE. THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME TIRE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE ORIGINAL ONE SPLIT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

WELL ME AND SOME OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WAS HEADING TO DESTINE WE WAS ON I-10 SOUTH WHEN THE COVERING OF THE TIRE CAME OFF AND BENT THE FINDER. *TR

PURCHASE 4 NEW INTERCO TSL/THORNBIRD TIRES ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS AGO. PURCHASED IN MURRIETA CA AT THE TIME OF RESIDENCE. JUNE 2008 MOVED TO YUMA AZ. ON 9/2/08 A BIG CHUNK BLEW OUT THE CENTER OF THE TIRE IN TUCSON AZ. CONTACTED RAMONA TIRE VIA EMAIL. EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPEN . THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME TO TELL ME WHO TO TAKE IT TO. NEVER RETURNED A MESSAGE. ON 11/28/08 ANOTHER TIRE DID THE SAME THING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE JUMPED IN THE AIR AS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V099000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

MY FORD EXPEDITION WAS OUTFITTED A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS AGO WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLERS BY FORD DUE TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURE. RECENTLY, WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED FAILURE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. ALL AROUND THE RIM APPROXIMATELY 1/2 TO 3/4" FROM THE RIM THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE RUBBER SIDEWALL OPENING UP AS THE EARTH DOES DURING AN EARTHQUAKE. THESE ARE APPROXIMATELY 2-3" LONG AND A LITTLE OVER 1/8" DEEP SO FAR. THIS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR THREE YEAR OLD TIRES. THESE WILL BE REMOVED BEFORE THE NEXT LONG TRIP AS I WILL NOT WAIT FOR FAILURE AND PUT MY OR MY FAMILY IN DANGER. *JB

THE SPARE TIRE CABLE SNAPPED ON FORD EXPEDITION AT HIGH SPEED AND ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. THE TIRE CROSSED THE MEDIAN, AFTER BEING NARROWLY MISSED BY THE PERSON BEHIND ME, AND WENT INTO OPPOSING TRAFFIC.*AK THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS HURT OR INJURED BUT I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY!

I WORK AT A TIRE STORE AND HAVE SEEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, LUG STUDS SNAPPING WITH TORQUE WRENCH USE OF 100 PSI. ON FORD AND LINCOLN TRUCKS AND SUV'S. IT IS ONLY HAPPENING TO THE ONES WITH 10 MM LUG STUDS. THE METAL ON THE INSIDE OF THE STUD HAS VARYING SHADES OF GREY IN IT. IT LOOKS LIKE THE METAL IS NOT THE SAME ALL THE WAY THROUGH. ONCE THE STUD SNAPS, THE NUT CAN BE SCREWED OFF BY HAND AND IS NOT CROSS THREADED. WHEN TRYING TO TORQUE THEM, THE NUT KEEPS TURNING UNTIL THE STUD SNAPS. WE HAVE DONE THIS USING DIFFERENT IMPACT GUNS AND TORQUE WRENCHES ON A MINIMUM OF 15 VEHICLES WITH ANY WHERE FROM 1 TO 8 STUDS SNAPPING. THE CUSTOMERS THINK WE ARE BREAKING THEM FROM INCOMPETENCE. FORD RECALLED STUDS FROM 1997 TO 1998. I HAVE SEEN IT ON 1999 AND 2000 MODELS WITH 10 MM STUDS. WHEN I SEND THEM TO THE DEALER ON THE LATER MODELS, THEY ARE TOLD IT IS NOT COVERED. *JB

1999 FORD EXPEDITION LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED A TRUCK AND THEN STRUCK A GUARD RAIL. *JB

NORMAL DRIVING, SHAKING STEERING WHEEL, WHICH LEAD TO A BROKEN WHEEL STUD AFTER IT WAS ALREADY FIXED IN ANOTHER RECALL. NO INJURIES, WAS CAUGHT BEFORE ANY DAMAGE WAS DONE. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 75 MPH SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE, AND THE TIRE FLEW OFF. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF ACCIDENT/INJURY. *AK

DEFECTIVE TIRES, RESULTING IN NEED FOR REPLACEMENT HAD TREAD SEPERATION FROM STEEL BELTS ON ALL FOUR TIRES MANUFACTURER ID ON TIRES (3) 4BCUC6WR1201, (1) 4BCUC6WR3900. *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE TIRE TO FALL OFF FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONSUMER STATED THEY HEARD A POP AND PULLED OVER ON THE SERVICE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD SHREDDED COMPLETELY. SHE SAID HER HUSBAND CHANGED THE TIRE. SHE TRIED TO GET A REPLACEMENT FOR THE SHREDDED TIRE, SHE WAS TOLD NO, BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT ON RECALL. THE TIRE WAS AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P265/70 R 17 WHICH HAD ABOUT 20,680 MILES ON THEM. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY SINCE THE TIRE BLEWOUT DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. *NM *NM

I OWN A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I HEARD A BUMP IN THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE MY SPARE TIRE BOUNCING OFF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ROLLING DOWN THE STREET. IF I HAD BEEN GOING AT A FASTER RATE OF SPEED, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF NOT KILLED. I STOPPED TO RETRIEVE THE TIRE WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CABLE HOLDING THE TIRE HAD JUST SNAPPED. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL THEY SAID THERE HAD NOT, BUT THEY COULD SELL ME A REPLACEMENT FOR $78. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY, IT'S ABOUT A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO FIX. AS I SAID BEFORE, "SOMEONE CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THIS PROBLEM". CAN YOU LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM? THANKS. *AK

PURCHASED A NEW SET OF YOKOHAMA GEOLANDER AT TIRES SIZE 265/70/17 MOUNTED ON 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. TIRES WERE ROTATED WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE, AND AFTER 17,000 MILES HAVE COMPLETELY WORN OUT.

CONSUMER STATES TIRES SIDEWALL IS CRACKING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

3OF3 - BRIDGESTONE DUALER AT T9802 D693AZ P265/70R16 SET OF 4 PURCHASED 2/2/2001 - THIS TIRE SN? ENLJ JLD0700. FAILURE OCCURRED @ 37 MONTHS AND 39000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE. NO UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, 1/4" TREAD DEPTH, TIRES INFLATED TO MFG SPEC, 1999 FORD EXPEDITION 2WD 4.6L. THIS IS 3OF4 TIRES TO FAIL. PURCHASED A SET OF MICHELIN LTX M/S 3/16/04... SR-101 NORTHBOUND (WEST PHOENIX) END OF A TRIP FROM SAN DIEGO, 10PM, AIRTEMP 78F, DRY, SPEED=65 MPH. GRADUAL INCREASE IN "SHAKE" AND STEERING GETTING "SQUIRRELY". FELT THIS BEFORE! WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD BEFORE A CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OCCURRED. WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME @ 30 MPH. *NM