1993 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

THE PROBLEM STARTED CLOSE TO 6 MONTHS AGO. I NOTICED ANYTIME I REACHED SPEEDS ABOUVE 60 MPH MY EXPLORER WOULD BEGIN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AT THE TIME. I ALWAYS KEEP MY TIRES ROATATED AND INFLATED PROPERLY, SO I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I RECENTLY WAS GOING DOWN A BACK ROAD AND HIT A BUMP. I FELT MY CAR JERK AND THEN FELT MY TIRE WAS FLAT. UPON EXAIMING THE FLAT TIRE I OBSERVED THAT THE TREAD HAD PEELED PARTLY OFF. AT THE TIME I WAS UNAWARE THAT MY TIRE WAS PRONE TO THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED WITH A UNIROYAL. UP TO THIS POINT I HAD BEEN TOTALLY UNSATISFIED WITH MY TIRES. THEY HANDLE POORLY IN WET CONDITIONS AND ARE NOISEY. RECENTLY THE SHAKING BECAME MORE FREQUENT. I HAD THE SHOCKS REPLACED THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE SHAKING CONTINUED. AND LAST WEEK I STARTED READING THE FIRST STORIES ABOUT MY TIRES. UPON EXAIMING MY TIRES, IT WAS QUITE APPARENT THAT TREAD FAILURE WAS THE PROBLEM. I OBSERVED A LARGE CRACK ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE TREAD ON ALL THE OF MY FIRESTONE TIRES AND THE SPARE. I DOCUMENTED THIS ALL WITH PHOTOGRAPHS. I WAS IN A BIND ABOUT WHAT TO DO. I GO BACK TO COLLEGE THIS COMING FRIDAY, THE 18TH. THIS WILL INVOLVE A LONG DRIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND CARRYING HEAVY LOADS. I REALIZED I NEED TO HAVE MY TIRES REPLACED ASAP. I BEGAN LOOKING AT TIRES AND BECAME CONCERNED THAT I, A CASH-STRAPPED COLLEGE STUDENT, WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE RELATIVLY NEW TIRES BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURE'S DEFECT. LUCKY A RECALL WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS HAS DONE LITTLE TO RESOLVE MY PROBLEM. WITH MY MOVE-IN DAY RAPIDLY APPROACHING I HAVE BEEN PLACED ON A WAITING LIST FOR TIRES. I FELT THE NHTSA SHOULD BE AWARE OF MY STORY AND THE FACT THAT I'M A RESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN A LOW PRIORITY IN THE RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU IN INVESTIGATING THE SITUATION.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THE CAR VIBRATED AND UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE THIS INCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL, BUMPER, LEFT QUARTER PANEL AND THE REAR TAIL LIGHT (FIRESTONE ATX). NLM

WHILE DRIVING AND USING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL WOBBLE, AND HAS A TENDENCY TO FLIP OVER. CONSUMER HAS BEEN ON TWO WHEELS AND SLAMMED BACK DOWN TO THE GROUND.*AK

LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE BELT CAME LOOSE (BROKE) WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. NLM

THE TREAD SEPARATED AND TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE. THE OTHER 3 TIRES HAD CRACKS ALONG EDGES ALSO. 40,000 MILES ON TIRES AND PROPERLY INFLATED. HAD HANDLING PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE TREAD SEPARATION.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

THE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING ON I-8 AT 70 MPH AND DAMAGED THE RIGHT FRONT AND SIDE MY EXPLORER. THE TREADLESS TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE AND I SAFELY SLOWED AND GRADUALLY STEERED TO THE SHOULDER. THE OTHER 3 ATX'S ALSO HAD A NETWORK OF CRACKS ON THE TREAD NEAR THE SIDEWALL. INCREASED HANDLING PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE SEPARATION.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PB196 TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

I'M TRYING TO FIND THE RECALLS ON MY AUTO. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

FIRESTONE: INSURED'S SON WAS TRAVELING THROUGHT RIVERA TX WHEN HIS REAR TIRE BLEW. THE BLOWUT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP. INSURED & ALL PASSENGER'S WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION:ALL WERE RELEASED. (CLAIM#53-C594-414) *MW

WHILE DRIVING SON TO WORK, HAD A BLOWOUT, AND TIRE LOOKED LIKE SPAGETTI.- CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH NO INJURIES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BOUNCING, CONSUMER NOTICED 2 REAR FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES P235/75R15 DOT 233 WERE EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION, FIRESTONE DEALER STATED THAT TIRES WERE NOT PART OF RECALL AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE 4 TIRES HAD TO PURCHASED. *SLC

PE00200 ;TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 - 60 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE PEELED OFF. EXPLORER RAN OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER AND ONE OTHER PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, ATX. NOT SURE IF TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. TIRE WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP. ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH THE SAME TIRE. PLEASE LIST TIRE SIZE AND DOT #. *AK

TRANSMISION FAILED GOING UP A HILL AND ALL TRANSMISION FLUID WAS LOST AT ONLY 78000 MILES. TRANSMISION HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE ALSO HAS ABNORMAL SHAKING ABOVE 55 MPH.*AK

WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON TEXAS HIGHWAY 288 BETWEEN MANVEL AND LAKE JACKSON, THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND CAME OFF. THE TREAD DAMAGED THE WHEEL WELL, THE CORNER OF THE REAR BUMBER, AND THE TRIM BELOW THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THE TIRE DID NOT LOSE AIR AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER AND SAFELY STOP. THIS HAPPENED AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES. THERE WERE FOUR ADULTS AND TWO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 2 RIDING IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

EA0012; SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH SPARE TIRE FELL OFF THE EXPLORER, WHICH CAUSED A CRASH. DEALERSHIP AND FORD WERE CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. CABLE THE HOLDS THE TIRE SNAPPED/ BROKE. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

EA00023, TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE SOMEWHAT. DRIVER AND ONE OTHER PASSENGER IN VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED.TREAD DID SOME DAMAGE TO EXPLORER. THIS WAS A FIRESTONE TIRE, TIRE SIZE P22570R15. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1993, EXPLORER. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 43,000. FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE TIRE. FIRESTONE WAS NOT CONCERNED. *AK THE CUSTOMER HAS DIFFICULTY IN REACHING FIRESTONE BUT FORD COMPNAY AND NHTSA HAS INDICATED THAT THE TIRE IN QUESTION WAS NOT A RECALL TIRE. *YH

TRAVELING FROM WESTERN WASHINGTON TO HELENA MONTANA I EXPERIENCED A STRONG SHAKE IN MY FRONT END. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME ANYWAY AS I HAD BEEN GONE FOR OVER A WEEK AND NEEDED TO GET BACK TO WORK. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME IN HELENA I WENT TO A ALIGNMENT SHOP A FEW DAYS AFTER MY ARRIVAL. I WAS TOLD BY THE ALIGNMENT PERSON THAT MY LEFT FRONT TIRE WOULD NOT BALANCE PROPERLY. AFTER THIS I INSPECTED THE TIRE MYSELF ONLY TO FIND THAT I COULD VISUALLY OBSERVE SEVERAL BUMPS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I HAD GOT THE TIRES (I HAD ONLY 5,000 MILES ON THESE TIRES), AND THEY CONTACTED FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE SENT A REPLACEMENT TIRE AND THE DEALER PUT IT ON FOR ME. THE NEXT DAY I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL AND BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED WITH THE ONE TIRE THEY SENT ME FOUR NEW TIRES. I AM SATISFIED THAT MY TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT I FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT I DID NOT EXPERIENCE A BLOW OUT AS I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE TIRES WAS OBVIOUSLY BAD. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE CORDS INSIDE THE TIRE HAD RIPPED CAUSING THE OBVIOUS WARPING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON A HOT DAY. TIRE DID NOT LOSE AIR PRESSURE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: HYVV4FA358 TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

FIRESTONE 235/75/R15. 3 BLOW OUTS IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS. VEH1 N/B ON I-57; REAR LEFT TIRE BLEW, VEERED TO LEFT AND HIT GUARD RAIL SPUN AROUND AND HIT GUARD RAIL AGAIN. (CLAIM# 13-9897-782) *MW

WHILE DRIVING ON I95 IN NORTH CAROLINA , ON JULY 06, 2000 THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SHED ITS TREAD AND LEFT US WAITING ABOUT FOUR HOURS UNTIL THE LOCAL FIRESTONE TIRE STORE OPENED SO WE COULD GET THE TIRE REPLACED AND CONTINUE ON OUR TRIP TO MARYLAND. UPON RETURN TO MYRTLE BEACH , S.C. I HAD RECENTLY LEARNED OF RECALL AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE TIRE DEALER THAT I HAD PURCHASED MY TIRES FROM. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE THE TIRES IN SOMETIME THIS NEXT WEEK AND THEY WOULD REPLACE ALL FOUR AT NO COST TO ME. BUT THEY ALSO SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE MY TIRES WITH THE WILDERNESS TX AND I DONT THINK I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH ANYMORE OF THEIR TIRES, SO I WILL RETURN TO THE STORE THIS WEEK AND SEE IF I CAN GET ANOTHER BRAND OF TIRE AS MY REPLACEMENT AT THEIR EXPENSE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1268.00 AND I HOPE THEY WILL AGREE TO THIS BUT I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT FIRESTONE AND THE NUMBER THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN ON THE NATIONAL NEWS AND OF COURSE I CAN NOT GET THROUG( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

TIRE SEPARATED, BUT, DID NOT BLOWOUT, BECAUSE I HEARD THE NOISE AND IT STARTED SHIMMYING, SO I SLOWED WAY DOWN AND MADE IT TO THE TIRE STORE (15 MILES). AFTER I HEARD ABOUT THIS TIRE BEING IN THE RECALL, I TOOK IT TO A FIRESTONE STORE IN SAN ANTONIO, TX, WHERE THEY DENIED IT BEING IN THE RECALL, AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY OTHER TIRES. (SAME TIRES, EXCEPT OTHER 3 ARE DOT W2HL) I REPLACED THEM ALL ANYWAY, SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS PRIMARY VEHICLE, BUT I NO LONGER ALLOW HER TO DRIVE IT OVER 55MPH. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE AND TIRES WERE DESIGNED WHEN THE SPEED LIMITS WERE LOWER, WHICH IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE TIRE FAILURES. MY QUESTION NOW IS HOW CAN I GET FIRESTONE TO HONOR THE RECALLED TIRE, AND ARE MY OTHER 3 IN THE RECALL, YET?*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY147 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT BLEW AGAIN, AND WAS LUCKILY, STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE FACT THAT 2 TRANSMISSIONS WERE REPLACED IS VERY TROUBLING. WE NOW CALL OUR EXPLORER, THE EXPLODER! I RECENTLY READ OF THE STUDY UNDERWAY INTO THE FIRESTONE TIRES PEELING OFF THEIR CASINGS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO US. THANK GOODNESS, NO ONE WAS HURT, JUST MAJOR VEHICLE DAMAGE. HAD IT BEEN THE FRONT TIRE, I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE ALIVE TO WRITE THIS. PLEASE GET THESE TIRES OFF THE MARKET, BEFORE OTHERS ARE KILLED! *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1MOO15 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TOTAL FAILURE OF EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE - WENT TO APPLY BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ENGAGING BRAKE; REPEATED ATTEMPTS UNSUCCESSFUL - THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPED CAN ONLY BE KEPT FROM MOVING BY THE FOOT BRAKE, OR PLACING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR. THIS DEFECT IS THE SUBJECT OF PRIOR RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 94V169000) COVERING THE SAME FAILURE. THIS RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE IN 1994. BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE PARKING BRAKE TO ENGAGE, BUT RELEASING THE PEDAL AND RE-APPLYING WOULD ALWAYS WORK. NOW, THERE HAS BEEN A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE PEDAL SYSTEM AND FORD & THE DEALER INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE ABOVE-REFERENCED RECALL SINCE THE WORK WAS ALREADY DONE. THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY HAZARD! *AK

WAS DRIVING 75MPH WHEN DRIVER HEARD A NOISE. HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE & WENT ALL OVER HIGHWAY AND LANDED IN GRASSY MEDIAN. GOT OUT & CHECKED TIRES & NOTICED LEFT REAR TIRE HAD AIR IN IT, BUT TREAD HAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY. CHANGED TIRE & WENT TO DEALERSHIP & THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. WAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX WITH 100,000 MILES ON IT. DO NOT HAVE THE TIRE & COULD NOT GIVE TIRE SIZE. *AK

P235/75R15 SIZE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS LEFT REAR TREAD SEPARATED. *AK WHILE TRAVELING ON HOT DAY WITH THE VEHICLE. LOADED FAIRLY HEAVILY, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE CUSTOMER AFTER STOPPING DISCOVERED THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. *YH

THE TIRE BLEW WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. I HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD THAT I HAD NOT SEEN. SINCE THE RECENT REPORTS I DO NOT THINK SO. IT LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE SOME OF THE PICTURES I SAW ON THE NEWS. IN OVER 40 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SIDEWALL SEPERATE LIKE THAT. I DID NOT PAY THAT MUCH ATTENTION TO THE TREAD. THE TIRE HAD 20K+ MILES ON IT BUT WAS NOT IN BAD SHAPE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235X15 )

FIRESTONE: INSURED WAS DRIVING TO FLAGS STAFF WHEN RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD STARTED PEELING AND FLOPPING ON HWY..FLAPPING OF STEEL BELTED TIRE DMGD VEH. (CLAIM# 03-3161-989) *MW

HAD ARRIVED AT CEMETERY WHEN A KNOT WAS NOTICED IN RIGHT REAR TIRE. AFTER LEAVING CEMETERY & HEADED FOR HOME AT 55 MPH A LOUD BUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD. STARTED TO SLOW DOWN & THEN THERE WA SAN EXPLOSION. CENTER OF TIRE HAD LOST TREAD. THEN, WENT FLAT. PUT ON SPARE IN PLACE OF TREADLESS TIRE. DOES NOT HAVE TIRE.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS MOSTLY AFTER DRIVING FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES, MOSTLY AT SPEEDS OF 40-70 MPH. HAS STALLED AT LEAST 12 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER SLOWLY STEERED THE TRUCK TO THE EMERGENCY LANE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. *YH

WE WERE PREPARING TO LEAVE ON VACATION TO GO TO WASHINGTON D.C. WITH OUR 2 SMALL GRANDDAUGHTERS AND WE TOOK OUR FORD EXPLORER TO VARNADORE AUTO & TIRE SALES, 1706 8TH AVENUE W, PALMETTO, FL 34221. IN THE AFTERNOON I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MR. VARNADORE TELLING ME THAT HE FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES AND ASKED US TO COME IN SO THAT WE COULD DECIDE WHAT WE WANTED TO DO. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I GOT THERE HE SHOWED US TIRES THAT HAD SPLITS IN THEM RIGHT WHERE THE TREAD CONNECTED TO THE TIRE. HE SAID THAT HE WOULDN'T GO ON A TRIP WITH THEM BECAUSE THESE TIRES HAVE A TENDACY TO PEEL OFF AND HE WOULD REPLACE THEM. WE BOUGHT 2 NEW IDENTICAL TIRES AND HAD HIM MOUNT THEM ON THE FRONT AND PUT THE BEST OTHER TWO TIRES ON THE BACK. WE ALSO TOLD HIM WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR TO HIM WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD SAFE TIRES THAT WERE PROPERLY ALIGNED FOR OUR TRIP AND STRESSED THAT TO HIM AGAIN. HE SAID THAT WE WERE NOW IN GOOD SHAPE AND DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY. NOT SO,MUCH TBL ON TRIP( DOT NUMBER: 0 )

RT REAR TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND CAUSED ACCIDENT CR CALLED TO ADVISED TIRE IS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT. (CLAIM# 59-V511-654) *MW

CAR WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING ON MY RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY IN PARK. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO BRIEFLY GO INTO THE HOUSE TO GET MY SON. I WALKED FROM THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE, AND WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE HOUSE THROUGH THE DOOR INSIDE THE GARAGE WHEN I SAW THE CAR ROLLING INTO THE GARAGE. I TRIED TO GET INTO THE CAR TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR HIT THE WATER HEATER. THE WATER HEATER WAS MOVED OFF ITS BASE AND INTO THE WALL. DAMAGE TO THE WATER HEATER, GARAGE WALL AND INTERIOR UTILITY ROOM WALL OCCURED AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO MY EXPLORER. I HAVE TRIED ON MANY OCCASIONS TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION BUT CANNOT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND GET OUT WITHOUT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ROLLING FORWARD. THE DRIVEWAY HAS A SLOPE GOING AWAY FROM THE GARAGE AND YET IT STILL IMMEDIATELY ROLLS FORWARD. IN FACT, IT ROLLS FORWARD FASTER THAN I CAN WALK AT A NORMAL PACE. HOWEVER, I HAD WALKED APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET WHEN I NOTICED IT COMING TO ME THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. I'VE TRIED TO DUPLICATE THIS WITH BOTH A COLD AND WARM ENGINE, BUT CANNOT. IN OTHER WORDS, IT ALWAYS ROLLS FORWARD AS SOON AS I RELEASE THE BRAKE WHILE IN DRIVE. THIS SHOWS ME THAT I COULDN'T HAVE LEFT IT IN DRIVE. IF I WOULD HAVE LEFT IT IN REVERSE OR NEUTRAL, IT WOULD HAVE GONE BACKWARD. I LEFT IT IN PARK, BUT SOMEHOW IT WENT FORWARD, AFTER I LEFT THE CAR AND WALKED SOME DISTANCE. I'VE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS MY INSURANCE COMPANY FILES A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. APPARENTLY MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS NOT INTERESTED IN DOING SO. MEANWHILE I AM OUT 2 DEDUCTIBLES (AUTO AND HOME) AND BEWILDERED AS TO HOW THIS HAPPENED AND CONCERNED IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE WITH MORE SEVERE RESULTS. *AK

PE00-00; CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE ATX TIRES BECAUSE THE TREAD SEPARATED. THERE WERE KNOTS AND BUMPS ON THE TIRES. TIRE SIZE WAS P23575R15. *AK

HAD BEEN DOING SOME LOCAL RESIDENTIAL DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, STOPPED FOR SHOPPING ABOUT 30 MINUTES THEN ENTERED I 75. AFTER ABOUT 5/10 MINUTES I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS'NT ACTING AS NORMAL, I MENTION THIS TO MY WIFE, THIS ALL LASTED 3/5 SECONDS, THEN STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL, REDUCED SPEED GOT OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE AND CHANGED TO MY SPARE. TOOK THE DAMAGED TIRE BACK TO DISCOUNT TIRE WHERE I PURCHASED AND ASK WHAT CAUSE THIS BLOWOUT SINCE I COULD'NT FIND ANYTHING IN THE TIRE. HE SAID PROBABLY SOMETHING IN THE ROAD( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE IS APPLIED IT SLIPS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD SLIGHTLY. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT VEHICLE FISH TAILED, FLIP OVER ON THE DRIVER SIDE THEN BACKUP, RUBBER PEELED OFF LIKE A RECAP, THEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT.

PE 00020: TRAVELING 68MPH & HEARD A NOISE. PULLED OVER & STOPPED VEHICLE TO CHECK TIRES. NOTICED LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD HAD SHREDDED. EXCHANGED TIRE WITH SPARE. TIRE DAMAGED UNDERBODY OF VEHICLE. TOOK TIRE TO TIRE SHOP & HAD IT CHANGED. DO NOT HAVE TIRE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX, SIZE P235/75R15 WITH 34,000 MILES ON IT. *AK

FIRESTONE ATX (CLAIM# 59-V497-828) *MW

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT DRIVER AND REAR SIDETIRES P235/75R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER STATES THAT TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND AND CAUSED ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS AND ADDITIONAL WEAR. *SLC

MY DRIVER'S REAR TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. I WANT TO KNOW IF THE FORD EXPLORER HAS A PROPENSITY FOR THE DRIVER'S REAR TIRE TO BLOW OUT--REGARDLESS OF THE MAKE OR BRAND OF THE TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE TREAD BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHT ROAD AT ABOUT 35MPH. SOME TREAD REMAINED HANGING OFF THE TIRE. TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. WAS ORIGINAL TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE. ROTATION OCCURRED AT ABOUT THE PROPER INTERVALS. DECIDED TO REPLACE BOTH REAR TIRES AT THE TIME. NEW TIRES PLACED ON FRONT OF VEHICLE. OLD FRONT TIRES (STILL FIRESTONE ATX) WERE MOVED TO THE REAR. MY PROBLEM SOUNDED EXACTLY LIKE THOSE BEING REPORTED ON THE NEWS, SO I THOUGHT THAT I BETTER REPORT IT. WHEN IT HAPPENED I JUST ATTRIBUTED IT TO OLD AGE AND DID NOT THINK IT MIGHT BE PART OF AN OVERALL PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THERE ARE MANY MORE CASES LIKE THIS OUT THERE. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W1HL AT5 TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

ON MAY 30, 2000, I WAS HEADED TO TUCSON ON I-10 FROM PHOENIX GOING 75 MPH AND PASSING ANOTHER CAR WHEN I HEARD THIS LOUD SOUND COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATLY STARTED BREAKING AND GOT OVER INTO THE RIGHT-HAND LANE AND THEN ONTO THE SHOULDER. I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I HAD SEEN WHAT MY TIRE HAD DONE. THE WHOLE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE WAS GONE. SOMEONE WAS LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER THAT DAY BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS I NOT HURT BUT I WAS RIGHT BY A TRUCK STOP AND THERE WAS A TIRE SHOP NEARBY. I LIMPED OVER TO IT AND THEY PUT ON ANOTHER TIRE FOR ME AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I WAS NOT HURT, BUT THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS EXTENSIVE. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1P8485 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURE-RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW, INSURED LOST CONTROL AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE. A TOTAL OF THREE TIRES WERE DAMAGED DURING COLLISION. SALVAGE SOLD 7/27/00 AND THEN EXPORTED OUT OF COUNTRY. ONE PHOTO INDICATES THIS IS A FIRESTONE TIRE, BUT UNKNOWN EXACT MODEL AND/OR SIZE. TIRES ARE VISIBLE IN PICTURE BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR TREAD SEPARATION. 40% WEAR INDICATED ON TSLR. INSURED HAS NO PAPERWORK INDICATING WHAT KIND OF TIRES THESE WERE. SOME INJURIES, SOFT TISSUE INJURIES AND INJURIES. 10 YEARS OLD SON EJECTED FROM VEHICLE. INSURED WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF VEHICLE. FIVE DAYS BEFORE LOSS, INSURED HAD PUT SOME AIR IN ONE OF TIRES AND REMAINING TIRES APPEARED TO BE OKAY. (CLAIM# 53-C564-046) *MW

I AM A CURRENT OWNER OF A 1993 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. AS YOU KNOW THERE IS A NATIONWIDE RECALL ON SPECIFIC FIRESTONE/FORD TIRES. ON MAY 6TH 2000, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE TIRES, HEADING EAST-BOUND ON INTERSTATE 4 (I-4) FROM TAMPA, FL TO ORLANDO, FL. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH IN THE FAR LEFT LANE, NEAR EXIT 16, AS MY TIRE TREAD RIPPED/PEELED OFF OF MY REAR TIRE (DRIVER SIDE), CAUSING ME TO LOOSE TOTAL CONTROL, NEARLY FLIP OVER, COMPLETELY SPIN OUT INTO THE MEDIAN AND STOP FEET AWAY FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC (I-4 WESTBOUND). MY TIRE WAS NOT FLAT AFTER THE INCIDENT, ALTHOUGH THE TREAD ON THE TIRE WAS NEARLY RIPPED OFF. DUE TO THE TREAD RIPPING OFF AND FLAPPING, THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE REAR PANEL OF MY TRUCK. (THE DEBRIS IN THE MEDIAN DAMAGED MY MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE AS WELL). IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS WAS MORE THAN A CLOSE CALL, I REALIZE THAT THIS WAS A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT. BESIDES MY BEING BLESSED, THE ONLY REASON THAT I COULD CREATE OF WHY I AM STILL HERE TODAY, IS DUE TO THE WIDTH OF THE MEDIAN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND THE RETRACTOR WERE BROKEN. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND BUCKLE DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE BOTTOM. CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD TO USE A KNIFE IN ORDER TO GET LOOSE OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT. REAR MIDDLE SEATBELT WILL GO INSIDE OF THE RETRACTOR, BUT IT WLL NOT RELEASE PROPERLY.*AK

TREAD SEPARATION ON RIGHT REAR TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITHOUT CRASH OR ROLL-OVER. A LARGE PART OF THE TIRE DESINTEGRATED WITHIN SECONDS.( DOT NUMBER: )

MY FUSE BLEW, WHEN WE LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WE SAW THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR (ELECTRIC) HAD EVIDENTLY GOT ON FIRE BECAUSE THE UNDERNEATH WAS MELTED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO. I NEED TO HAVE THIS REPLACED AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT I WAS AT FAULT AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF THE FORD PLACE SHOULD REPLACE THIS FREE OF CHARGE DO TO THE SWITCH BEING FAULTY. *AK

FORD EXPLORER VERY UNSAFE IF YOU NEED TO MAKE A QUICK MOVE USE LOSE ALL CONTROL AND VEHICLE JUST WANTS TO START ROLLING OVER

WHILE CAR POOLING ON THE HIGHWAY HEARD A BOOM. THEN VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE. CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE, BUT THEN LOST CONTROL AND VEHICLE FLIPPED 3 TIMES. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS LEFT WAS THE AXLE. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER 3 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT, AND WERE LUCKY THAT THEY WEREN'T KILLEED. POLICE TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE WHOLE RIM AND TIRE HAD COME OFF. *AK