1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH COULD FEEL VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. ALSO TIRES WERE WORN OUT ON THE OUTSIDE. *AK

I LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED MY FORD EXPLORER WHEN MY FIRESTONE ATX TIRE LOST ITS TREAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CA. MY EXPLORER WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND I FORTUNATELY WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY MINOR BACK AND NECK PROBLEMS AND A CONCUSSION. IT WAS RECENTLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS WAS NOT A FREAK ACCIDENT BUT SOMETHING THAT HAS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY AND I WANTED TO LOG MY COMPLAINT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 32 PSI )

I PREVIOUSLY FILED THIS COMPLAINT BUT DID NOT HAVE THE TIRE MARKING NUMBERS AT THAT TIME. WHILE DRIVING MY EXPLORER STRAIGHT ON THE FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CA THE REAR TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM MY TIRE CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED FOLLOWING THE TREAD SEPARATING. MY CAR HAD BEEN INSPECTED, INCLUDING THE TIRES, APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. I SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, NECK AND BACK INJURIES DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE NEW MICHELIN TIRES, AND WAS SERVICED FOR THE ABS LIGHT AND TWO DAYS AFTER WORK COMPLETED VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER FOR NO KNOWN REASON (02-MAY-00), DEALER CLAIMS IT IS NO FAULT OF THE ABS, THE VEHICLE FLIPPED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS (07-OCT-00 AND 14-OCT-00). *MJS

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON THREE OF MY ATX RADIAL TIRES. ONCE THIS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REPLACED ALL MY TIRES NOW BECAUSE THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES MADE MY VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPLACING MY TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

AFTER CONSUMER'S TIRES WERE TAKEN TO A TIRE SERVICE STATION, MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKING FROM THE TREAD TO THE BLACKWALL SIDE OF THE TIRE. TIRES WERE THE WILDERNESS AT. TIRE SIZE P255R70/16, DOT# W2CU1PX. TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED W/ VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS A 1996 FORD, EXPLORER. PE# 00020. *AK TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE RECOMENDATION OF FOR DEALER. *YH

PE00 020; WHEN CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY HE HEARD A WASH BOARD SOUND, TIRES WERE FALLING APART. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE RETAILER. AND THE ATTENDANT TOLD HIM THAT THE TIRES WERE UNSAFE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT P25570R16 #DOT NUMBER W2. *AK THE TIRES HAD 65000 MILES ON THEM BUT 25%-30% TREAD WEAR LEFT *YH.

THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRE ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SHREDDING AND BLOWOUT. *MJS

STEEL BELTS EXPOSED THROUGH SIDEWALL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE HAD FLAT HIT CURB AND RENDERED CAR UNDRIVEABLE FIRESTONE ATX. (CLAIM# 53-C548-022) *MW

RECALL 00V402000/STABILIZER BAR LINK STUB: DRIVER'S SIDE STUB BROKEN WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 15-20 MPH; MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS UNDER A RECALL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW COME. NO RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT TO HIM ON THIS PROBLEM ? *AK BOTH LINK STUBS HAD BEEN REPLACED. *YH

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

TIRE SEPARATION WAS WITNESSED BY MELBOURNE, FL. FIRESTONE STORE MANAGER -TED MCKERCHER (321) 723-4618. TIRES WERE REPLACED 4-24-2000.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

WATER WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-95, TO FLORIDA THE FRONT TIRE, DRIVERS SIDE, BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THIS VEHICLE WAS PROFESSIONALLY SERVICED AND MAINTAINED. AT 74,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING. WHEN FORD TESTED THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME IT BROKE DOWN AN THAT THE STARTER, FLYWHEEL, TORQUE CONVERTER AND ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. THE MORE I TALK ABOUT THIS, THE MORE I HEAR ABOUT FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.*AK

TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME APART. ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION OF THE REMAINS, WHICH INCLUDED THE TREAD BUT NO SIDE WALL, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THERE WAS NO CUT, PUNCTURE OR OTHER EXTERNAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE CAUSE FOR THE BLOWOUT. I TOOK THE REMAINS TO THE FIRESTONE STORE FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE TIRES AND THE MANAGER AGREED WITH ME THAT THE TIRE HAD FAILED AT THE SIDEWALL , AND INVOLVED AN APPARENT HIGH TEMPERATURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. THAT TIRE ALONG WITH THE OTHERS ARE SHOWING, IN MY OPINION, A STRANGE PATTERN OF "WEAR" ON THE SIDEWALLS AND NEAR THE BEAD. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN NOV. 1999. THESE TIRES ARE NOT THE SIZE TIRES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN RECALL AS OF 8-14-00, BUT I BELIEVE THEM TO BE FAULTY. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: 000 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

THE POLICE REPORT # IS 00-14477, WASHTENAW COUNTY. I SWIRL TOWARDS THE MIDIUM TO AVOID A VEHICLE CUTTING IN AND MY VECHILE LOST CONTROL. THERE WAS LOUD NOICE FROM THE TIRES(FEELED LIKE I WAS RUNNING ON BUMPY ROADS AND CLINKING SOUNDS) PRIOR TO ROLLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT COULD BE TIRE ISSUE TILL I READ IN THE PAPER (USA TODAY 8/22). THE DESCRIPTION ON THE TREAD SEPARATION MATCHES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN THE JUNK YARD AND HENCE I'M NOT ABLE TO GET MORE DETAILS ON THE TIRES. NO INVESITIGATION WAS CONDUCTED TOWARDS THE TIRE FAILURE BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORAMTION, PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL OR MY CELL PHONE 65-96663895 BECAUSE I JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO SINGAPORE FOR WORK. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE/ VIBRATION. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STILL ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD FIRESTONE ATX TIRES, DOTVDHL1PM146, AND TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15 *MW

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE VIBRATION SO CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE CENTER WHERE TIRES WERE ROTATED, 2 MONTHS LATER THERE WAS STILL VIBRATION AND WHEN INSPECTING TIRES, FOUND 1 WAS EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION, DEALER ALIGNED, ROTATED AND REPLACED TIRE, ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT ANOTHER TIRE HAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE FLIPS AND FATALLY INJURED. THE PASSANGER IN THE BACK SEAT, THOUGH SERIOUSLY AND SEVERLY INJURED, SURVIVED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM116 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

MY WIFE COMMENTED THAT SHE HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING HER FORD EXPLORER ON 4/8/00. I DROVE THE VEHICLE AND AGREED THAT IT SEEMED TO "SWAY" FROM SIDE TO SIDE. EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A PART WAS MISSING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL/AXLE ASSEMBLY. I LATER FOUND THE PART IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT WAS A "SWAY LINK ASSEMBLY" ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. I HAD DEALER REPLACE LF AS WELL AS RF AS I FEEL THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. IT SIMPLY SNAPPED IN HALF. THINGS LIKE THIS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, NOT BREAK AFTER 5 YEARS.*AK

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE BODY AT POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED (70MPH). *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

FIRESTONE ATX TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, INJURIES AND FATALITY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1 PM TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. THEN A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. IT SWERVED LEFT/ RIGHT & THEN VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER INTO A RAVINE. HIGHWAY PATROL NOTICED TREAD HAD LEFT THE LEFT REAR TIRE. TIRE WAS BALDED, BUT STILL INFLATED. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. HAVE THE POLICE REPORT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/75/15 )

OLD CALIM REOPENED #1 WAS HEADED EAST ON HWY 60. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING AT 60 MPH, HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON. IT WAS VERY WINDY AND SHE FELT THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE SWERVE. SHE WENT IN TO THE MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED TWICE. (CLAIM# 25-5379-991) *MW

FIRST TIRE FAILED IN APRIL. TIRE WENT FLAT. WHEN INSPECTED, THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE BODY. REPLACED IT AND ITS MATE. STILL HAVE THE MATE (UNMOUNTED) WHICH NUMBERS ARE BEING REPORTED. SECOND INCIDENCE OCCURRED IN JULY WHILE DRIVING ON I45 SOUTH OF CONROE TEXAS. CAR HAD BEEN VIBRATING AND WAS GETTING WORSE. WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND LOOKING OUT REAR VIEW MIRROR SAW TREAD PORTION OF TIRE FLY OFF. THE TIRE AND ITS MATE WERE AGAIN REPLACED. STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SPARE. BOTH OF THESE INCIDENCE APPEAR TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE BEING REPORTED. FOR BOTH TIMES, THE EXPLORER STARTED VIBRATING BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY UNTIL THE TIRE FAILED.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM485 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

KEEPS TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. IT DOES HAVE 4-WHEEL SWITCH ON DASHBOARD. *AK

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 225/70/R16 TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS

FOR ABOUT 1-2 MONTHS WE HEARD A WOBBLING SOUND PARTICULARLY WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER (CAPITOL FORD) THEY STATED THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IT REPLACED. WE HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL, SAME MODEL SPARE.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE TIRE DUE TO IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR AND VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THEY WERE PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITOR PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000. NLM

FRONT DUNLOP RADIAL ROVER TIRES , SIZE: LT235/75R15, DOT: DAHK ON 1996, FORD, EXPLORER WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE , AS IF A ROCK WAS IN TREAD OF TIRE. CLICKING NOISE TURNED INTO A THUMPING NOISE, AND CONSUMER REPLACED FRONT TIRES. SERVICE CENTER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOISE WAS DUE TO IMPROPER ROTATION/MAINTENANCE OF TIRES. *AK TIRES EXPERIENCED CUPPING. *SLC

VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR TRANSMISSON REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX(P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING A BLOWOUT WHICH THEN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN UNTIL IT CAME IN CONTACT WITH A TREE, THERE WAS ONE DEATH AND ONE INJURY. *SLC

FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. *ET

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. EXPLORER FLIPPED OVER ABOUT 3 OR 4 TIMES. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE AND BOTH WERE INJURED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE ATX (235/75R15). OWNER IS NOT SURE IF THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE. TWO VEHICLES WERE TOTALLED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE CRASH, AND CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY. *AK *MJS

ALL 4 OF OUR FIRESTONE TIRES WERE QUITE NEW, AND THE TREAD WAS EXCELLENT. FOR NO REASON, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. ALL THAT REMAINED OF THE TIRE WERE RUDIMENTS OF THE TREAD. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL HAD BLOWN OFF. THE FIRESTONE DEALER INITIALLY CLAIMED THAT WE MUST HAVE RUN OVER SOMETHING, BUT THEN CHANGED HIS MIND AND REPLACED THE TIRE. NOW THAT WE ARE READING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A REAL NEED TO PULL ALL OF THEM OFF THE MARKET BEFORE MORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR. IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR FIRESTONE TO VOLUNTARILY INSPECT THE TIRES BECAUSE THE TIRES LOOK FINE. IT IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THAT IS NOT APPARENT TO THE NAKED EYE, AND THAT MAKES IT ALL THE MORE DANGEROUS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOMMENDS THESE TIRES, AND FIRESTONE STANDS BEHIND THEM. THE TIRES POSE A KNOWN RISK, AND IT IS TIME FOR THESE TWO COMPANIES TO REPLACE THEM. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER. KEN LLOYD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER REPLACED BOTH REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P225/70R15 DOT W2UU DUE TO TREAD PEELING, 15-20 THOUSAND MILES LATER, WHILE DRIVING, REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL AND PULL OVER, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

CONSUMERS FRONT LEFT FIRESTONE TIRE WAS BAD AND WAS CAUSING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURESEMENT BUT WAS UNABLE TO SUBMIT ORIGINAL RECIEPT BECAUSE IT WAS SUBMITTED FOR A REBATE OFFER, CONSUMER BELIEVES AMPLE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED FOR REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

MY VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PARTS UNDER 40,000MILES, IS THIS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE? *AK

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX LEFT REAR TIRE P235/75R15 EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING A THUMPING NOISE, TIRE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL, TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. *SLC

TREAD VIOLENTLY SEPARATED WITH LOUD NOISE AND DESTROYED LEFT REAR PANEL ; VEHICLE STOPPED UNDER CONTROL( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER (FLORIDA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, W1HLAT5387, LEFT REAR). NLM

FIRESTONE TIRES ATX P23575R15

OUR INSURED WAS A PASSENGER IN A VEH OWNED BY: D.F. HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A TIRE BLEW OUT THE VEH ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED.XXXXXHAS SERIOUS INJURIES TO BOTH FEET. CALL AGENTS OFFICE BEFORE CONTACTING ANYONE ON THIS CLAIM. SAFECO CLM (CLAIM# 53-C530-051) *MW

THE FIRESTONE TIRES THAT WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY 96 EXPLORER HAVE OBVIOUS DEFCT. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITH A RIGHT REAR TIRE THAT DEVELOPED A "BUMP" THAT CREATED EXCESSIVE WEAR IN ONE SPOT IN A MATTER OF MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. THAT TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHCLE WAS IN NORMAL SERVICE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THAT. AT 3/10/00 THERE WAS A TIRE FAILURE REGARDING THE LEFT REAR TIRE AND AND ACCIDENT RESULTED. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY CLOSE TO A SERIOUS ROLL-OVER ACCIDENT AS IT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL ON TWO WHEELS TILL IT COLLIDED WITH A LIGHT POST AND STOPPED. THE FAILING TIRES AND ROLL-OVER TENDENCIES OF THE EXPLORER PROVED TO BE A DISASTEROUS COMBINATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R7515 )

LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT-LOOSING CONTROL-STRIKING LIGHT POLE-CAUSING DAMAGES. (CLAIM 43-R436-817-) *MW