1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT 5-POINT HARNESS CLIP WHICH GOES ACROSS THE CHILD'S CHEST DOESN'T FASTEN SECURELY. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO TIRE BLOWOUTS DUE TO DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL(00T-005), CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE NATIONALLY ISSUED RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF TIRES. *YH P235-75-R15 *DB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT ,BUT IT DID NOT GO FLAT. TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH SPARE, AND AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING AT 70 MPH , LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE ,SPUN AROUND, AND ROLLED OVER,CAUSING 1 FATALITY AND 4 SERIOUSLY INJURED. TIRE AND TREAD WERE SENT TO HR BAUMGARDNER TIRE CONSULTANTS ,JAY HALPERN, TO 3330 LAKEWIND WAY ,ALPHARETTA, GA 30005 TELE#18008827006 BY ATTORNEY. ( FIRESTONE ATX RADIAL TIRE DOT VDHL1PM196). *AK *MJS

THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE TIRE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL, THE DRIVER STEERED BACK LEFT PARTIALLY INTO THE LEFT LANE THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT, AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE SPUN PARTIALLY CLOCKWISE OFF ROADWAY THEN ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS TOP AND A GUARDRAIL, TRAVELED OVER THE GUARDRAIL TO FINAL REST ON ITS ROOF, ONE PASSENGER WAS KILLED FOUR OTHER SUSTAINED INCAPACITATING INJURIES(FLORIDA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM196, UNKNOWN POSITION). NLM

SEAT BELT CAUGHT THE SON AND WOULD NOT RELEASE HIM. SEAT BELT WAS CUT.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A SMALL RING AND SEPARATION ON ALL FOUR OF THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES, A MICHELIN DEALER ALSO NOTICED THIS AND CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, CONSUMER RECEIVED LETTERS FROM FIRESTONE AND FORD REGARDING THE RECALLED TIRES, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS DENIED ANY REIMBURSEMENT FROM BOTH PLACES. *SLC

1/2 OF THE TREAD CAME OFF AT 70 MPH CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WE WERE ON OUR WAY NORTH ON !-17 TO THE GRAND CANYON WHEN AT ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTH OF FLAGGSTAFF, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 70 MILES/HR. WE HEARD A POP COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND SUDDENTLY AFTER, MY HUSBAND LOST CONTROL OF THE SUV AND CRASHED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

WAS TRAVELING 55MPH USING A STICK SHIFT. ACCELERATOR PEDAL THROTTLE BODY HAD STUCK. HAD SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL & THE ENGINE WOULD BE REVVING. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD THE THROTTLE REPLACED AT TWICE, SO FAR. *AK

FIRESTONE: THIS CLAIM HAPPENED OVER A YEAR AGO. THE TIRE HAS SINCE BEEN DESTROYED BUT THERE IS A PHOTO OF TIRE IN THE FILE, IS SUB POSSIBLE???? (CLAIM# 13-9440-600) *MW

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WILDERNESS/ATX TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLEWOUT,CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT, FOUR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *MJS

PE00020: DRIVING VEHICLE 77MPH WHEN TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE ATX TIRE WITH 12,000 MILES & WRAPPED AROUND & HIT THE BACK OF TRUCK. HAD MADE A LOT OF NOISE WHEN IT HIT. TRUCK LIFTED UP OF PAVEMENT. CHANGED TIRE P235/75R15 & TOOK TRUCK TO FIRESTONE SHOP TO HAVE TIRE REPLACED. SENT OTHER TIRE & INFORMATION TO FIRESTONE MANUFACTURER FOR REIMBURSEMENT. NOT SURE IF TIRES WERE ORIGINAL OR NOT. *AK

MY FAMILY & I WERE DRIVING TO CA. FROM LAS VEGAS DOWN I-15, ABOUT 25 MILES OUT OF LAS VEGAS. THE TREAD COMPLETELY BLEW OFF OUR RIGHT, REAR TIRE, DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH. MY HUSBAND FOUGHT TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR, IT SWAYED & ROCKED VIOLENTLY. WE HAD HEARD A LOUD "BANG" BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS & DIDN'T SUSPECT A FLAT TIRE, THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HIT US.THE ROAD WAS CLEAR AT THE TIME; HAD USUAL TRAFFIC BEEN PRESENT WE WOULD'VE HIT ANTHING IN THE LANE NEXT TO US, DUE TO SEVERE SWERVING. HAD WE TURNED OVER AND ROLLED, MOST DEFINITELY WOULDN'VE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED IF NOT KILLED. PULLED OVER, SAW THAT TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE. REAR LIGHT WAS BROKEN, QUARTER PANEL DENTED, REAR BUMPER DISENGAGED FROM CAR. AFTER GETTING TIRE CHANGED BY AAA CLUB, IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO LV. AT GOODYEAR SHOP, TOLD THEM TO TAKE OFF ALL TIRES & BOUGHT NEW ONES FOR TOTAL OF $500. THE PREVIOUS WEEK HAD HAD CAR SERVICED FOR TRIP TO CALIF. & NO PROBLEMS NOTED WITH TIRES (HAD SPECIFIC CONVERSATION). NO CLUE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. AM CURRENTLY WORRIED ABOUT GOODYEAR STEEL BELTED TIRES THAT HAVE BEEN ON SINCE 7/99 SINCE I LIVE IN DESERT & IT'S FREQUENTLY OVER 100 DEGREES. I HAVE THEM CHECKED FREQUENTLY TOO BUT NOW I HAVE NO PEACE OF MIND AFTER HARROWING EXPERIENCE OF LAST SUMMER.( DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID THEN SPIN THEN ROLL 4 TIMES. DRIVER SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY REQUIRING HOSPITAL CARE. FRONT PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. BACK SEAT PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND SUFFERED A FRACTURED L2 VERTEBRAE. (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND PEDAL WAS HARD. VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD/ SLOWED DOWN, AND CAME TO A STOP. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, AND CONTINUED TO RACE. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, RANCHED DOWN AND PULLED PEDAL WITH HER HANDS, STOPPING ACCELERATION , AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP.

INTERMITTENTLY BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. IT FEELS LIKE "DRIVING ON ICE" WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

TREAD PEELED OFF TIRE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID, DAMAGED REAR QUARTER PANEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

FIRESTONE TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED REFUND BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENTS WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JAN 1, 2000 (SERIAL # VHDLF0A219). NLM

ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED DUE TO A FAULTY WELD. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNEXPECETEDLY IN WHICH THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE OCCUPANT HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE.. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TIRE FAILURE. TRAVELING ON I-20, NEAR WEATHERFORD,TX, TRAVELING AT 70, THE REAR LEFT TIRE PEALED OFF. I LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND HIT A SIDE RAIL. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH SAME TIRE MODEL. A SET OF 4 TIRES WAS PURCHASED. THIS IS MY MAIN COMPLAINT.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM475 TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NOTICED BUMPY RIDE ON ROAD TRIPJ(LIKE RUNNING OVER BUMPS).

THE AUTO WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THANKFULLY DID NOT CRASH OR OVERTURN AS OUR 20 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND HAD 3 PASSENGERS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON TWO TIRES WITHIN A WEEK. FIRST INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO FIRESTONE. REPORT#017116. SECOND INCIDENT WILL BE REPORTED ON MONDAY 6-28-99. I AM NOT TAKING ANY MORE CHANCES. I AM REPLACING REMAING 2 FRONT TIRES AND THE DAMAGED TIRES TODAY. I WANT FIRESTONE TO PAY FOR ALL BAD TIRES. I WANT YOU TO INVESTIGATE, THIS IS SERIOUS. IF YOU NEED ANYMORE INFORMATION LET ME KNOW. THANKS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, NO REASON WHY IT SHATTERED. *YC

I BOUGHT THIS SUV USED AND I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A GREAT VEHICLE, BOY WAS I WRONG. IT HAS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS SUV. PLEASE CHECK ALL OF MY COMPLAINTS THIS IS AN INTERIOR PROBLEM, THESE THINGS CANNOT BE CAUSED BY EVEY DAY USE. THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING ARE, BACK SEAT DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKE, THE SPARE TIRE RELEASE BROKE THE FIRST TIME IT WAS USED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND CAUSED AN INCONVIENCE TO MY FAMILY, THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ALINGMENT HASEN'T BEEN RIGHT SENSE I'VE OWNED IT, THE BACK SEAT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT RELEASE TO FOLD FORWARD, AND THE MOTOR ON THE HATCH HASEN'T WORKED PROPERLY FROM DAY ONE OF MY OWNERSHIP. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. THANK FOR ALL YOU DO. MARGIE HULSEY. ML

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, DEALER FOUND REAR TIRES ALSO WERE DAMAGED AND REPLACED TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. *SLC

TREAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEADS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE ROLL OVER ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURIES( DOT NUMBER: )

SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING OR USING OFF BUTTON, THROTTLE CABLE HUNG UP SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, BUT TRANSMISSION SHIFTED BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND REVERSE AND DESTROYED TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, BUT VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING. SHIFTED INTO PARK & VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO STOP. HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, IT FINALLY STOPPED. DEALER IS HAVING VEHICLE TOWED TO BE CHECKED BY THE MECHANIC. *AK

THE BACK LEFT TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER COMING TO REST ON IT'S LEFT SIDE, THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS FOUND IN THE BUCKLED POSITION YET THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED, THE DRIVER WAS KILLED, ONE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INCAPACITATING INJURIES AND THE OTHER HAN NON-INCAPACITATING INJURIES (TEXAS PEACE OFFICES ACCIDENT REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM415, LEFT REAR). NLM

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN GAS PEDAL BROKE OFF FIREWALL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AT CONSUMER EXPENSE. *AK

THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO SKID INTO THE SOUTHSIDE OF THE ROADWAY INTO A DITCH AND COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE, THERE WERE 2 FATALITIES(TEXAS OFFICERS ACCIDENT REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM435, LEFT REAR). NLM

CONSUMERS LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRES LOST IT'S TREAD WHILE DRIVING PRIOR TO RECALL OOT-005, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

MAKING TURNS THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE IN THE REAR END OF HIS TRUCK.DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON. *AK

THE TIRE IN QUESTION SHED A LARGE LUMP OF TREAD WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE OVER MEMORIAL WEEKEND 1999. THE FORD EXPLORER WAS CARRYING TWO CHILDREN (ONE YEAR AND SEVEN YEARS OLD) AND THE TWO MONTH PREGNANT DRIVER (AGED 32). A LOUD 'THUMP' WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR, FOLLOWED BY A SCRAPING SOUND (PRESUMABLY AS THE TREAD CAUGHT AROUND THE WHEEL ARCH). THE TIRE SHOWS SIGNS OF THE SHED TREAD HAVING RUBBED AGAINST THE REST OF THE TIRE AS IT CONTINUED TO REVOLVE WITH THE TREAD CAUGHT IN THE WHEEL ARCH. THE FOLLOWING WEEK FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED AND EXPRESSED NO CONCERN WHATSOEVER, SAYING THAT THE TIRE HAD PROBABLY HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD OR BEEN PREVIOUSLY CURBED, CAUSING THE TREAD SHED. THE TIRE, AND OTHERS ON THE VEHICLE, WERE REPLACED (WITH THE LATEST VERSION OF THE SAME TIRE TYPE), AT THE DRIVER'S EXPENSE. I WAS MOST CONCERNED WHEN I NOW LEARN OF A RECALL ON ALL SUCH TIRES AND CONTACTED FIRESTONE ON THE FREEPHONE NUMBER. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE 'STANDARD' REPLACEMENT ANSWER, AS I STILL HAD THIS TIRE IN MY POSSESSION. I WAS GIVEN VARIOUS OTHER NUMBER TO CALL WITHIN THE COMPANY, BUT RECEIVED NOTHING MORE THAN THE STANDARD "TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT" ANSWER. I FEEL THAT FIRESTONE SHOULD AT VERY LEAST HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO RECOVER THE TIRE AND ANALYZE THIS EXAMPLE FOR THEIR RECORDS. I THEREFORE CONTACTED NHTSA FOR THEIR ADVICE AND HAVE BEEN SENT A LABEL FOR RETURN OF THE TIRE. THIS TIRE DID NOT ACTUALLY BURST IN THIS INCIDENT, BUT FROM THE CONDITION IT WAS IN ON REMOVAL, WAS VERY CLOSE TO THAT POINT. HAD FIRESTONE TREATED THIS CASE SERIOUSLY AT THE TIME, DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM126 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE TIRES, P235/75R15, PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL 00T005, CONSUMER STATES TIRE TREAD WAS WEARING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES, FIRESTONE STATES THAT SINCE TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE ANY REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

FRONT TIRE BLOW OUT AND BACK TIRE SHREDDED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT AND COLLIDE WITH WALL (FIRESTOINE RADIAL ATX P235/75 R15). MJS

PE 00 020/TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH WITH DRIVER/THREE PASSENGERS IN A 1996, FORD EXPLORER WITH AFTERMARKT EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AT 52,000 MILES, P255.70R16, AND DOT# VDCU1PX059. VEHICLE RECEIVED FRONTAL BODY DAMAGES,AND FIRESTONE WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK DUE TO THE BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WERE SORE FOR WEEKS, THE CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC

HEADLIGHTS INITIALLY FAILED TO COME ON, THEN CAME ON WHEN DIMMER SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, THEN FAILED WHEN VEHICLE HIT BUMPS ON ROAD, THEN AGAIN WHEN TURN SIGNALS WERE USED.

DURING TIRE SERVICE ON 051099 THE MECHANIC REPORTED TIRES WERE NOT SAFE DUE TO CRACKS RUNNING FROM THE ONSET OF THE TREAD AT THE TIRE SIDE WALL. EACH CRACK WAS LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH FROM THE NEXT CRACK. EACH CRACK WAS ABOUT 3/4 TO 1 INCH IN LENGTH. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE CRACKS ON EACH TIRE AND HE ADVISED THAT WITHIN THE NEAR FUTURE THE TIRES WOULD FAIL. FURTHER INQUIRES FROM OTHERS WITH TIRE KNOWLEDGE CONFIRMED THE FIRST OBSERVATION. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ABOUT THREE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, ONE OCCUPANT WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND LATER DIED, THE OTHER OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED (KANSAS MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM375). NLM

LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ANOTHER FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX TIRE 30X9.50R15LT- DOT VD 66AXC146 FAILED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VD66AXC156 TIRE SIZE: 30X9,5R15L )

THE SEALS THAT ARE BEING REPLACED HAVE BEEN RE-DESIGNED AND ARE NOT COVERED UNDER ANY EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN (EVEN THE "PREMIUMCARE"). *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MJS

ON 4-27-99 THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I FELT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. AFTER DRIVING IT, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS "BURNT".IT WAS THEN REBUILT BY DEALER. 2-3 WEEKS LATER RETURNED BECAUSE TOO MUCH DELAY WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. FIXED. MID JULY 99 ODOMETER STOPPED TURNING. 8-12-99 WAS TOLD DID NOT HAVE 4WD. DEALER SAID NOTHING TO DO WITH TRANS OVERHAUL AND PART WAS $500 + INSTALL. MY FEELING IS THAT THESE THINGS ARE ALL RELATED, AND SHOULD NOT BE GOING BAD THIS EARLY IN LIFE OF TRUCK. FORD SAYS TOO BAD.