1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

DURING ROUTINE BRAKE INSPECTION, MASTER CYLINDERS WERE FOUND TO BE LEAKING. BRAKE PADS WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. THIS CONCERNS ME AS '95 EXPLORERS WERE RECALLED FOR PROBLEMS WITH MASTER CYLINDERS, NOT TO MENTION THE NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

DUE TO DEFECTIVE REAR DEFROSTER, CAR BURNED AND WAS COMPLETE LOSS. FORD WAS CONTACTED BUT CLAIMED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE BECAUSE NO OPEN RECALLS EXISTED. THE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS REFUSED TO GIVE ME THEIR NAME AND REFUSED MY REPEATED (3X) REQUESTS TO SPEAK WITH THEIR SUPERVISOR. *AK

WHILE RETURNING FROM CHRISTMAS VACATION ON I-70 WE SUFFERED A BLOWOUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE OF OUR 1996 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WE HAD JUST PASSED A TRACTOR-TRAILOR AND I WAS IN THE INSIDE LANE. THE THIS CAUSED ME TO SWERVE IMMEDIATELY INTO THE OUTSIDE LANE IN FRONT OF THE SEMI AND THEN ONTO THE SHOLDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND STOP PARTIALLY OFF THE ROAD IN THE SNOW. I LATER TOOK THE TIRE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE EXAMINED IT AND STATED THE TREAD HAD SEPERATED TO THE BEST OF HIS KNOWLEDGE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED IT WAS A GOODYEAR PROBLEM. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR AND THEY STATED IT WAS A FORD EXPLORER PROBLEM. NEITHER I, MY WIFE WHO IS 4 MONTHS PREGNANT, NOR MY 21 MONTH OLD CHILD WERE INJURED BUT HAD I BEEN IN THE OUTSIDE LANE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WENT INTO THE DITCH AND THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I AHD JUST HAD THE FROD EXPLORER RECALL FOR THE SWAY BAY LINKS AND A TIRE INSPECTION COMPLETED BY THE FORD DEALER BEFORE WE LEFT ON OUR TRIP (900 MILES BEFORE THE TIRE FAILURE) AND I WAS GIVEN NO ADVICE ABOUT NEEDING NEW TIRES OR IF THE SWAY BAR LINKS HAD CAUSED ANY DAMAGE TO THE TIRES. I HAD MY TIRES ROTATED AT 35281 MILES. I BELIEVE THERE IS POSSIBLY A PROBLEM WITH MY GOODYEAR TIRES OF THE EXPLORER IS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS. (TIRESIZE: P265/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/75R15 )

ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT LATCH.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *TS

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SUBJECT VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE AFTER AN INITIAL START FROM BEING STOPPED, I.E., AT A STOP LIGHT. FORD CLAIM FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATING I HAVE DISCOVERED ONE COMMON DENOMINATOR BETWEEN THIS INCIDENT AND THE 60+ SIMILAR COMPLIANTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *AK

ACCELERATION CONTINUED AFTER RELEASING PEDAL. OCCURRED WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN, AND PRESSED DOWN ON BRAKE FULLY WITH NO EFFECT. ENGINE STILL 'REVVED' AT FULL THROTTLE, WITH BRAKE AT FULL PRESSURE, CAUSING A SQUEALING TURN. ONLY AFTER SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL DID ENGINE STOP RACING AND ACCELERATION STOP. THIS OCCURRED TO A LESSER DEGREE A WEEK OR TWO EARLIER, BUT COULD NOT DEFINITIVELY IDENTIFY IF ACCELERATION PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. *AK

FIRESTONE TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

LEFT FRONT SEAT ROCKS IN FULL ELEVATED POSITION, DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL PLAY IN THE POWER SEAT TRACK. NLM

I NEVER CONTACTED FORD TO MAKE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I THOUGHT MY SUSPENSION WAS FALLING APART DUE TO TOWING AND BAD ROADS IN MY AREA.. THEN I GET A RECALL FOR END LINKS... BUT THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR ADDITION DAMAGED RELATED TO THE SWAY BAR LINKS. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR PAYMENT BUT I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY SOMEONE. I HAVE ALMOST ROOLED THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THE END LINKS BREAKING AND I AM A VERY UNHAPPY CONSUMER. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED TWICE AND THE BALL JOINT ONCE, THE BALL JOINT FAILED WHEN THE END LINK FAILED THE SECOND TIME. I MIGHT ADD I WAS A FORD LOVER AT ONE TIME, AND I OWN MANY CLASSIC FORDS, BUT I WILL NEVER BUY A NEW FORD AGAIN, NOR WILL ANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS. I JUST FEEL THAT THE CONSER GETS RIPPED OFF BY BIG BUSINESS LIKE IN MY CASE, I'M FORCED TO PAY FOR DAMAGE DONE TO MY VEHICLE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. WHAT A JOKE, HENRY FORD IS ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE. WHAT A SHAME THAT A COMPANY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT LINE THIER POCKETS WITH MONEY. I WOULD LIKE TO THAT YOU FOR READING THIS. SINCERLY JOHN BUGDONOVITCH. *AK

THIS SUV V-8 IS FOUR YEARS OLD WITH 63,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR ALL OF IT SERVICES , THERE IS NO REASON WHY THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD OF GONE OUT @ 63,000 MILES, 4 YEARS OLD, SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE MAKE OF THIS, IT COST 2,300.00 TO REPLACE IT WITH A FORD REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *AK

ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING 75MPH WE STARTED FEELING A STRONG SHAKE IN THE FLOORBOARD. I REDUCED SPEED TO 50MPH AND REACHED OUR DESTINATION. I TOOK THE TIRES TO BE INSPECTED AND TWO HAD TREAD SEPARATION. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. I DECIDED TO REPLACE MY TIRES SINCE THIS IS THE THIRD PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THESE TIRES. I KEPT THE OLD TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2UUIP0 TIRESIZE: P22570R15)

WE HAVE OWNED THIS EXPLORER SINCE 1996 AND EVERY YEAR THE THERMOSTAT OR THE SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. IS THEIR A FIX TO THIS PROBLEM FROM FORD. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 35MPH IN SNOW. WHILE GOING UP A HILL REAR END CAME AROUND & IT ROLLED OVER. DEALER & MANUFACTURER WERE NO HELP, THEY REFERRED CONSUMER TO NHTSA HOTLINE. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT, BUT HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT BEFORE APPOINTMENT. *AK

LEFT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK SNAPPED OFF AT THE TOP BOLT. VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH HEAVILY. AT 60 MPH.*AK

I AM ASSOCIATED WITH THE U.S. AIRFORCE, STATIONED AT RAF LAKENHEATH, ENGLAND. WITHIN THE PAST THREE WEEKS BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT RODS CONNECTING THE FOWARD ANTI-SWAY BRACE TO THE FRAME HAVE SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE EFFECT OF THIS WAS EXCESSIVE BOUNCING AND LOSS OF SMOOTH CONTROL OF THE STEARING. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT APROXIMATELY FIFTY MILES AN HOUR. MY SPEED HAD TO BE REDUCED TO APROX. THIRTY MILES AN HOUR TO MAINTAIN A REASONABLE CONTROL AND STABILITY. PART OF THE RODS REMAINED IN THE SWAY BAR, UNTIL I REMOVED THEM FOR REPLACEMENT. THE ONLY DAMAGE THAT I OBSERVED TO THE ROD WAS WHERE THE SHEAR OCCURRED.*AK

NOTICED HAIRLINE CRACK CIRCLING TIRE AT BOTTOM OF TREAD. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE, INITIALLY I WAS OFFERED 1 REPLACEMENT TIRE OF THE SAME TYPE AS THE FAILED TIRE IF AN INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM TIRE VERIFIED MY CONCERN REGARDING THE BEGINNING OF TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEM. I INFORMED THE FIRESTONE HOTLINE AND DEALER REP THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, I WANTED ALL TIRES REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THESE WERE NOT UNDER RECALL. I INFORMED THEM THAT IT WAS LUDICROUS TO BE PUT IN A SITUATION WHERE I WOULD BE FORCED TO CONTINUE CHECKING ALL TIRES EVERY THREE DAYS. I WOULD NOT BE PUT IN THAT SITUATION. BEING PERSISTANT, I WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT DIST MGR. NO TOLL FREE #, AT MY OWN EXPENSE (PHONE) I CONTACTED DIST MGR. HE APPROVED ALL REPLACEMENT, WHEN CONFIRMED. CONFIRMED BY COMPANY OWNED TIRE STORE 11/13/00. ALL FIVE REPLACED 11/14/00 WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER AT. I AM SATISFIED AT THIS TIME. I SIMPLY WANTED TO REPORT FAILURE OF TIRE MADE IN WILSON, NC. AFTER BEING PUSHED, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE DID THE RIGHT THING, ALTHOUGH THEY HAD TO BE PUSHED, AFTER THE FIRST LINE OF CONTACT TRIED TO MINIMIZE AND DEFLECT. I PRAISE FIRESTONE FOR EVENTUALLY DOING THE RIGHT THING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPYL08 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

THE CONSUMER HAS THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, HOWEVER THE ONES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL, THE TREAD IS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE AND STRESS CRACKS ARE FORMING, THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED, THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED ON 11-5-00. *SLC

ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE PEDAL ONE INCH AWAY. THE MASTER CYLINDER DEVELOPED A LEAK ALLOWING THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO TRAVEL PAST THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS SO CLOSE THE INCIDENCE OF HITTING BOTH PEDALS BECOMES GREATER AS IT WAS WITH MY VEHICLE. WE HAD COME TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP THEN THE 1996 EXPLORER ACCELERATED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. SIMPLE FIX BEND THE ACCELERATOR ARM AWAY FROM THE BRAKE PEDDLE. ON 98 EXPLORER'S THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS THREE INCHES AWAY INDICATING FORD DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM, FIXED IN LATER MODELS, BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY 96 EXPLORER OWNERS OR THEIR DEALERS. *AK

PE00020, CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN HE BOUGHT VEHICLE THAT TIRES WERE SEPARATING AND TREAD WAS SPLITTING. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE FIRESTONE #AT, P25570/R16. *AK ALL FOUR TIRES STARTED TO CRACK AROUND AND IN BETWEEN THE TREAD AND SIDE WALLS AT ABOUT 18000 MILES. *YH

THE SWAY BAR (00S47) AND TWO FIRESTONE TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICES, WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO DODGE ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE TWO OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILED AND THE SWAY BAR BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER 3 TIMES INTO A DITCH, THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED CUTS, BRUISES AND MUSCLE PULLS AND TEARS IN THE UPPER BODY (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 255/70R16). NLM

BUSHING THAT HOLDS STABILIZER BAR IS GONE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

FUEL SHUT OFF SWITCH ACTIVATED BY FRONT PASSENGER'S LEG TWICE WHILE VEHICLE IN OPERATION*AK

NOISE WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE. BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUME RTHAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

TENSIONER THAT KEEPS BELT TIGHT SHEARED OFF CAUSING LOSS OF BELT TENSION AND LOSS OF POWER STEARING. LUCKY THAT CAR WAS IN DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME. (ENGINE WAS AT IDLE). TENSIONER FELL TO THE DRIVEWAY. WAS PUTTING GRAND BABIES IN THE CAR IN PREPARATION FOR MAKING A TRIP. COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHE IF THE EVENT HAD HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

WHEN DRIVING THIS FALL I FOUND THAT WHEN USING THE VENT I GOT NOTHING BUT HOT AIR, THEN THE AUTOMATIC SETTING ON THE HEAT/AIR TEMPERATURE CONTROL WOULD NOT REGULATE PROPERLY. IT WOULD GO TO EXTREMES TO 85+ DEGREES, THEN DROP OFF AND BLOW UNTIL IT WAS DOWN TO 60 AND THEN BACK UP TO 85 CONTINUOUSLY. I WENT ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, WHICH STATED I NEEDED TO HAVE IT PUT ON THE COMPUTER AND CHECKED AT THE DEALER. AFTER THEY KEPT MY CAR 2 X AS LONG AS PROMISED AND CHARGING ME $100 TO CALL THE ENGINEERS AT FORD ITSELF, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR IN THE HEATER PLENUM. THIS DOOR IS APPARENTLY MADE OF PLASTIC AND BREAKS. IN MY CASE IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT VERY SLOWLY, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING. IT CURRENTLY DOES NOT WORK AND IS STUCK IN THE AIR CONDITIONING SIDE. I GET NO HEAT AND CAN'T DEFROST MY WINDOWS. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN AND WE ARE EXPECTING FREEZING RAIN TODAY, NOT TO MENTION SNOW LATER THIS WEEK. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINEER THEY TALKED TO SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. IF IT IS A BAD DESIGN, BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT OFFICIALLY A DEFECTIVE PART ON THEIR LIST, THEY COULD NOT FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME ANOTHER $700 ON TOP OF THE $100 ALREADY SPENT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAPPENED TO (SEE MIGHTYAUTOPARTS.COM, ON THE LINE WITH LARRY HAMMER - EXPLORING THE LIMITS OF PATIENCE). THE NEWLY DESIGNED DOOR IS MADE OF NYLON THAT IS STRONGER AND LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKING. WHEN CONTACTING FORD CUSTOMER 1ST TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT MY VISIT, THEY SAID AN ADVISOR WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO ME AND WOULD CONTACT ME THE NEXT DAY, THAT WAS 2 WEEKS AGO. I FEEL I AM BEING GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND. I AM DRIVING IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BAD DESIGN. I FULLY APPRECIATE AND ACCEPT THAT THINGS WEAR OUT ON VEHICLES AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DEFECTIVE DESIGN SHOULDN'T BE AT MY EXPENSE, IN DOLLARS OR SAFETY.

EMERGENCY BRAKE "DISINTEGRATED" W/O INDICATION OTHER THAN RATTLE

ENGINE FAILURE LOST OIL PRESSURE LOCKED ENGINE

RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER MANY TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKES, HE REPLACED ONE PAD ON ONE TIRE. SAYS IT WAS THE ONLY ONE WORN, NOW CAR SKIDS ON BRAKING AND PULLS TO THE SIDE. EGR VALVE IS ALSO BAD AND HE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. HE STATES HE REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR UNIT BUT, IT STILL APPEARS OLD AND RUSTED IN.AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF HAVING VEHICLE I COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKES.IDLER BEARING IMOBILIZED CAR 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE,HE GERYY RIGGED IT WITHOUT FIXING IT PROPERLY.

TIRES HAVE CRACKS ON AND ABOUT SHOULDER AREA, DRY ROT. THESE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND INSPECTED BY SEARS PERSONNEL. FIRESTONE PERSONNEL REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES; DID NOT INSPECT. I HAVE RETAINED ALL 5 TIRES. (DOT NUMBER: W2UU1MX295 TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00T005 AND HAD TIRES REPLACED ON HIS OWN, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT THE PROBLEM, A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

REPLACEMENTS FOR ORIGINAL GOOD YEAR. PURCHASED AT COSTCO. (DOT NUMBER: 8XHL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

10/2000 - THE LEFT REAR DOOR LATCH FROM THE INSIDE WOULD NOT WORK. ANYONE WHO ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY. THE REPAIR COST ME APPROX. $175.00. MARCH, 2001 - THE RIGHT REAR DOOR LATCH HAS NOW BROKEN. AGAIN, ANYONE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE WILL BE UNSUCCESSFUL. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN SINCE I HAVE CHILDREN WHO SIT IN THE BACK AND IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE RIGHT REAR DOOR. I WILL BE GETTING THIS DOOR FIXED NEXT WEEK BY THE SAME DEALERSHIP. I FEEL THAT THESE SAFETY DEFECTS PUT ANY PERSON SITTING IN THE BACK IN GRAVE DANGER IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. THESE FAILURES SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. PLEASE ADVISE HOW I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR THESE REPAIRS. THANK YOU.

TIRE BLOWOUT ON HIGHWAY. SEPARATION ON SIDE. DEALER (FIRESTONE) WOULD NOT COVER BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A RECALLED TIRE YET EVEN THOUGH OBVIOUS DEFECT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 8X?? TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CALIPER BOLT LOOSENED AND EVENTUALLY CAME OFF OF THE BRAKES. THE FORD SERVICE PART USED TO REPLACE THE BOLD IS N606046-S60, BOLT, AB-20-DA. WHEN PURCHASING THIS PART FOR THE SECOND TIME ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2000 AT MIKE DAVIDSON FORD FROM LEM JOHNSON HE STATED TAHT SEAVERAL FORD CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN IN WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION. EPEOPLFORE THIS HAS OCCURRED ON TW. *AK

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CALIPER BOLT LOOSENED AND EVENTUALLY CAME OFF OF THE BRAKES. THE FORD SERVICE PART USED TO REPLACE THE BOLD IS N606046-S60, BOLT, AB-20-DA. WHEN PURCHASING THIS PART FOR THE SECOND TIME ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2000 AT MIKE DAVIDSON FORD FROM LEM JOHNSON HE STATED TAHT SEAVERAL FORD CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN IN WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH THE FIRST OCCASION BEING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. *AK

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1996, EXPLORER, P255/70R16 SIZE . TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AT 40 MPH, BREAKING THE BRAKE LINE .*AK

VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STALL, USUALLY WHEN WEATHER IS REALLY HOT OUTSIDE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH PUT CONSUMER AND FAMILY IN DANGEROUS SITUATION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK

I HAD MY TIRES INSPECTED AT TWO REPUTIBLE TIRE DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH HAVE INDICATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION AND HAVE RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT AND HIGHLY SUGGESTED NOT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL OF THE TIRES HAVE CRACKS AT THE TREADLINE, SOME WIDE ENOUGH TO PLACE A PENNY INTO. I HAVE LETTERS FROM BOTH TIRE DEALERSHIPS OUTLINING THIS PROBLEM AS WELL AS PHOTOS OF THE CRACKS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PARTICULAR TIRE HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED IN VENEZUALA, HOWEVER HAS NOT BEEN ADDED TO FIRESTONE'S CURRENT US RECALL LIST. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIV. ABOUT THIS CONCERN AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. IN TURN THEY REFERRED ME TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THIS TIRE WASN'T ON THE RECALL LIST. THESE TIRES ARE IN BAD SHAPE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. KNOWING THAT THIS SIZE TIRE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOT INCLUDED WITH FIRESTONE'S RECALL CONCERNS ME GREATLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX505 TIRE SIZE: P255 70R16 )

DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT RIGHT BUMPER, FRONT RIGHT SIDE PANEL, AND FRONT RIGHT DOOR, INSIDE FLOORBOARD NEAR RUNNING BOARD. I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL AVENUES IN ATTEMPTING TO FIND A RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I DO HAVE A PHONE LOG STATING ALL THE FRUSTRATING PHONE CALLS I HAVE MADE WITH NO RESULTS OTHER THAN "WE WILL SEND YOU THE FORMS". MEANWHILE, I AM STUCK WITHOUT A CAR, UNABLE TO GET TO WORK; I'VE HAD TO COMPROMISE MY LIFESTYLE. I AM EXPECTED TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR REPAIRS TO MY CAR. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR (IT HAS BEEN STORED SINCE THE INCIDENT 9/16/00) HAVING STILL, THREE DEFECTIVE "HUMAN KILLING" TIRES" PUTTING MY LIFE, AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF OTHERS IN JEOPARDY. ONE WOULD THINK A LARGE COMPANY WOULD LEAP TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT FURTHER TRAGEDY.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX475 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED (REPORTEDLY) CAUSING THE CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATE - REFUSING TO DECELERATE. THIS "AGGRESSIVE" FAILURE SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME. I HAD TO REACT AND TAKE THE CARE OUT OF GEAR - SINCE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A SPEED OF 47-55 MPH AS I TRIED TO BRAKE. FORTUNATELY I HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO REACT QUICKLY - ALTHOUGH I JUST MISSED TAIL-ENDING CARS ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THIS OCCURED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS ABOUT $480. FORD MOTOR CLAIMS THEY HAVE NO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND NO RECALL ON FAILED THROTTLE BODIES ON EXPLORERS. SIMILAR CLAIMS WERE MADE ABOUT FIRESTONE TIRES ON EXPLORERS AND 133 PEOPLE HAVE DIED BEFORE THERE WAS A RECALL. MY STAFF MAINTAINS A LARGE MUNICIPAL FLEET AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH A DANGEROUS/AGGRESSIVE FAILURE THAT CAUSE AN AUTOMOBILE TO FAIL OR PERFORM JUST THE OPPOSITE OF HOW ITS SUPPOSE TO. THIS FAILURE, WHICH OCCURED ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN 3 WEEKS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FATALITIES. I'M NOT HAPPY - AND NOT EVEN SURE THAT THE PART REPLACED IS THE SOLE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE SWAY BAR LINKAGE WAS ENTIRELY MISSING. AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CAR STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH PROGRESSIVELY HARDER, UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE APPRLIED. I INSTALLED THE NEW PARTS TO REPLACE THOSE MISSING AND THE CAR NOW DRIVE PREFECTLY NORMALLY. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WOULD ROLL OVER IF ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THE SIDE-TO-SIDE OSCILLATION. *AK

WHILE GOING UP A HILL GAS PEDAL DROPPED TO FLOOR, CONSUMER TRIED TO GET PEDAL UP, IT WAS LIKE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR, THE ONLY WAY CONSUMER COULD STOP WAS TO TURN OFF VEHICLE. CONSUMER FELT AS IF SHE WAS GOING DOWN A HILL THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL (00T-005), MANUFACTURER STATES THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THEY WERE INCLUDED, HOWEVER THE TIRES ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT. *MJS

FIRESTONE TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005. NLM

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL ABOUT TIRES. ONE TIRE WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR ONE TIRE HE PURCHASED, HOWEVER, WANTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REMAINING 3 (INCLUDING SPARE) TIRES HE PURCHASED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE SIZE P235/75R15 DOT # ENBNDN2300 AND VDHL1FM505 ON 1996, FORD, EXPLORER. *AK *TT

ALL 4 TIRES HAVE SPIDER CRACKES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE RUBBER LUGS. THIS TIRE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I SHOULD GET 2 MORE YEARS OUT OF THEM, BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE AND THINK I'M TAKE THE OFF. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS TIRE SIZE. THANK YOU( DOT NUMBER: W2CULPX TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

THESE TIRES HAVE SEPARATED FROM THEMSELVES AND I HAVE THEM FOR ANY ONE WHO WOULD LIKE THEM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2IPY TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

SEAT BACK FAILURE DRIVERS BUCKET SEAT, BOLT FRACTURED, SEAT BACK FELL TO RECLINE, LOSS OF CONTROL POSSIBLE IF AT DRIVING SPEED