1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

CONSUMER HAS 1997 FORD, EXPLORER. ALL 4 TIRES HAVE A CRACKS ON THE ORIGINALTIRES. TIRE SIZE P235/75R15 DOT#VNHL, AND APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 50,000. FIRESTONE CENTER RECOMMENDED THEY CALL HOT LINE. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

ALTHOUGH MY TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE. I WAS LUCKY. MY EPLORER WARNED ME THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHEN IT STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT I NEEDED AND ALIGNMENT AND TOOK MY EXPLORER TO A FORD DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT. MY ALIGNMENT WAS FINE AND I WAS FLABERGASTED WHEN THE FORD PEOPLE TOLD ME THAT MY FRONT LEFT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE, NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, HAD A BELT COMPLETELY SEPERATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE ON IT. AS IF WAS NOT SAFE AND HAD BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I WAS IN SHOCK AS I HAD MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE EXPLORER A FEW DAY BEFORE. I WAS CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS SO I IMMEDIATELY BOUGHT FIVE NEW TIRES.WE WERE PLANNING TO DRIVE FROM FLORIDA TO PORTLAND, OREGON ON THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES. SINCE I AM RETIRED AND SO NOT DRIVE VERY MUCH I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES FOR SOMETIME AS THEY ONLY HAD 32,400 PLUS MILES ON THEM. I AM INFORMING YOU OF THIS HOPING THAT SOMEONE ELSE THAT MIGHT BE PLANNING A LONG TRIP ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL WILL RECONSIDER. THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE.( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY446 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P235/75R15) DOT W2HL CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AT ALL SPEEDS, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE RODE ROUGH, LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED STEEL BELT SEPARATION, VISUAL INSPECTION OF TIRES SHOWED NO PROBLEMS. *SLC

PEOO 020; CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE RETAILER. AND ATTENDANT TOLD HIM THAT ONE OF THE TIRES WAS ON RECALL., AND OTHER TIRE HAD T TREAD SEPARATION. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE #ATX, P23570R15, #DOT VD. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT LEFT TIRE WAS FLAT. TIRE REPAIR MAN SAID THAT HE COULD NOT REPAIR THE TIRE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT,P235/75 R15. *AK

PE00 020; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MP ON HIGHWAY AND DID HEAR A NOISE. DRIVER'S REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT P235/75R15. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER WITH FIRESTONE TIRES (NOT PART OF CURRENT RECALL) WHEN MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE SUV AND HAVE THE ACCIDENT( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY077 TIRE SIZE: E4027477 )

PEOO 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED VIBRATION INSIDE OF VEHICLE. ON PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT P23575R15. *AK

PEOOO20; ORIGINAL TIRE ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER P22575R15. AT LEAST TWO TIRES ARE CRACKING AROUND WERE THE TREAD MEETS THE TIRE BODY.*AK THE TIRES ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT MADE IN CANADA AND ARE NOT ON RECALL. *YH

WHILE DRIVING THE TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING OR INDICATION OF TROUBLE, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

CONSUMER INSPECTED TIRES AFTER SEEN THE RECALLS AND FOUND CRACKS ON FOUR SETS OF TIRES. THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER, AND DEALER POINTED OUTTHAT TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL. *AK

TIRES ARE CRACKING AT BOTTOM OF TREAD LINE ON SIDE WALL, ALSO "CHUNKING"AT TOP OF TREAD, PIECES OF TOP OF TREAD ARE LIFTING FROM TIRE( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

TREADS BEGAN TO PEEL FROM TIRE( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

ON 9/1/00 WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR, I SUFFERED A BLOW-OUT ON A HIGHWAY @ 65MPH. I WAS LUCKY BEYOND MEASURE, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT & I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SAFETY. THE TIRE WAS INSPECTED BY OUR MECHANIC AT GOODYEAR & FOUND TO HAVE NO FOREGIN OBJECTS IN IT; THE TREAD WAS PEELING AWAY ON THE INSIDE. THE NEXT MORNING I READ THAT NHTSA HAD INCLUDED MY MODEL TIRE IN ITS WARNINGS TO FIRESTONE & FORD. I CALLED FIRESTONE DIRECTLY, THEY SAID THAT SINCE MY TIRE ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, I SHOULD JUST SAVE MY RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACEMENTS & WATCH THE NEWS FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFO. THIS COMPANY DIDN'T EVEN TAKE MY NAME, OR ASK FOR THE TIRE INFO, MUCH LESS ASK IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES.I AM FURIOUS THAT MY FAMILY CAME SO CLOSE TO BEING A STATISTIC.INACTION BY FIRESTONE WILL ONLY LEAD TO ADDITIONAL FATALITIES, PLEASE DON'T ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF DENIAL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHLAWR457 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, EXPLORER, P235/75R15 SIZE, DOT#: VN. TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES IS STARTING TO SEPARATE.*AK THE CUSTOMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES TO REPLACE THE FAILED TIRES. *YH

INNER SIDEWALL, CONTINUOUS CRACK, APPROXIM,ATELY ONE-TENTH OF THICKNESS, LOCATED 1/4 INCH DOWN FROM TOP OF THE TREAD. THIS CONDITION IS ON FOUR OF THE FIVE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES THAT WERE MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. I WAS TOLD TO REPORT THIS TO YOUR AGENCY, AFTER SPEAKING WITH AN OPERATOR FROM THE 1-800 NUMBER OF FIRESTONE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A FORD EXPLORER 1997, P23575R15 DOT VNHN. ALL 4 TIRES ARE SHOWING EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATING.*AK THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND HAD BEEN INDICATED TO BE DEFECTIVE BUT THE NUMBERS ON THESE TIRES DO NOT MATCH THE ONES THAT BEING DEFECTED. *YH

PE00 020; WAS CHECKING TIRES AND NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES ARE CRACKING ALL AROUND THE SIDEWALLS. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS#AT, P25570R16, DOT VNCU1TX237. HE WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH FIRESTONE.*AK

4 TIRES ARE SPLITTING WHERE TREAD JOINS TO BODY. THESE ARE NOT THE RECALLED TIRES BUT APPEAR TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THIS IS A TREND WITH NON-DECATUR MFG'D TIRES IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. FIRESTONE DEALER WOULD ONLY OFFER TO REPLACE WITH LIKE TIRES. I HAVE LOST FAITH IN FIRESTONE AND REPLACED THESE TIRES WITH MICHELIN. OLD TIRES STILL HAD AT LEAST 75% OF THE TREAD LEFT. I'M A RETIRED SEARS AUTO CENTER SALESMAN SO I KNOW OF WHAT I SPEAK. (DOT NUMBER: VL TIRESIZE: P235 75 15)

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION, CRACKING, AND VIBRATION, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES. *SLC

SERIOUS NOISE PROBLEM AT RIGHT FRONT END DURING ANY MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. UNSURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CURRENTLY CONCERNED TO TRAVEL ANY LENGTHY DISTANCE.*AK

CONSUMER PURCHASED FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL 00T005, HOWEVER TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION AND REPLACED THEM WITH PATHFINDER RADIAL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

THESE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AS THEY SHOW SIGNS OF SEPARATION RIGHT AT THE TREAD/SIDEWALL LINE. FIRESTONE WOULD OFFER ME A CREDIT IN FIRESTONE DOLLARS OF $100 BUT I HAD THESE REPLACE WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AT A COST OF $350. MORE IMPORTANT IS THE FACT THAT THIS TIRE IS DANGEROUS AND YET HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE RESPOND AS I AM GOING TO AUCTION THESE TIRES ON THE INTERNET TO ATTORNEYS THAT ARE SUING THE PANTS OFF THESE NEGLIGENT MORONS THAT ARE NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VNCUIPX366 TIRESIZE: P25570R 16)

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL THE TIRES AFTER THE INCIDENT, GOODYEAR WRANGLER, P235/75R15. *YH

3 WEEKS AGO A VD CODED WILDERNESS AT ON RIGHT FRONT OF MY EXPLORER LOST A CHUNK OF TREAD EXPOSING BOTH STEEL BELTS. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE WHO SAID THE STORIES IN THE PRESS WERE FALSE, AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THIS WAS AUGUST 8, 2000. THEY SOLD ME A REPLACEMENT TIRE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TO THIS STORE COMPLAINING OF WOBLE AT SPEED. THEY CLAIMED THE TIRES (ALL VD CODE) WERE GOOD, AND THE ALIGNMENT BY FORD DEALER WAS BAD. MY FORD DEALER HAD INSPECTED TIRES AND ALIGNMENT 7 MONTHS EARLIER AND SAID THE TIRES WERE BAD. I DID NOT INSTALL THE REPLACEMENT NEW TIRE SINCE THE RECALL NEWS CAME THE FOLLOWING DAY. SO I USED MY SPARE, DOT CODED W2HL WHILE RECALL ISSUES WERE BEING RESOLVED. TODAY I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH IN TEXAS, 107 DEGREES AT THE TIME. THE CAR STARTED WOBBLING SEVERLY, AND I SLOWED DOWN. THE ENTIRE TREAD OF THE TIRE THEN FLEW OFF, AFTER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT, FORTUNATLEY. I WALKED BACK DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND RETRIEVED THE TREAD IF ANYONE WANTS TO INSPECT IT. THIS WAS MY SPARE TIRE, ALSO MOUNTED ON RIGHT FRONT, AND IT WAS A SUPPOSEDLY GOOD DOT CODE. I HAVE HAD TWO DEFECTIVES IN 3 WEEKS ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE SAME CAR. I WAS CARRYING 30 LBS PRESSURE AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND FAILURE. I PUT THE NEW SPARE ON, DROVE TO A TIRE STORE AND BOUGHT 4 TIRES. I RETAINED ALL FOUR BAD TIRES (3 ARE DOT VD, AND THE OTHER W2HL. I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR OTHER BAD DOT PLANT CODES. I ALSO THINK THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE FORD SUSPENSION, BASED ON SEVERAL MECHANICS REPORTING TO ME THAT THE EXPLORERS ALL EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR PATTERN. THANKS.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY416 TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )

BALL JOINTS SHOULD LAST FOR 100,000 MILES THIS ALONG WITH THE TIRES IN QUESTION SHOULD MAKE YOU LOOK AT FORD FOR THE CURRENT TIRE FAILURES . IF I HAD NOT WENT TO FIRESTONE TO GET THE TIRES CHECKED I WOULD HAVE HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE FRONT AND BLAMED IT ON THE TIRES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT THERE PROBLEM THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD BUT AT THIS TIME I AM DEALING WITH FORD MOTOR CO. TO GET THE SITUATION RESOLVED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

ENGINE MAKING TICKING NOISE WHERE TIME CHAIN IS. AFTER DISASSEMBLY BY MECHANIC FOUND TENSIONER WITH TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE. NEW TENSIONER AND TIMING CHAIN INSTALLED( DOT NUMBER: )

I LIVE IN A SECTION OF VIRGINIA THAT IS 25 MILES FROM THE NEAREST FORD OR FIRESTONE STORE. ALL 4 OF MY TIRES HAVE SEVERE CRACKING AT THE AREA WHERE THE TREAD CONNECTS TO THE TIRE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST TIRE STORE OR TUCKS TIRE CENTER IN MONETA, VA. 1-540-297-5155. THEY VERIFIED THAT MY TIRES ARE SEVERELY CRACKED AND READY FOR TREAD SEPARATION AND I AM DUE REPACEMENTS EVEN WITHOUT BEING ON THE RECALL. HOWEVER THEY SPENTS TWO DAYS ON THE PHONE CALLING FIRESTONE FOR AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THEY WERE ON THE PHONE FOR HOURS ON HOLD AND NOBODY EVER COME ON THE LINE. I PROCEEDED TO CONTACT FORD VIA EMAIL, EXPLAINED ALL THE PRECEEDING AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GET LOST SINCE I HAD 16 INCH TIRES. RIGHT NOW I CANT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE TIRES CAN SEPARATE AT ANY TIME. YET I CANT GET ANY ACTION FROM FORD OR FIRESTONE. THIS IS A BONAFIDE CASE OF A 16 INCH NON RECALLED TIRE THAT WILL HAVE TREAD SEPATATION SOON UPON DRIVING THE CAR. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2C1PX017 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY VIA E-MAIL ON 8/29/00. THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO WAIT FOR FIRESTONE TO RECALL TIRES. ALL FIRESTONE AND FORD DEALERS IN THE AREA WHERE I HAD THE INSPECTED AGREE THAT THE TIRES SHOW DEFECT MARKS SIMILAR TO THOSE BEING RECALLED. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM BECAUSE FIRESTONE WILL NOT AUTHORIZE OR HAS NOT AUTHORIZED THAT PARTICULAR DOT NUMBER. TIRES ARE BEGINING TO LOOK UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PLEASE ADVISE. (DOT NUMBER: VN TIRESIZE: 235P65R15)

1997 FORD, EXPLORER WITH ORIGINAL TIRES. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 38,000, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, AND DOT#W2HL. ALL 4 TIRES WERE DRY ROTTEN COMPLETELY AROUND SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES.*AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THE CHAIN TENSIONER BROKE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED, CONSUMER HAD USED ENGINE PUT IN VEHICLE, CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER (O00M12) EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE CAMSHAFT CHAIN TENSIONER (00M12) AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, IF ANY REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BECAUSE OF A FAULTY CAMSHAFT CHAIN PRIOR TO DECEMBER OF 2000, FORD WOULD GIVE A FULL REIMBURSEMENT, THE USED ENGINE THAT WAS INSTALLED HAS THE SAME DEFECT AND CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A NEW ENGINE BE INSTALLED PLUS REFUND OF THE USED ENGINE, FORD STATED THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE, ONLY GIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE USED ENGINE. *SLC

THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON SIDEWALL JUST BELOW THE TREAD. THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT ALL AT A SUDDEN, BUT SLOW ENOUGH FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF AUTO. THE FAILURE BEING SO CLOSE TO THE TREAD AND BEING THAT THIS SERIES OF TIRES IS IN QUESTION I FEEL THAT A REPORT SHOULD BE MADE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HLRININT TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

BOTH OF THESE TIRE BLOWOUTS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON WASHBOARDED GRAVEL ROADS. NO ROAD HAZARDS WERE FOUND DURING REPAIR (E.G. NO NAILS OR OTHER OBJECTS). THEY APPEAR TO HAVE JUST BLOWN OUT.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX446 TIRE SIZE: P255 70R16 )

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE BLOWOUTS, TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIRESTONE RECALL. *MJS

TRAVELING 65075MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD & THEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HIT EDGE OF ROAD & ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. LANDED UP RIGHT. VEHICLE'S OTHER 3 TIRES WERE FLAT, BUT NO TREAD SEPARATION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. RECEIVED NO SUBSTANTIAL INJURIES. THE GROVES HAD SLITS ALL AROUND THE TIRES NEAR THE TREAD. THE TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR WAS ATTACHED TO THE TIRE BUT SLIGHTLY OFF. WAS TREAT AT EMERGENCY ROOM & RELEASED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, P25570R16 WITH 73,000 MILES. *AK

TIRES DID NOT FAIL BUT DEVELOPED CRACKS AROUND SIDEWALL WHERE TREAD ATTATCHES( DOT NUMBER: W2HL 1PY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELAERATOR BRACKET(ARM) DETACHED FROM THE FIREWALL WHERE IT WAS WELDED. THIS IS THE SAME INCIDENT THAT WAS REPORTED ON ODI ID 858739.

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

AFTER HAVING MY '97 FORD EXPLORER SPORT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES CHECKED ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 22 AT 5:00 PM, I WAS GIVEN A PRINTOUT FROM BOB DAVIDSON FORD THAT CONFIRMED THAT MY WILDERNESS AT'S WERE NOT PART OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL AS THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NEEDED "VD" DOT CODE. THE DEALER'S REPORT READ, "NOT APPLICABLE TO RECALL. TIRES OF OK DOT (W2HL). I WAS LEARY ABOUT DRIVING THE EXPLORER ON INTERSTATE 95 FROM BALTIMORE TO DELAWARE BUT HAD TO JOIN MY WIFE WHO WAS ASSISTING HER 85 YEAR OLD MOTHER WHO IS RECOVERING FROM A BROKEN PELVIS IN WILMINGTON. RETURNING HOME AT ABOUT 10:15 PM FROM WILMINGTON, DEL. TO BALTIMORE, MD. ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, THE EXPLORER STARTED TO SWIM ON THE ROAD, NOTICEABLY SWERVING. JUST THEN A MAN IN A CAR ON MY RIGHT STARTED YELLING AT ME AND POINTING TO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. THE TIRE WAS FLAT. ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT A "BLOWOUT" AS HAS CAUSED MANY ACCIDENTS IN EXPLORERS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE TIRE WENT FLAT QUICKLY, IN A COUPLE MINUTES AT MOST. WHEN I TOOK OFF THE TIRE AND LOOKED INSIDE, THERE WERE LARGE AIR BUBBLES INSIDE THE TIRE. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED IN SEVERAL SECTIONS INSIDE. THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE WAS MUSHY AND SPONGEY. EARLY ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, I TOOK THE TIRE TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I HAD HIT SOMETHING ON THE ROAD THAT HAD CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO PUNCTURE AND THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WAS OBVIOUSLY RIPPED APART RATHER EXTENSIVELY. WHEN WE CONSULTED WITH OTHER TIRE DEALERS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF OUR OTHER THREE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE THEY POINTED OUT THE CRACKS ALL ALONG THE EDGE OF THE TREAD, INDICATING THAT THE TREAD IS NOTICEABLY BEGINNING TO SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. AS THE TIRES ARE IN "MID-LIFE" BUT NOT ON THE FORMAL RECALL LIST, WE ARE STUCK WITH TIRES UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HOPE THE RECALL WILL BE EXPANDED SOON.

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 TIRES LISTED IN THE REPORT WERE ON THE REAR VEHICLE (FORD 1997 EXPLORER, EDDIE BOWER 4X4, 4 DOOR MODEL). THESE TIRES APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL. TOTAL VEHICLE MILES WERE APPROXIMATELY 62,000 MILES. TREAD WEAR WAS EXCELLENT FOR THESE TIRES. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY ONE-FOURTH INCH TREAD LEFT ON THESE TIRES. I HAVE BEEN INSPECTING EACH OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRES BEFORE AND AFTER EACH DAY'S COMMUTE. I NOTICED SMALL FRACTURES DEVELOPING AT THE EDGE OF THE TREAD WHERE IT MEETS THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. BOTH REAR TIRES EXHIBITED THE SMALL FRACTURES. DURING THE LAST INSPECTION (ON 08/23/00), I NOTICED THE FRACTURES WIDENING SIGNIFICANTLY. AT LEAST ONE OF THE FRACTURES ON THE OUTER SIDE OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXHIBITED STEEL WIRES PROTRUDING FROM THE BULGE. I IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTACTED A LOCAL FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE. BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL, THEY OFFERED TO INSPECT AND POSSIBLY PRORATE WARRANTY. I DID NOT WANT FIRESTONE REPLACEMENTS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THESE MODEL TIRES HAVE DESIGN DEFECTS. I HAD ALL FOUR WILDERNESS TIRES ON THE VEHICLE REPLACED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE SECOND REAR TIRE HAD LARGER BULGES AND STEEL WIRE PROTRUSIONS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I BELIEVE THAT THESE TWO REAR TIRES WERE IN IMMINENT DANGER OF CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION. THE FRONT TIRES APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND I DO NOT THINK THEY ARE ORIGINAL. THEY APPEAR NEWER WITH MUCH MORE TREAD REMAINING THAN THE REAR TIRES. NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF DEFECT APPEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES. THE FRONT TIRE SPECIFICS FOLLOW: WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16. DOT VDCU1PX119. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION, KENT E. PARRISH( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX076 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

1/TIRE BLEW ON PAVED OFF-RAMP FROM I-4; 2/STEEL BELTS STARTED SHOWING AT 45,000 MILES.( DOT NUMBER: 25400URBMO TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS/HT, 255/70R16 DOT, VMCU25570R TIRES BLEWOUT, CAUSING A FISHTAIL, BUT CONSUMER MAINTAINED CONTROL. FIRESTONE, AND FORD HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED DUE TO THE FAULTY TIRE. *SLC

HAVE BEEN COMPLAIN OF FRONT WHEEL SHAKE SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE AT 36,000. DEALER THOUGHT IT WAS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. DURING ROUTINE VEHICLE MANTINANCE FOUND LEFT FRONT TIRE INSIDE (DOT W2HL) WAS WORN AND BELT SHOWING. DEALER SAID BAD TIRE, FIRESTONE DEALER SAID NEED ALINEMENT. PUT ON SPARE TIRE ALSO DOT W2HL AND PURCHASED NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE P235/7515 DOT 8XHL. HAVE KEPT OLD TIRE. TWO REMAINING REAR TIRES SHOW CRACKS IN SIDE WALL. LITTLE HELP FROM DEALERSHIP OR FIRESTONE. TIRES ARE AT USE FULL LIFE, BUT GOOD TREAD IS STILL ON TIRES. PLAN ON REPLACING ALL FOUR THIS WEEKEND . WILL NOT BE REPLALCING WITH FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

1997, FORD, EXPLORER, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES SIZE P235/75R15 DOT#VNHL1PY027, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. CONSUMER NOTICED TIRES WERE CRACKING ALL AROUND SIDEWALL WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE SEPARATED, BUT CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES.*AK *SLC

TIRES COMING APART AT SAME POINT AS THE DECATUR BUILT TIRES. HAVE CONTACTED BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE AND WAS BASICALLY IGNORED. THEY WOULD ONLY ADDRESS OFFICIALLY RCALLED TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

RUBBER SEAL ON FUEL TANK CAP FAILED CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACEMENT OF FUEL TANK CAP $110. SEAL ON CAP WAS TORN. THIS WAS THE SECOND FAILURE. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE VECHILE WAS UNDER WARRANTY.

PE00020; BOUGHT USED A 1997 FORD EXPLORER, TIRES P23575R15, DOT W2. ALL TIRES HAVE CRACKS FORMING AROUND THE TREAD AND THE SIDEWALL WHICH INDICATES TREAD SEPARATION. FIRESTONE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

TIRE EXHIBITED 360 DEGREE CRACKS IN SIDEWALL 1/2" FROM CORNER OF TREAD, MODERATE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE - REPLACED BY FIRESTONE DEALER( DOT NUMBER: VN TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIRES ON MY EXPLORER AND HAD THEM CHECKED AT THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE IMMEDIATELY AS THE TREADS WERE SEPARATING. I RECENTLY REPLACED THE TIRES WITH COOPER TIRES AT A COST OF $80.00 PER TIRE. I AM TOLD THAT I DO NOT FIT UNDER THE RECALL, HOWEVER, I FEEL SOMEONE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE 70R16'S. IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED UNDER THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO $100.00 PER TIRE. I WOULD NOT HAVE THEM REPLACED IF I WASN'T TOLD THAT THEY WERE DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING ON. I HAVE THE TIRES IN MY POSSESSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )