1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

I HAD TO HAVE TWO TIRES REPLACED IN MAY 2000. ONE WAS DAMAGED FROM BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE OTHER HAD GONE FLAT AND, WHEN INSPECTED FOR REPAIR, WAS FOUND TO BE CRUMBLING AND IN SUCH POOR CONDITION THAT IT ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN SEPTEMBER 2000 I NOTICED CRACKING AROUND THE EXTERIOR WALLS AND TIRE TREAD, AND IN SOME SPOTS IN THE TREAD ITSELF, ON THE LAST TWO ORIGINAL TIRES. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE REGARDING THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE TIRES CHECKED. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO FIRESTONE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD OR WOULD DO SINCE THE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I CONTACTED NHTSA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL MIGHT BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THESE TIRES IN THE FUTURE. I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND HAD TO PUT AIR INTO THE TIRES AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK (THE TIRES WERE FILLED TO 30 LBS. PSI, NOT AT THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED PRESSURE). SINCE WE FELT THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE TIRES, WE HAVE REPLACED THEM. IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN EXAMINING THEM, WE STILL HAVE THEM IN OUR POSSESSION. THE EXPLORER IS USED PRIMARILY UNDER MODERATE SPEED AND SHORT DISTANCE CONDITIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, DRIVING TO THE STORE. THESE TIRES WERE NOT SUBJECTED TO ANY CONDITIONS THAT COULD BE AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS CRACKING. THE TIRES WERE NOT SUBJECTED TO ABNORMAL HIGH-SPEED CONDITIONS, EXTREME TEMPERATURES OR ANY OTHER ABUSE. ALTHOUGH WE NO LONGER HAVE THESE TIRES ON OUR TRUCK, IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THESE TIRES SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BEFORE THERE ARE ANY MORE INJURIES OR DEATHS DUE TO ACCIDENTS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A HILL AND LETTING OFF THE GAS, THE TRANSFER CASE MAKES A GRINDING SOUND, DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IS DEFECTIVE. *SLC

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, WHEN THE I HEARD A POP, I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED OVER ONCE AND I LANDED UPSIDED DOWN. THERE WAS 2 OTHER PEOPLE BESIDES ME IN THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ALL WEARING ARE SEATBELTS AND NOTHING HAPPEN TO US. EVERYDAY I THANK GOD I DID NOT HAVE MY TWO GIRLS WITH ME AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WE WERE NOT HURT, BUT WE WERE SURE TERRIFIED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURE-TIRE BLEW CAUSING INSURED TO LOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE TWO OTHERE VEHICLES. UNCERTAIN OF MODEL BUT KNOW SIZE IS 235/75/R15. SALVAGE SOLD, TIRE WAS NOT RETAINED. INSURED HS CONTACTED REP DUE TO MEDIA AND RECALL. POLICE REPORT STATES TIRE BURST CAUSING INSURED TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. (CLAIM 43-R479-516) *MW

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES REPLACED 5/13/00 BECAUSE OF CONSISTENTLY UNEVEN WEAR AND CONSTANT ROUGH RIDE, CONSUMER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT UNDER RECALL (OOT-005), AND IS HAVING TROUBLE OBTAINING REFUND. CJ

ON MAY 10TH, 2000 WHILE DRIVING ON US41 AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 58 MPH, THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF THE VEHICLE CAME OFF OF THE TIRE CASING WHICH CAUSED ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLING THE SPARE TIRE, I WENT TO MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AND QUESTIONED IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY ON THE TIRE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOT. HE INDICATED THAT THE TIRE MIGHT HAVE BEEN RUN ON LOW AIR PRESSURE. NATURALLY I COULD NOT DISPROVE HIS THEORY. I PURCHASED TWO NEW TIRES BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING AGAIN. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT I WOULD BE BACK TO REPLACE THE OTHER TWO WHEN I HAD THE MONEY TO DO SO. IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT OUT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN SOME FIRESTONE 15 INCH TIRES OF THE SAME TYPE. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTIFY THE NHTSA THAT THERE IS ALSO A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE 16 INCH VERSION OF THIS TIRE MAY BE DEFECTIVE ALSO.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

TIRE TREAD PARTIALLY SEPARATED AT SPEED (NOT ALL THE WAY ACROSS--A STRIP ABOUT 1/3 THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE AND ABOUT 3 INCHES WIDE CAME OFF). TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 85 DEGREES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY346 TIRE SIZE: P23575SR15 )

TIRE DELAMINATED AT 70 MPH ON HOT DAY ON INTERSTATE I-10. THIS CAUSED SUV TO GO INTO SPIN RESULTING IN CRASH. CAR DID NOT ROLL, TIES HAD BEEN INSPECTED AT FORD DEALERSHIP ONE WEEK EARLIER. FO( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 15 )

MY REAR LEFT TIRE BLOW OUT IN A HOUSTON HIGHWAY ON MAY 09, 2000, PRIOR TO THE GENERAL WARNING AND FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL. THEN I LEFT THE US FOR MY VACATIONS ABROAD AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO COLLEGE LAST WEEK AND KNOWING ALREADY ABOUT THE RECALL, I TOOK THE EXPLORER'S TIRES TO THE FORD DEALER BUT TO MY SURPRISE, HE REFUSES TO CHANGE THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MANUFACTURED AT THE FIRESTONE'S DECATUR, IL. PLANT. I STILL HAVE THE WILDERNESS AT TIRE THAT BLOWNOUT, IT IS AS I SAID FROM ANOTHER FIRESTONE PLANT AND I WONDER IF MY TIRE BLOWOUT, SHOULDN'T ALL THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES FROM OTHER FIRESTONE PLANTS BE RECALL AS WELL?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOT OFF TO EXIT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, AND ALL OF SUDDEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT WARRANTY WAS UP.*AK

CONSUMER WAS STUCK IN THE CAR BECAUSE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH ENROUTE TO DEALER. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) ARE CRACKING AROUND THE TREAD. *SLC

TWO FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P23575R15 TIRES WENT BAD AND WERE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE PRIOR TO RECALL 00T-005, FIRESTONE WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. CJ

WHILE DRIVING THE TREAD OF THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE CARCASS DAMAGING THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235-75-R15 DOTVNHL1PY346). NLM

FRONT TIRE WEAR AND ALIGNMENT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

HEATER CONTROL VALVE ALSO BROKE. *AK

ALL FOUR FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES (P235/75R15) WERE REPLACED DUE TO BELT SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

I WAS TRAVELING BACK TO COLLEGE ON I-75 IN MY EXPLORER. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MPH. WITHOUT WARNING THE TREAD OF THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE SEPARATED AND STARTING FLYING OFF. I KNEW AT THE RATE OF SPEED THAT I WAS GOING I WOULD FLIP MY CAR OVER IS I BRAKED. INSTEAD I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC. I WENT FROM THE THIRD LAND TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD ON THE FIRST LANE AND ENDED UP IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED BUT THE TREAD WAS ALMOST ALL GONE. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED THE DRIVER TOOK A LOOK AT THE TIRE AND SAID THIS HAD TO BE A DEFECTIVE TIRE. THE BACK OF MY EXPLORER BY THE TAILLIGHT WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE FLYING RUBBER. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES ON MY EXPLORER. WHEN I SHOWED THE FIRESTONE DEALER THE TIRE HE TOLD ME THAT THIS HAPPENED DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. I BELIEVED THEM AT THE TIME. I AM NOT QUITE SURE THAT THIS WAS THE CASE. AFTER READING THE STORIES ABOUT EXPLORERS AND THE FIRESTONE TIRES I FELT COMPELLED TO NOTIFY YOU. I FEEL THAT FROM OTHER ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE AND THE EXPLORER THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE FLIPPED OVER IF I HAD BRAKED. I WAS QUITE LUCKY. THE DAMAGED TO THE TAILLIGHT IS STILL NOT FIXED ON MY CAR BUT AS I MENTIONED I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ALL THE TIRES. THE TIRES ON THE EXPLORER WERE ATXS.( DOT NUMBER: )

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF MY VEHICLE THE TREAD SEPARATED THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWING RIGHT AND RUN OFF THE RIGHT SHOULDER.

ON IH 37 & HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70MPH.(SPEED LIMIT 70MPH)& LT FRT TIRE THREAD CAME APART. PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 12/97. FIRESTONE TIRES/ORIGINAL. OUR POLICYHOLDER INDICATES THE TIRE BRAND & MODEL WERE THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, SIZE 15 WHICH WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON VEH. WHEN SHE PURCHASED VEH. FROM COVERT FORD IN AUSTIN TX BACK IN 12/97. POLICYHOLDER HAS SUBMITTED INVOICE ON NEW TIRES & AS WELL AS COPY OF INVOICE REFLECTING OPTIONS WHEN SHE PURCHASED VEHICLE. (CLAIM# 53-C545-115) *MW

REAR PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLES FROM THE INSIDE ARE INOPERATIVE. IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DRIVER/REAR PASSENGER CANNOT GET OUT. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK.ET.

DURING APRIL WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED I NOTICED AND HEARD A THUMPING NOISE IN MY FRONT WHEEL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL SERVICE GARAGE THAT I TRUST AND THEY DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WAS WITH A TIRE. THIS GARAGE ROTATED THE TIRES. IT WAS AFTER THIS THAT I LEARNED OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL. I HAD THE TIRES INSPECTED AGAIN BY THIS SERVICE GARAGE AND THEY GAVE ME THE TIRE NUMBERS SO I COULD GO TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER. AT THE FIRESTONE STORE I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM OF THE "THUMPING TIRE" AND GAVE THEM THE TIRE NUMBERS. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TIRES WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY DID NOT OFFER TO INSPECT THE TIRES. STILL HAVING CONCERN I WENT BACK TO MY TRUSTED SERVICE STATION IN MARTINSBURG WV AND THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES AGAIN. NOTED SMALL CRACKS AORUND THE RIM AND ALONG THE EDGE OF THE TREAD ON ALL TIRES. NOTING THE POTENTIAL RISK OF TIRE FAILURE I PURCHASE 5 NEW TIRES ON 9/20/2000 FOR $ 420.82. PLEASE NOTE I COULD NOT FIND TIRES AVAILABLE EVEN THOUGH I WENT TO MORE THEN ONE PLACE, E.G., COSTCO - PRICE CLUB. I THEN WENT BACK TO FIRESTONE AND THEY THEN INSPECTED THE TIRES. THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE THE MARKED UP WILDERNESS AT TIRES AND CRACKS. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THESE WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I CURRENTLY HAVE ALL 5 TIRES IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THEM. I DONOT BELIEVE FIRESTONE ACTED IN GOOD FAITH. ONE FINAL COMMENT, FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS NOT BLAMELESS IN THAT THEY PUT A C GRADE TEMPERTURE TIRE ON A VEHICLE THAT IS KNOWN TO BE USE OFF ROAD IN SAND AND UNDERINFLATED. WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT??? I WOULD WELCOME A RESPONSE FROM ANY INTERESTED PARTY.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY127 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997 FORD, EXPLORER, SIZE 15 235. CONSUMER HAD TIRES ROTATED AT 21951 MILES. WENT ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 60MPH AND VEHICLE FISHTAILED ABOUT 3 TIMES. ALSO, BACK SEAT BROKE. CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE DRIVING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RIGHT AFTER INCIDENT. DIDN'T THINK TO LOOK AT TIRES AT THE TIME, BUT BELIEVED IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE TIRES. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SPARE TIRE CABLE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CABLE WAS SWINGING BACK AND FORTH AND RUBBING AGAINST METAL. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK *ML

THIS BROKEN LEVER IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

I HAVE A SITUATION WITH MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER 4X4. I RECENTLY TOOK IT IN TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT DONE. I HAVE JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER ABOVE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET ALIGNED THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I NEEDED TO BUY A CASTER ADJUSTER KIT. THIS AMAZES ME THAT FORD WOULDN'T HAVE GOOD ENOUGH ENGINEERS TO PUT THE CORRECT SIZE CASTER ADJUSTERS ON MY VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO AFTERMARKET WORK DONE TO IT .. IT IS ALL FORD FACTORY SUSPENSION, SO IT IS NOT MY FAULT, IT IS THEIRS. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN INJUSTICE THAT I HAVE TO BUY A $100 KIT BECAUSE FORD DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. I HAVE TALKED TO 3 OTHER DEALERS, AND THEY DON'T ACT SURPRISED, ACTUALLY I WAS TOLD BY 2 OF THE OTHER DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I WANT MY COMPLAINT ON THE BOOKS, IN CASE THER EARE MORE. *AK

HEATER WILL NOT CONTROL DUE TO MANUFACTURERS WRONG PART INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY. THIS IS THE THIRD ONE WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE ROAD THROTTLE PEDAL GOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED BETWEEN TWO TELEPHONE POLES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. *AK

THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE REAR TIRESTREAD IS COMING APART FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE WHICH MAY CAUSE A TIRE BLOWOUT AND A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE BACK IN APRIL AND SHE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON A WILDERNESS AT. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS A W2 TIRE THOUGH I HAVE NOT VISUALLY VERIFIED IT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE OCCURED AT THE TIME, THOUGH IT WAS VERY SCARRY FOR MY WIFE. DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL ALL THE CURRENT TALK AND SHE REMINDED ME OF THE PROBLEM. NOW SCARRED TO DRIVE THE EXPLORER EVEN THOUGH THESE TIRES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OK. WE HAVE HAD ONE FAILURE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CAR STALLS AT SPEED.. PREMATURE FAILURE OF INTAKE GASKETS..FORD MAY HAVE REDESIGNED BUT NO RECALL.. CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL 17 YEAR OLD DRIVER. *AK

I HAVE HAD ONE BLOWOUT TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH ON AN EXPRESSWAY AND HAVE REPLACE TWO OTHER OEM TIRES (AT DIFFERENT TIMES) BECAUSE OF BROKEN BELTS IN THE TIRES... BOTH MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT IT APPEARED AS THOUGH I HAD A DEFECTIVE TIRE. THAT IS WAS NOTHING I WAS DOING WRONG, OR THAT THE TRUCK WAS DOING TO THE TIRES. THE TIRES BASICALLY STARTED GIVING ME TROUBLE AT ABOUT THE 50,000 MILE MARK - I THOUGHT TIRES SHOULD LAST A BIT LONGER THAN THAT. BEFORE AL THE REPORTS I WAS FEELING AS THOUGH THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH JUST MY SET OF OEM TIRES, BUT I SEE THAT A LOT OF OTHERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

WE PURCHASED THE 97 EXPLORER IN 1999 - AS A NEW VEHICLE - WITH 9,000 MILES ON IT. WE ORIGINALLY NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAD A PROBLEM IN APRIL OF 2000 AND EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WE TOOK TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT THAT DID NOT HELP. THEY ROTATED THE TIRES THAT HELPED WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THE TIRES HAD ALREADY BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNED OF TREADWEAR CRACKING AND SIDEWALL CRACKING. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES AND WE SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH OUR TIRES AT THIS TIME. AFTER THE RECALL NOTICE, WE TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REFERRED US BACK TO FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE STATED THEY ARE NOT RECALLING OUR DOT NUMBER TIRE AT THIS TIME, BUT WE FEEL THAT THIS TIRE IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IN HAULING OUR FAMILY AND FEEL FIRESTONE NEEDS TO RECALL THESE TIRES AS WELL. WE HAVE ALWAYS USED FIRESTONE TIRES AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED OR SEEN THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE FIRESTONE RECALL THESE TIRES AS WELL, IN ORDER TO SAVE OUR LIVES AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF MANY OTHERS! THAT COULD VERY WELL BE PREVENTED NOW!( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P2357515 )

I TOOK MY CAR FOR INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD MY TIRES DIDN'T QUALIFY. I POINTED OUT TO THE FIRESTONE MANAGER MY LEFT REAR TIRE. THE TREAD IS SEPARATING AND THERE ARE CRACKS AROUND THE TIRE AND THE OTHERS. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD COVER MY TIRES UNDER THE RECALL. I AM 400TH IN LINE. I HAVE HAD TO SWITCH LABOR DAY TRAVEL PLANS TO TRAIN TRAVEL. I DO NOT HAVE THE WHOLE DOT CODE FOR MY TIRES BUT IT DID INCLUDE W2. I WANTED TO NOTIFY YOU OF THIS FAILURE AS IT IS A DIFFERENT DOT# THEN THE CURRENT RECALLED TIRES.

I AM QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT THE TIRES RESULTED IN THE ROLL OVER TOTALING THE SUV( DOT NUMBER: )

THE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT RESULTING IN VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, TWO INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE. *MJS

THIS TIRE SAYS "MADE IN CANADA" (I.E. NOT IN ILLINOIS), YET THE TREAD IS SEPARATING AND CABLES SHOWING. WE REPLACED IT LAST SPRING AND IT IS THE SPARE NOW.

A SPLIT NOTICE IN THE TIRES FROM INSIDE OF FRONT DRIVER'S TIRES ON A FORD EXPLORER. TIRES REPLACED BY AFTERMARKET TIRES, AND NOT AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. *AK THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE WAS DESTROYED. *YH

MECHANIC STATED METAL USED IN MAKING CRANKCASE TOO SOFT. THIS PROBLEM SHOULDNT OCCUR WITH THE MILEAGE AND YEAR OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK

AS WE WERE RETURNING FROM VACATION ON 3/20/00 FROM FLORIDA, MY WIFE (THE DRIVER AT THE TIME) FELT WEIRD VIBRATIONS THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. (NOTE -WE WERE APPROX. 5 MILES IN TO GEORGIA ON I-75 JUST PASSED THE GA/FL BORDER - NEAR LAKE PARK?). AS WE CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE AWAY FROM OTHER TRAFFIC, WE HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM UNDER THE EXPLORER AS IF THINGS WERE KICKING UP FROM THE ROAD AND HITTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE. ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE, I LOOKED UNDER THE SUV AND DID A QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE TIRES, HOWEVER, ALL APPEARED TO BE NORMAL (NO FLATS, NOTHING THAT WE COULD VISIBLY SEE). WE PULLED BACK ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND BEFORE WE EVEN REACHED MERGING SPEED (55 - 60 MPH), THE POPPING NOISE RETURNED AND WE COULD ACTUALLY SEE SMALL BLACK PARTS EXITING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE MANAGED TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF THE ROAD AND ENTER A GAS STATION AT WHICH TIME WE DISCOVERED A FOOT LONG PATCH OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS COMPLETLY GONE. ALTHOUGH THE TIRE NEVER DEFLATED, A COMPLETE FOOT LONG SECTION OF TREAD, THROUGH THE STEEL BELTS AND ALL, WAS GONE. NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TIRE WAS VISIBLE (SIDE WALLS ALL OKAY, NO PUNCTURES, NAILS, ETC.). I INSPECTED THE REST OF THE TIRES AND WE CONTINUED OUR TRIP HOME ONCE THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED. ON 4/1/00, I WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE CENTER (940 OLD MONROVIA RD, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35806) AND HAD THEM INSPECT THE DAMAGED TIRE. ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT CONFIRM OR DENY THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE, THEY DID OFFER ME A NEW TIRE AT A PRO-RATED DISCOUNT. AT THAT TIME, I HAD THEM INSPECT ALL OF THE TIRES, PERFORM WHEEL BALANCES, ROTATIONS, ETC. BASED ON THE TREAD WEAR AT THAT TIME, FULL REPLACEMENT OF ALL TIRES WAS NOT NEEDED. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WITH THE LATEST NEWS ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES, I FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPORT OUR EXPERIENCE. WE WERE FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND ARE AWAITING MORE RECALL INFO.

ON 3-17-00, WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-476, BETWEEN LANSDALE & QUAKERTOWN, IN PENNSYLVANIA, AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, MY LEFT REAT TIRE ESSENTIALLY DISINTIGRATED. I WAS USING MY VEHICLE TO MOVE FURNITURE AND IT WAS FAIRLY LOADED. AAA CHANGED MY TIRE, AND I SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER FIRESTONE TIRE. TODAY I LEARNED THAT THE REMAINING TIRES ON MY FORD ARE THE TIRES BEING RECALLED BY FIRESTONE. I HAVE RECEIPT FOR REPLACED TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P27575R17 )

COMPLETE TREAD SEPERATION/SHREDDED WITH DEALER DOCUMENTATION ALSO I PRESENTLY SEE EVIDENCE OF ANOTHER STARTING TO SEPERATE ALSO WITH THE NUMBER DOT W2HL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE SEPARTION CAUSED A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. TIRES CHECKED 2/25/2000 BY MECHANIC AND OK'D. MAJOR INJURY WAS SEVERING OF 4 FINGERS ON THE LEFT HAND OF THE DRIVER. TWO CHILDREN AND ANOTHER ADULT PASSENGER WERE INTHE BACK SEAT AND SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAMA EVEN STILL.( DOT NUMBER: )

- WHEEL DRIVE HIGH AND LOW ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. *AK

4-WHEEL DRIVE ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH, CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH

WHEN TRUCK CRASHED INTO A HORSE HEAD-ON, TRAVELING ABOUT 38 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. DRIVER WAS INJURED. DAMAGES ESTIMATED AT $10,000 DOLLARS. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 IN FLORIDA IN THE PASSING LANE ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING. CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, FLIPPED OVER INTO THE GRASSY MEDIAN , AND WAS TOTALLED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE INSURANCE AGENCY. *AK

COMPLAINED TO DEALER 3/07/00 ABOUT UNEVEN TIRE WEAR; REPLACED 2 FRONT TIRES MYSELF 35,226 MILES; SUBSEQUENT INSPECTIONS AT 43,000 REVEAL HAIRLINE CRACKS ON REAR TIRES; DEALER SAYS TIRES NOT ON RECALL; APPALACHIAN TIRE IN HURRICANE, WV. INSPECTED TIRES AND CONFIRMS THAT THEY MUST BE REPLACED. THERE IS SLIGHT VIBRATION INSIDE THE VEHICLE. FEEL THAT I MUST REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES, NOT JUST THE REAR 2, AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT WILL JUST RE-OCCUR. THESE TIRES SHOULD BE RECALLED ALSO. I WILL WRITE LETTER TO FORD/BRIDGESTONE, ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R255/70R16 )