1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP CONSUMER APPLIES ACCELERATOR AND VEHICLE HESITATES, HAS VERY LITTLE POWER. CONSUMER HAS TO ALMOST FLOOR IT TO GET VEHICLE TO MOVE. RPM'S WILL BE HIGH, BUT SPEED IS VERY SLOW. THIS HAPPENS 4-5 TIMES A WEEK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 8-9 TIMES IN LAST YEAR AND A HALF, CANT' FIND CAUSE. DEALER TOOK MOTOR APART, FOUND NOTHING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS SITTING OR MOVING THERE IS A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS AT REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A CAM CHAIN GUIDE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING CHANIN, ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB

TIRES REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL (OOT-005) DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, OWNER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *CJ

WE (HERNDON, VA RESIDENTS - JANE, MY SON TJ-15, MY DAUGHTER BOBBIE-13, AND I) WERE RETURNING FROM SPENDING CHRISTMAS WITH JANE'S SISTER, ANNE, AND OUR BROTHER-IN-LAW, JACK, IN DETROIT. WE DEPARTED FROM FARMINGTON HILLS MI (DETROIT) AT 9:30AM IN A LIGHT SNOW. IT WORSENED AS WE GOT INTO OHIO, BUT THE ROADS WERE CLEARED AND IN SOME AREAS WERE SALTED. MOST TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN ONE LANE, THE FAR RIGHT ONE CLOSEST TO THE SHOULDER. THAT IS WHERE I WAS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. SHORTLY AFTER WE STARTED THE TRIP I HEARD A SERIES OF LOUD NOISES FROM UNDER THE CAR. MY SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE (SUV), A 1997 FORD EXPLORER, HAS A SERIES OF SETTINGS FOR 4 WHEEL DRIVE (4WD), I.E., AUTO 4WD, 4WD HIGH, AND 4WD LOW. AT THE TIME I BELIEVED THE NOISE TO BE THE CAR SHIFTING FROM 2WD TO 4WD AS IT SENSED THE ROAD CONDITIONS. I ATTEMPTED TO SET IT TO 4WD, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. SINCE THE NOISE DID NOT STOP I SET IT BACK TO THE SETTING I HAD IT IN MOST OF THE TIME. AT APPROXIMATELY 1PM, I AM CERTAIN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED LOCKING THE WHEELS, WHICH PUT ME INTO A SPIN. DURING THE SPIN THE CAR ROLLED OVER, WENT IN AND OUT OF A DITCH (LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD) ON ITS SIDE, AND EVENTUALLY SETTLED RIGHT SIDE UP WITH THE FRONT OF THE CAR POINTED DOWNWARD INTO THE DITCH TOWARD THE HIGHWAY. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY LOCATED AT SUBURBAN COLLISION CENTER, 1151 WEST BAGLEY ROAD, BUREA, OH 44017 (440) 243-5533. *AK

STARTED VEHICLE IN MORNINGS, AND IT RAN ROUGH. ALSO, MOTOR STALLED. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER INDICATED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THEY WERE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. *AK

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

ENGINE IDLE IS ERRATIC WHEN ENGINE IS WARM, VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AND HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. THIS COMPONENT HAS NOW FAILED TWICE. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM?

PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT AND REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE TIRE BLEW OUT BEFORE THE RECALL.(FIRESTONE TIRES)*JB

STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING. THEN, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WHEN THE PEDAL STOPPED STICKING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY VALVE WAS STICKING WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *AK

RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE LOOKED LIKE IT DISINTEGRATED WHERE THE TIRE TREAD MET THE SIDEWALL.( DOT NUMBER: )

VEHICLE REVVED AND SPEEDED UP ON ITS OWN .THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, RESULTING IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 40 AND SUDDENLY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH, AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE.*AK THE ROAD WAS WET WITH LIGHT RAIN AT THE TIME OF TIRE BLOW OUT. CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES. *YH

TENSIONER PLASTIC PIECE WICH SUPPORTS THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER REPLACED THE FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES (P235/75R15) PRIOR TO RECALL 00T005, FIRESTONE IS DENYING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO REPLACEMENT TIRES BEING PURCHASED 20 DAYS PRIOR TO RECALL START DATE. *SLC

A/C SERVICE PLENUM PLASTIC DOOR BROKE, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH STRONGER NYLON BLEND DOOR AS PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. PART NUMBER F87Z-1847-DA. CLEARLY DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK

CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED IT SOUNDED LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS APPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOW ON ITS 3RD ENGINE. *JB

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDE WALL SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WITH A BLOW OUT AT 70 MPH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/75/16 )

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE STARTED MAKING A LOUD FLAPPING NOISE. TIRE BLEW OUT AND PULLED VEHICLE HARD TO THE RIGHT, ACROSS A 3- LANE HIGHWAY. NO DAMAGES TO VEHICLE. TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL ONES, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, AND DOT# NOT AVAILABLE. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 107336. FIRESTONE SAID THEY WOULD MAKE NOTE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK FIRESTONE THINKS THE TIRE PROBLEM OCCURE ONLY IN THE SOUTH. *YH

THE FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED IRREGULAR TREAD WEAR, NOISE AND VIBRATION, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2000. NLM

THE PROBLEM PERSIST AND DE DEALERS NEVER FIXES THE PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE WHAT I'VE TO DO TO RESOLVE THAT DELICATE PRBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

IN CONTACTING FIRESTONE TO RECEIVE A REBATE FORM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WILDERNESS TIRE THAT BLOW OUT FOR ME, THE FIRSESTONE 800 NUMBER AND THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE AND WILL NOT PROVIDE A COPY OF THE REIMBURSEMENT FORM. IT NICE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 16 INCH TIRES, BUT A CUSTOMER CANNOT RECEIVE THE FORM FROM EITHER THE MANIFACTURER OR THEIR CORPORATE RETAIL OUTLET.*AK (TIRESIZE: 16)

ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY(OVER 36,000 MILES) SO WE HAD OUR REGULAR MECHANIC REPAIR, BUT WE ASKED TO KEEP THE REPLACED PART. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM (ONLY 11/2 YEARS& APPROX 8000 MILES LATER)WAS THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. THIS TIME WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER MENTIONED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART AND THAT FORD HAD MADE AN UPGRADE, BUT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ENACTED. AGAIN WE ASKED TO KEEP THE REPLACED PART (BOTH ARE FORD PARTS#13K359). IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS CLAIM, PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE ON HOME PHONE, OR CONTACT DIANE RUTT BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9-5 AT 717 336-7534.*AK

THROTTLE STICKING AT ACCLERATION ESPECIALLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. *AK

3 WEEKS AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS AND 4 WEEKS AFTER INSPECTION BY FORD DEALERSHIP THE TREAD WAS OFF MY TWO FRONT TIRES. LUCKILY THIS WAS CAUGHT BEFORE IT KILLED SOMEONE. I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH MORE WILDERNESS TIRES THOUGHT THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE INSTANTANIOUS TREAD LOSS. FORD WAS ALSO NOTIFIED AT THE TIME. AFTER IT CAME TO LIGHT ON THE TIRE PROBLEMS I GOT WITH FORD WHO SAYS IT'S FIRESTONES PROBLEM. FIRESTONE SAYS IT'S MY PROBLEM. I FEEL THE 16 INCH WILDERNESS SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE MORE ARE KILLED. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN !!! (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE TREAD SPLIT RESULTING IN A BLOWOUT, DURING A TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCE THE TIRE DEALER STATED THE TREAD WAS SPLITTING ON ANOTHER TIRE, CONSUMERS TIRE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-005 BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE CORRECT DOT CODE (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, TIRES HAD 35K MILES). NLM

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WASHER COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE, MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. IT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. SECOND TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ONE DAY IN COLD WEATHER OUTSIDE, PROBLEM WAS REPLICATED AND THEY FOUND RELAYS OVERHEATING AND STICKING CAUSED BY SHORTED MALFUNCTION SWITCH ON PRIOR REPAIR AND THEY REPLACED BOTH RELAYS. *YH

CONSUMER REPLACED HIS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION THEY WERE CAUSING ON THE VEHICLE, ONCE THE NOTICE WAS RECIEVED CONSUMER FOUND OUT HIS TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE DOT#, CONSUMER BELIEVES HE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. NLM

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE P235 TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN 2 360-DEGREE TURNS, THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED BEFORE RECALL 00T005. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT FENDER AREA. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SPEED OF VEHICLE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK *YC

I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS A PROBLEM INITIALLY BUT THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. UNTIL THE CALIFORNIA COURT CASE AGAINST FORD ABOUT THE IGNITION SYSTEM THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE REPAIRS FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE INJECTORS. ALL OF THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I PLEADE TO FORD THE NHTSA PLEASE RECALL THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR KILLED IN ACCIDENTS. I AM A PROUD FORD OWNER AND LOVE MY EXPLORER PLEASE HELP YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS.

THE BRAKES SYSTEM FAILED TO STOP THE TRUCK GOING AT ONLY 30 MPH AS I APPROCHED A STOP SIGN. I WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN.IMMEDIATLY AFTER PULLING OVER I APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN TO CHECK THEM AND THEY WORKED FINE.THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM.,OTHER THAN TO HAVE THE PADS AND SHOES REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING WORN LOW .HOWEVER I DONT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM OF NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS DUE TO THE BRAKE PADS OR SHOES BUT POSSIBLE WITH THE ABS SYSTEM OR ITS COMPONENTS BECAUSE THE BRAKES ALL OF A SUDDEN DIDN'T WORK AND THEN WORKED AGAIN IMMEDIATLY THEREAFTER.THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AS IF FLUID WAS LOST AND THERE WAS NO GRINDING FROM THE PADS OR SHOES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT THAT LOW.THE BRAKES JUST FAILED TEMPORARILY AND LUCKLY I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT BUT AM AFRAID THAT IF HAPPENS AGAIN I MAY NOT BE SO LUCK NEXT TIME. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE ON WILDERNESS/ATX TIRE BEFORE IT BLEWOUT. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX 235/75/R15 *MW

FORD POWERTRAIN SYSTEM DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY WITH A STEEP GRADE. AUTO ENGINE BRAKING CONTROL WAS LOST WITH LOUD GEAR TEARING SOUNDS. VEHICLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY ENCREASED TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL DURING CURVED DOWN-HILL SETION OF THE ROAD. HEAVY APPLICATION OF BRAKES KEPT US FROM SLIDING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE FORD GEM CONTROL MODULE WAS FAILING AND SUBSEQUENTLY INSTRUCTING THE TRANSMISSION "TRANSFER" CASE TO RELEASE/ENGAGE IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO DESTROY THE POWERTRAIN AND DISCONNECT THE VEHICLE FROM THE POWERTRAIN. *AK

I HYDROPLANED IN NOVEMBER 1999 IN A FORD EXPLORER WITH BRAND NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH (10 MILES BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT) AND THE CONDITIONS WERE RAINY. THERE WERE SEVERAL VERY SERIOUS INJURIES TO ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH EXPLORERS AND THESE TIRES AND I'D HOPED TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTER A COMPLAINT IF APPLICABLE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP TO PREVENT ANY OTHER ACCIDENTS. THANK YOU!. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

PE00020, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT 1997 EXPLORER, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P25570R16, DOT W2CU1PX466, REAR DRIVER'S TIRE TREAD CAME OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A ROLLOVER. OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. *AK *MJS

THROTTLE BODY PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. A SERVICE RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED . DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER THE SERVICE RECALL; HOWEVER IT HAS ALSO BEEN REPAIRED 2 TIMES SINCE THE RECALL, AND 3 TIMES PRIOR TO THE RECALL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

FORD WAS WILLING AND ACTUALLY PAID THE REPAIR BILL OF $800+ DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST REPAIR. 25,000 MILES LATER THE SAME PROBLEM ARISES. I'VE DONE CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM OCCURS FREQUENTLY. DT

INTERMITTENTLY VARIOUS COMPONENTS WILL BECOME INOPERABLE DUE TO A DEFFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *AK

THE ROOF RACK RIPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING, THE THUMB SCREWS DESIGNED TO LOOSEN THE CROSSBAR VIBRATED LOOSE COMPLETELY. *MJS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R13)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R13 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R13)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R13 )

TRANSFER CASE FAILED. *MJS

BOTH RUNNING BOARDS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE A SERIOUS RUST PROBLEM. BOTH SIDES ARE RUSTING THROUGH IN THE EXACT SAME WAY, IN THE SAME AREA. THIS AREA IS ON TOP MAINLY NEAR THE PLASTIC TREAD. IN THE PAST 4 MONTHS I HAVE SEEN NEARLY 12 OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THIS IS ON THE IDENTICAL MODEL, THE IDENTICAL PART. IN SOME CASES, THE PROBLEM ON THE OTHERS IS MORE ADVANCED AND SEVERE. I HAVE TOLD LOCAL FORD DEALER AS WELL AS FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THERE RESPONSE IS NOT COVERED OUTSIDE 3YR./36 MONTH WARRANTY. MAINLY CONTACTING YOU TO SEE IF THIS SIMULAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS.

WHEN TRYING TO PASS, OR EVEN WHEN ACCELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION WILL COMPLETELY DISENGAGE! THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH IN TWO CASES WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICHLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT'S AS IF YOU INTENTIONALLY PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THERE IS NO SLIPPAGE, JUST COMPLETE DISENGAGEMENT. I HAVE EVEN HAD IT COMPLETELY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL ON THE INTERSTATE. BELIEVE ME IT'S REALLY SCARY WHEN YOUR ENGINGE COMPLETELY TACHS OUT AT THIS SPEED. IT'S A WONDER THE ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW BEFORE I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REBUILT TWICE AND REPAIRED ONCE. COSTS TO ME SO FAR IN REPAIRING THIS TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN $3000 AND COUNTING FOR THE LAST TIME. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT A FORD DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT. AGAIN, THE TRANSMISSION IS DOING THE SAME THING AFTER 13,000 MILES. WHAT'S BAD IS THAT FORD TECHNICIANS, NOR THEIR TECHNICAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT, CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEIR DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT SHOWS NO PROBLEM. I HAVE TO TAKE IT ON THE ROAD TO SHOW THE MECHANIC HOW IT'S OPERATING WHICH TAKES A PRETTY GOOD TEST DRIVE. AGAIN THEIR ONLY SUGGESTION IS ANOTHER COMPLETE REBUILD SINCE THEY ARE CLUELESS. UNFORTUNATLEY, THIS TIME, IT IS ONE THOUSNAND MILES OVER THEIR WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION. IF I'M HAVEING THIS TROUBLE, THEN SURELY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, AND IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL OR CONTACT ME. I HAVE ALL MY RECORDS.*AK

I HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS AND THE TIRE THREAD CAME APART ALOT. ME AND MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE EXPLORER AND ALMOST GOT KILLED ON SEVERAL TIMES. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO FORD'S 800 NUMBER AS A COMPLAINT. I TOLD THE LADY ON THE PHONE THAT THIS CAR WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND THAT I WAS GOING TO RETURN IT TO MY FINANCE COMPANY. I WAS VERY FREIGHTEN AND UPSET BECAUSE ME AND MY 3 CHILDREN COULD HAVE DIED.THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE TIRES.THE TIRES WERE CONSTANTLY THREADING.IN EARLY 2000 I RETURNED THE EXPLORER BECAUSE I FEARED FOR ME AND MY FAMILY SAFETY. NLM (TIRESIZE: P22570R15S)

THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS. *MJ

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT PRIOR TO THE RECALL. THE TIRE RUPTURED WHERE THE SIDE WALL AND THE TREAD MEET. (FIRESTONE TIRES)*YH

ONE OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRE AT THAT TIME, TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS