1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

PE 00 020/TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO BLOWOUTS WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. NO INJURIES REPORTED. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE SAME LEFT SIDE OF 1997 FORD EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE AND DOT # NOT AVAILABLE. *AK THE TIRES ARE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15.

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LOOSE AND RESULTED IN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. DEALER NOTED THAT THE GASKET ALLOWED DIRT TO ENTER THE ENGINE.

TREAD SEPARATION AT 25MPH ON UNPAVED ROAD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R )

DEALER SAID OVERHEAT WAS DUE TO FAULTY THERMOSTAT (2ND TIME). SUGGESTED FLUSHING THE SYSTEM EVERY 30,000 MILES TO CLEAN THE SYSTEM. WHEN IT OVERHEATED THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS AND STILL IS LESS THEN 30,000 MILES ON THE VECHILE. THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT ON MAY 24, 2000. TODAY IS MAY 9, 2000. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM RESLOVED AND GUATANTEED FOR A WHILE. *AK

ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE CURB AT 25 MPH. THE JOLT PRODUCED A BUBBLE AT THE SIDE OF TWO TIRES WHICH HAD TO BE REPLCED TO AVOID TIRE EXPLOSION. EXPECTED A BETTER PERFORMANCE FROM AN "OFF THE ROAD" SUV.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

POSSIBLE (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT DOT #VDHL1PX057) FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE ROLLOVER CAUSING 1 DEATH AND 3 INJURIES. (ATTORNEY WRITING IN REPRESENTING SEVERAL CASES) (CLIENT-FARINAS) *MJS

CONSUMER IS BEING REFUSED RECALL (00T-005) REIMBURSEMENT OF THE FAILED FIRESTONE (P235/75R15) TIRES WHICH WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, THE DATE OF REPLACEMENT DOES NOT MEET WITHIN THE RECALL GUIDELINES. *MJS

VEHICLE WAS OPERATED BELOW SPEED LIMIT WHEN IT STARTED TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY CAUSING OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE WANTED TO GO TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO OPERATOR'S ATTEMPTS TO STEER TOWARDS THE LEFT. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY RESPONDED TOWARDS THE LEFT, DIPPED DOWN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND ROLLED OVER HITTING N EMBANKMENT CAUSING IT TO FLIP UP ON IT'S WHEELS (RIGHT SIDE UP). POLICE AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER NOTICED SHREDDED AND MANGLED TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT HAD NO EXPLANATION. I NOW REALIZE THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH/ROLLOVER MUST BE THE FIRESTONE TIRES. I NO LONGER HAVE POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE OR TIRES, AS THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TAKEN BY INSURANCE COMPANY. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734298

VEHICLE WAS OPERATED BELOW SPEED LIMIT, WHEN IT STARTED TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY CAUSING OPERATOR TO LOOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE WANTED TO GO TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO OPERATOR'S ATTEMPTS TO STEER TOWARDS THE LEFT. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY RESPONDED TOWARDS LEFT, DIPPED DOWN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND ROLLED OVER, HITTING AN EMBANKMENT CAUSING IT TO FLIP UP ON IT'S WHEELS (RIGHT SIDE UP). POLICE AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER NOTICED SHREDDED AND MANGLED TIRES ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, BUT HAD NO EXPLANATION. I NOW REALIZE THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH/ROLL-OVER MUST BE THE FIRESTONE TIRES. I NO LONGER HAVE POSSESION OF THE VEHICLE OR TIRES, AS THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED AND TAKEN BY INSURANCE COMPANY. (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL COLLAPSED, CAUSING AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK

TREAD SEPARATION. HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

WHILE WAITING AT THE STOP LIGHT A VAN HAD FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY & REARENDED EXPLORER. VEHICLE THEN REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHSED NEW WITH 7 MILES ON ODOMETER FROM CHARLES GABUS FORD IN DES MOINES, IA. A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICED AND REPORTED TO DEALER THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK AT THE TOP, MEANING THAT IT REQUIRED EXTRA PRESSURE TO PUSH IT DOWN. INITIALLY THE CABLE WAS LOOKED AT AND LUBRICATION APPLIED, BUT DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. CHARLES GABUS FORD THEN SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE AND ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. WHEN THE PROBLEM REOCCURED, CHARLES GABUS KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 3-4 DAYS TO FURTHER INSPECT THE PROBLEM TO SEE WHETHER DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD ANY EFFECT. IT DID NOT, SO THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CHANGED AGAIN. THIS WAS AROUND FEBRUARY 1998. THE PROBLEM ONCE AGAIN STARTED OCCURING IN AUGUST 1998. AT THAT TIME, I HAD JUST MOVED TO ST. LOUIS, BUT WAS STILL WORKING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT CHARLES GABUS FORD IN DES MOINES. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD NOW REDESIGNED THE THROTTLE BODY AND I WAS GIVEN THAT NEW PART NUMBER, WHICH WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED BY A DEALERSHIP IN ST. LOUIS (MCMAHON FORD) IN SEPTEMBER 1998. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. IN MAY 1999, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD THAT IT WAS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY FOR 6 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES UNDER SERVICE PROGRAM NUMBER 99M02. IN SEPTEMBER 1999, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED AND THE THROTTLE BODY IS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED THIS WEEK. THE CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE JUST VERIFIED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY TOUTED AS THE SOLUTION IN THE LETTER IS THE SAME THROTTLE BODY PART NUMBER REPLACED A YEAR AGO. THEREFORE, IT SEEMS PROBABLE FORD HAS NOT FOUND THE FIX, AND WHY SHOULD OWNERS PAY FOR THIS DEFECT (AND THE RESULTING DIMINSHED VALUE OF THE VEHICLE) REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE? A YEAR FROM NOW, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STARTS STICKING AGAIN, I WILL HAVE MORE THAN 72,000 MILES. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

ENGINE "TICKS" PRIMARILY AT COLD STARTUP. PROBLEM BECOMING MORE PREVELANT HOWEVER, NOW IT OCCURS ALSO AT A WARM STARTUP. ENGINE ALSO "HISSES" AT LOW SPEEDS TO IDLE. REAR END LEAKS FLUID AND ALSO SHUDDERS AT HIGH SPEEDS. "CLUNKING" NOISE OFTEN HEARD AND FELT FROM REAR END WHEN VEHICLE STOPS.

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DOING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN MY BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. I COULD HAVE BEEN GOING A LITTLE OVER 80 HOWEVER. I DO NOT RECALL HITTING ANYTHING BUT JUST HEARING THE LOUD EXPLOSION AND SUDDENLY TRYING TO STEER ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AS I SLOWED DOWN. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPLACED. THEY SAID THE TIRE LOOKED TORN APART WITH A HOLE AROUND 9 INCHES OR SO. I DID NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT IT AT THE TIME OTHER THAN HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE IT. I DID NOT INQUIRE ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE OR IF IT SEEMED STRANGE. I WAS JUST GLAD TO HAVE NOT WRECKED AND JUST QUICKLY REPLACED IT. I SIMPLY WANTED TO REPORT THAT I DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS TIRE EVEN THOUGH I DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW IF THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE MADE BY FIRESTONE. AS I SAID, I JUST WANTED TO GO ON RECORD SAYING I DID HAVE AN INCIDENT WITH IT.( DOT NUMBER: )

I WAS RECENTLY IN AN ACCIDENT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY BUT NOT THE FULL EXTENT THAT AN AIRBAG SHOULD DEPLOY TO. THAT THEN CAUSED ME FALL FORWARD UPON IMPACT, WHICH THEN CAUSED MY HEAD TO STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD OF MY CAR. THERE IS A MARK I BELIEVE ON THE WINDOW PROVING THIS, AND ALSO I HAD A HEADACHE FOR 3 DAYS FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT HARDER, MY HEAD COULD HAVE POSSIBLY GONE THREW THE WINDOW. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN BE ABLE TO CONTACT ME AGAIN INVOLVING THIS MATTER!! SINCERLY, HOLLY K HENDRICKSON

BOTH BACK DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE NOT ON. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD EXPLORER I HAVE OWNED AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER ONE. A FORD DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE SOLD NUMEROUS PARTS TO CORRECT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THIS NEWER MODEL HAS A FEATURE WHERE THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN YOU REACH A CERTAIN SPEED(5MPH?). I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE HAZARDOUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RELY ON THE DRIVER TO OPEN THE DOORS AND IT CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT FIRST UNLOCKING THEM. IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, THIS PROBLEM WOULD DELAY THE TIME THAT THE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT COULD BE SAFELY REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE.. *AK

RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRE TREAD FAILED WHILE DRIVING(P235/75/15) THE DEBRIS FROM THE TIRE JAMMED THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER CAUSING IT TO LOCK UP AND BEGIN SMOKING. NLM

ENGINE MISSES AND STALLS IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS INCLUDING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND FROM A STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR AFTER REPLACING IGNITION WIRES AND VACCUUM ASSEMBLY. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. IT ALSO CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACT AS IF THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED CAUSING A STOP FROM HIGH SPEEDS.

TIRE SEPARATION AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEED. WE HEARD NOISES AT FIRST WE MISTOOK FOR ROAD DEBRIS. IN FACT, IT WAS THE RUBBER SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE. FORTUNATELY, THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT COMPLETELY WHILE WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE. WE STOPPED AT THE NEXT EXIT. THE AIR COULD BE HEARD HISSING AS IT RAPIDLY DEFLATED THE TIRE. WE HAD THE TIRE REPLACED AT A TIRE DEALER IN THAT AREA (STATESVILLE, NC) UNDER BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE LIMITED WARRANTY CLAIM NUMBER 7722731 AT A PRORATED PRICE. THE TIRE HAD 9/32 TREAD AT TIME OF CLAIM. REPLACEMENT TIRE IS ALSO A WILDERNESS A/T.( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY107 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMERS TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE (DOT CODE W2HL), CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON HIGH SPEED, CONSUMER THOUGHTTHAT BLADES CAME LOOSE, BUT INSTEAD IT WAS THE ARM CONNECTOR TO THE MOTOR THA TLOOSENED. CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED. *AK

CONSUMER HAS A 1997 FORD, EXPLORER. VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SHAKING DURING DRIVING. VEHICLE WSA TAKEN IN FOR THE PROBLEM & PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE BELT INSIDE WAS BROKEN . TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. DOT# UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED 1 TIRE AT HALF PRICE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 30,415. *AK GOODYEAR WRANGLER P235/75/R15 *MW

PE00020, TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH SIDEWALL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT. DRIVER WAS ALONE AND NOT INJURED. TIRE SIZE P23570R15. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD, EXPLORER. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 27,000. FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE TIRE. FIRESTONE TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE LIST DOT # IF POSSIBLE.*AK

JACK HANDLE SHATTERED IN JACK BASE WHILE LOWERING VEHICLE AFTER CHANGING TIRE. WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO LOWER JACK USING SCREWDRIVER. HOWEVER, JACK HANDLE IS ALSO REQUIRED TO RETRACT THE SPARE-TIRE HOLDING CABLE, SO THAT HAD TO BE LEFT LOOSE UNTIL WE GOT TO A TIRE STORE. HANDLE IS MADE OF VERY WEAK METAL, AND IT IS THINNEST AT THE POINT OF MOST STRESS, WHERE IT IS INSERTED INTO THE JACK.

TIRE DELAMINATED COMPLETELY BUT BLADDER DID NOT DEFLATE. NO CRASH, BUT LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY TREAD AS IT LEFT VEHICLE. TIRE WAS SUBMITTED TO FIRESTONE UNDER CLAIM NUMBER 019721. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AND PAID INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE BUT DID NOT ADVISE AS TO CAUSE OF FAILURE. THEY SENT ME A CHECK FOR $397.76 WITH A LETTER DATED DECEMBER 10,1999. THE REMAINDER OF THE CLAIM WAS PAID BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA.( DOT NUMBER: UDHC1PY516 TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING RECALL NHTSA 99V074000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98R03, THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE PARTS. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE. *AK *ML

FORD ACKNOWLDGES PROBLEMS IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETINS RELATING TO THIS PARTICULAR PART. THE SERVICE ALERTS WARN OF CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. THIS "DEFECT" COST ME $2178.68. FORD REFUSES TO COVER ANY OF THESE COSTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, NOTICED A LOUD NOISE. SLOWED DOWN TO REALIZE TIRE HAD BLOWN. THE TREAD HAD PEELED OFF OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I HAVE PICTURES IF NEEDED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )

PE00020, BOUGHT USED 1997 EXPLORER, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P23575R15, NOT PART OF THE RECALL. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKS ON THE TIRES. WHILE DRIVING OVER 60 MPH THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE IN THE FRONT. *AK THE FAULTY TIRES ARE ALSO CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE STEERING PROBLEMS. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, A REPLACEMENT TIRE WAS PUT ON AND IT WAS NOISY. *SLC

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION 00T005, CONSUMER NOTICED SOME FINE CRACKING IN THE SIDEWALL OF BOTH FRONT TIRES, AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LOCAL TIRE DEALER, CONSUMER REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES, LATER THE THREE REMAINING TIRES WERE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BY A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER, CONSUMER IS NOW REQUESTNG REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED TIRES. *JB

VEC1 HAD A BLOW OUT AND THE TIRE FLEW UP AND DAMAGEED VEH1. FIRESTONE TIRES BLEW OUT ON V1 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15. (CLAIM# 04-1179-892) *MW

LOST POWER ASSIST TO BRAKING SYSTEM DURING FREEWAY RUSH HOUR. NO WARNING OF LOSS OF POWER BRAKES. ALMOST UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME. LOST OF POWER ASSIST TRACED TO LOSS OF MOTOR VACUUM DUE TO AIR FILTER CLOGGED WITH AUTO TRANSMISSION FLUID. FILTER RECIEVED AUTO TRANS OIL FROM TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM OIL COOLER. SEE SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 99-4-6, BULLETIN SEQUENCE NUMBER 477, DATE 9903, NHTSA ITEM NUMBER SB60476. DEALER SAYS SERVICE BULLETIN DOES NOT INDICATE THAT AIR FILTER SHOULD BE CHECKED WHEN REPAIRING LEAK OR THAT A CLOGGED AIR FILTER CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO BREAKS. ALSO NOTE THAT THE ANTILOCK BREAKING SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT THE POWER ASSIST.

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE UP, AND ABOUT TWO MINUTES AFTERWARDS THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 ON A CLEAR DAY/NO RAIN, AND TRAVELING ON THE INSIDE LANE, REAR LEFT TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND ROLL OVER. LEFT REAR TIRE NEVER DEFLATED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT. ONE CHILD CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *MJS

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL AND HESITATE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE VEHICLES FIRESTONE TIRES WERE RIDING EXTREMELY ROUGH, TIRES WERE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THEY WERE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-005, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND SUBMITTED ALL PAPER WORK TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS NOT RECIEVED REIMBURSEMENT OR CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN 10 MONTHS (FIRESTONE). NLM

THE FIRESTONE TIRES MADE NOISE AND DID NOT HANDLE WELL, THE CONSUMER TOOK TIRES TO BE CHECKED OVER AND WAS TOLD THE TIRES WERE OKAY, THE CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH TIRES AND REPLACED THEM, NOW CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED RECALL LETTER AND HAS NO PAPER WORK THAT STATES WHETHER THE TIRES WERE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T005, HOWEVER IS STILL REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

EXPERIENCING ON GOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM; 1. ABS LIGHT REMAIN ON, AND 2. REAR ROTORS WEAR EXCSSIVELY. FAULTY BRAKE SENOR HAVE BEEN REPLACE /REPAIRS ON FOUR OCCASION BY DEALER AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:

WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 75 IN OKLAHOMA WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT FROM TREAD SEPARATION. IT WAS 105 DEGREES AT THE TIME. WHAT SAVED US FROM ROLLING OVER WAS THAT WE WERE PULLING A LOADED TRAILER, AND IT KEPT US ON THE ROAD. THERE WERE 2 OF US IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I HAVE SINCE TRADED THAT EXPLORER FOR A NEWER MODEL EXPLORER, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEWER MODEL ALSO HAS THE FIRESTONE TIRES. THE MILEAGE I SHOWED AT THE TOP OF THE FORM WAS THE MILEAGE ON THE DAY I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED - I STILL HAVE A COPY OF THE RECEIPT FOR THE NEW TIRES. AN OKLAHOMA STATE HIGHWAY PATROLMAN STOPPED AND HELPED US CHANGE THE TIRE, SO THERE MAY BE A RECORD, BUT I'M SURE IT ISN'T VERY DETAILED. SINCE THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE MODEL OF TIRE OR WHERE IT WAS MANUFACTURED, AND OF COURSE, I DON'T HAVE THE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

PEOO 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND FELT A SHAKING VIBRATION. RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS#AT, P23575R15, #DOT W2HL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WERE NO NAILS, ETX DETECTED WHEN TIRE WAS REPLACED. *SLC

THE TIRES WERE FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES, VEHICLE BOUGHT AT 26,000 MILES, AT 31,900 MILES THE FRONT TIRES DEVELOPED FLAT SPOTS AND WERE NOT SAFE TO OPERATE. ON SATURDAY 8/7/1999 I REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES WITH ANOTHER STYLE OF FIRESTONE TIRES. THE SAME AFTERNOON I HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE RIGHT REAR. SO MONDAY 8/9/1999 I REPLACED THE BLOWN OUT TIRE AND THE REMAINING ORIGINAL REAR TIRE. THE FACTORY TIRES WERE NOT FROM THE DECATUR PLANT BUT WERE JUST AS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE. THE TIRES SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 31,900 MILES. I ASK FOR AN ADJUSTMENT FROM THE DEALER AND GOT NONE! I HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AT MY EXPENSE WHICH WAS NOT RIGHT. I DEMAND REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE 4 TIRE REPLACEMENT.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I KNOW THAT FORD IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS REFLECT THAT. THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE FAILURE DURING WARRANTY ARE FORTUNET TO SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. I STILL AS OF YET NOT CLAIMED MY VEHICLE .

DEALER CLAIMED COULDN'T DUPLICATE.2ND TIME-REPLACED MULTIFUNCITON SWITCH AND FLASHER. NOW OK.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE CONTROL, DEALERSHIP DID NOT NOTIFY CONSUMER OF RECALL (99V-062). MJS

THE TREAD OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF THE ROADWAY, THE DRIVER OVERCORRECTED TO RETURN TO THE ROAD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROTATE CLOCKWISE, UPON THE VEHICLE SLIDING THE LEFT REAR TIRE BECAME DEFLATED AND THE WHEEL BEGAN TO GOUGE INTO THE ROADWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERTURN SEVERAL TIMES, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS AND ABRASIONS TO HIS ARMS AND UPPER TORSO AREA, THE LEFT REAR OCCUPANT WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE ANS SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS AND ABRASIONS TO HIS HEAD, NECK, ARMS AND LEGS, THE OTHER THREE OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENTS, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL INVESTIGATION, FIRESTONE, NO OTHER TIRE INFO GIVEN)

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS DO NOT SUPPORT THE GUIDES AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO CAUSING LOUD RATTLING. NLM

VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OVER VEHICLE WHILE TOWING TRAILER, RESULTING IN CRASHING INTO BARRIERS. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORTS). MJS

VEHICLE HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, NOT ABLE TO BE RECTIFIED, 2 ACCIDENTS OCCURRED DUE TO FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL WHICH DID NOT SIGNAL ONE WHEEL TO ACTIVATE PROPERLY AND LOCKED UP INSTEAD CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. MJS