1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO CAR CRASHES DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE SPEED CONTROL (RECALL COMPONENT) PRIOR TO NOTICE, ALSO SPEED CONTROL REPAIRED FOUR TIMES PRIOR TO ACCIDENTS. MJS (99V-062)

THE RUBBER SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. NLM

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH, TREAD ON PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONE OTHER PASSENGER IN THE TRUCK. NO ONE WAS INJURED. TIRE SIZE P23575R15, DOT # W2HL1PY067, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. FIRESTONE WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE TIRE. DRIVER JUST THOUGHT THE TIRE EXPLODED AND CONTACTED AAA.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE PROBLEMS, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE NO OIL WAS IN IT WHEN STARTED, DEALER HAS REPLACED GASKETS, UPPER INTAKE CAM TENSIONER THREE TIMES, AND THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. LEFT FRONT DOOR HINGE REPLACED, IT WAS MAKING NOISE. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, IT WAS NOISY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. VANITY MIRROR ON DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY AND POPPED WHEN OPENED, DEALER REPLACED IT. THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN THE LEFT FRONT. BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY, DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. A TAP NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE PLAYING CD'S. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND RAILROAD TRACKS, TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, DEALER INTALLED OVERHAUL KIT BECAUSE THE CLUTCH HAD BURNED. 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS INOPERABLE AND MADE A RUBBING/GROAN NOISE, WHEN REVERSING AND PUTTING INTOR DRIVE, CONSUMER HEARD POPPING NOISE, DEALER REPLACED REAR TRANSFER CASE FLANGE AND REMOVED DRIVESHAFT. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, IT WOULD TURN OVER, DEALER FOUND THE PCM WAS NOT WIRING, DEALER REPLACED PCM. *SLC

THE VERY FIRST TIME I WENT TO USE THE SPARE TIRE ON THIS 97 EXPLORER THE WINCH FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF MICHELIN TIRES. VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD OF NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE WHEEL, LEFT FRONT, WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT REAL BAD & NEEDED REPLACING. THE INSIDE OF TIRE WAS WORN THROUGH TO THE STEEL BELTING, WHILE THE OUTSIDE SHOWED NO WEAR. THE FRONT END WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT RIGHT REAR TIRE P235/75R15 DOT VNHL EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER. *SLC

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL THE VEH. STARED TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. I HAD TO GET UP OUT OF THE HOLE TO PULL OFF AND I NOTED THAT WHEN I STEPED BACK ON THE GAS IT STOPED. IT ONLY DOES THIS WHEN COASTING OR BRAKING. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FAILURE IN THE TRANSFER CASE. I STARTED LOOKING FOR A NEW ONE ON THE NET AND FOUND ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM TO A T. ONE GUY STATED THAT HIS MECHANIC SAID THAT THE GEM CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED OR PARTIALLY FAILED AND COMMANDED THE TRANFER CASE TO DISENGAGE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CASE. IT APPEARED TO BE A FORD ELECTRONIC DEFECT NOT HAVING A FAIL SAFE MODE BUT INSTEAD ORDERING THE TRANFER CASE TO SELF DESTRUCT. THE OXYGEN SENORS I REPLACE THEM AND THEY GO RIGHT BACK OUT.

BOTH INSIDE REAR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF WHILE EXITING VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

ENGINE- VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING KNOCKING/TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE AT 30000 MILES, TOOK INTO DEALER TO REPORT IT, AND THEY SAID NO PROBLEMS. NOISE WAS AT START UPS AND AFTER VEHICLE HAD SET FOR BRIEF TIME. NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND LONGER IN DURATION, TOOK BACK INTO DEALER AT 35000 MILES, AGAIN, THEY SAID NO PROBLEMS-NORMAL NOISE. AT 41900 MILES, VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE, NOISE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD AND METALLIC IN NATURE. TOOK TO DIFFERENT DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 1997/98 EXPLORERS WITH 4.0SOHC ENGINE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURES. MOST WERE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SENT ENTIRE ENGINE BACK TO MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR. NOW MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REAPAI COST ME $700.00. THE VEHICLE WENT BACK 3 DAYS LATER WITH SAME PROBLEM, ANOTHER $300.00. I FEEL THAT I REPORTED MY PROBLEM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN WARRANTY AND THAT FORD SHOULD COVER THE REPAIRS. I ALSO THINK THATFORD IS FULLY AWARE OF A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THESE 4.0 SOHC ENGINES AND THE TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER DEFECTS. I HAVE TALKED WITH MANY DEALERS AND INDIVIDUAL OWNERS WHO HAVE STATED THE DEFECT IS NOT ISOLATED. HAD MY FAMILY AND I BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED WHEN THIS THING WENT BAD AND THE ENGINE QUIT,THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE, IT IS TOO WIDESPREAD AND FORD CERTAINLY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT UNWILLING TO ADDRESS IT AND COMPENSATE CONSUMERS WHO ARE SUFFERING WITH THIS. FUEL SYSTEM- THERE IS ALSO A HESITATION/STALLING THAT OCCURS ON SAME VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN INTO TEH DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO FIX, BUT CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO INTERSECTIONS OR TURNING AT TRAFFICE LIGHTS. MY WIFE HAS HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES DUE TO THIS. AGAIN, THIS APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD WITH THIS 4.0 SOHC ENGINE. PLEASE LET'S HAVE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT. FORD'S ARMY OF ENGINEERS SURELY ARE AWARE THIS EXISTS. MARK DITTO

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FUEL VAPOR SMELL COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH, AND DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT LATCH PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

TIRE BLOW OUT ON INTERSTATE 45 SOUTH. CAR TRAVELED ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES.CAR HIT CEMENT BARRIER AND CAME TO STOP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BACK WINDOW POPPED OPEN . PICTURES OF TIRE HAVE FLAP OF RUBBER SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: )

WE WENT OFF THE ROAD AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE TREAD BREAKING LOOSE FROM THE TIRE. A DOUBLE TRAILER TRUCK BEHIND US ALMOST HIT US AS A RESULT OF OUR VEHICLE VIBRATING AND SLOWING DOWN. LUCKILY WE COULD PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE FRONT FENDER WAS DANGLING, AND THE WHEEL COVER WAS TORN AND BENT, RUBBING ON THE TIRE THAT REMAINED WITHOUT THE TREAD. A SCARY SITUATION. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS FAULTY. THEY ARE NOW TAKING LEGAL ACTION TO RECOVER THEIR COST OF REPAIR FROM FIRESTONE. MY HUSBAND HAD SEVERAL TREATMENT TO HIS SHOULDER, AND AN ORTHOSCOPIC OPERATION TO THE SHOULDER AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. I AM STILL FRIGHTENED EACH TIME I DRIVE THE EXPLORER, WORRYING ABOUT THE REMAINING TIRES FOR FEAR THE SAME THING MAY HAPPEN. FIRESTONE HAS NOT BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE. THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY. WE DID NOT KNOW TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO NTSA UNTIL THE RECENT NEWS THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS SIMILAR TO OURS. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HAVE OUR TIRES RECALLED, AND TO GET COMPENSATION FROM BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 OWL )

REAR VIEW MIRROR IS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER ON MANY COUNTS HAS HAD CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF ACCIDENTS. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHNG THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.*AK THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AT EYE LEVEL AND IS HARD TO SEE VEHICLES THAT ARE BEHIND. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT IT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED OR REPLACED. *YH

FROM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, I FOUND THAT THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES DID NOT HOLD THE ROAD WELL UNDER ANY SURFACE CONDITIONS. DURING THE TIME I HAD THESE TIRES ON MY TRUCK, I WAS INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS. WHEN THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ALIGN MY VEHICLE AFTER THE 2ND ACCIDENT, I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO ANOTHER TIRE SHOP (WINSTON TIRES, CANYON COUNTRY, CA), TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT DONE, AND ON INSPECTING THE TIRES, THEY FOUND THAT THE 2 OF THE TIRES WERE BEGINNING TO SEPARATE, AND AN ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE PERFORMED. I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH BF GOODRICH ALL TERRAIN TIRES, AFTER WHICH I WAS ABLE TO ALIGN THE TRUCK. WITH THE NEW TIRES I FOUND THAT MY EXPLORER'S HANDLING, BRAKING, STEERING, AND TRACTION WERE CONSIDERABLY IMPROVED. I STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES WHICH FIRESTONE HAS GENEROUSLY OFFERED ME $10/ TIRE FOR SINCE I REPLACED THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES PRIOR TO 1/1/2000. I FEEL THAT FIRESTONE SHOULD PAY FOR MY REPLACEMENT TIRES REGARDLESS OF WHEN I PURCHASED THEM. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHERE SUMMERTIME TEMPERATURES REGULARLY EXCEED 100 DEGREES, AND THE HIGHWAY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF I CAN OFFER ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THESE TIRES, WHICH I CONSIDERED THE WORST TIRES I EVER HAD, EVEN BEFORE THE RECALL BEGAN, AND FREQUENTLY EXPRESSED THIS IN FORD QUALITY QUESTIONAIRES THAT THEY WERE NOT DOING THEMSELVES A FAVOR BY PUTTING THESE TIRES ON THEIR TRUCKS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2XXXXX TIRESIZE: 255 70 16)

SUMMER 1999- TRIP TO FLORIDA, RAN INTO RAIN STORM AROUND DECATUR, ALABAMA. WE HAD SLOWED TO 35 - 45 MPH MAXIMUM AFTER FEELING WHAT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE TRYING TO HYDRAPLANE. THEN WE HEARD A SLAPPING SOUND LIKE THE RUBBER WAS LOOSE. STOPPED AND CHECK IT AND TIRES APPEARED OKAY. CONTINUED CAREFULLY. TO DATE, WE STILL HEAR A SOUND SIMILIAR TO A BALL BOUNCING WHILE DRIVING IT. LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MGR. SAID THE TIRES WERE CUPPING. WE HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED EVERY 10,000 MILES MAX. AND THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES; ALL HAVE BEEN OKAY. I RUN APPROX. 32 LBS. IN THE TIRES. DOOR LOCKS - LEFT REAR HAD TO HAVE 2 MOTOR REPLACEMENTS BEFORE IT OPERATED PROPERLY. NOW LEFT FRONT CONTROL LOCK IS NOT UNLOCKING PROPERLY WITHOUT NUMBEROUS ATTEMPTS.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY49 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE THROTTLE BODY DESIGN ON 1997 AND 1998 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE 4.0 LITRE SOHC ENGINE STICKS OR BINDS IN A CLOSED POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, THE BIND WILL RESULT IN NO GAS TO THE ENGINE. THEN THE BINDING STOPS AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD OFTEN AT SPEEDS HIGH ENOUGH TO CHIRP THE TIRES. THIS CAN BE A DANGERIOUS SITUATION IN TRAFFIC. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DIRVING 25-35 MPH. VEHICLE HAD NO POWER/ BRAKES. VEHICLE COASTED TO A PARKING LOT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER CAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH COMPUTER SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE NO POWER/NO STEERING AND NO BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK

THERE IS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN WITH THE FORD EXPLORERS. FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THERE IS NO FIX RIGHT NOW. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENGINE. THEY CAN NOT GUARENTEE ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPEN AGAIN. *AK

FIRESTONE ATX TIRE RIGHT REAR TREAD SEPARATED AND TWO ADDITIONAL TIRES FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY TWO YEARS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

TIRE TREAD LAYER SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL-BELTED LAYER CREATING A 15-BY-5-INCH FLAP. WE WERE LUCKY....WE CAUGHT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW.( DOT NUMBER: )

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND TRYING TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, EXPLORER RAN INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND SHOULDER BELT DIDN'T PREVENT CONSUMER FROM HITTING HER HEAD ON WINDSHIELD AND FALLING ON PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, ALTHOUGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID. *AK *ML

WE WERE DRIVING BACK TO AZ FROM PA ON I-40 IN AR WHEN OUR FRONT LEFT TIRE DISINTEGRATED. THERE WAS NO NOISE JUST THE SUDDEN VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE, FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND GET IT TO THE MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN WE GOT OUT THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS THE TWO SIDE WALLS OF THE TIRE. WE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING A FEW HOURS THAT DAY AND IT WASN'T THAT HOT OF A DAY, IT HAD BEEN RAINING AND WAS GETTING READY TO RAIN AGAIN. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS OK JUST 1 WEEK PRIOR. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL OF THIS TYPE OF TIRE AND AM CONCERNED THAT EVEN THOUGH MY TIRES WERE NOT MADE IN THE EFFECTED ILLINOIS PLANT THEY ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. MY TIRES SAY THEY WERE MADE IN CANADA. *AK( DOT NUMBER: NOT LISTED TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE WAS KNOCKING, TOOK SUV IN TO FIRESTONE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. (IT HAD NOT YET DEPARTED THE TIRE).*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY157 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. IT VEERED INTO MEDIUM STRIP BARRIER AND ROLLED MORE THAN ONCE. SHE WAS EJECTED FROM VEHICLE AND DIED. REAR TIRE EXPLODED AND DETACHED FROM RIMS. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT, SIZE P23575 R15. *AK MJS

UPON PURCHASE IN JUNE 1997, THROTTLE STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN FIRST STARTING UP. FORD REPLACED THE THROTTLE PLATE ONCE IN APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 1997. THE REPLACEMENT THROTTLE PLATE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY FORD IN APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 1998. IN JUNE 1999, THE THROTTLE HAS AGAIN BEGUN TO STICK AND WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR THE 3RD TIME. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 72,000 MILES, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE STILL JUST REPLACING THE PART WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. *AK

VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED BY DRIVER. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT BEING PRESSED. THE ONLY WAY THE CAR COULD BE CONTROLLED WAS BY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND COASTING TO THE SIDE. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH AND FATALITIES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH HER FOOT ON TH BRAKES, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER COULDN'T STOP VEHICLE BY APPLYING BRAKES, AND HE HAD TO MOVE THE PAWL TO NEUTRAL AND TURN SWITCH OFF. *AK CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE ENTIRE KEYLESS ENTRY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE STARTER KEPT TURNING OVER AND OVER, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. *YH

VEHICLE RECALL DENIED (97V-074) DUE TO LOCATION OF STATE. MJS

LOCK SYSTEM ON BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS HAVE FAILED SUCH THAT NEITHER DOOR CAN BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF REAR PASSENGERS MUST EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE QUICKLY. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 DOT VNHL1P1486 WENT FLAT DUE TO SIDEWALL SEPARATION. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P255/70R16 EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT. *SLC

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1997 TIRE SIZE P25570R16, DOTW2CU1PX. TREAD IS SEPARATING FROM OUTSIDE ON ALL FOUR TIRES. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS AT STOP SIGN WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. TIMING CHAIN BROKE. CONSUMER WAS HEARING POPPING NOISE FOR YEARS, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY NEVER WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE NOISE. *AK

ACCELERATOR IS STICKING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

TIRE COMPLETELY EXPLODED AND WAS IN SCHREDS. WAS TOWING A RACE CAR ON A TRAILER AT NORMAL SPEED AT THE TIME. EXCELLENT DRIVING BY CREW MEMBER AVERTED ACCIDENT. CAR FELT AS IF IT HAD GONE OVER A LAND MINE. TWO WITNESS IN MY EXPLORER AND TWO WITNESS IN CAR DIRECTLY FOLLOWING MY CAR CAN VERIFY THE INCIDENT. THE SPARE TIRE WAS MOUNTED AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACE WITH ANOTHER WILDERNESS AT SHORTLY AFTER THE TIRE FAILURE. THE INCIDENT WAS NEVER REPORTED TO FORD OR FIRESTONE, BUT I FEEL SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE DATA BASE. IT OCCURED ON A WARM DAY IN EARLY MAY IN MASSACHUSETTS. I FEEL THAT THE TIRE FAILURES ARE MORE FAR REACHING THAN CURRENTLY REPORTED SINCE IT HAPPEND ON A TIRE THAT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED AT THE PLANT IN QUESTION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY117 TIRE SIZE: P235-75-15 )

ON THE NIGHT OF WEDNESDAY MAY 5TH 1999 I WAS TRAVELING HOME ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 44 IN THE LEFT LANE AT 70 MPH. ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE REAR HATCH OF MY FORD EXPLORER HAD BLOWN OPEN. I SOON DISCOVERED THAT MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAD EXPLODED. LUCKILY I QUICKLY MADE IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P2557R16 )

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD . VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND BLOWOUT PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL (00T-005) REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH EXPLORER BEGAN TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH, BECAME AIR BORNE AND FLIPPED OVER 4 TIMES. DRIVER DID NOT GO INTO ANY OTHER LANE, AND DID NOT HIT OTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER AND ONE OTHER PASSENGER WERE IN THE EXPLORER. BOTH WERE INJURED. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT. PLEASE PROVIDE TIRE SIZE AND DOT # AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION.*AK

UPON TOUCHING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATRED, CAUSING A COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON 4/99 AND IT RAN OFF THE ROAD AND RUINED THE WHEEL, NO OTHER DAMAGE BUT TO THE TIRE AND THE WHEEL ITSELF. I PUT THE SPARE ON AND DROVE TO A SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRE AND WHEEL REPLACED. I THOUGHT I HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD, BUT I REMEMBER THE GUY TELLING ME THAT THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. AT THE TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT REPLACE THE TIRE. NO WARRANTY APPLIED AS TO THAT. NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, IT MAKES ME WONDER IF IT COULD OF BEEN THE TIRES HAVING A DEFECT. IT ANGERS ME KNOWING I COULD OF BEEN HURT OR HAD HURT SOMEONE. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO FIRESTONE AND FORD AND GOT A GENERAL RESPONSE. I KNOW MY TIRES START WITH DOT# (W-2), BUT IF SOMEONE FROM FIRESTONE OR FORD WOULD EXAMINE MY TIRES THEY WOULD SEE THE OTHERS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE SEPARATING OR DRY ROTTING AT THE START OF THE TREADWALL. I HAVE LOOKED AT THEM MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, THEY LOOK HORRIBLE. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO END UP AS A STATISTIC OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN KILLED. I HAVE MOVED TO FLORIDA AND DRIVE ON I-95 OR THE TURNPIKE WHERE THE SPEED IS NOW 70 MILES AN HOUR. THAT WILL IN ITSELF MAKE YOUR NERVOUS NOW. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP.( DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRE SIZE: 235/75R-15 )

NO SUMMARY

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT FAILED WHILE TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A DRY FLAT COOL ROADWAY IN APRIL 1999. THE NATURE OF THE FLAT WAS VERY UNUSUAL...SO CATASTROPHIC THAT I MADE A SEARCH OF THE ROADWAY FOR SEVERAL FEET TO LOOK FOR DEBRIS. I FOUND NONE, HOWEVER THE TIRE LOOKED AS THOUGH THE TREAD HAD BEEN PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES WERE ADEQUATELY INFLATED AND THE FAILURE OCCURED QUICKLY. THE TIRE HAD ALMOST 19,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND TAKEN BY THE TIRE DEALER. I REPLACED IT AT MY OWN COST. THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN THIS ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO SHOW UP IN THE RECORD BECAUSE I AM SUSPICIOUS THAT THE 16" WILDERNESS AT TIRES MAY ALSO ME FAULTY, DESPITE WHAT FIRESTONE AND FORD SAY. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL PUMP DRIVE ASSEMBLY FAILURE(FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN #97B12). MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY.

DURING REGULAR DRIVING MY TIRE EXPLODED AND FELL APART( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75 R15 )