1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

CONSUMER HAS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS CRACKS AROUND THE 2 BACK TIRES WERE THE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE. A FIRESTONE CENTER SAID IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EXCEPT REPLACE THEM AT THE CONSUMER'S COST. APPROXIMATE 33,850. TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, DOT#W2HL1DT. TIRES MAKE A LOUD NOISE.*AK ALSO, THE CUSTOMER HAD ONE NEW TIRE ON FRONT BLOW OUT. *YH

THE RECALL (00T-005) APPLIED TO THE CONSUMERS TIRES, HOWEVER CONSUMER COULD NOT OBTAIN RECALL REPLACEMENT TIRES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THE CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES FROM OTHER SOURCE AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). *MJS

READ TWO E-MAIL BEING FORWARDED WITH THIS FORM( DOT NUMBER: ????? TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

WAS DRIVING 25MPH WHEN TIRE BLEW OUT. THIS CAUSED THE TIRE TO PARTIALLY COME OFF THE RIM. VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE. MANAGED TO GET TO GAS STATION & CONTACT ROAD SERVICE. HAD TIRE CHANGED. IT HAD A SLIT IN THE CENTER OF THE TREAD & HAD POPPED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R15 DOT W2HL1PY358 WITH 19,000 MILES.*AK

CONSUMER HAD FOUND CRACKS ON THE FOUR SET OF TIRES. DEALER HAD REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. TIRE HAD A HOLE ON THE OUTSIDE WALL. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15. *AK THE TIRES WERE NOT DAMAGED AND WERE NOT DEFLATED. *YH

APPEARS TO BE TIRE FAILURE. SIDE OF THE TIRE HAS BLOWN OUT. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15. (CLAIM# 01-6196-609) *MW

CONSUMER TOOK VEHILCE TO BE INSPECTED TO SEE IF THE TIRES WERE INCLUDED IN THE FIRESTONE RECALL NOTICE, UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALER CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT CODE EDHL MEANT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE BUT UPON SELF INSPECTION AT HOME CONSUMER SAW THAT THE TIRES WERE PLAINLY MARKED VDHL, WHICH WAS THE PROPER CODE AND RECALL IDENTIFICATION. NLM

WE FOUND CONTINUOUS CRACKS IN ALL FOUR OF OUR 15" WILDERNESS TIRES ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2000. FIRESTONE REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THE DOT CODE WAS VNHL INDICATING THAT THEY WERE MADE IN QUEBEC. OUR FORD DEALER, JIM ROSS, TOLD US TO GO ANYWHERE AND BUY ANY TIRES, AND THAT FORD OF FIRESTONE WOULD REIMBURSE US. HE SAID THEY WERE SCAREY LOOKING. HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT MY WIFE, LUANNE, DRIVING ON THEM. LUANNE BOUGHT 4 NEW MICHELINS AND HAD THEM PUT ON FOR $507.32. SINCE THE DAMAGED FIRESTONES WERE NOT MADE IN DECATUR, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL NOT GET OUR MONEY BACK. WE ARE UPSET ABOUT LOSING THIS MUCH MONEY, BUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN $500. I HOPE YOUR OFFICE CAN LOOK INTO THIS PROBABLE PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES THAT SO FAR HAVE ESCAPED THE RECALL, BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST AND PROPERTY DAMAGED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. SINCERELY, BILL DUGAN( DOT NUMBER: VNHL )

WESTBOUND ON I-10 IN MADISON COUNTY, FL WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE DETREADS, VEHICLE STEERS INTO MEDIAN, VEHICLE ROLLS OVER, ROOF CRUSH. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY088 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE. FRONT PASSENGER'S AND THE REAR DRIVER'S TIRES HAD STRESS MARKS GOING ALL AROUND THE TIRES. CONSUMER REPLACED THREE TIRES. ONE OF THE TIRES WAS RECALLED. THEY WERE FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS#AT, P23575R15, #DOT VNHL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER NOTICED THAT PEELING WAS AROUND INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF TIRES. TIRES WERE DRY/ROTTEN, AND THERE WAS A CIRCLE RING AROUND THEM. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, AND MECHANIC INSPECTED TIRES. FIRESTONE TOLD CONSUMER THAT TIRES WOULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE DOT VD NUMBER WASN'T ENCLOSED ON THE TIRES. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE ATX, SIZE NUMBER P235/7515/R15, BUT THE DOT NUMBER WAS W2 .THIS WAS NORTH CAROLINA. *AK

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT RECALL THAT WAS MADE ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES, AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OTHER STATES INCLUDED, JUST LIKE THOSE FOUR STATES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *AK

WENT TO HAVE OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED FOR TRIP OUT OF TOWN AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME MY TIRES STATING THE UNSAFETY OF THEM DUE TO ALL 4 WERE SHOWING CRACKING AND "DRY-ROT" AROUND THE TIRE WELL AND TREAD. HE STATED THAT A TIRE OF THIS LOW MILEAGE IS NOT TO DO THIS AND IF DRIVING THE 4 HOUR DRIVE WE WERE ABOUT TO IMBARK ON WITH THIS HEAT HE ADVISED IT WAS TOTALLY UNSAFE AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. WE STILL HAVE THE TIRES AND WERE PREPARED TO SHOW THEM TO A FIRESTONE PERSON AND THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE RECALL SIZE ALTHOUGH THEY WERE LOOKING AT OTHER SIZES. I COULD NOT CONSCIOUSLY PUT MY FAMILY IN THAT DANGER WAITING ON A RECALL. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TIRES BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE CRACKED RUBBER AROUND ALL 4 TIRES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/16 )

I DID NOT HAVE A BLOW-OUT. WHAT I HAVE THAT YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN IS FOUR TIRES WITH CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES WHERE THE TREAD LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD SEPARATE. I CAN E-MAIL YOU A PHOTO IF YOU PROVIDE ME WITH AN ADDRESS. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED IMMEDIATELY BY NTB, AND FIRESTONE WILL PROBABLY WANT THEM IN RETURN FOR REIMBURSING ME. SO, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING ANY OF THESE TIRES PLEASE CONTACT ME BY 8/17/00. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PY TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )

WHILE TRAVELLING AT 70 MPH, THE BACK OF THE TRUCK STARTED TO "BOB AND SWAY." THE TIRE THEN CAME APART AND THE TRUCK WENT SKIDDING ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. DURING THE SKID, THE VEHICLE HAD A HEAVY ROLLING SENSATION AND FELT AS IF IT WERE ON ONLY TWO WEELS MULTIPLE TIMES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )

I HAD NOTED THAT MY TIRES WERE ALL FOUR LOOKING BAD FOR NO MORE MILES THAN I HAD ON THE CAR. TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED EACH TIME THE OIL WAS CHANGED (3000 MILES), SINCE PURCHASING NEW. ON 08/09/00 WENT IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AND COLONY TIRE SUGGESTED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE FOR ME TO BE DRIVING WITH TIRES AS THE LEFT REAR HAD THREE SPLITS AND HAD SEPARATED IN ONE PLACE. THE OTHERS SHOWED CRACKS. COLONY TIRE CALLED FIRESTONE TO SEE ABOUT CONSIDERATION FOR THE TIRES. AT THAT TIME HE WAS TOLD OF THE UPCOMING RECALL BUT THESE WERE NO A PART OF RECALL. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE WRITTEN THE BRIDGESTONEFIRESTONE CO., FORD MOTOR CO.CALLED CELLA FORD, ALSO COLONY TIRE HAS SENT THE TIRES (4) BACK TO FIRESTONE.ALL THIS TO NO AVAIL AS ALL THEY HAVE ON THEIR MIND IS THE RECALL. WHICH DOESN'T PAY FOR MY HAVING TO BUY FOUR NEW TIRES OR RUN THE RISK OF A FATAL ACCIDENT DRIVING IN 90+ DEGREE WEATHER. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225-70-15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225-70-15 )

CONSUMER RETURNED RECALL CARD (00T005), HOWEVER HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY REIMBURSEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENTATION, CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON 8-9-00 BECAUSE OF A TRIP TO TEXAS AND DIDN'T WANT TO CHANCE ANYTHING. *SLC

AFTER FIND OUT OF A RECALL ON FIRESTONE TIRES, TOOK VEHICLE TO CHECK THE TIRES, AND TECHNICIAN SAW CRACKS ON ALL TIRES WHICH WERE THE SAME AS MENTIONED IN THE THE RECALL, BUT A DIFFERENT PLANT. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R15. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

FIRESTONE: INS GOING EAST AND TIRE BLEW OUT AND INSURED LOST CONTROL AND CAR ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES CAR LANDED ON TOP. (CLAIM 43-R532-651) *MW

TIRE ON DRIVERS REAR FAILED, TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY WHILE TRAVELING ON I-10 FREEWAY AT 75 MPH (SPEED LIMIT), CAUSING FORD EXPLORER TO ROLL SEVERAL TIMES. NO FATALITIES OCCURRED, DRIVER ONLY ONE IN VEHICLE, SEAT BELT PROBABLY SAVED LIFE, MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS AND STILL OFF WORK CONTINUING MEDICAL TREATMENT AND FURTHER TESTS. I DO HAVE PICTURES ON DISK THAT WERE TAKEN OF THE TIRE AND TREAD AND OF THE VEHICLE. THE ACTUAL TIRE AND TREAD HAVE BEEN SECURED.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PY477 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 235/75R15 INSD IS CURRENTLY IN POSS. OF THE TIRE THAT BLEW APART AND THE TREAD THAT CAME OFF. (CLAIM# 03-3162-844) *MW

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 00T005 REGARDING THE FIRESTONE TIRES, HOWEVER SINCE CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE LETTER, THE REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT HAS BEEN DENIED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE ONCE IT GOES OVER 30MPH. THERE WOULD BE SEVERE SHAKING & HARD TO CONTROL. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN JUST IDLING OR WAITING. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. *AK

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH, 10 MINUTES SOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO. *AK( DOT NUMBER: 7002577 TIRE SIZE: P2357515 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS NOT TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT STILL NOTICED THAT TREAD WAS CRACKING AROUND TIRE SIDEWALLS. TIRES ARE FIRSTONE WILDERNESS, TIRE SIZE ARE P23575/R15, AND THE DOT CODE #W2HL. TREAD HASN'T SEPARATED YET, BUT HE IS CONCERNED. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, AND THEY PUT HIM ON A WAITING LIST. *AK *SLC

AFTER READING AN ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER REGARDING FIRESTONE TIRES ON FORD EXPLORERS, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH TED WIENS FIRESTONE (3841 E. CRAIG ROAD, LAS VEGAS, NV --702-644-3384) ON AUG 5, 2000 TO DETERMINE THE SAFETY OF THE WILERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED ON MY FORD EXPLORER. AFTER BEING ASSURED THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY SAFE I LEFT THE STORE ONLY TO GET A BLOWOUT THAT SAME DAY. THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM. I APPRECIATE THE OFFER FROM FIRESTONE TO CHECK THE TIRES, HOWEVER, I QUESTION THEIR ABILITY TO DETERMINE THE TIRES SAFETY BASED ON MY BLOWOUT HAPPENING THE SAME DAY. I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME, NOT ONLY CONCERNING THE TIRES THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO FIRESTONE'S INADEQUATE ABILITY TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE CHECK OF THE TIRES. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ANYTIME 702-396-3803. 21 DEATHS IS ENOUGH. *AK

TIRE CAME COMPLETELY APART WHILE TRAVELING ON A FIVE LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE CENTER MEDIAN BUT RIM WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THERE IS VERY LITTLE LEFT OF THE TIRE, ONLY 2 INCHES OF THE SIDE WALL. EVERYONE WHO HAS LOOKED A THE TIRE SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIRE SO SEVERELY DAMAGED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH REAR LEFT TIRE BLEWOUT. TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT WAS CAUSED BY A TREAD SEPARATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P255/70R16) FAILED, DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO GET VEHICLE ONTO GRASSY SHOULDER, THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO THE PAVEMENT AND ENDED UP ROLLING 1-2 TIMES DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHERE IT ENDED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE LEFT LANE. NLM

FIRESTONE: FRONT & REAR LEFT TIRES BLEW OUT CAUSING COLLISION W/DRIVER TIRE CONFIRMED TO BE A WILDERNESS P235/75R15. (CLAIM# 30-V250-841) *MW

ANY RECALL ON FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, MODEL #P255/70R16? DRIVING AT 73 MPH AND FELT A PULL TO THE RIGHT. LOST CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER TWICE. (CLAIM# 06-6479-663) *MW

EA99001; WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. BRAKES ONLY SLOWED DOWN VEHICLE, WOULD NOT STOP IT. DRIVER HAD TO PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THEN SHUT OFF VEHICLE. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *AK

PE0 020; CONSUMER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION. HE HAD A FLAT TIRE, AND THERE WAS A WHOLE INSIDE OF THE TIRE BECAUSE THE TIRE WILL NOT HOLD AIR. THE TIRES WERE FIRSTOINE WILDERNESSS ATX. *AK

I HAD THE TIRES CHECKED AFTER HEARING REPORTS OF TROUBLE. ALL FOUR TIRES SHOW CRACKING WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. AFTER CHECKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER, I REPLACED THE TIRES AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I PUT P235/75R15 MICHELIN LTX TIRES ON. THE TIRES AND SERVICE RECORDS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, INCLUDING PROOF OF ROTATION AND BALANCING ON SCHEDULE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY417 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WE UNDERSTAND THERE IS SOME TYPE OF RECALL ON FIRESTONE TIRES PUT ON FORD VEHICLES? WE HAVE TIRE AS EVIDENCE. PLZ ADVISE ON HANDLING. ANN CALLED CONFIRMING TIRE TO BE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 DOT N/A. (CLAIM# 75-A259-335) *MW

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE STABILITY PROBLEMS. *MJS

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A FORD, EXPLORER, 1998, P23575R15 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE DELAMINATED. TOOK TO FIRESTONE, AND THEY NOTICED ALL 4 TIRES WERE CRACKING, SO THEY REPLACED THEM.*AK *SLC

PE 00 020/TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: TIRE SIZE P255/70R15 / DOT# W2CU1PX048 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998 FORD EXPLORER . CRACKS WERE NOTICED ALONG WITH TREAD SEPARATION WHILE PARKED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE CUSTOMER REPLACE THREE FAILED TIRES AT CUSTOMER'S EXPENSE. *YH

WHILE VISITING THE NHTSA WEB SITE I FOUND A RECALL ON FORD EXP. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V215000 MY EXPLORER DOES NOT FIT THE RECALL BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENS, NO CHIME AND ALSO NO INTERIOR LIGHT. I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG. COULD THE PROBLEM BE MORE WIDE SPREAD THAN NHTSA OR FORD THINK. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPORT.

TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-295. PUNCTURE TO RIGHT REAR TIRE, DRIVER LOST CONTROL, ROLLED THREE TIMES LANDING ON ROOF AGAINST MEDIAN GUARDRAIL. FRONT SEAT PASSENGER EJECTED AND KILLED, SECOND SEAT PASSENGER EJECTED.( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY148 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

AFTER A BLOW-OUT, OWNER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, OWNER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT UNDER RECALL (00T-005). *CJ

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX TIRES(P23575R15 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 98 EXPLORER. TREAD IS CRACKING AT THE SIDEWALL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO RECALL AND FAULTY TIRES, THE DOT #VHDL. *SLC

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: TREAD IS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE ON THE LEFT REAR. THERE IS A CRACK BETWEEN THE SIDEWALL AND THE TREAD. TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. OWNER HAS CONTACTED A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE TIRE. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THE TIRE. *AK

WHEN PULLING INTO THE GARAGE CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING WAS RAN OVER ONLY TO NOTICE THAT TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. FORD AND FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

TIRE BLEW OUT WHEN TRAVELING AT 70 MILES PLUS. I NEARLY HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID COLLISION. THE INCIDENT CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE STEEL ALLOY RIM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/ATX TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO WEAR THROUGH, BOTH OF THEM. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM, AND HAD THE TIRES CHANGED BEFORE A PROBLEM COULD OCCUR. *AK

SIZE 25570R16; WHILE ON HIGHWAY NOTICED VEHICLE WAS NOT TRAVELING NORMALLY. TIRE DEALER STATED TIRES WERE UNSAFE DUE TO SEPARATION AND CRACKING AT BASE OF TIRE TREADS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE TIRE DEALERS INDICATED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE AND WERE ALL REPLACED BY FIRESTONE DEALER WHO INCLUDED IT AS PART OF RECALL. (DOT # WZCV1PX417) *YH

3 TIRES SEPARATED WITHIN 2 WEEKS. DEALER INFORMED FIRESTONE OF DEFECT AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. FIRESTONE REFUSED REPLACEMENT. FURTHER CONTACT WITH FIRESTONE RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT BASED ON PRORATA FOR BRIDGESTONE DUELLERS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

FORD DEALER SAYS TIRE IS DEFECTIVE BUT NOT PART OF RECALL (YET). PLEASE HELP!( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )