1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

JUST LEARNED FROM THE NEWS MEDIA TODAY THAT THIS MIGHT BE A PROBLEM...WAS TRAVELING ALONG INTERSTATE 91 IN VERMONT THIS MAY WHEN THE TIRE LITERALLY CAME APART. THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT BUT THE RIM WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE VEHICLE STOPPED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHEN TIRE BLEW. TREAD BECAME TANGELED IN EMERGENCY BRAKE LINES EGANGING BRAKES AND DISABLING VEHICLE. TO DATE, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR VARIOUS DEFECTS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

TIRE BLEW OUT (SHREDDED) ON HIGHWAY WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. RIM DAMAGED AS TIRE VIRTUALLY EVAPORATED. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND STEER TO BREAKDOWN LANE WHERE SHE WAS TOWED BY AAA. TIRE REPLACED AT DEALER (DINGER FORD). BACKUP DOCUMENTATION (DEALER INVOICE) AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

VEHICLE MAKES LOUD CLUNK NOISE AND ACT AS IF IT HAS BEEN BUMPED FROM BEHIND, ACTION ASLO FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESULTING IN FORWARD MOTION. FORD INVOICE INDICATES CUSTOMER STATEMENT RESULTING IN R&R TRANSMISION AND OVERHAL, TO NO AVAIL. PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DETERMIN

INSURED ON THE HIGHWAY, HIT SOME OIL IN ROADWAY, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, ROLLING IT OVER SEVERAL TIMES. HE WAS TAKEN TO ER WITH MULTIPLE INJURIES. PASSENGER ALSO SUFFERED UNKNOWN INJURIES. PASSENGER IS INSURED'S ROOMMATE IN COLLEGE. VERIFIED THAT IV HAS 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. ALL 4 TIRES ARE FLAT. (CLAIM# 59-V467-108) *MW

GAS PEDAL SNAPPED OFF THE FIREWALL, AND CAME LOOSE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WELD.*AK

TIRE REPLACE DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P/23575R15 )

HAD A BLOW-OUT ONE NIGHT AFTER CLASS AROUND 9:00 PM. THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT TRAVELING VERY FAST. THEN WITHIN THE NEXT 5-6 WEEKS, I HAD 2 FLAT TIRES. ALL THIS IN APROX. 6 WEEKS IS TOO MANY. AT THE TIME OF THE BLOW-OUT , MY EXPLORER WAS UNDER 20,000 MILES. WE COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR THE BLOW-OUT OR COULD WE FIND ANY THING IN THE ROAD OR TIRE. IT'S BEEN 3-4 MONTHS NOW BUT I AM AFRAID SOMETHING TERRIBLE STILL COULD HAPPEN. THESE TIRES ARE NOT GOOD. TODAY ON CNN THEY ARE RECALLING THESE TIRES . ARE THEY RECALLING MY TIRES TOO? HOPEFULLY SO AND ASAP I HAVE A FAMILY WITH 2 CHILDREN THAT I DON'T WANT HURT OR KILLED. MY WORK (304)291-9320 ASK FOR CHARLOTTE ORNDOFF, AFTER 8-23-00( DOT NUMBER: W2HI TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE SEPARATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL, AND EVENTUALLY ROLLOVER, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES AND A FATALITY. TIRE SIZE P235 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 98 EXPLORER. CONSUMER HAD JUST REPLACED THE 3RD ORIGINAL TIRE 2 DAYS PRIOR, 4TH TIRE WAS CHECKED, THE TIRE S/N IS W2HL1PY247, THE 4TH TIRE ORIGINAL WAS THE TIRE THAT THE TREAD BLEW AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT, POLICE REPORT #2000-032297 TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. *AK *MJS

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKED ON THE SIDEWALL APPEARS TO BE EARLY SIGNES OF SEPARATING. FIRESTONE FIRST STATED 5/00 THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM, YET REPLACED ONLY 2 AT A REDUCED COST TO ME. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE OTHER 3 EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES ARE CLEARLY COMING APART AT THE BASE OF THE TREAD. FIRESTONE STATED THESE ARE NOT COVERED AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. PLEASE HELP ME TO HAVE THESE REPLACED.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX TIRE SIZE: 255 70 R16 )

FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING. NLM

VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LOSES POWER OR STALLS SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER NORMAL ACCELERATION FROM A FULL STOP. PROBLEM OCCURS MOST FREQENTLY AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *YH

MAY OF 2000, I WAS ENTERING THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS GETING HARDER TO STEER. I MERGED FROM THE FAST LINE TO THE SLOW LANE IN ORDER TO PULL OFF TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. WHEN I GOT OUT TO CHECK MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HAD GONE FLAT. NO WARNING AND IT WAS FINE NOT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THAT. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO FIX IT AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO OBTAIN 2 NEW FRONT TIRES AND PAID OVER $200.00 FOR THEM. THE VIN STARTED WITH VN AND THE 2 NEW ONES START WITH W2. I THEN HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL AND JUST FIGURED THAT GOD MUST HAVE BEEN WITH ME ON THAT DAY TO MAKE MY TIRE GO FLAT BEFORE I COULD PICK UP ANY REAL SPEED. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT HAVING FIRESTONE RECALL ANY OTHER WILDERNESS AT TIRE, HOWEVER I THINK YOU SHOULD RECONSIDER. I HAVE TAKEN THESE TIRES OFF MY VEHICLE AS I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THEM. I REPLACED THEM WITH GOODYEAR. I THINK THERE IS A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAN IS BEING SAID. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VN TIRESIZE: 23575R15)

CUSTOMERS STARTED OBSERVING WEAR OF FRONT RIGHT TIRE APRIL/2000. SPARE TIRE WAS PLACED ON VEHICLE. NOW, FRONT LEFT TIRE HAS WOREN OUT AS WELL, IT WAS FIRST OBSERVED IN AUG./2000. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: 235/15)

PUT TRUCK IN REVERSE - TRUCK STUCK IN REVERSE - HAD TO BE TOWED TO FORD DEALER - WAITING FOR RESPONSE FROM DEALER - THEY SAID NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. *AK

FIRESTONE IS DENYING CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALLED FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, 235/75R15, FIRESTONE STATES THAT THE PURCHASE OF THE TIRES WAS FROM A COMPETITIVE DEALER PRIOR TO AUGUST 9TH AND WAS NOT ON A PRO-RATA CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BASIS, THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT WAS NOT ATTACHED, AND THAT THE VOLUNTARY RECALL TIRE SURRENDER VERIFICATION FORM WAS INCOMPLETE, CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE REIMBURSEMENT. *ET

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

AFTER THE TIRE FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE VEHICLE ROLLED 2.75 TIMES AND SPUN 180, SENDING MYSELF AND MY 20 DAY OLD BABY TO THE HOSPITAL. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN A COASTAL TOWN, NOT IN A WARM CLIMATE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

HIT FROM REAR AND PUSHED INTO CAR IN FRONT OF ME DRIVER'S SEATBACK DID NOT STAY UPRIGHT - IT RECLINED ALL THE WAY BACK UPON IMPACT. *AK

I WAS UNSURE OF WHERE EXACTLY TO SEND THIS LETTER, SO I HOPE THIS IS THE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

P255/70R16 WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL. THIS IS A MISTAKE. ONE OF THESE TIRES HAD A SIDEWALL BLOW OUT WHILE THE OTHER SUFFERED TREAD SEPARATION. THESE ARE THE SAME TYPES OF FAILURES THAT THE RECALLED P235/75R15 WILDERNESS TIRES HAVE. FIRESTONE SHOULD REPLACE ALL WILDERNESS AT TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 )

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SLIDE AFTER STEPPING ON BRAKES. CURRENTLY, TIRES ARE CRACKING AND OPENING. *AK

HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT TIRES WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE TREAD. IN HICH THE DEALER HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ME SINCE CHECKING THE ALIGNMENTS, INFLATION AND ROTATING THE FRONT TIRES TO NO AVAIL TO CORRECT THE UNUSUAL WEARING OF THE TIRE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON 04/20/00 AND THE TIRE HAD LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. AND IT APPEARED THAT THE TIRE HAD A CUT (SMALL BLOW OUT) IN THE SIDEWALL AT EDGE OF THE TREAD AREA. IT WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE TIRE AND ANOTHER WILDERNESS AT TIRE WAS PURCHASED AS THE SPARE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 08/03/00 AND THE TIRE HAD APPROX. 13,000 MILES ON IT. THIS TIME THE DAMAGE WAS MORE SEVERE, THERE WAS A BLOWN OUT SPLITTING THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL DOWN INTO THE TREAD. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP THE EXPLORER FROM ROLLING OVER.FRONT TIRES: UNUSUAL WEAR PATTERN, CRACKS IN THEM AT THE TREAD/SIDEWALL AREA, AS IF THEY WERE DRY ROTTED AND THEY ALSO HAD SMALL CUTS IN THE SAME AREA WHERE THE BLOWOUTS WERE HAPPENING. (PICTURES WERE TAKEN) REAR TIRES: CRACKS IN THEM AT THE TREAD/SIDEWALL AREA, AS IF THEY WERE DRY ROTTED AND THEY ALSO HAD SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZE CUTS IN THE SAME AREA WHERE THE BLOWOUTS WERE HAPPENING. (PICTURES WERE TAKEN)( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

HEARD FLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM RT REAR TIRE ON FREEWAY--BY THE TIME I PULLED OFF THE ROAD NOISE HAD STOPPED AND WHEN I LOOKED AT TIRE IT APPEARED NORMAL. DROVE FOR 3 MORE HOURS ON HIGHWAY UNTIL IT BLEW OUT. NOTHING LEFT OF TIRE--ON RIM. FORD ROAD ASSISTENCE SENT SOMEONE TO CHANGE IT. WAS IN DESERT BY MYSELF FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. WHEN THIS ALSO HAPENED TO MY BROTHER I IMMEDIALTELY WENT OUT AND CHANGED ALL 4 TIRES. WHEN I CALL FIRESTONE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON. I CHANGED THE TIRES RIGHT BEFORE THE RECALL. I AM NOW OUT $630 FOR TIRES AND STILL HAVE NOT REPLACED THE SPARE. HELP!!!( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235/TSR15 )

REAR PASSENGER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, DOT VDHL. *SLC

VEHICLE ROLLED AFTER GPOING OUT OF CONTROL WHEN TIRES CAME IN CONTACT WITH GRAVEL ON SHOULDER. *AK

VEHICLE ROLLED AFTER GOING OUT OF CONTROL - TURNS OUT THERE WASN'T GRAVEL ON THE ROAD. IT WAS UNEXPLAINABLE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WITHOUT TREAD AFTER THE ACCIDENT, BUT THE DETAILS ARE SIMILAR TO THE INCIDENTS I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT WITH THE BRIGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES. PLEASE MAKE THEM RECALL THESE TIRES! *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

PE00-020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF. DRIVER HAD SOME DIFFICULTY. *AK

PE 00 020/TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: LEFT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT/TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT HWY SPEED OF 70 MPH IN A 1998, FORD EXPLORER, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, P255/70R16, AND DOT# UNAVAILABLE. NO INJURY REPORTED *AK *SLC

DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS QUIT WORKING AFTER BUYING IT. SO MANY ISSUE ..THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL WORDS MELTED. BACK DOOR DON'T SHUT PROBABLY AND NEVER HAS SINCE BOUGHT. THIS WAS BOUGHT AS A NEW NOT USED VEHICLE. DOOR LOCKS WAS THE WORSE.THEY SOMETIMES STICK AND WON'T UNLOCK SINCE BOUGHT NEW.NEVER FIX BY BUTLER FORD IN MILLEDGEVILLE GA. OVERDRIVE SWITCH SLIPS OUT OF POSITION. DOES NOT SHOW CORRECT SPEED. I COULD GO ON AND ON

DRIVING 60MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY. CHECKED TIRES AFTER STOPPING NOTICED TREAD HAD SEPARATED, BUT DID NOT COME COMPLETELY OFF. TOOK TO GOODYEAR & HAD 2 FRONT TIRES REPLACED. REAR 2 TIRES OKAY. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 WITH 20,000 MILES. DO NOT HAVE TIRES.*AK DOT VDHL *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AND STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL, ENGINE WILL NOT DECELERATE. IT FELT LIKE SOMEBODY WAS STILL PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL. *AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD SOMETHING SLAPPING UP AGAINST VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARTED. TIRES ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS # AT, SIZE P235/75 R15 #DOT VDHL THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

CRANKCASE IS BROKEN-TRUCK HAS BEEN SERVICED PROPERLY BEFORE THIS--$6,000 REPAIR EST. BY FORD. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, DOT NUMBERS 1FMZU32P8 AND WUA08268, BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER HAD TIRES REPLACED AND THEN BECAME AWARE OF RECALL 00T-005, FIRESTONE AND FORD TOLD CONSUMER THAT UNLESS THE TIRES WERE SAVED, NO REFUND WOULD BE GIVEN, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *YH

PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, HOWEVER MONTHS LATER CONSUMER FINDS OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND REFUNDS WERE BEING ISSUED, AND THE ONLY WAY THAT CONSUMER WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND WOULD HAVE BEEN TO SAVE THE TIRES, CONSUMER NO LONGER HAS THE TIRES AS REQUIRED BY STATED LAW TO DISPOSE OF THEM PROPERLY, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*JB

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, AND RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. TIRE WAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT, SIZE P23575/R15 THERE WERE INJURIES. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

THE VEHICLE BEGAN RIDING ROUGH AND MAKE ALOT OF ROAD NOISE, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL THE TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, CONSUMER SUBMITTED FORM FOR REIMBURSENT BUT THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITOR PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000 (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT). NLM

WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT 25000 MILES DEALER HAD TO TURN ROTORS. BUT CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT WHY THAT WORK WAS DONE SO EARLY. CURRENTLY HE IS WORRIED ABOUT WARRANTY EXPIRING. *AK

TIRE BLOW OUT WIFE & SON IN CAR AAA CHANGED TIRE ON 3/31( DOT NUMBER: PY367 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00020,TIRE SIZE 23575R15, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1998 EXPLORER, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKS AROUND RIM WHICH MAY INDICATE A TREAD SEPARATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 235/75/R15 *MW

I DID NOT KNOW OF THE PROBLEMS THAT FIRESTONE TIRES WERE HAVING AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS RELEVANT TO THE CURRENT PROBLEMS AND WANTED TO GO ON RECORD AT THIS POINT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH TREAD SEPARATED FROM CASING OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE. ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED ON A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE 22575R16 WITH 44,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT NUMBER FROM THE TIRE AND ANY OTHER DETAILS.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 225/75/R16 *MW

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TREAD SEPARATED AT SPEED; OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE MODERATE, PROPER INFLATION ON TIRES. WESTWAY FORD SERVICE HAD INFORMED US OF A TREAD SEPARATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. THE TIRE THAT FAILED WAS NOT ONE OF THE FRONT STEERING TIRES, BUT MOUNTED ON THE LEFT REAR. NO TREAD SEPARATIONS WERE OBSERVED WHEN DISCOUNT TIRE SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED AND THE FAILED TIRE AND INSPECTED THE OTHER FOUR. ADDITIONALLY, FIRESTONE HAS NO PROVISION FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FAILED TIRE, AS THE REPLACEMENT IS NOT A "VD" DOT SERIAL NUMBER.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL???? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE P 235/75R15 TIRE EXPERIENCED FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN CRASH AND INJURY (NO DETAILS PROVIDED BY CONSUMER). *MJS

TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, ENGINE STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A SAFE STOP ON A BUSY/CURVY ROAD. ENGINE RESTARTED AND STALLED ONE ADDITIONAL TIME. *AK

WHILEDRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PLAY WITH THE SWITCH BEFORE HE COULD GET THEM BACK ON. *AK

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON FREEWAY AND VEHICLE DROPPED AND FLEW TO THE LEFT, AND STARTED ROLLING. CONSUMER HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE HAD FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. *AK THE IMPACT SPECIALIST FOR INSURANCE DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. *YH