2000 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

AFTER CONTACTING 4 RETAILERS I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE SPRING BEFORE THE TIRES COULD BE REPLACED. THE WAITING LIST IS OVER 247 CUSTOMERS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I CAN PURCHASE THE TIRES MYSELF AND THEN GET REIMBURSED IN 6 TO 8 WEEKS. THIS WILL PROBABLY TAKE MUCH LONGER AND I WILL CARRY THE INTEREST ON CEDIT FOR AT LEASED 3 TO 4 MONTHS. ALSO WHAT KIND OF REPLACEMENT CAN YOU GET FOR $100.00 INCLUDING MOUNTING AND BALANCING. EACH COMPANY INVOLVED IS BLAMING THE OTHER FOR THE PROBLEM. WHAT THIS AMOUNTS TO IS THAT THE END USER IS GETTING THE SHAFT. I BELIEVE FIRESTONE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS. MAYBE THEIR FUTURE WILL PROVE TO BE AS SHORT LIVED AS THEIR CUSTOMERS ROLLING DOWN OUR HIGHWAYS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VD TIRE SIZE: 235 )

MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A NEW 2000 FORD LIMITED EXPLORER, EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. WHEN THE PROBLEM WITH FIRESTONE TIRES SURFACED AND THE FACTS WERE REVEALED THAT BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE WERE AWARE OF THE TIRE DEFECTS AND DIDN'T INITIATE ANY ACTION UNTIL THE ACCIDENTS STARTED OCCURING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND VENNEZUELA. THE FACT NEITHER COMPANY BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THEIR CUSTOMER'S AS SOON AS THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, I HAVE LOST CONFIEDENCE IN THE TIRE EVEN THOUGH THE P255/70R16 IS NOT INCLUDED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

VEHICLE HYDROPLANES CONSTANTLY IN THE RAIN MAKING STEERING NEAR TO IMPOSSIBLE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIP AND NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE FOUND. TIRES WERE INSPECTED BY FORD AND FIRESTONE AND BOTH REPORTED NO DEFECTS IN TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE FIRESTONE AND EVEN YOUR INVESTIGATION DOES NOT MENTION THE "W2" FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES ON OUR EXPLORER BEGAN TO CRACK RADIALLY ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE AT THE BASE OF THE TREAD! THE FIRESTONE DEALER HERE LOOKED AT THEM AND SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. THE CRACKS RANGE FROM APPROX 1/8" TO 3/4"LONG AND ARE WORRYSOME TO SAY THE LEAST. WE REPLACED THE TIRES ON OUR OWN AS WE COULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR WITH ANY SENSE OF CONFIDENCE. THIS IS THE FOURTH EXPLORER WE'VE HAD AND HAVE BEEN QUITE SATISFIED THEM AS A WHOLE. WE HAVE RETAINED THE TIRES SHOULD ANYONE WISH TO INSPECT THEM. THE CRACKS ARE VERY OBVIOUS. THANKS MARK SANDERSON. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE TIRES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. WHEN I PURCHASE A CAR OF THIS PRICE ($34,000+) I EXPECT TO FEEL SAFE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN WHILE RIDING IN THIS CAR. I COULD HAVE PAID $10,000 FOR A USED VEHICLE AND FELT SAFER, I FEEL BETRAYED BY FORD AND FIRESTONE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

RIMS HAVE BENT OUT OF ROUND. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TIRES.*AK

FIRESTONES TIRES HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT FIRESTONES IN ELMWOOD PARK NJ REFUSES TO CHANGE THEM. I'M A CONCERNED SINGLE MOTHER WHO DOESN'T WANT TO PUT MY KIDS OR MYSELF IN DANGER. M( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

SERIOUSLY CRACKING SIDE WALLS( DOT NUMBER: VD TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED UNDER RECALL, CONSUMER PAID FOR THE COST OF BALANCING THE TIRES BECAUSE THE DEALER SHE WENT TO FIRST HAD TO GIVE HER A RAINCHECK SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY TIRES IN STOCK, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

FIRESTONE TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL. *SLC

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE SWAYS AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT, VEHICLE ALSO VIBRATES OR LOSES IT'S INTEGRITY CAUSING THE MIRRORS TO VIBRATE, POSSIBLE STEERING OR SUSPENSION RELATED PROBLEMS. *SLC

I WAS TOLD TO FILE A COMPLAINT BY YOUR WEBMASTER. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH FIRESTONE WILDNERSS AT TIRES. IN AUGUST, PRIOR TO THE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT, MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE TIRES ON MY CAR AFTER SEEING A ROLLED OVER EXPLORER IN FLORIDA. THIS WAS HAPPENED.

ADDITIONAL TO ODI NUMBER 732801, NOT ONLY THAT THE SIDE WALL, WHERE THE TREAD MEETS LOOKED FUNNY, THE TREAD OF THE TIRES STARTED TO WEAR FUNNY. THIS ALSO GOES AS WELL AS THE 2 FRONT TIRES, WERE THE TREAD WAS STARTING TO WEAR FUNNY, AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TIRES ALL OF THE TIRES WHERE THE DOT NUMBER IS LOCATED THAT LOOKED FUNNY, AND IF I WOULD HAVE KEPT THEM ON MY EXPLORER SPORT WOULD HAVE HAD A BLOW OUT TOO. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I DO HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED IN THE SPRING EVERY YEAR. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XHL359 TIRESIZE: 235/R75/15)

THIS IS A SPARE TIRE, ON MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT WHERE THE SIDEWALLS, AND WERE THE TREAD OF THE TIRES MEETS, STARTED LOOKING FUNNY. ALSO THE TREAD OF THE TIRE WAS WEARING FUNNY. IF I WOULD HAVE KEPT THIS AND IF I HAD A BLOW OUT I WOULD HAVE HAD ANOTHER BLOW OUT WITH THIS SPARE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XHL319 TIRESIZE: 235/R75/15)

THE 2 TIRES ON THE BACK OF MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT WHERE THE SIDE WALLS, AND WERE THE TREAD OF THE TIRES MEETS, STARTED LOOKING FUNNY. IF I WOULD HAVE KEPT THOSE TIRES ON MY EXPLORER SPORT IN ABOUT 3 TO 5 MONTHS THEY WOULD HAVE STARTED TO SEPARATE. THEREFORE I FEEL IT IS BEST TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. SO I WENT UP TO GOODYEAR'S TIRE AND ORDER 5 NEW TIRES FOR MY EXPLORER SPORT AND HAD THE FIRESTONE "WILDERNESS AT" TAKING OFF. I WILL TAKE THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES UP TO FIRESTONE THIS WEEKEND (09/30/00).*AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XHL359 TIRESIZE: 235/R75/15)

CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR FIRESTONE TIRES WHICH WERE NOT APART OF THE INITIAL RECALL. NLM

I NEED SOME ASSISTANCE. I HAVE CONTACTED BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND OTHER THAN A LIST OF FAQS I CAN GET NO ONE TO RESPOND. I LIVE IN GERMANY, THE DRIVING CONDITIONS HERE ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT TO THE US (SPEED WISE) AND I NEED TO KNOW HOW THIS AFFECTS THE TIRES ON MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL AAFES GARAGE THAT THEY'RE OK, BUT THEY'D RECOMMEND CHANGING THEM ANYWAY! I DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 45 HIGHWAY MILES EACH DAY TO AND FROM WORK AT SPEEDS SELDOM LESS THAN 90 MPH. ARE THESE TIRES SAFE, IS THERE ANY TYPE OF "PLAN" IN PLACE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE DIFFERENT DRIVING CONDITIONS? MANY OF US ARE CONCERNED THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND OURSELVES IS IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY. THIS IS THE EXACT CONCERN I HAVE EXPRESSED TO THE TIRE COMPANY, FOLLOWED BY TWO MORE REQUESTS THAT THEY EITHER ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS OR PUT US IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE WE ARE OVERSEAS SERVING OUR COUNTRY, WE'RE "OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND". PLEASE HELP.

FIRESTONE TIRES ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T005, CONSUMER IS DISAPPOINTED THAT SHE IS ON A BACK ORDER LIST AND HAS YET TO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT TIRES. *SLC

REQUESTING REPLACEMENT FOR TIRES. RECD. LETTER STATING "NOT RECALL"

CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES (P255/70R1) ONCE THE DEALERSHIP NOTICE THAT THE INTERFACE POINT WHERE THE WALL MEETS THE TREAD IS NOT RIGID BUT VERY SOFT COMPARED TO THE OTHER THREE TIRES, IT CAN BE PRESSED WITH MINIMUM PRESSURE, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR TIRES REPLACED. NLM

THE CONSUMER FIRESTONE TIRES ARE ON THE CONSUMER ADVISIORY LIST, THE CONSUMERS TIRE WERE MADE IN NORTH CAROLINA BUT THE DEALER IS SAYING THE TIRES WERE MADE IN CANADA. NLM

RIGHT FRONT TIRE SHOWED SIGNS OF SEPARATION WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY INSPECTOR OF TIRE DEALER, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES PLUS SPARE WITH DIFFERENT BRAND (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255-16-70). NLM

HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES ON VEHICLE AFTER 14,888 MILES - SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION ON TWO OF THE TIRES - VEHICLE PURCHASED AND LICENSED IN ARKANSAS BUT BEING DRIVEN BY SON IN NAVY STATIONED AT AFB IN OKLAHOMA CITY. VEHICLE PURCHASED IN LATE SPRING OF 2000 -- LOTS OF MILES (AVG. NEARLY 800 MILES PER WEEK) MOSTLY ON HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH. WHEN SON BROUGHT HOME HAD TO HOLD STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY WITH TWO HANDS AT ALL TIMES TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CALLED LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER TO INSPECT AND THEY REFUSED SINCE TIRES WERE NOT PART OF RECALL SO HAD ALL TIRES REPLACED. AM CURRENTLY STORING REPLACED TIRES IN GARAGE PENDING SOME SORT OF ADJUSTMENT / REPLACEMENT. FORD DEALER AGREED TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. (DOT NUMBER: 8XHL1PY389 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM ,PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE CALIPER. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER 24 HOURS WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT CAUSE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NO SUMMARY

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT STAY ON, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH BRAKING SYSTELM. ALSO, HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE LEFT REAR WINDOW BEGAN LEAKING DURING THE RAIN. AFTER TWO REPAIRS THE LUGGAGE RACK WAS REPLACED AND THE SEALS AROUND THE WINDOWS WERE REPLACED. THE TAIL LIGHT CASINGS BEGAN TO COLLECT WATER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR. AFTER CLOSE INSPECTION THE CASE SURROUNDING THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE RUSTED. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THE LEAKING AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. WATER IS GETTIING INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE TAIL LIGHTS. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE TRUCK IN 3 TIMES FOR A GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ROTORS AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO GRIND DURING BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS AS WELL AS FAST BRAKING. THE LIGHTS AND WINDOWS IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ARE LEAKING TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE SMELLS MUSTY BECAUSE OF THE WATER LEAKS. THE DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE WATER DAMAGE OR THE LEAKING. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL SHORT OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A FIRE. I HAVE ASKED FOR A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FORD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER REFUSES. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY. PLEASE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE.

THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED!*AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

16" TIRE RECALLED ELSEWHERE, FORD NOT HONEST, REPLACED MYSELF $544.47. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VDCU1PX469 TIRESIZE: 255/70/R16)

CONSUMER FEELS THE TRAILER HITCH IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR PULLING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEIGHT. *SLC

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE SUSPENSION CAUSING STEERING AND RIDING PROBLEMS. *SLC

POSITIONING OF REAR VIEW MIRROR ON WINDSHIELD CREATES SERIOUS BLIND SPOT OUT FRONT WINDOW. *AK

EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TIRES, BEFORE RECALL (00T-005). *CJ

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT OR WHEN HEADLIGHTS WERE NEEDED CONSUMER NOTICED POOR OR INSUFFICENT LIGHTENING WHICH CAUSED POOR DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. ALSO, MANUFACTURER HAS CHANGED DESIGN IN 2001 VEHICLES. CONSUMER HAD SOME SAFETY CONCERNS WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE WITH FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS P25570R16 TIRES. THUS FAR , HAS NOT EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM, BUT WAS JUST CONCERNED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BOUGHT CAR NEW 1/2000. 5/2000 NOTICED SIDEWALLS TURNING BROWN AND VERY BAD HANDLING ON ROAD BUMPS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER NOTICED THAT ON DIRT ROADS (NORMAL COUNTRY ROAD DRIVING, NOT OFF-ROAD) CAR TENDED TO SLIDE OUT ON CORNERS, AND JERK TO SIDE IF BUMP NOT SYMMETRICAL. BROUGHT TO FORD'S ATTENTION, TOLD THEM I THOUGHT THE SUSPENSION WAS INCOMPETENT. WHEN THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED, BOUGHT MICHELIN TIRES. THEY HAVE NOT TURNED BROWN, AND THE SAFETY/HANDLING WAS IMMENSELY IMPROVED. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRES, WHICH I STILL HAVE, AND THE EXPLORER SUSPENSION. (DOT NUMBER: VDCU 1PX TIRESIZE: 255/70R16)

BLOWOUT ON INSIDE OF TIRE. FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE SUGGESTED A PUNCTURE TO TIRE, BUT I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE ON CURVES FOR SEVERAL MILES BEFORE THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED. FIRESTONE REP OFFERED A PRO RATED REPLACEMENT TIRE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY379 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

VEHICLE HAS A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR RING AND PINION GEAR BETWEEN 50 AND 60 MPH, THE RING AND PINION GEAR WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, NOW THE NOISE STARTED AT 69 MPH, DEALER TRIED A NUMBER OF OTHER FIXES BUT NONE OF THEM HELPED. NLM

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE ABS WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON DASH PANEL. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THIS BY DEALER. *AK

RECALLS 00V22801/ SEAT BELT BUCKLES AND 00V179000/ AIR BAG SYSTEM. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. DEALERSHIP WAS FIRST NOTIFIED ON 11/7/2000. *AK

THERE IS NO JACK HANDLE TO CHANGE A TIRE. *SLC

THE HINGE ON THE SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED. *SLC

A LOUD CLANKING NOISE ORIGINATING FROM FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION AREA,DUE TO A LOOSE CONTROL ARM. CJ

AFTER HEAVY SNOW THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE LOWER LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING WAS HITTING A BRACKET ON THE DIFFERENTIAL. NLM

VEHICLE IDLES ROUGHLY. MANUFACTURE WARRANTY RECALLS HAVE NOT IMPROVED. DIFFERENT TYPES/GRADES OF GASOLINE HAVE NOT IMPROVED. VARIOUS DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS UNABLE TO LOCATE/FIX PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT TWO OF THE FIRESTONE AT P235/75R15 TIRES WERE APART OF THE RECALL, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES AND WAS ASSURED BY FIRESTONE THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE 100% REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES, CONSUMER STATES SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY REIMBURSEMENT AND FEELS SHE IS GETTING THE RUNAROUND FROM FORD AND FIRESTONE.*JB

ENGINE HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. VIBRATION IS AT ITS WORST AT AROUND 2500 RPM. *AK

THE FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED THE ENTIRE FRONT WALL OF THE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM THE TREAD AND THE REAR WALL BARELY HANGING ON, THE TIRE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL BECAUSE IN WAS NOT MADE AT THE DECATUR PLANT, THE CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW NON FIRESTONE TIRES (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15). NLM

CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN HAS FAILED POSSIBLY DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS . ALSO BRAKES TAKE LONGER TIME FOR VEHICLE TO STOP.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 40MPH HEARD A LOUD BOOM. MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PULLED OVER AND STOPPED VEHICLE. CALLED TRIPLE "A" AFTER NOTICING RUBBER HAD SEARED AND MELTED ON LEFT REAR TIRE. TREAD WAS PARTIALLY ON. SOME OF TREAD CAME OFF. TIRE WAS HARD TO REMOVE FROM RIM. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS ATX WITH 18,000 MILES.*AK