NHTSA Complaint #10047071 — 1999 FORD EXPLORER

SATURDAY, NOV , 3:00 PM. DRIVER (17), WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT XXXXXX & XXXXXXXXXX (XXXXXXXXX) AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF 1999 FORD EXPLORER WHICH JUMPED CURB AND SLAMMED INTO A TREE. NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. APPARENT CAUSE: RIGHT REAR TIRE -- GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT -- SEEMED TO HAVE BLOWN TO PIECES. VEHICLE HAD TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES PRIOR TO INCIDENT ( FROM COLD START, SO NO SIGNIFICANT PRE-INCIDENT TRAVEL TIME). DRIVER HAD JUST STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND HAD TRAVELED LESS THAN 1/5 OF A MILE (EST) WHILE MAKING NORMAL LEFT TURN IN ROUTE HOME. POLICE AT SCENE ISSUED NO CITATION. DRIVER TAKEN TO E.R. AND RELEASED SUBSEQUENTLY. ONE WITNESS SAID TIRE WAS "ON FIRE." BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT WITH TREE. PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, TIRES APPEARED IN GOOD SHAPE, LEFT- REAR COMPANION TIRE IS SAME AGE, MODEL AND MILEAGE AS RIGHT-REAR. LEFT REAR IS AVAILABLE FOR INSURANCE ADJUSTER INSPECTION. VEHICLE IS AT COLLISION CLINIC INC., ON XXXXXX XXXX IN MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS (SMALL SUB-DIVISION ADJACENT TO XXXXX XXXX). ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY. TIRE WAS COMPLETELY WITHERED AFTER INCIDENT. NO PRECURSOR PROBLEMS WHATEVER WITH EITHER TIRES OR VEHICLE (OTHER THAN EARLIER RECALL WITH WHICH WE COMPLIED AND RECEIVED NEW TIRES). *LA , GEM