NHTSA Complaint #10075613 — 2000 FORD EXCURSION

REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST SOLICITED BY FIRESTONE SAFETY CAMPAIGN.*MR NUMEROUS SPLITS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE SIDEWALL OFF ALL FOUR TIRES MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER, A LOCAL FIRESTONE REP AGREED TO SELL THE CONSUMER FOUR NEW FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL AT LOAD RANGE D TIRES AT A PRORATED PRICE. TEN MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED WHAT FIRESTONE REFERS TO AS RAPID AIR LOSS. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE AGAIN THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE TIRE WERE TOO LIGHT DUTY FOR THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR MICHELIN LOAD RANGE E TIRES. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL IN REFERENCE TO THE FIRESTONE TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE LETTER ONLY OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT FOR TIRES PURCHASED AFTER MARCH 1, 2003. *NM