NHTSA Complaint #10079061 — 2000 FORD EXCURSION

IN FEB. 2004 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD RECALLING THE TIRES I HAD ON MY 2000 FORD EXCURSION. THE TIRES HAD 44000 MILES ON THEM AT THAT TIME WITH NO FAILURE. WE HAD THE REPLACEMENTS PUT ON BY CAPITOL CITY FORD IN INDIANAPOLIS ON 03/25/2004. MY WIFE AND SOME FAMILY WENT TO TENNESSEE OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND ON THE RETURN TRIP THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. IT DIDN'T LEAK OUT IT BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER, LARRY D. MCROBERTS 317-891-9020, ADVISED HE HAD TO USE EXTREEM EFFORT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SOMEWHAT STRAIGHT BUT IT DID GO INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN OF I 75 JUST NORTH OF LEXINGTON KENTUCKY ACROSS ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE TIRE WAS CHANGED, WITH THE NEW SPARE AND THEY MADE IT BACK TO HOME. WHEN PRESENTED TO CAPITOL CITY FOR REPLACEMENT THEY ADVISE IT WOULD ONLY BE COVERED BY B. F GOODRICH @70 % OF THE COST. THAT IS NOT THE MAIN ISSUE, WE HAD 44000 ON "DEFECTIVE" FIRESTONE TIRES, BUT COULD NOT GET 1500 MILES OUT OF THE REPLACEMENT GOODRICH TIRES AND HAD A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS BLOW OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE GOODRICH TIRES ARE NOW THE STANDARD FOR THE FORD EXCURSION. THE TIRE THAT BLEW HAD A DOT NUMBER OF 013W384A18003 FROM THE MICHELIN WARRANTY FORM NUMBER AA5110951. AT THE DEALERSHIP A MECHANIC STATED TO ME, WHEN I BROUGHT IN THE TIRE, " LOOKS LIKE GOODRICH TOOK A LESSON FROM FIRESTONE" ARE THESE TIRES FAILING THE SAME AS FIRESTONES? *AK