NHTSA Complaint #10160946 — 2002 FORD EXPEDITION

VEHICLE WITH 29,300 MILES. LIGHTLY DRIVEN, WELL MAINTAINED, INSPECTED, TIRES CHECKED & OIL CHANGED MARCH OF 2006. BORROWED MY MOM'S EXPEDITION. (BIG MISTAKE), LEAVING THE HOUSTON AREA HEADED FOR SAINT LOUIS WE GOT ABOUT 200+ MILES BEFORE THE TREAD CAME OFF. TOMBALL FORD, FORD COMPANY & CONTINENTAL / GENERAL GRABBER TIRES CHANGED OUR LIVES. HEADED IN BOUND IN THE RIGHT OR CENTER LANE A GRASSY STEEP MEDIAN SEPERATED THE SOUTH BOUND TRAFFIC. FELT A SMALL BUMP SO I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO SLOW DOWN & LIGHTLY BRAKED TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT, I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO HIT THE BRAKE WHEN THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD CAME OFF, TRIED MAINTAINING A STRAIGHT DIRECTION TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, BUT BEING SO TOP HEAVY NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED IT SHOT TOWARD THE MEDIAN LEANING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE MY TEENAGE SON WAS. THANK GOD HE PARTIALLY LAID BACK HIS SEAT & SEAT BELT ON. WHEN IT ROLLED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, FROM THIS POINT I AM TOLD (WE BOTH HIT OUR HEADS & WERE UNCONCIOUS) SUV SHOT OUT OF THE MEDIAN UPSIDE DOWN ONTO ANOTHER CAR WE CONTINED TO ROLL ACROSS THE S-BOUND LANES & CAME TO A STOP FACING EAST. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DELPLOY, ALL WINDOWS WERE BUSTED OUT(XCPT 2), DRIVER DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT OPENED. MY SON & I ARE THANKFUL, I RECEIVED STAPLES TO THE BACK OF MY HEAD, I HAVE TO HAVE AN MRI ON MY HEAD & NECK, SON HAS TO HAVE HIS SHOULDER & HIP CHECKED. DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE, ENTIRE DASH WAS DESTROYED. PEOPLE IN THE OTHER CAR WERE VISITING FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY (I'M FILLED WITH SORROW & A LOT OF COUNSELING AHEAD OF ME) THEIR FAMILIES ARE IN MY PRAYERS & THOUGHTS DAILY, TWO OF THE PEOPLE IN THE OTHER CAR PASSED AWAY UPON IMPACT. I DIDN'T KNOW ANOTHER CAR WAS INVOLVED. AN ER LADY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE WRECK, MENTIONED 2 PEOPLE DIED. I WAS THINKNG NO WE DIDN'T WE ARE RIGHT HERE. I GOT THE MEDIC THERE TO GIVE ME THE DETAILS. ALL DUE TO A FAULTY TIRE THAT HAD PROBLEMS 00 & 01 MODEL OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BUT NOT 02 OWNERS. P275/GRABBERS. *JB