NHTSA Complaint #11245005 — 2017 FORD EXPLORER

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER WITH HANKOOK VENTUS S1NOBLE2 FRONT TIRES THAT ARE SHREDDING BOTH ON THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PARAMETER OF THE TIRES. THE DELAMINATION IS MIGRATING TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE TIRE AS WELL WITH FLAPS AND CHUNKS OF RUBBER SOME OVER 10MM ARE SEPARATING FROM THE SUBSTRATE. THE TIRES ONLY HAVE 27,000 MILES ON THEM AND LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE 50,000+. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VULCANIZATION PROBLEM LIKE THIS IN MY CAREER. THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS RUBBER COMPOUND REMINISCENT OF THE FORD FIRESTONE DEBACLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND THE DEALER SEAMS TO BE INEFFECTIVE IN GETTING A CORRECTIVE ACTION IN PLACE. THE DEALER IS SKALNEK FORD IN LAKE ORION, MI AND WAS NOTIFIED ON SATURDAY AUGUST 17TH WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD NEED TO BRING MY CAR BACK ON MONDAY AUGUST 19TH AT WHICH TIME THEY WOULD FIX THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE RETURNED FROM THE DEALER WITH THE REPAIR NOT COMPLETED AS THE DEALER IS WAITING FOR HANKOOK TO RESPOND BACK TO THEM WITH THE REPAIR AUTHORIZATION. AS OF THIS COMPLAINT THE DEALER SAID FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE ISSUE AS IT IS OUT OF THE 12/12 WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THE TIRES, AND THEY ARE NOT SURE IF OR WHEN HANKOOK WOULD RESPOND. ON A SEPARATE NOTE WHEN I WAS IN THE SERVICE AREA OF THE DEALER ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHICH ALSO HAPPENED TO BE AN ENGINEER SAID HE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE AND REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE ALL 4 TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. IN SHORT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND COULD IN FACT PUT CONSUMERS AT RISK. MY WIFE ONLY DISCOVERED THE ISSUE BECAUSE SHE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A POTENTIAL TRADE-IN AND THE DEALER ALERTED HER TO THE ISSUE OF THURSDAY THE 15TH OF AUGUST.