NHTSA Complaint #725744 — 1991 FORD EXPLORER

1ST INCIDENT: STEEL BELT BROKE AND BEGAN FLAPPING AGAINST REAR LEFT FENDER WITH TERRIFIC NOISE, CAR SHAKING, UNTIL BROKE OFF AND COULD STOP. WAS TRAVELING AT 74 M/P/H. COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT IF FAULTY TIRE HAD BEEN ON FRONT WHEEL.-2ND TIME CAR AND STEERING WHEEL WOBBLING AT 20M/P/H, SUSPECTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON A TIRE. AT A LATER OPPORTUNITY, WHILE PUMPING GAS, DISCOVERED R/FRONT TIRE'S STEEL BELT SHOWING THRU OUTER TIRE (AGAIN STEEL BELT BREAKING). LUCKILY DISCOVERED JUST IN TIME.= 3RD TIME, CAR SHAKING AT 65M/P/H. THIS TIME WENT TO GOOD YEAR. THEY FOUND THE 3RD FIRESTONE TIRE SEPARATING. THAT WAS THE FINAL STRAW. IHAD ALL 4 FIRESTONE TIRES REPLACED WITH GOOD YEAR , WANTED FIRESTONE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR FROM THE 1ST INCIDENT. TO DO SO, THEY INSISTED ON MY SENDING THEM THE DAMAGED TIRE, WHICH I DID NOT HAVE (LEFT WITH FIRESTONE STORE WHEN REPLACING BAD TIRE). I CONSIDER FIRESTONE TIRES AS VERY HAZZARDOUS, REQUIRING CONSTANT VIGILANCE. WOULD NOT WANT THEM EVER AGAIN. MY WIFE HAD TO REPLACE 2 OF HER FIRESTONE TIRES, ALSO BEGINNING TO SEPARATE (CAR WAS SHAKING AT 65 M/P/H). SAME THING HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY RELATIVES. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU URGE THAT FORD CHANGES ITS BRAND OF TIRES ON ITC CARS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )