NHTSA Complaint #726608 — 1995 FORD EXPLORER

ON MAY 9, 1998 MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A USED 1995 FORD EXPLORER FROM HOOKS FORD IN GRANBURY. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE MY HUSBAND COMMENTED ON ONE OF THE TIRES. THE SALESMAN ASSURED US HE WOULD HAVE THE SERVICE DEPT. CHECK THE TIRES. AFTER MERELY "ROTATING" THE TIRES, THEY DECLARED IT SAFE. THREE DAYS LATER, MAY 12, 1998 WHILE DRIVING HOME TO AUSTIN, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER AND ROLL 5 1/2 TIMES. A FOUR YEAR-OLD CHILD WAS THROWN THROUGH A WINDOW AND SURVIVED. A SECOND CHILD RESTRAINED IN A CAR SEAT WAS PHYSICALLY UNHARMED. THE DRIVER, MYSELF, REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE AS IT ROLLED BUT MY SEAT BELT FAILED AND I SUSTAINED A COMPRESSION FRACTURE OF MY NECK, LACERATION OF MY HEAD AND EAR, AND WENT INTO A COMA. WE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO FORD AND NEVER HEARD BACK FROM EITHER. WE CONSULTED AN ATTORNEY AND BECAUSE WE NO LONGER "HAD" THE VEHICLE IN HAND, HE COULDN'T PROVE ANYTHING. MY HUSBAND WAS FOLLOWING THE EXPLORER IN A U-HAUL AND WATCHED THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. THIS ACCIDENT CHANGED MY LIFE, AS I SUSTAINED PERMENANT INJURIES. OUR FAMILY WAS DEVISTATED. IF THERE IS EVERY A CLASS ACTION SUIT OR ANYTHING WE COULD DO TO PREVENT ANOTHER FAMILY FROM ENDURING WHAT WE WENT THROUGH. PLEASE LET US KNOW! WE DO HAVE PICTURES FROM THE ACCIDENT AND PROOF I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT, WHICH FAILED. WE DO HAVE A PHOTO OF THE TIRE THAT BLEW, CAUSING THE WRECK.*AK