NHTSA Complaint #726828 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

AFTER READING AN ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER REGARDING FIRESTONE TIRES ON FORD EXPLORERS, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH TED WIENS FIRESTONE (3841 E. CRAIG ROAD, LAS VEGAS, NV --702-644-3384) ON AUG 5, 2000 TO DETERMINE THE SAFETY OF THE WILERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED ON MY FORD EXPLORER. AFTER BEING ASSURED THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY SAFE I LEFT THE STORE ONLY TO GET A BLOWOUT THAT SAME DAY. THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM. I APPRECIATE THE OFFER FROM FIRESTONE TO CHECK THE TIRES, HOWEVER, I QUESTION THEIR ABILITY TO DETERMINE THE TIRES SAFETY BASED ON MY BLOWOUT HAPPENING THE SAME DAY. I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME, NOT ONLY CONCERNING THE TIRES THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO FIRESTONE'S INADEQUATE ABILITY TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE CHECK OF THE TIRES. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ANYTIME 702-396-3803. 21 DEATHS IS ENOUGH. *AK