NHTSA Complaint #727144 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DOING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN MY BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. I COULD HAVE BEEN GOING A LITTLE OVER 80 HOWEVER. I DO NOT RECALL HITTING ANYTHING BUT JUST HEARING THE LOUD EXPLOSION AND SUDDENLY TRYING TO STEER ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AS I SLOWED DOWN. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPLACED. THEY SAID THE TIRE LOOKED TORN APART WITH A HOLE AROUND 9 INCHES OR SO. I DID NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT IT AT THE TIME OTHER THAN HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE IT. I DID NOT INQUIRE ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE OR IF IT SEEMED STRANGE. I WAS JUST GLAD TO HAVE NOT WRECKED AND JUST QUICKLY REPLACED IT. I SIMPLY WANTED TO REPORT THAT I DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS TIRE EVEN THOUGH I DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW IF THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE MADE BY FIRESTONE. AS I SAID, I JUST WANTED TO GO ON RECORD SAYING I DID HAVE AN INCIDENT WITH IT.( DOT NUMBER: )