NHTSA Complaint #728276 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

PLEASE ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P235/75R15) DOT SERIES "VNHL". I HAVE A SERIES OF SPLIT SIDEWALL CRACKS THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 1/2-INCH DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE SIDEWALL THAT RUN THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFRANCE OF THE TIRE ON BOTH THE "INSIDE" AND "OUTSIDE" ON ALL FOUR (4) TIRE'S. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE OFF-ROAD OR ABOVE 70-75MPH. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AT 32PSI COLD AND HAVE 28,000 MILES. THE TIRE TREAD IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE AND STILL HAS OVER 10/32" (5/16") OF TREAD REMAINING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY FORD AS A LEASED VEHICLE AND IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. THIS IS NOT A DAILY DRIVER AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 450 MILES ONE WAY, OR FOR MORE THAN 5-HOURS AT ANYONE TIME. THE SERIES OF CRACKS WERE NOT PRESENT WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HAS OCCURED OVER THE LAST YEAR. I FIRST NOTICED THESE CRACKS AFTER RETURNING FROM A TRIP TO COLUMBUS, OHIO LAST JUNE. THEY APPEAR TO HAVE LENGTHENED AND HAVE OPENNED UP SLIGHTLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER. I HAD 32PSI IN THE TIRES PRIOR TO THIS TRIP. AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE DOT SERIES NUMBER IS "VNHL" AND THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. I URGE "ALL" CONCERNED TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THESE TIRES ARE NOT FROM THE DECANTUR, ILLINOIS PLANT, BUT FROM CANADA. THE CHANCE OF ONE INJURY OR FATALITY PER MILLION IS ONE TOO MANY AND THIS TIRE PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN USING AN AWL TO PUNCTURE THE AIR BUBBLES OR JUST THE ILLINIOS PLANT. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT SOMEWHERE IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND "ALL" FIRESTONE TIRES REGARLESS OF THE DOT SERIES NEEDS TO BE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED AND THAT INCLUDES ALL CURRENT OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH FIRESTONE TIRES. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO THIS VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. FAMILIES ARE AT RISK HERE, NOT JUST A TIRE MANUFACTURE, BUT ACTUAL LIVES.