NHTSA Complaint #728933 — 2001 FORD EXPLORER

LOOK LIKE TREAD SEPARATION ABOUT 5 INCHES LONG ON ONE OF MY WILDERNESS HT TIRES. THE TIRES CAME WITH MY NEW EXPLORER SPORT 2001. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 9400 MILES ON IT. I WENT TO A FIRESTONE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE TIRE AND CONFIRMED THE DEFECT. HE RECOMMENDED I CHANGE THE TIRES FOR SAFETY, BUT IT WILL HAVE TO BE OUT OF MY POCKET SINCE WILDERNESS HT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HE CONFIRMED THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN THE DECATUR PLANT, AND THE SIZE IS THE SAME AS THOSE IN THE RECALL. BUT SINCE THE MODEL IS DIFFERENT, FIRESTONE WILL NOT REPLACE IT. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE TO DRIVE 100 MILES EACH DAY ROUNDTRIP TO WORK. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE TIRES IF THE PRODUCTS ARE AT FAULT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO PUT MY LIFE AT RISK WHEN THE FIRESTONE DEALER HAS ALREADY INSPECTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRE EXHIBIT SIGN OF TREAD SEPARATION. I DON'T THINK THIS SEPARATION IS DUE TO THE WEAR AND TEAR SINCE MY CAR IS NEW AND THE TIRES ONLY HAVE ABOUT 9400 MILES ON THEM. I HAVE CONTACT FIRESTONE DIRECTLY AND THEY ARE STILL TELLING ME THAT MY MODEL OF WILDERNESS ARE NOT UNDER RECALL, AND ANY DEFECT WOULD NOT BE FIRESTONE'S RESPONSIBILITY.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )