NHTSA Complaint #729933 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

ALL 4 TIRES DEVELOPED CRACKS IN EVERY OTHER CLEAT WHERE THE TREAD JOINS THE TIRE CASING AND ALONG THE BEADS. THERE WAS NO TREAD SEPARATION BUT I FELT IT WAS IMMINENT. PORTSMOUTH FORD DID NOT WANT TO INSPECT THE TIRES UNTILL I INSISTED. THEY THEN TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WHICH WAS 2 WEEKS AWAY.I FINALLY CALLED THE NATIONAL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER.THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TIRES UNTILL I VERBALLY FORCED A CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT TO TAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT. THE PEOPLE AT THE FIRESTONE NATIONAL 800 NUMBER WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WARRRANTEE REPLACEMENT. I HAD TO LOCATE A FIRESTONE TIRE SERVICE CENTER IN MANCHESTER, NH. FIRESTONE OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TIRES ALLOWING 50% TREAD WEAR. THE PROBLEM IS THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE REPLACEMENT TIRES FOR 5-6 MONTHS. TO SUM THIS UP, I PURCHASED 4 TIRES OF ANOTHER BRAND TODAY. I HAVE THE LOT NUMBER OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRES: VNCU1TX048 (ALL 4 THE SAME LOT) I TOOK DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE DEFECTS AND HAVE MY RECEIPTS.( DOT NUMBER: NOT KNOWN TIRE SIZE: 255/70R16 )