NHTSA Complaint #730412 — 1996 FORD EXPLORER

AS REPORTED ON 9/5/00 (BEFORE THE TIRE RECALL HEARINGS ON 9/6/00) TO SENATORS RICHARD SHELBY AND FRANK LAUTENBERG AND HOUSE REPRESENTATVES W.J. "BILLY" TAUZIN AND FRED UPTON: I RECENTLY READ IN THE TIMES THAT THE EXPLORER TIRE THAT BLOWS OUT MOST OFTEN IS THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE, WHICH MAKES ME WONDER IF THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. UPON CLOSELY EXAMINING MY 96 EXPLORER (WHICH DIDN'T COME WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, BY THE WAY), I FOUND THAT THE BODY LEANS TO THE LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE), RESULTING IN A VERTICAL SAG OF ABOUT HALF AN INCH ON THAT SIDE. I CONFIRMED THAT THE SAG IS NOT RELATED TO VEHICLE LOADING - THE SAG PERSISTS WITH BOTH VEHICLE AND GAS TANK EMPTY; OR TO WEAKENED SPRINGS - THE CHASIS STAYS LEVEL, ONLY THE BODY SAGS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. SINCE THEN, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OR SO, I HAVE BEEN CLOSELY OBSERVING EXPLORERS AND OTHER SUV'S ON THE ROAD AND IN PARKING LOTS. THE RESULTS OF MY ADMITTEDLY NOT-SO-SCIENTIFIC SURVEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) ABOUT 50% OF THE OLDER EXPLORERS ON THE ROAD SHOW A SIMILAR SAG TO THE LEFT. (2) NONE OF THE EXPLORER'S OBSERVED SHOWED A SAG TO THE RIGHT. (3) LESS THAN 5% OF THE OTHER SUV'S OBSERVED SHOWED ANY SAG, WHICH WAS EQUALLY LIKELY TO BE TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT I SHOULD PASS ON THIS INFORMATION TO YOU, FOR WHATEVER IT IS WORTH, BEFORE THE TIRE RECALL HEARINGS IN THE SENATE TOMORROW. SINCERELY, RAMESH DHINGRA. *AK