NHTSA Complaint #730853 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER

WHEN THE STORY ABOUT THE WILDERNESS TIRES FIRST BROKE I WAS IN A PANIC BECAUSE I TRAVEL EVERY DAY FOR MY JOB. ON 8/09/200 I WENT TO FIRESTONE TO GET MY TIRES INSPECTED AND THEY SAID MY TIRES WERE FINE. I WAS ASKED IF I FOUND ANYTHING UNUSAL RIDING ON THESE TIRES. I TOLD HIM IT WAS LIKE A FLAT SPOT ON MY TIRES. HE SAID THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF TIRE. ON 8/25/00 I WAS TRAVELING ACROSS A BRIDGE ABOUT 55 TO 60 MPH I FELT MY REAR END SWAYING THEN HEARD A NOISE LIKE A HELICOPTER I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND SAW MY REAR TIRE WAS BLOWN WITH PIECES OF RUBBER ALL AROUND. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SENT EDDIE'S TOW TRUCK OUT. A POLICEMAN STOPPED AND CALLED TO MAKE SURE HE WAS ON HIS WAY. EDDIE'S TOOK ME TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN TOWN. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I WAS NOT ON THE RECALL SHEET FOR THESE TIRES THAT THEY COULD ADJUST MY TIRE . WELL I WAS NOT ABOUT TO PUT THE SAME TIRE BACK ON KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING FIRESTONE DID NOT TAKE DOWN MY DOT# AND REPORT THIS , THEY DID NOT WANT TO BOTHER WITH ME BECAUSE I WAS NOT ON THE RECALL SHEET. I HAD TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE I COULD PURCHASE 5 NEW TIRES EQUIVALENT TO THE TYPE THAT WERE ON MY VEHICLE.I HAD 11,200 MILES ON THOSE TIRES AND AS I SAID I TRAVEL EVERY DAY AROUND THE STATE FOR MY JOB. I WAS NOT GOING TO BE A STATISTIC BEFORE FIRESTONE DECIDES TO RECALL ALL WILDERNESS TIRES . I VALUE MY LIFE TO MUCH. AS YOU CAN SEE I AM VERY UPSET. I HOPE BY SENDING IN THIS COMPLAINT NO ONE WILL DIE BECAUSE OF THESE TIRES AND FIRESTONE WILL RECALL ALL OF THE WILDERNESS TIRES( DOT NUMBER: 8XHL1PY110 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )