NHTSA Complaint #730935 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

WE FOUND CONTINUOUS CRACKS IN ALL FOUR OF OUR 15" WILDERNESS TIRES ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2000. FIRESTONE REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THE DOT CODE WAS VNHL INDICATING THAT THEY WERE MADE IN QUEBEC. OUR FORD DEALER, JIM ROSS, TOLD US TO GO ANYWHERE AND BUY ANY TIRES, AND THAT FORD OF FIRESTONE WOULD REIMBURSE US. HE SAID THEY WERE SCAREY LOOKING. HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT MY WIFE, LUANNE, DRIVING ON THEM. LUANNE BOUGHT 4 NEW MICHELINS AND HAD THEM PUT ON FOR $507.32. SINCE THE DAMAGED FIRESTONES WERE NOT MADE IN DECATUR, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL NOT GET OUR MONEY BACK. WE ARE UPSET ABOUT LOSING THIS MUCH MONEY, BUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN $500. I HOPE YOUR OFFICE CAN LOOK INTO THIS PROBABLE PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES THAT SO FAR HAVE ESCAPED THE RECALL, BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST AND PROPERTY DAMAGED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. SINCERELY, BILL DUGAN( DOT NUMBER: VNHL )