NHTSA Complaint #731295 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

ON 9/1/00 WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR, I SUFFERED A BLOW-OUT ON A HIGHWAY @ 65MPH. I WAS LUCKY BEYOND MEASURE, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT & I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SAFETY. THE TIRE WAS INSPECTED BY OUR MECHANIC AT GOODYEAR & FOUND TO HAVE NO FOREGIN OBJECTS IN IT; THE TREAD WAS PEELING AWAY ON THE INSIDE. THE NEXT MORNING I READ THAT NHTSA HAD INCLUDED MY MODEL TIRE IN ITS WARNINGS TO FIRESTONE & FORD. I CALLED FIRESTONE DIRECTLY, THEY SAID THAT SINCE MY TIRE ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, I SHOULD JUST SAVE MY RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACEMENTS & WATCH THE NEWS FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFO. THIS COMPANY DIDN'T EVEN TAKE MY NAME, OR ASK FOR THE TIRE INFO, MUCH LESS ASK IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES.I AM FURIOUS THAT MY FAMILY CAME SO CLOSE TO BEING A STATISTIC.INACTION BY FIRESTONE WILL ONLY LEAD TO ADDITIONAL FATALITIES, PLEASE DON'T ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF DENIAL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHLAWR457 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )