NHTSA Complaint #731462 — 2001 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE TRAVELING ON I 275 I EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE. AS SOON AS I FELT MY EXPLORER STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD GONE FLAT. I INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE AND THE FOLLOWING DAY HAD THE FLAT FIXED UPON REINFLATION I FOUND THAT THE SIDEWALL HAD A BULDGE RUNNING FROM THE RIM TO THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. I TOOK THE TIRE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE DAMAGE WAS MY FAULT. THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING TO CAUSE THE SIDEWALL BELTS TO BREAK. I CALLED FIRESTONE CUSTOMER HOTLINE AND THE TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A SECOND DEALER. THE SECOND DEALER TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I ALSO ASK THEM WHAT THERE WARRANTY COVERED AND THEY SAID MANUFACTURING DEFECTS I ASK WHAT A MANUFATURING DEFECT WAS AND HE COULD NOT TELL ME. IF YOU LOOK AT THERE WARRENTY YOU WILL FIND THAT THEY DO NOT COVER ANYTHING . IT IS WRITTEN SO THAT ANYTHING THAT GOES WRONG IS THE USERS FAULT. I BELIVE THAT IF YOU HAVE A FLAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND CHANGE IT AND NOT HAVE TO BUY A NEW TIRE AS A RESULT OF IT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )