NHTSA Complaint #732021 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A NEW FORD EXPLORER WITH THE "BRAND DESCRIPTION" OF THE CURRENTLY RECALLED FIRESTONE TIRE, ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT HAVE THE CODE ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE STATING THAT IT CAME SPECIFICALLY FROM THE DISTRIBUTION LOCATION CURRENTLY IN QUESTION. TWO WEEKS AGO MY RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME COMPLETELY APART. AFTER MUCH MISINFORMATION FROM FORD AND FIRESTONE, CHANNEL 4 NEWS TOOK THE STORY AND HELPED GET FORD TO PAY ATTENTION TO MY CASE. THEY AGREED TO PICK UP THE CAR AND REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES FOR ME. THE DAY AFTER THE STORY AIRED ON TV FORD (DON MCLEAN SPECIFICALLY) CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY HAD CHANGED THEIR MINDS AND WERE NO LONGER GOING TO REPLACE MY TIRES BECAUSE THEY DID NOT COME FROM THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION. STILL THE TIRE SEPERATED FROM MY CAR AND ESSENTIALLY MAKING US AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST SOLELY WITH THE ILLINOIS PLANT. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO LITTLE GIRLS AND FORD AND FIRESTONE HAVE GONE BACK ON THEIR WORD LEAVING ONCE AGAIN TO DRIVE A CAR WITH DEFECTIVE TIRES. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE AND SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. PEOPLE WITH THAT BRAND TIRE, WITH THE "CODE" OR NOT, SHOULD NOT DRIVE THEIR CAR. SINCERELY, TAMMY HALADWALA. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15S )