NHTSA Complaint #732849 — 1995 FORD EXPLORER

ON APRIL 20, 1999 I HAD MY 45,00 MILE SERVICE PERFORMED AT A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN DALLAS, TX ON OUR '95 FORD EXPLORER XLT. DURING THAT SERVICE VISIT THE TECHNICIAN NOTED THE STEEL CORE EXPOSED ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE; AFTER CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRES IT WAS NOTED THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE TIRE HAD BLISTERED AND BURST THE OUTER CORE. SINCE THIS WAS WELL BEFORE (16 MONTHS AGO) THE FIRESTONE AXT RECALL OUR ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO PLACE THE TIRE(S). IN A EFFORT TO NOT PUT MYSELF OR FAMILY AT RISK WE ELECTED TO "BIT- THE-BULLET" AND PURCHASED A COMPLETE SET OF NEW MICHELIN TIRES AT SAM'S WHOLESALE STORE. I WISH TO BE REIMBURSED ALONG WITH THE OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO ARE OFFERED REPLACEMENT TIRES OR BEING REIMBURSED FOR TIRES PURCHASED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2000. I FEEL THAT I WAS WAS VICTIMIZED BY FIRESTONE'S MISJUDGMENT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY AT THIS TIME DO NOT FALL WITHIN THERE 'SPECIFIED WINDOW' OF REPLACEMENT OR REIMBURSEMENT POLICY GUIDELINES. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE ME WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND BRIDGESTONE-FIRESTONE AND HAVE BEEN PASSED ON FROM PHONE NUMBER TO PHONE NUMBER TO NO AVAIL. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH BOTH FORD & FIRESTONE AS TO HOW THEY HAVE HANDLED THIS UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL AS MYSELF. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235-75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )