NHTSA Complaint #733126 — 2000 FORD EXCURSION

ON 04/28/2000, I WAS TOWING MY BOAT AND TRAILER TO LAKE ERIE ON OHIO STATE ROUTE 11 NORTH WHEN MY RIG SUDDENLY BEGAN TO FISHTAIL EXTENSIVELY IN PERFECT ROAD AND WHETHER CONDITIONS AND AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 50MPH. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED ELECTRIC TRAILER BRAKES TO ALL FOUR TRAILER WHEELS WHICH DID OPERATE BUT TO NO AVAIL. I THEN TRIED TO HOLD THE BRAKES ON THE TRAILER AND ALSO APPLY ACCERATION TO THE TRUCK TO PULL THIS RIG OUT OF THE FISHTAIL. WITHIN A MATTER OF 5 SECONDS OR LESS, I WAS THROWN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO THE HILLSIDE WITH A BLOWN RIGHT REAR TIRE ON THE TRUCK. HAVING PULLED BOATS AND TRAILERS ALL OF MY LIFE I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THIS RIG GOT AWAY FROM ME SO FAST, ESPECIALLY AT THE SPEED I WAS GOING. AFTER EVERYTHING ABOUT FIRESTONE TIRES THAT CAME OUT IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS, I FEEL THAT SOMETHING DEFINITELY HAPPENED TO THIS TIRE TO CAUSE THE ACCIDENT. AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK REPAIRED AND THEN CHECKING THE CONSUMER REPORT'S WEBSITE ABOUT TIRES, I DECIDED TO CHECK OUT THE DOT DATES OF THE TIRES THAT REMAINED ON THE TRUCK AND FOUND OUT THAT ALL THESE TIRES THAT WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WERE MANUFACTURED IN EARLY 1990. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS FRAUD AND NEGLIGENCE ON BOTH FIRESTONE'S AND FORD'S PART SINCE THEY SOLD AND PUT OUTDATED TIRES ON THIS NEW TRUCK. I EMAILED A COMPLAINT TO FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH THE SAME INFORMATION THAT I AM PROVIDING YOU, BUT IT WAS TO NO AVAIL. AT THIS TIME I'M LOOKING INTO POSSIBLY FILING A SUIT AGAINST BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT HOME OR WORK. THANK YOU. ROBERT E. ARCHER, D.D.S. (TIRESIZE: 265/75RX16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265/75RX16 )