NHTSA Complaint #746912 — 2000 FORD EXCURSION

WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR IN THE DESERT IN APPROX 100+ DEGREE HEAT ON I-40 ABOUT 30 MILES WEST OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA. THE TRUCK STARTING TO SHAKE BADLY AND THEN WE HEARD A POP. WE LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW THE ENTIRE TREAD FROM THE TIRE FLYING BACK ON THE ROAD. WE WERE UNABLE TO GET THE TREAD DUE TO THE TRAFFIC. WE CALLED THE NUMBER IN FORD'S OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THEIR ROAD SIDE SERVICE. THEY SENT ACTION TOW OUT OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA, (760-326-4068) TO CHANGE OUR TIRE. THE TOW DRIVER, ISRAEL, SAID HE HAD CHANGED FIVE FIRESTONE TIRES ON EXCURSIONS IN THE PAST THREE DAYS! HE SAID ONE OF THE EXCURSIONS ONLY HAD 7,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAD THREE ADULTS AND THREE CHILDREN, INCLUDING A BABY, IN THE VEHICLE AND ALL WERE EXTREMELY UPSET. LUCKILLY MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND NO ONE WAS HURT. WE HAD JUST CALLED FORD THE WEEK BEFORE THIS TRIP BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIRESTONES ON OUR LONG TRIP. THEY TOLD US THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE AND THEY WEREN'T BEING RECALLED. WE WENT TO THE FORD DEALER WHEN WE GOT HOME. THEY TOLD US THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE TIRES OR DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REFERRED US TO FIRESTONE. WE CALLED FIRESTONE AND THEY SENT US A CLAIM PACKAGE. THEY SAID THEY WON'T HONOR ANY CLAIM WITHOUT SHIPPING THEM THE DAMAGED TIRE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNW81X0379 TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)