NHTSA Complaint #750470 — 2000 FORD EXCURSION

AUGUTS 7, 2001 - TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY WITH SPEED LIMIT OF 65MPH AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 101. APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE I NOTICE VIBRATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT HAD A SCUTTLE SHAKE WHICH CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT MY FRONT TIRES AND UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END FOR ANY OBVIOUS DEFECTS. DIDN'T LOOK AT THE BACK TIRES CLOSELY BECAUSE I ASSUMED IT WAS A FRONT END PROBLEM DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. WHEN I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE (SHAKING HARDER) SO I STOPPED ONCE AGAIN TO LOOK AT THE FRONT END. I HAPPENED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE REAR TIRES WHILE STANDING A DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD WAS SEVERLY WARPED. FIRESTONE DEALER REPLACED TIRE IMMEDIATELY. I FEEL THAT IF I HAD IGNORED THESE OBVIOUS WARNING SIGNS AND KEPT ON DRIVING, I WOULD HAVE HAD A BLOW OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS MOST LIKELY A FACTOR IN THE TIRE'S FAILURE.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)