NHTSA Complaint #765080 — 2001 FORD EXCURSION

ON 7/18/02, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE QUICKLY WENT FLAT AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65MPH. THE MILEAGE ON THE TIRE WAS 24,000. THE BRAND NEW SPARE, ALSO A FIRESTONE STEELTEX, WAS INSTALLED ON THE RIGHT FRONT, AND BLEW OUT AT APPROX 20 MILES. THE NUMBER ON THE NEW TIRE IS DH323XG12D, SERIAL # VNW81X03400. NUMBER ON THE TIRE WITH 24000 MILES IS D5323XG16L, SERIAL #VNW81X03400. THESE 2 FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRE FAILURES OCCURRED ON THE SAME DAY LESS THAT A FEW HOURS APART. ROADS WERE DRY, AND TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 85 F. OBVIOUSLY, I LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE TIRES, AND REPLACED ALL 5 TIRES (YES, EVEN THE SPARE) WITH MICHELINS AT A COST OF OVER $1100. THESE ARE LOAD RANGE E TIRES WHICH MAKES THEM QUITE EXPENSIVE. ALTHOUGH THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE NOT SUBJECTED TO RECALL, I WONDER WHY NOT. THE FIRESTONE DEALER I CONTACTED WAS EXTREMELY RUDE, AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT THE FAILURE AS THEY WERE NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL. ALSO, FORD SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. TALK ABOUT PASSING THE BUCK. AT LEAST, I KNOW MY FAMILY IS NOW SAFE ON MICHELINS. I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANYTHING WITH THE FIRESTONE BRAND AS I BELIEVE THEY HAVE SERIOUS QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEMS. WOULD BE PLEASED TO FURTHER DISCUSS THIS WITH ANYONE. I AM NOT PARTICULARLY LOOKING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BUT HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER FORD EXCURSIONS STILL WITH THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES ON THE GROUND, AND WONDER ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THOSE INVOLVED. THANK YOU.*AK