NHTSA Complaint #766355 — 2000 FORD EXCURSION

ON SAT. (08/10/02) MY FAMILY AND I DECIDED TO TAKE A LEISURELY DRIVE INTO THE HILL COUNTRY JUST OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS. I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 FORD EXCURSION ON HWY 71, WESTWARD AT AN APPROX SPEED OF 65 WHEN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM ITS TREAD. THIS OCCURRED UNEXPECTEDY FOR THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD AND NO OBJECT WAS HIT OR STRUCK. THE SEPERATED TREAD TUMBLED OVER AND OVER IN THE WHEEL WELL AREA CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. I NARROWLY ESCAPED HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND MANAGED TO LIMP THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED - NO BLOW OUT, TREAD SIMPLY CAME APART! AFTER RECOVERING TREAD FROM ROADWAY, THE TIRE WAS CHANGED WITH SPARE AND FURTHER LIMPED BACK TO AUSTIN TO ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP. DEALER SERVICE MANGER REVIEWED DAMAGE AS WELL AS DREW MY ATTENTION TO OPPOSITE FRONT LEFT TIRE WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE A "BUBBLE" ON ITS TREAD. THE EXCURSION, UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX A/T LT 265/75R16 TIRES ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED WITH VEHICLE - I ASSUMED FORD WOULD PAY TO REPLACE TIRES AND FIX DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. I AM NOT PLEASED TO REPORT FORD IS POINTING FINGER AT FIRESTONE AND INFORMS ME ANY DAMAGE CLAIMS MUST BE DIRECTED TO FIRESTONE HQ. I FILED INCIDENT REPORT #818333 WITH FIRESTONE AND WAS REQUIRED TO SHIP BOTH TIRE & TREAD TO THEIR HQ. AFTER ONLY 1/2 DAY INVESTIGATION - FIRESTONE MAILED FORM LETTER IN RETURN STATEING "..TIRE FAILURE DID NOT RESULT FROM DEFECT IN EITHER MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP".BUT RATHER "INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE". THIS IS NOT TRUE. I AM METICULOUS IN THE CARE AND MAINTENCE TO THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING ITS TIRES. PRESSURE WAS CHECKED JUST PRIOR TO OUR OUTING THAT SAME DAY. I WOULD NEVER PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK DUE TO NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART. ITS SAD TO SEE NEITHER FIRESTONE NOR FORD TAKE ANY RESPONSIBLITY FOR THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES.*AK