NHTSA Complaint #766454 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS TRAVELING ON I 69 NEAR INDIANAPOLIS, IN, WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT THE AREA WHERE TREAD MEETS SIDEWALL. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO SLOW AND GET OFF ROAD, NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A LARGE SEMI TRUCK FOLLOWING TOO CLOSLEY. THESE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT BY FORD MOTOR BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH FIRESTONE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE WITH THESE GENERAL TIRES BECAUSE OF THE BLOWOUT. I REQUESTED THE FORD DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH GENERAL TIRES TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES WITH NEW TIRES, BUT THEY REFUSED. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THEY REPLACED TIRES IN THESE SITUATIONS THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS. IT SEEMS THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH THEIR FINANCES THAN THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED 4 NEW MICHELIN TIRES AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND FEEL MUCH SAFER. I WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY I WAS TREATED IN THIS MATTER, IT WAS NOT THROUGH ANY FAULT OF MY OWN. THE DEALER EVEN SUGGUESTED THAT I MAY HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRES WHEN PARALLEL PARKING BY HITTING THE CURB, BUT I DO NOT PARALLEL PARK THIS VEHICLE AND I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. I THINK FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE $600 I SPENT SO I MAY DRIVE A SAFE VEHICLE.*AK