1996 FORD EXPLORER Tires Problems

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES WERE REPLACED BERCAUSE OF NOISE, BALANCE AND WEAR PROBLEMS. NLM

CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15) IN 1999 DUE TO UNWARRANTED WEAR, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. *SLC

WHILE RETURNING FROM CHRISTMAS VACATION ON I-70 WE SUFFERED A BLOWOUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE OF OUR 1996 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WE HAD JUST PASSED A TRACTOR-TRAILOR AND I WAS IN THE INSIDE LANE. THE THIS CAUSED ME TO SWERVE IMMEDIATELY INTO THE OUTSIDE LANE IN FRONT OF THE SEMI AND THEN ONTO THE SHOLDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND STOP PARTIALLY OFF THE ROAD IN THE SNOW. I LATER TOOK THE TIRE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE EXAMINED IT AND STATED THE TREAD HAD SEPERATED TO THE BEST OF HIS KNOWLEDGE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED IT WAS A GOODYEAR PROBLEM. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR AND THEY STATED IT WAS A FORD EXPLORER PROBLEM. NEITHER I, MY WIFE WHO IS 4 MONTHS PREGNANT, NOR MY 21 MONTH OLD CHILD WERE INJURED BUT HAD I BEEN IN THE OUTSIDE LANE I WOULD...

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED VARIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, INSTALLATION OF THE CASTER/CAMBER KIT WAS NECESSARY TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL AND CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE, TWO INJURIES DUE TO COLLISION. *MJS THE CONSUMER NOW BELIEVES THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE ADVISIORY TO INFLATE ALL 15 INCH TIRES TO 26 PSI, THE CONSUMER HAD 45 PSI ON REAR TIRES AND THE DEALER DEFLATED THEM TO 26 PSI WHICH SHE BELIEVES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. NLM

IN JUNE OF 1996, 1 NEW TIRE BLEW OUT, AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET A REPLACEMENT AND GOODYEAR REINBURSED ME FOR THE COST OF A NEW TIRE. EVENTUALLY, MY TIRES STARTED WEARING ODDLY, AND AFTER GETTING A WHOLE NEW SET, MY SWAY BAR LINK BROKE. I HAD THE SWAY BAR REPLACED, BUT MY NEW TIRES ARE ALSO WEARING VERY ODDLY. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, TIRE BALANCE AND FREQUENT ROTATIONS. NO ONE IS SURE WHY MY TIRES ARE WEARING AS THEY ARE, ON THE INSIDE ONLY. THE TREAD IS VERY THIN, AND I THINK I WILL NEED A THIRD SET OF TIRES ON THIS TRUCK. I WONDER IF THE SWAY BAR IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING BIG AND EXPENSIVE WENT OUT ON THIS CAR AS SOON AS IT HIT JUST OVER 100K MILES. OF COURSE MY TRANSIMISSION, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEMS WERE NOT...

IN JUNE OF 1996, 1 NEW TIRE BLEW OUT, AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET A REPLACEMENT AND GOODYEAR REINBURSED ME FOR THE COST OF A NEW TIRE. EVENTUALLY, MY TIRES STARTED WEARING ODDLY, AND AFTER GETTING A WHOLE NEW SET, MY SWAY BAR LINK BROKE. I HAD THE SWAY BAR REPLACED, BUT MY NEW TIRES ARE ALSO WEARING VERY ODDLY. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, TIRE BALANCE AND FREQUENT ROTATIONS. NO ONE IS SURE WHY MY TIRES ARE WEARING AS THEY ARE, ON THE INSIDE ONLY. THE TREAD IS VERY THIN, AND I THINK I WILL NEED A THIRD SET OF TIRES ON THIS TRUCK. I WONDER IF THE SWAY BAR IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING BIG AND EXPENSIVE WENT OUT ON THIS CAR AS SOON AS IT HIT JUST OVER 100K MILES. OF COURSE MY TRANSIMISSION, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEMS WERE NOT...

NOTICED HAIRLINE CRACK CIRCLING TIRE AT BOTTOM OF TREAD. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE, INITIALLY I WAS OFFERED 1 REPLACEMENT TIRE OF THE SAME TYPE AS THE FAILED TIRE IF AN INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM TIRE VERIFIED MY CONCERN REGARDING THE BEGINNING OF TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEM. I INFORMED THE FIRESTONE HOTLINE AND DEALER REP THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, I WANTED ALL TIRES REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THESE WERE NOT UNDER RECALL. I INFORMED THEM THAT IT WAS LUDICROUS TO BE PUT IN A SITUATION WHERE I WOULD BE FORCED TO CONTINUE CHECKING ALL TIRES EVERY THREE DAYS. I WOULD NOT BE PUT IN THAT SITUATION. BEING PERSISTANT, I WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT DIST MGR. NO TOLL FREE #, AT MY OWN EXPENSE (PHONE) I CONTACTED DIST MGR. HE APPROVED ALL REPLACEMENT, WHEN CONFIRMED. CONFIRMED BY COMPANY OWNED TIRE STORE 11/13/00. ALL FIVE REPLACED 11/14/00 WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER AT. I AM SATISFIED AT THIS...

FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, DEALER FOUND REAR TIRES ALSO WERE DAMAGED AND REPLACED TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. *SLC

FIRESTONE ATX TIRE FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND DEATH. (LIMITED INFORMATION PROVIDED FROM CONSUMER) NLM

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED A WHIRRING NOISE, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

TREAD AND SIDEWALL OF TWO OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES WAS COMING APART, TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL BECAUSE OF THE SIZE, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM *TS

BRIDGESTONE E-MAILED TO THE CONSUMER THAT HIS TIRES ARE ON RECALL, CONSUMER CALLED TO THE LOCAL STORE AND THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RECALL.(BRIDGESTONE DUELER AT P225 X75 X15 )*ET

THE FIRESTONE ATX (P235/75R15) BEGAN TO DEVELOP LOUD THUMPING SOUNDS, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE CONSUMER CHECKED THE TIRE AND THE LEFT REAR HAD A RAISED RIDGE ABOUT 3/4 OF THE TIRES CIRCUMFERENCE, IN ONE SPOT THE TIRE HAD WORN DOWN THROUGH THE TREAD AND THROUGH ALL THE LAYER OF RUBBER WHICH WAS AS SOFT AS AN INNER TUBE, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

INJURED PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR PERM. INJURIES DUE TO TIRE FAILURE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AT 70MPH, THE TIRE STAYED INFLATED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TREAD WRAPPED AROUND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LINE (CUTTING IT) AND FLAPPED AGAINST THE TAILGATE OF THE EXPLORER. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO MY FORD DEALER, I ASKED THEM IF THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM AT WHICH TIME THEY TOLD ME THE TIRES SEPERATE LIKE THAT. I THEN REPLACE THE BRAKE LINE AND BOUGHT NEW WILDERNESS TIRES FROM THE FORD DEALER. I HAVE STILL NOT FIXED THE DAMAGE TO THE EXPLORER OTHER THAN THE BRAKE LINE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

REPLACEMENTS FOR ORIGINAL GOOD YEAR. PURCHASED AT COSTCO. (DOT NUMBER: 8XHL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P255 70 R16 EXPERIENCED SPLITTING. *SLC

FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. *ET

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT CAUSING 3 DEATHS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES WERE REPLACED, CONSUMER FEELS THEY DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT AND THEY SOUNDED BAD ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

CONSUMER HAS HAD 6 FLAT FIRESTONE TIRES INCLUDING ONE FROM A PLASTIC CUP THAT WAS RUN OVER. NLM

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES P235 75 R15 WERE CAUSING VEHICLE TO RIDE POORLY AND MADE NOISES, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES AND WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

THE FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW, THE TREAD COMPLETELY PEALED OFF. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND FLIP OVER. IT SLID DOWN THE HIGHWAY UP SIDE DOWN FOR A FEW HUNDRED FEET BEFORE IT SLAMMED INTO A GUARDRAIL AND STOPPED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED ABRASIONS FROM THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. THE PASSENGER WAS BANGED AROUND SOME AND WENT UNCONSCIOUS AT ONE POINT. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL, EXAMINED AND TREATED. HE SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS GOING THRU REHABILITATION FOR NECK PAIN BUT IT HAS NEVER GONE COMPLETELY AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.( DOT NUMBER: )

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P255 70 R16 EXPERIENCED SPLITTING. *SLC

FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. *ET

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT CAUSING 3 DEATHS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES WERE REPLACED, CONSUMER FEELS THEY DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT AND THEY SOUNDED BAD ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

CONSUMER HAS HAD 6 FLAT FIRESTONE TIRES INCLUDING ONE FROM A PLASTIC CUP THAT WAS RUN OVER. NLM

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES P235 75 R15 WERE CAUSING VEHICLE TO RIDE POORLY AND MADE NOISES, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES AND WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

TRAVELLING ON THE FL TURNPIKE ON A VERY HOT DAY AT APPX 70 MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CASING BLEW OFF THE TIRE. THE INSIDE TIRE STAYED INVLATED. I DROVE OFF THE EXPRESSWAY TO THE NEAREST FIRESTONE . THEY DID NOT TELLME THIS WAS A PRODUCT DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE. THE TAIL LIGHT WAS SMASHED, THE COWLING AROUND THE WHEEL WELL WAS DAMAGED. I PAID TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES. I ALSO HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE HIGHWAY BUT NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE ON THAT OCCASION.THESE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE. (TIRESIZE: 25570R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 25570R16 )

I AM SENDING YOU A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION I MAILED FIRESTONE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. PLEASE CALL ME AS I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT SUFFERED THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL BLOWOUT AND I ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE FREEWAY BARRIER. (TIRESIZE: ?)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ? )

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID THEN SPIN THEN ROLL 4 TIMES. DRIVER SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY REQUIRING HOSPITAL CARE. FRONT PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. BACK SEAT PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND SUFFERED A FRACTURED L2 VERTEBRAE. (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

I HAVE HAD THREE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR - ONE DEFINITELY DUE TO A SEPARATED TREAD - I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES ON MY EXPLORER. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRES HAVE CRACKS ON AND ABOUT SHOULDER AREA, DRY ROT. THESE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND INSPECTED BY SEARS PERSONNEL. FIRESTONE PERSONNEL REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES; DID NOT INSPECT. I HAVE RETAINED ALL 5 TIRES. (DOT NUMBER: W2UU1MX295 TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)

I PURCHASED MY 96 FORD EXPLORER IN NOV. 95 AND HAVE HAD A VEHICLE SHUDDER PROBLEM THAT BECOMES A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN TIRES ARE INFLATED BEYOND THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE OF 26PSI. FORD HAVE NOW RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURES OF 30PSI, WHICH I CANNOT DO WITHOUT RISKING A VEHICLE LOSS OF CONTROL SITUATION.THE FIRST TIME TIS HAPPENED, IT ABSOLUTELY SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME, TO PUT IT POLITELY! I HAD JUST PICKED UP THE TRUCK FROM THE MISSION VALLEY FORD AFTER SOME BRAKE WORK. I TOOK THE TRUCK UP TO FREEWAY SPEED AND WHILE TRAVELING OVER SOME ROUGH FREEWAY SURFACE THE TRUCK ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE FAILURE ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED. THE ONLY ISSUE THE SERVICE ENGINEER IDENTIFIED AS ABNORMAL WAS THEY HAD SET THE TIRE PRESSURE TO 30PSI(ALL TIRES). RESETTING THE TIRES BACK TO 26PSI ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM.THIS PROBLEM RESURFACED TWICE MORE...

TIRE BLOWOUT ON HIGHWAY. SEPARATION ON SIDE. DEALER (FIRESTONE) WOULD NOT COVER BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A RECALLED TIRE YET EVEN THOUGH OBVIOUS DEFECT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 8X?? TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE FAILED WHILE DRIVING (P255-70R16). NLM

DRIVING 70MPH WHEN STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. HEARD THUMPING NOISES AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO VIBRATE. WAS SLOWING DOWN & PULLED INTO WALMART. HAD A SALESPERSON IN THE TIRE SECTION LOOK AT TIRES. THE LEFT FRONT HAD TREAD ON IT, BUT COMPLETELY UNEVEN. THE TREAD STILL ON TIRES BARELY. PULLED ALL FOUR TIRES OFF VEHICLE. FIRESTONE AT P275/75R15 WITH 42,000 MILES.*AK

DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT RIGHT BUMPER, FRONT RIGHT SIDE PANEL, AND FRONT RIGHT DOOR, INSIDE FLOORBOARD NEAR RUNNING BOARD. I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL AVENUES IN ATTEMPTING TO FIND A RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I DO HAVE A PHONE LOG STATING ALL THE FRUSTRATING PHONE CALLS I HAVE MADE WITH NO RESULTS OTHER THAN "WE WILL SEND YOU THE FORMS". MEANWHILE, I AM STUCK WITHOUT A CAR, UNABLE TO GET TO WORK; I'VE HAD TO COMPROMISE MY LIFESTYLE. I AM EXPECTED TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR REPAIRS TO MY CAR. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR (IT HAS BEEN STORED SINCE THE INCIDENT 9/16/00) HAVING STILL, THREE DEFECTIVE "HUMAN KILLING" TIRES" PUTTING MY LIFE, AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF OTHERS IN JEOPARDY. ONE WOULD THINK A LARGE COMPANY WOULD LEAP TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT FURTHER TRAGEDY.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX475 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

RIGHT REAR TIRE SHEDDED, DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL, GRANDCHILDEN AND WIFE OF DRIVER WERE REALLY EMOTIONALLY UPSET..( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 3/10/2000 MILEAGE ON VEHICLE 37,410. ON MAY 21, 2000 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 99 AT APPROXIMATELY 67-70 MPH AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 IN THE AFTERNOON MY FRONT TIRE SHRED. THIS RESULTED IN APPROX 1,700 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. ON JULY 20 WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 152 AT APPROXIMATELY 65-67 MPH THE REAR TIRE SHRED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ULTIMATELY OUR VEHICLE ROLLING OVER. BOTH OF THESE TIRES WERE FIRESTONE FR480'S. MY LAWYER IS RETAINING THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND IT STILL HAS TWO OF THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES ON IT. PLEASE RECONSIDER YOUR RECALL LIST, AS I DO NOT THINK IT IS COMPLETE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/70R15 )

IN SEPTEMBER OF 1998, WE WERE TRAVELING FROM ATLANTA WHEN OUR FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLOW OUT, WE HAD JUST PUT ON NEW TIRES IN AUGUST.( DOT NUMBER: )

TOWING EXPL. BEHIND MOTORHOME ON INTERSTATE 580. LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW. WE PAID $500.00 DEDUCTABLE. AUGUST 1999 WHILE DRIVING IN ALASKA THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW. THESE TIRES ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST BUT WE WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT OTHER FIRESTONE TIRES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.( DOT NUMBER: W2UU TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL CASE NUMBER 00-40-23433-03( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 15 IN )

TIRES WERE REPLACED ON 6/27/2000 AND FIRESTONE REBATE FORM WAS MAILED IN. FIRESTONE'S REPONSE WAS SINCE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JAN 1, 2000 THEY WERE DECLINING THE CLAIM. SINCE WHEN IS JUNE 27, 2000 PRIOR TO JAN 1, 2000??? FIRESTONE IS NOT COMPLYING WITH THEIR RECALL TERMS. ORIGINAL RECEIPT IS CLEARLY DATED 6/27/2000. THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED VERY CLOSELY BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AT PLACING LIVES IN DANGER AND THEN SHIRKING THEIR OWN RECALL CONDITIONS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

HAD TIRE BLOWOUT 1 MILE FROM HOME ON COUNTRY ROAD DUE TO SIDEWALL FAILURE. NEEDED REPLACEMENT TIRE. AFTER LEARNING ABOUT DEFECTS, HAD ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

ONE TIRE WAS CONSTANTLY LOW FROM TIME OF PURCHASE. COMPLAINED TO 2 FORD DEALERSHIPS AND TIRE COMPANY BUT NO ONE COULD FIND A PROBLEM WITH TIRE. I PUT AIR IN THE TIRE WEEKLY FOR 3 YEARS AND HAD TIRES ROTATED EVERY 3.000 MILES. TIRES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION EXCEPT FOR SLOW LEAK IN THE ONE IN QUESTION. TIRE PRESSURE WAS KEPT AT APPROX. 30LBS OR HIGHER NEVER BELOW. WHILE DRIVING ON I-80 OVER SIERRA FROM RENO TO SACRAMENTO THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE.VIBRATE.INTENSELY SO LOWERED SPEED FOM 60MPH TO 40MPH FOR 2 HOURS UNTIL FINDING SURBUBAN FORD IN SAC. THE SERVICE MANAGER DROVE THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING BUT HE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. FINALLY ON THE LIFT HE SAID THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH TIRE SO HE CHANGED IT. NEXT DAY AT FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER I WAS TOLD BY MANAGE THAT THE TIRE...

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 225/70/R16 TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS