1997 FORD EXPLORER Tires Problems

ALL FOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES (P235/75R15) ARE CRACKING. NLM

PE00-020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1997, P23575R15, DOT W2HL326 WITH 37000 MILES. ALL 5 TIRES HAVE JAGGED CRACKS WHERE CONSUMER COULD PUSH AGAINST THE TIRES, AND SEE THE SEPARATIONS AROUND THE EDGE. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TIRES AT OWNERS EXPENSE.*AK

PE0002, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P23575R15, DOT # VNHL1PY436. ALL FOUR TIRES FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT HAD CRACKED AROUND TREAD AND SIDEWALL, BIGGER THAN A HAIRLINE CRACK. FIRESTONE SAID IT WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK *SLC

WAS WASHING VEHICLE WHEN CRACKS WERE NOTICED IN THE TREAD OF THE TIRES. ONE OF THE TIRES, RIGHT FRONT, WAS SPLITTING AWAY FROM THE TREAD. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. TIRES WERE MANUFACTED IN CANADA. HAVE THE TIRES. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R15 WITH 52,000 MILES.*AK

I TOOK MY EXPLORER IN TO HAVE THE TIRES CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT THAT THEY WERE FALLING APART AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD NEW TIRES RIGHT NOW SO I AM FORCED TO DRIVE ON DANGEROUS TIRES. CAN YOU HELP ME?*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 )

I WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT I HAVE WILDERNESS AT TIRES DOT CODE VD AND W2, BUT THE TREAD ON ALL 4 OF MY TIRES IS BAD. I HAVE 35000 MILES ON THESE TIRES AND WAS TOLD THEY SHOULD BE GOOD FOR 60000 MILES. I AM TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER TOMORROW FOR THEM TO DETERMINE IF THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. SEEMS TO ME THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE TIRES, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH PLANT THEY WERE MADE IN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I TOOK MY EXPLORER IN TO HAVE THE TIRES CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT THAT THEY WERE FALLING APART AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD NEW TIRES RIGHT NOW SO I AM FORCED TO DRIVE ON DANGEROUS TIRES. CAN YOU HELP ME?*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 )

I WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT I HAVE WILDERNESS AT TIRES DOT CODE VD AND W2, BUT THE TREAD ON ALL 4 OF MY TIRES IS BAD. I HAVE 35000 MILES ON THESE TIRES AND WAS TOLD THEY SHOULD BE GOOD FOR 60000 MILES. I AM TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER TOMORROW FOR THEM TO DETERMINE IF THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. SEEMS TO ME THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE TIRES, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH PLANT THEY WERE MADE IN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 80 DEGREES. THIS HAPPENED ON I-66 WEST WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I CHECKED THE TIRE AND THE TREAD COMPLETELY CAME OFF OF THE RIM. I CALLED #77 FOR ROAD ASSISTANCE. THE TIRE HAS BEEN DIPOSED OF I HAD NO KNOWN KNOWLEDGE OF ANY DEFECTS WITH THE TIRES UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY )

WHILE DRIVING THE TIRES FAILED TO PERFORM AND MADE THE CAR SLIP INTO DITCH. I HAD TO GET IT PULLED OUT AND I HAD IT LOOKED AT THE FORD DEALER. THE DEALER AND FIRESTONE RECOMMENDED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES FREE OF CHARGE SO THE CAR WILL NOT DO IT AGAIN. IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER 22, 2000 AND I HAVE NOT HEARD THEM GIVING THE TIRES AS THE SAID THEY WOULD. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE RECALLING MY WILDERNESS AT TIRES. PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED LIKE THE OTHER ACCIDENTS. I FEEL BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE IS CHEATING AND LYING TO US. CONGRESS SUPPORTS MY REQUEST. THANK YOU. CHHABI( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE FAILURE NOTED AT INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. TIRES WERE CHECKED BY DEALER AND NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. MECHANIC NOTED TIRE WAS THREADING, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH, AND INSTALLED SPARE. CONSEQUENTLY WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN ALWAYS IN THE CAR, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THESE TIRES AND WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE ALL NEW. I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE RECALL HAS BEEN SUFFICIENT AND THANK GOD THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THIS TIRE WENT BAD. *AK

I BOUGHT REPLACEMENT WILDERNESS TIRES FOR MY EXPLORER LAST OCTOBER. THIS PAST AUGUST TWO WENT BAD. ONE BLEW GOING 55 MPH. NOBODY WAS HURT BUT I REPLACED THEM ALL. FOUR TIRES WERE NOT THE ONES MADE ON DECANTOR ILL BUT THE SPARE WAS. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE THE RECALL. I AM WONDERING IF THE ONES MADE "NOT AT THE ILL" PLANT ARE BAD AS WELL. MINE CERTAINLY ARE NOT RIGHT. I HAVE THEM SAVED IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THEM.( DOT NUMBER: NOT RECALL TIRE SIZE: RECALL )

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE ON THE VEHICLE FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO THE CONSUMER. *MJS

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE ROLLOVER, EJECTING THE CONSUMER AND RESULTED IN DEATH. *MJS

IMPORTANT: DOT CODE "VNHL". THIS TIRE HAS A CRACK AROUND THE ENTIRE TIRE ON INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WHERE TREAD AND SIDE WALL MEET. IT IS NOT UNDER THE CURRENT "VD" RECALL BUT IS EVIDENCE OF EARLY STAGE OF FAILURE MODE ON A TIRE MADE AT THE CANADA PLANT. THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE ALL PLANTS!!!*AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 35-40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, FRONT PASSENGER'S FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 HAD POPPED OUT. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. *SLC

PE00-020 ; TIRE SIZE P23570R16, DOT W2CU. ALL 4 TIRES HAVE SEPARATED , 2 OF THEM HAVE STARTED WITH HAIRLINE CRACKS ,AND THE OTHER 2 COMPLETELY SEPARATED.*AK

ORIGINAL TIRES ON A FORD, EXPLORER, 1997, P23575R15, DOT W2HL. ALL 4 TIRES ON VEHICLE ARE WEARING FASTER THAN NORMAL. CONSUMER FEELS ITS A DESIGN PROBLEM, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHERE THEY WERE MADE. *AK THE CUSTOMER HAD TIRES ROTATED EVERY 3000 MILES. CUSTOMER HAD ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED . *YH

TIRES ARE CRACKING AT BOTTOM OF TREAD LINE ON SIDE WALL, ALSO "CHUNKING"AT TOP OF TREAD, PIECES OF TOP OF TREAD ARE LIFTING FROM TIRE( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

IT IS MY BELIEF THAT ALL THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, NOT JUST THE ONES MADE IN DECATOR. OUR TIRES WERE WEARING FROM 3 MONTHS INTO OWNING THE VECHICLE, BUT NEITHER FORD NOR FIRESTONE WOULD TAKE ANY ACTION. I BELIEVE IT'S A DESIGN FLAW! FIRESTONE SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS OF ALL THE TIRES. PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR INVESTIGATION FURTHER INTO ALL BRANDS, NOT JUST THE VDHL CODED TIRES. THANK YOU. GARY J. SPANEDDA( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

BOTH OF THESE TIRE BLOWOUTS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON WASHBOARDED GRAVEL ROADS. NO ROAD HAZARDS WERE FOUND DURING REPAIR (E.G. NO NAILS OR OTHER OBJECTS). THEY APPEAR TO HAVE JUST BLOWN OUT.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX446 TIRE SIZE: P255 70R16 )

1/TIRE BLEW ON PAVED OFF-RAMP FROM I-4; 2/STEEL BELTS STARTED SHOWING AT 45,000 MILES.( DOT NUMBER: 25400URBMO TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TREADS BEGAN TO PEEL FROM TIRE( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

THE TIRES HAVE LARGE CRACKS WHERE THE TREAD TIES TO THE CASING AT EACH LUG. THERE IS A SEPARATION CLEAR AROUND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TIRES WHERE THE STEEL BELT ENDS. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE SMALL CRAZING CRACKS ALL OVER THEM. THE TREADS ALL HAVE SEVERE CRACKING THROUGHOUT. I HAD THE TIRES REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE ON AUG. 16, 2000 DUE TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL. AT THE TIME, I DID NOT KNOW THAT JUST THE TIRES WITH DOT # VDHL WERE INVOLVED. I STILL HAVE THE TIRES, BUT I AM GOING TO HAVE THEM LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES WHILE THEY WERE ON MY EXPLORER. I THINK MY ONLY SAVING FACTOR WAS THAT I DO NOT DRIVE AT EXCESSIVLY HIGH SPEEDS.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15...

DURING REGULAR DRIVING MY TIRE EXPLODED AND FELL APART( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75 R15 )

MY HUSBAND, EUGENE, ON 08/07/00 HAD THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD ALL FOUR 4 TIRES REPLACED AT DISCOUNT TIRE CO., INC. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF A RECALL UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE TIRES IN QUESTION WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R-15. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED FOR ME BY OUR SON, STEVEN E. SAKOWSKI ON THE FORD MOTOR CO. EMPLOYEES "B LOT" AND I PURCHASED IT FROM HIM AFTER 30 DAYS WERE UP. WE WANT TO REGISTER THE INCIDENT WITH YOU SO THAT IF IN THE FUTURE THERE IS A RECALL WE WILL BE ON RECORD. THANK YOU, DOLORES G. SAKOWSKI( DOT NUMBER: W2DOT TIRE SIZE: P235/75R-1 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

I FEEL THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE, PER MY AUTO MECHANIC AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME. THEY ARE WEARING BADLY.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ALL OUR TIRES HAVE A SMALL "SEPARATION" LINE AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE, ACCORDING TO FIRESTONE'S AUTHORIZED DEALER, BELLE TIRE. BECAUSE OUR SPECIFIC TIRES WERE NOT PART OF THE INITIAL RECALL BY FIRESTONE, BELLE TIRE TRIED TO CONTACT FIRESTONE TO GET A DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT TO DO ABOUT OUR TIRES. THAT WAS THREE WEEKS AGO. BELLE TIRE AND US HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT ANY DECISION MAKERS AT FIRESTONE-WE KEPT RUNNING INTO DEAD ENDS, EVEN THOUGH WE TRIED NUMEROUS PHONE NUMBERS AND 2 EMAILS, LAST WEEK, WE READ IN OUR LOCAL PAPER ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAD OUR TYPE OF TIRES WHERE FIRESONE SAID THEY WERE OKAY AND THEN 2 WEEKS LATER, THE TIRES RUPTURED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THOSE TIRES WERE MADE AT FIRESONE'S CANADIAN PLANT, AS WERE OURS. WHILE THE LINES AOF SEPARATION ARE SMALL CURRENTLY, THEY ARE ABOUT 3/8 INCH BELOW THE TREADLINE AND ARE PRESENT...

THE FOUR TIRES DID NOT FAIL AS I REPLACED THEM WHEN I NOTICED A CONTINUAL CRACK AROUND THE ENTIRE TIRE, ON BOTH SIDES OF EACH TIRE, WHICH INDICATED THE POSSIBILITY OF TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. I SHOWED THIS TO TWO DIFFERENT FIRESTONE STORES AND ONE FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE MY TIRES UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE CODE ON THEM TO MEET THE RECALL CRITERIA. WHAT CAN I DO?( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I LIVE IN A SECTION OF VIRGINIA THAT IS 25 MILES FROM THE NEAREST FORD OR FIRESTONE STORE. ALL 4 OF MY TIRES HAVE SEVERE CRACKING AT THE AREA WHERE THE TREAD CONNECTS TO THE TIRE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST TIRE STORE OR TUCKS TIRE CENTER IN MONETA, VA. 1-540-297-5155. THEY VERIFIED THAT MY TIRES ARE SEVERELY CRACKED AND READY FOR TREAD SEPARATION AND I AM DUE REPACEMENTS EVEN WITHOUT BEING ON THE RECALL. HOWEVER THEY SPENTS TWO DAYS ON THE PHONE CALLING FIRESTONE FOR AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THEY WERE ON THE PHONE FOR HOURS ON HOLD AND NOBODY EVER COME ON THE LINE. I PROCEEDED TO CONTACT FORD VIA EMAIL, EXPLAINED ALL THE PRECEEDING AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GET LOST SINCE I HAD 16 INCH TIRES. RIGHT NOW I CANT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE TIRES CAN SEPARATE AT ANY TIME. YET...

ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE CURB AT 25 MPH. THE JOLT PRODUCED A BUBBLE AT THE SIDE OF TWO TIRES WHICH HAD TO BE REPLCED TO AVOID TIRE EXPLOSION. EXPECTED A BETTER PERFORMANCE FROM AN "OFF THE ROAD" SUV.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

THE DOOR PANEL INFORMATION STATES THE TIRES SHOULD BE INFLATED TO 26PSI. THIS IS NOT THE RECOMENDED PRESSURE THAT FIRESTONE SAYS TO RUN IN THESE TIRES (30PSI)

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, NOTICED A LOUD NOISE. SLOWED DOWN TO REALIZE TIRE HAD BLOWN. THE TREAD HAD PEELED OFF OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I HAVE PICTURES IF NEEDED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )

WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 75 IN OKLAHOMA WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT FROM TREAD SEPARATION. IT WAS 105 DEGREES AT THE TIME. WHAT SAVED US FROM ROLLING OVER WAS THAT WE WERE PULLING A LOADED TRAILER, AND IT KEPT US ON THE ROAD. THERE WERE 2 OF US IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I HAVE SINCE TRADED THAT EXPLORER FOR A NEWER MODEL EXPLORER, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEWER MODEL ALSO HAS THE FIRESTONE TIRES. THE MILEAGE I SHOWED AT THE TOP OF THE FORM WAS THE MILEAGE ON THE DAY I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED - I STILL HAVE A COPY OF THE RECEIPT FOR THE NEW TIRES. AN OKLAHOMA STATE HIGHWAY PATROLMAN STOPPED AND HELPED US CHANGE THE TIRE, SO THERE MAY BE A RECORD, BUT I'M SURE IT ISN'T VERY DETAILED. SINCE THIS...

MR. HATTAWAY WAS DRIVING DOWN I-95 WHEN TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. VEHICLE HIT GUARDRAIL AND FLIPPED OVER. MR. HATTAWAY HAD SEVERE INJURIES AND WAS IN A COMA FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1PY )

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 65 MPH AT THE TIME WHEN I THOUGHT THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE, THEN I STARTED TO SWERVE, BUT KEPT IT UNDER CONTROL, SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A DRIVEWAY. WHEN I HAD LEFT MY HOME THAT MORNING I HAD FELT A FUNNY VIBRATION, BUT HAD FIGURED IT WAS JUST A TIRE OUT OF BALANCE AND ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FARTHER I DROVE THE WORSE THE VIBRATION GOT, TO THE POINT MY SEAT BELT WAS "ENGAGED" ALL THE TIME. I WAS DRESSED UP, GOING OUT OF TOWN TO A RECEPTION, THE TIRES WERE FAIRLY NEW WITH CORRECT AIR PRESSURE AND PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. I DO NOT ENJOY CHANGING TIRES, ESPECIALLY ON AN EXPLORER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN NICE CLOTHES IN THE MIST. I KEEP GOOD TIRES ON MY VEHICLES, IN FACT...

AM IN POSSESSION OF 5 TIRES DOT VNHL SEPARATING AT THE SHOULDER.THESE TIRES ARE MADE IN CANADA & NOT CURRENTLY ON THE RECALL.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

TIRE EXHIBITED 360 DEGREE CRACKS IN SIDEWALL 1/2" FROM CORNER OF TREAD, MODERATE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE - REPLACED BY FIRESTONE DEALER( DOT NUMBER: VN TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRES COMING APART AT SAME POINT AS THE DECATUR BUILT TIRES. HAVE CONTACTED BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE AND WAS BASICALLY IGNORED. THEY WOULD ONLY ADDRESS OFFICIALLY RCALLED TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRES WERE STARTING TO SEPERATE. ALL FOUR TIRES HAD GROOVES WHERE TREAD JOINED THE SIDEWALL. THE GROOVES COULD NOT BE SEEN UNTIL THE AIR WAS REMOVED FROM THE TIRES. THE FIRST FIRESTONE STORE I CONTACTED WAS VERY SMART AND HATEFUL WHEN I ASKED WHAT I WAS TO DO. THAT STORE IS LOCATED IN EASTLAND MALL CHARLOTTE,NC. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF I BOUGHT NEW TIRES ON MY OWN AND DID NOT WAIT MY TURN FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE TIRES THAT FIRESTONE WOULD NOT PAY ME FOR THE NEW TIRES. I WOULD HAVE BEEN # 251 TO BEEN INSPECTED AND THESE TIRES WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BLOWN BEFORE THEN. FORD SENT ME A LETTER ASSURING ME THAT THE TIRES ON MY 1997 F-350 WAS NOT AFFECTED BUT FAILED TO SEND ME A LETTER TELLING ME THAT MY EXPLORER HAD THE KILLER TIRES. BOTH COMPANIES HAVE PUT MY FAMILY AT A...

ALTHOUGH MY TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE. I WAS LUCKY. MY EPLORER WARNED ME THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHEN IT STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT I NEEDED AND ALIGNMENT AND TOOK MY EXPLORER TO A FORD DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT. MY ALIGNMENT WAS FINE AND I WAS FLABERGASTED WHEN THE FORD PEOPLE TOLD ME THAT MY FRONT LEFT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE, NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, HAD A BELT COMPLETELY SEPERATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE ON IT. AS IF WAS NOT SAFE AND HAD BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I WAS IN SHOCK AS I HAD MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE EXPLORER A FEW DAY BEFORE. I WAS CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS SO I IMMEDIATELY BOUGHT FIVE NEW TIRES.WE WERE PLANNING TO DRIVE FROM FLORIDA TO PORTLAND, OREGON...

I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER WITH FIRESTONE TIRES (NOT PART OF CURRENT RECALL) WHEN MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE SUV AND HAVE THE ACCIDENT( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY077 TIRE SIZE: E4027477 )

RETURNING HOME FROM MYRTLE BEACH, SC TO WASH, DC AREA, WHILE IN NC LOST CONTROLL OF CAR DUE TO TIRE BLOWING - MY SERIAL NUMBER OF THE TIRES WERE NOT THE OFFICIAL RECALL. STARTED WITH VH (?) INSTEAD OF VD. DID EVETUALLY HAVE TO GET ALL FOUR REPLACED AT THE DEALER IN NC BECAUSE THE OTHER THREE HAD DEFECTS. I STILL HAVE THE SPARE THAT MATCHED THE REPLACED TIRES. MY INSURANCE HAD TO COVER THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR - FIRESTONE WOULD NOT. I'M UPSET THAT MY OLD TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL - THEY SHOULD BE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS! I'VE HAD NO SUCCESS GETTING MY POINT HEARD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 14 IN )

I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR SEPARATE TIMES BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE FRONT END WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THEY CHARGED ME ALL FOUR TIMES AND IT TURNS OUT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THEY ARE NOT THE RECALL TIRES BUT I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THEM (AT MY OWN COST) AND THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FINE NOW (LAST TWO WEEKS). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ALL THE WILDERNESS BRAND TIRES WERE NOT RECALLED? THEY CLEARLY ARE DEFECTIVE! IF IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM THEN WOULD'NT EVERY PLANT HAVE THE SAME DESIGN PROBLEM? IF IT IS A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE THAN WOULD'NT THAT ALSO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AT OTHER PLANTS, COMPANIES LIKE FIRESTONE WRITE ONE SET OF PROCEDURES FOR SAFETY AND INSPECTIONS OF TIRES. THEY DON'T HAVE DIFFERENT INSPECTION PROCEDURES FOR EACH PLANT! THEY CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE SEPARATE PROCEDURES FOR THE SAME BRAND OF TIRES. YOU GUYS...

ALL 4 TIRES ARE SEPARATING ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER WHO REPLACED THEM. ONLY ONE UNDER RECALL - OTHERS MADE IN CANADA. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE OTHER THREE. I HAVE SUBMITTED A REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST TO FIRESTONE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

SUSAN CRUM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HCIPY217 TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )

I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A CHECK-UP. I KNEW THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TIRES SOON, BUT HAVE HAD TROUBLE FINDING REPLACEMENT TIRES DUE TO THE RECALL. THE FORD SERVICE TECH CALLED ME AT WORK TO TELL ME THAT MY STEEL THREADS WERE SHOWING THROUGH ON ONE REAR TIRE, AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY REPLACEMENTS FOR ME. HE RECOMMENDED THAT THEY PUT ON THE SPARE TIRE UNTIL I COULD GET NEW ONES. SINCE I KNEW THAT I WOULD BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 120+ MILES ON LABOR DAY TOWING A HORSE TRAILER WITH MY HORSE, I DID NOT WANT TO JUST HAVE THREE WORN TIRES AND A SPARE. I STARTED CALLING AROUND AND FOUND FOUR REPLACEMENT TIRES (GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT/S) AT A KAUFMAN TIRE STORE. I DROVE FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT SAME DAY (ON THE ORIGINAL TIRES) TO HAVE...

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT I HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT WITH THE TIRES AS OF YET. I FORWARDED AN EMAIL TO YOUR ORGANIZATION ON 11 SEPT. 2000 TO ADVISE WHAT I THINK IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH MY CURRENT TIRES AND RECEIVED A RETURN EMAIL FROM YOU ON 12 SEPT. 2000. PER YOUR RETURN EMAIL I WAS ADVISED TO FILL OUT THE "OWNER'S QUESTIONNAIRE" FORM AND SUBMIT IT. UNFORTUNATELY CERTAIN FIELDS HAVE TO BE POPULATED, WHICH WOULD INDICATE I HAD AN INCIDENT ALREADY. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE TIRES I CURRENTLY HAVE ON MY 97 FORD EXPLORER ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, DOT CODE VNHL, P235/75R15 105S M/S. AS I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE THESE ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST BUT MY DILEMA IS THE TIRES SHOW, IN MY OPINION, SIGNS OF "TREAD SEPERATION" IDNTICAL TO THE TIRES BEING RECALLED. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE FORD DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS FIRESTONE...