1997 FORD EXPLORER Tires Problems

ON 9/1/00 WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR, I SUFFERED A BLOW-OUT ON A HIGHWAY @ 65MPH. I WAS LUCKY BEYOND MEASURE, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT & I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SAFETY. THE TIRE WAS INSPECTED BY OUR MECHANIC AT GOODYEAR & FOUND TO HAVE NO FOREGIN OBJECTS IN IT; THE TREAD WAS PEELING AWAY ON THE INSIDE. THE NEXT MORNING I READ THAT NHTSA HAD INCLUDED MY MODEL TIRE IN ITS WARNINGS TO FIRESTONE & FORD. I CALLED FIRESTONE DIRECTLY, THEY SAID THAT SINCE MY TIRE ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, I SHOULD JUST SAVE MY RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACEMENTS & WATCH THE NEWS FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFO. THIS COMPANY DIDN'T EVEN TAKE MY NAME, OR ASK FOR THE TIRE INFO, MUCH LESS ASK IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES.I AM FURIOUS THAT MY FAMILY CAME SO CLOSE TO BEING A STATISTIC.INACTION BY FIRESTONE WILL ONLY LEAD...

I HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT FOR NO APPARANT REASON WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A BUSINESS TRIP. WHEN I WENT TO A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP TO GET A NEW TIRE UNDER WARRANTY, THEY INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERAGED AS IT WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZARD. WHEN I ARGUED THAT I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, THEY STILL REFUSED TO COVER THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY. JUST PRIOR TO BLOWOUT, I NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT SECTION OF THE VEHICLE, BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: COIL TIRE SIZE: 225/70R15 )

COMPLAINED TO DEALER 3/07/00 ABOUT UNEVEN TIRE WEAR; REPLACED 2 FRONT TIRES MYSELF 35,226 MILES; SUBSEQUENT INSPECTIONS AT 43,000 REVEAL HAIRLINE CRACKS ON REAR TIRES; DEALER SAYS TIRES NOT ON RECALL; APPALACHIAN TIRE IN HURRICANE, WV. INSPECTED TIRES AND CONFIRMS THAT THEY MUST BE REPLACED. THERE IS SLIGHT VIBRATION INSIDE THE VEHICLE. FEEL THAT I MUST REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES, NOT JUST THE REAR 2, AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT WILL JUST RE-OCCUR. THESE TIRES SHOULD BE RECALLED ALSO. I WILL WRITE LETTER TO FORD/BRIDGESTONE, ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R255/70R16 )

PE00-020; AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRES HAD FOUND CRACKS ON THE FOUR SET OF TIRES. FORD, EXPLORER, 1997, P235/75R15, DOT VNHL. *AK FIRESTONE HAS INFORMED THE CUSTOMER THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL AND THE CUSTOMER INTENDS TO REPLACE THEM. *YH

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 )

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 )

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 )

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...

PE00-020; AFTER HAVING A BLOWOUT ON LEFT REAR TIRE A TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT FOUR OF TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS P235/75R15 ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1997. *AK THE RECALL WAS ISSUED TWO YEARS LATER AFTER THE TIRE BLOW OUT BUT THE CUSTOMER WANTS REFUND FOR BUYING REPLACEMENTS. *YH

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THOSE ALTERNATING TREAD BLOCKS WHICH DO NOT WRAP ONTO THE SIDEWALL. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS, "THAT SIZE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL" AND CALLS IT "NORMAL" BUT OTHER BRANDS OF SIMILAR TIRES I HAVE EXAMINED DO NOT HAVE CRACKS LIKE THESE. I WILL PROVIDE PHOTOS IF DESIRED. I WANT TO KNOW IF THESE TIRES ARE SAFE. IF NOT, I WANT THEM REPLACED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO TIRE EXPLODING OFF RIM. I HAVE ALSO GONE THROUGH 12 TIRES DUE TO IRREGULAR WEAR AND VIBRATIONS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE SEPARATION AND ROLLOVER( DOT NUMBER: W2CU 1PX TIRE SIZE: P2557016 )

MY REAR LEFT TIRE BLOW OUT IN A HOUSTON HIGHWAY ON MAY 09, 2000, PRIOR TO THE GENERAL WARNING AND FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL. THEN I LEFT THE US FOR MY VACATIONS ABROAD AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO COLLEGE LAST WEEK AND KNOWING ALREADY ABOUT THE RECALL, I TOOK THE EXPLORER'S TIRES TO THE FORD DEALER BUT TO MY SURPRISE, HE REFUSES TO CHANGE THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MANUFACTURED AT THE FIRESTONE'S DECATUR, IL. PLANT. I STILL HAVE THE WILDERNESS AT TIRE THAT BLOWNOUT, IT IS AS I SAID FROM ANOTHER FIRESTONE PLANT AND I WONDER IF MY TIRE BLOWOUT, SHOULDN'T ALL THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES FROM OTHER FIRESTONE PLANTS BE RECALL AS WELL?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

HAVE BEEN COMPLAIN OF FRONT WHEEL SHAKE SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE AT 36,000. DEALER THOUGHT IT WAS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. DURING ROUTINE VEHICLE MANTINANCE FOUND LEFT FRONT TIRE INSIDE (DOT W2HL) WAS WORN AND BELT SHOWING. DEALER SAID BAD TIRE, FIRESTONE DEALER SAID NEED ALINEMENT. PUT ON SPARE TIRE ALSO DOT W2HL AND PURCHASED NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE P235/7515 DOT 8XHL. HAVE KEPT OLD TIRE. TWO REMAINING REAR TIRES SHOW CRACKS IN SIDE WALL. LITTLE HELP FROM DEALERSHIP OR FIRESTONE. TIRES ARE AT USE FULL LIFE, BUT GOOD TREAD IS STILL ON TIRES. PLAN ON REPLACING ALL FOUR THIS WEEKEND . WILL NOT BE REPLALCING WITH FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE LOST ALL TREAD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TIRE RECENTLY INSPECTED BY FIRESTONE DEALER AND SAID TO BE IN EXCELLECT CONDITION.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL IPY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 TIRES LISTED IN THE REPORT WERE ON THE REAR VEHICLE (FORD 1997 EXPLORER, EDDIE BOWER 4X4, 4 DOOR MODEL). THESE TIRES APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL. TOTAL VEHICLE MILES WERE APPROXIMATELY 62,000 MILES. TREAD WEAR WAS EXCELLENT FOR THESE TIRES. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY ONE-FOURTH INCH TREAD LEFT ON THESE TIRES. I HAVE BEEN INSPECTING EACH OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRES BEFORE AND AFTER EACH DAY'S COMMUTE. I NOTICED SMALL FRACTURES DEVELOPING AT THE EDGE OF THE TREAD WHERE IT MEETS THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. BOTH REAR TIRES EXHIBITED THE SMALL FRACTURES. DURING THE LAST INSPECTION (ON 08/23/00), I NOTICED THE FRACTURES WIDENING SIGNIFICANTLY. AT LEAST ONE OF THE FRACTURES ON THE OUTER SIDE OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXHIBITED STEEL WIRES PROTRUDING FROM THE BULGE. I IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTACTED A LOCAL FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE. BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THEIR...

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 )

ON MAY 10TH, 2000 WHILE DRIVING ON US41 AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 58 MPH, THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF THE VEHICLE CAME OFF OF THE TIRE CASING WHICH CAUSED ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLING THE SPARE TIRE, I WENT TO MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AND QUESTIONED IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY ON THE TIRE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOT. HE INDICATED THAT THE TIRE MIGHT HAVE BEEN RUN ON LOW AIR PRESSURE. NATURALLY I COULD NOT DISPROVE HIS THEORY. I PURCHASED TWO NEW TIRES BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING AGAIN. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT I WOULD BE BACK TO REPLACE THE OTHER TWO WHEN I HAD THE MONEY TO DO SO. IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT OUT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN SOME FIRESTONE 15 INCH TIRES OF...

I JUST WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE A DIFFERENT SIZE OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT'S, I HAVE TAKEN THEM TO FIRESTONE. THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THE "RECALL" SIZE. THE TIRES DO APPEAR TO BE SEPERATING. I AM NOT WAITING FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION. I FEEL MY FAMLIES LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN $450.00 FOR A NEW SET OF TIRES. I KNOW YOU ARE DOING ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION. IF YOU FIND THAT OTHER SIZES ARE AT FAULT, PLEASE CONSIDER THE PEOPLE THAT HAD THEM SWITCHED UPON ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I AM GOING TO KEEP MY FIRESTONE'S IN THE GARAGE FOR AWHILE UNTIL YOUR INVESTIGATION IS OVER. ALSO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT THE SIZE THEY RECALLED IS THE MOST POPULAR OF THE FIRESTONE'S INSTALLED ON EXPLORERS, BUT THE 16" WHEEL IS AN OPTION ON THE VEHICLE. SO IF "MOST" OF THE ACCIDENTS OCCURED ON THE...

TIRE FAILED DESPITE NOT BEING MADE IN DECATUR, IL( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES WERE SEPARATING AND STATED IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THEM, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE AND FIRESTONE STATED EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. NLM

PE-00-020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A FORD EXPLORER, 1997, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, TIRES HAVE 17 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. CONSUMER HAS NOTICED REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAS DEVELOPED A HAIRLINE CRACK, CRACK IS DEVELOPING A CIRCLE, TREAD LOOK LIKE IT IS SEPARATING. *AK

PE00-020; TIRES SIZE P235/75R15, DOT W2HL1PY, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1997 WITH 40,000 MILES. FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD SEPARATED TO THE POINT WHERE STEEL BELTS WERE VISIBLE WHICH CAUSED VIBRATION. FIRESTONE INSPECTED TIRE, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT PART OF RECALL. FORD CLAIMED THERE WAS NO DEFECT .*AK FORD COMPANY AGREED TO REPLACE TWO OF THE TIRES AND THE CUSTOMER REPLACED THE REMAINING TWO TIRES. *YH

THE LEFT REAR TIRE SHREDDED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. YH 2 INJURIES, 1 FOOT INJURY AND 1 FINGER INJURY. FIRESTONE TIRE, POLICE REPORT PROVIDED - ALABAMA UNIFORM TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORT #00062455. *SLC

THE TIRES (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT) ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND CUPPING, VEHICLE ALSO PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT AND APPEARED TO BE VERY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE. NLM

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDE WALL SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WITH A BLOW OUT AT 70 MPH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/75/16 )

OUR CAR ROLLED OVER AFTER BEING STRUCK IN THE RIGHT REAR , BOTH TIRES ON DRIVER SIDE SEPERATED FROM RIMS. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO ROLL OVER. OTHER 2 TIRES WHILE HAVING DEBRIS IN BEAD AREAS DID NOT SEPERATE FROM RIM( DOT NUMBER: UNK TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

3 WEEKS AGO A VD CODED WILDERNESS AT ON RIGHT FRONT OF MY EXPLORER LOST A CHUNK OF TREAD EXPOSING BOTH STEEL BELTS. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE WHO SAID THE STORIES IN THE PRESS WERE FALSE, AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THIS WAS AUGUST 8, 2000. THEY SOLD ME A REPLACEMENT TIRE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TO THIS STORE COMPLAINING OF WOBLE AT SPEED. THEY CLAIMED THE TIRES (ALL VD CODE) WERE GOOD, AND THE ALIGNMENT BY FORD DEALER WAS BAD. MY FORD DEALER HAD INSPECTED TIRES AND ALIGNMENT 7 MONTHS EARLIER AND SAID THE TIRES WERE BAD. I DID NOT INSTALL THE REPLACEMENT NEW TIRE SINCE THE RECALL NEWS CAME THE FOLLOWING DAY. SO I USED MY SPARE, DOT CODED W2HL WHILE RECALL ISSUES WERE BEING RESOLVED. TODAY I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH IN TEXAS, 107 DEGREES AT THE TIME. THE CAR STARTED WOBBLING SEVERLY, AND I...

BLOWN OUT TIRE WITHOUT REASON( DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THIS TIRE SAYS "MADE IN CANADA" (I.E. NOT IN ILLINOIS), YET THE TREAD IS SEPARATING AND CABLES SHOWING. WE REPLACED IT LAST SPRING AND IT IS THE SPARE NOW.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT LEFT TIRE WAS FLAT. TIRE REPAIR MAN SAID THAT HE COULD NOT REPAIR THE TIRE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT,P235/75 R15. *AK

AN UNUSUAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER STATED THAT ALL FOUR FIRESTONE TIRES WERE SEPARATING FROM THE RIM AT THE BEAD!!!! THEY ALSO STATED THAT I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT HAVE HAD A CATISTROPHIC FAILURE AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON MY 360 MILE TRIP BACK TO MY HOME. THE FORD DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BEFORE. FIRESTONE WILL ALSO BE NOTIFIED OF THESE FAILURES.( DOT NUMBER: VNHLIPM276 TIRE SIZE: 235R15 )

A 4INCH CHUNCK OF TREAD WAS MISSING, AND THE TREAD AROUND AREA WAS LOOSE. IT LOOKED LIKE A RETREAD COMING APART.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX137 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

SIDEWALLS CRACKED ON ALL FOUR TIRES, WAS TOLD BY FIRESTONE TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED AND WHEN I WENT TO FIRESTONE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IF THE TIRES WERE FOUND TO BE UNSAFE,THE BEST THEY COULD DO IS TAKE THE MILAGE INTO CONSIDERATION AND PRORATE A NEW SET OF TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )