1997 FORD EXPLORER Tires Problems

WHILE DRIVING 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE, WENT ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND HIT THE CENTER MEDIAN. AFTER HITTING THE CENTER MEDIAN ROLLED THE CAR AT LEAST ONCE. AFTER EXITING THE CAR, NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD COME APART AND CAME OFF THE RIM.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

HAD TIRE CHECKED APPROX 2 HOURS BEFORE INCIDENT, WHEN MECHANIC BROUGHT MY VEHICLE BACK TO ME I DROVE ABOUT HALF A BLOCK AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVING PROPERLY I GOT OUT AND LOOKED TO SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH AIR IN THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE WHICH WAS NOT PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK IT IN, AND I DROVE BACK TO STORE LOCATED AT 4561 ELVIS PRESLEY IN MEMPHIS, TN AND TOLD THEM MY PROBLEM. THE CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE AND ASKED ME TO PULL AROUND SO THEY CAN PUT SOME AIR IN IT. I DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME AND APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS LATER THE SAME TIRE BURST. I CALLED STORE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NO REPLACEMENT FOR ME AT THAT TIME. I AM STUCK WITH NO VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAD TO PUT MY SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT...

ON 3-17-00, WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-476, BETWEEN LANSDALE & QUAKERTOWN, IN PENNSYLVANIA, AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, MY LEFT REAT TIRE ESSENTIALLY DISINTIGRATED. I WAS USING MY VEHICLE TO MOVE FURNITURE AND IT WAS FAIRLY LOADED. AAA CHANGED MY TIRE, AND I SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER FIRESTONE TIRE. TODAY I LEARNED THAT THE REMAINING TIRES ON MY FORD ARE THE TIRES BEING RECALLED BY FIRESTONE. I HAVE RECEIPT FOR REPLACED TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P27575R17 )

TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON PA TURNPIKE. VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, RAIN/SNOW CONDITIONS, TIRE COMPLETELY SHREDDED. AAA RESPONDED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISSTANCE, PA STATE TROOPERS ALSO RESPONDED DUE TO (DANGEROUS) LOCATION OF VEHICLE, MOTHER TRAVELING ALONE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON PA TURNPIKE. VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, RAIN/SNOW CONDITIONS, TIRE COMPLETELY SHREDDED. AAA RESPONDED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISSTANCE, PA STATE TROOPERS ALSO RESPONDED DUE TO (DANGEROUS) LOCATION OF VEHICLE, MOTHER TRAVELING ALONE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

AFTER ABOUT 40000 MILES ON THE TIRES I STARTED HAVING TROUBLES STEERING THE CAR. I HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES. IT WAS ALWAYS OKAY. I WAS HAVING SO MUCH TROUBLE THAT I WORE SOME OF THE COVERING OFF THE STEERING WHEEL. FINALLY MY FORD DEALER SAID IT LOOKED AS IF I WAS HAVING TREAD SEPERATION. HE SHOWED ME AND I WENT TO MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER. HE SAID TREAD SEPERATION WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TIRES EVEN THOUGH I SHOWED HIM WHERE IT WAS STARTING TO COME OFF. HE CHECK THE ALIGNMENT, CHANGED IT A LITTLE AND SWITCHED MY FRONT TIRES-LEFT TO RIGHT. IT FELT OKAY, BUT I DIDN'T LIKE WHAT I HEARD SO I WENT TO MY FORD DEALER AND HAD HIM REPLACE THE TIRES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED, BUT IF I HADN'T TAKEN ACTION THERE COULD HAVE BEEN. FIRESTONE IGNORED MY COMPLAINT AND DISAVOWED THE...

TIRE DELAMINATED AT 70 MPH ON HOT DAY ON INTERSTATE I-10. THIS CAUSED SUV TO GO INTO SPIN RESULTING IN CRASH. CAR DID NOT ROLL, TIES HAD BEEN INSPECTED AT FORD DEALERSHIP ONE WEEK EARLIER. FO( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 15 )

HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON 4/99 AND IT RAN OFF THE ROAD AND RUINED THE WHEEL, NO OTHER DAMAGE BUT TO THE TIRE AND THE WHEEL ITSELF. I PUT THE SPARE ON AND DROVE TO A SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRE AND WHEEL REPLACED. I THOUGHT I HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD, BUT I REMEMBER THE GUY TELLING ME THAT THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. AT THE TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT REPLACE THE TIRE. NO WARRANTY APPLIED AS TO THAT. NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, IT MAKES ME WONDER IF IT COULD OF BEEN THE TIRES HAVING A DEFECT. IT ANGERS ME KNOWING I COULD OF BEEN HURT OR HAD HURT SOMEONE. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO FIRESTONE AND FORD AND GOT A GENERAL RESPONSE. I KNOW MY TIRES START WITH DOT# (W-2), BUT IF SOMEONE FROM FIRESTONE OR FORD WOULD EXAMINE MY TIRES...

AFTER HAVING MY '97 FORD EXPLORER SPORT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES CHECKED ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 22 AT 5:00 PM, I WAS GIVEN A PRINTOUT FROM BOB DAVIDSON FORD THAT CONFIRMED THAT MY WILDERNESS AT'S WERE NOT PART OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL AS THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NEEDED "VD" DOT CODE. THE DEALER'S REPORT READ, "NOT APPLICABLE TO RECALL. TIRES OF OK DOT (W2HL). I WAS LEARY ABOUT DRIVING THE EXPLORER ON INTERSTATE 95 FROM BALTIMORE TO DELAWARE BUT HAD TO JOIN MY WIFE WHO WAS ASSISTING HER 85 YEAR OLD MOTHER WHO IS RECOVERING FROM A BROKEN PELVIS IN WILMINGTON. RETURNING HOME AT ABOUT 10:15 PM FROM WILMINGTON, DEL. TO BALTIMORE, MD. ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, THE EXPLORER STARTED TO SWIM ON THE ROAD, NOTICEABLY SWERVING. JUST THEN A MAN IN A CAR ON MY RIGHT STARTED YELLING AT ME AND POINTING TO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. I...

TWO OF THE THREE TIRES ON VEHICLE (VN DOT SERIAL #) SHOWING SAME SIGNS OF SEPARATION AS THE VD DOT SERIAL # RECALLED TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY077 TIRE SIZE: RECALLED )

TIRES HAVE A STRANGE LOOKING WEAR PATTERN DEVELOPING( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

THE TIRES WERE FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES, VEHICLE BOUGHT AT 26,000 MILES, AT 31,900 MILES THE FRONT TIRES DEVELOPED FLAT SPOTS AND WERE NOT SAFE TO OPERATE. ON SATURDAY 8/7/1999 I REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES WITH ANOTHER STYLE OF FIRESTONE TIRES. THE SAME AFTERNOON I HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE RIGHT REAR. SO MONDAY 8/9/1999 I REPLACED THE BLOWN OUT TIRE AND THE REMAINING ORIGINAL REAR TIRE. THE FACTORY TIRES WERE NOT FROM THE DECATUR PLANT BUT WERE JUST AS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE. THE TIRES SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 31,900 MILES. I ASK FOR AN ADJUSTMENT FROM THE DEALER AND GOT NONE! I HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AT MY EXPENSE WHICH WAS NOT RIGHT. I DEMAND REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE 4 TIRE REPLACEMENT.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

I HAD THREE TIRE FAILURES FROM 29 JUNE THRU JULY 22 2000. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 35000 MILES, ON THE RIGHT FRONT. THE TIRE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A HOLE BUT HE COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS ON 19 JULY AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. THE TIRE SHREDDED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED $94.03). I HAVE THE RECEIPT. THE THIRD WAS ON 22 JULY 2000 ON THE RIGHT REAR. THE TIRE WAS FLAT IN THE MORNING. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE SAME PLACE I BOUGHT THE OTHER ONE. I AM 59.5 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND OWNING CARS SINCE I WAS 16. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH TIRE PROBLEMS BEFORE AND I FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THAT THESE TIRES SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES...

ROAD NOISE GOT SO LOUD THAT WALKER FORD TOLD ME TO GET NEW TIRES( DOT NUMBER: W2???? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I FEEL THAT A RECALL ON ALL FIRESTONE TIRES IS NECESSARY DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS AND NOT WHERE THEY WERE MADE. IT IS AN EXCUSE BY FIRESTONE TO CHOOSE A SINGLE PLANT FOR A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW THAT WILL TAKE MORE LIVES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

RIGHT REAR TIRE DISINTEGRATED. FIRESTONE DEALER IN VICKSBURG, MS OFFERED NO IN FORMATION THAT THESE TIRES WERE PROBLEM PRONE, NOR DID THEY ALLOW TIRE WEAR CREDIT TOWARD THE REPLACEMENT TIRE( DOT NUMBER: UNK TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

TIRE SEPARATION AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEED. WE HEARD NOISES AT FIRST WE MISTOOK FOR ROAD DEBRIS. IN FACT, IT WAS THE RUBBER SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE. FORTUNATELY, THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT COMPLETELY WHILE WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE. WE STOPPED AT THE NEXT EXIT. THE AIR COULD BE HEARD HISSING AS IT RAPIDLY DEFLATED THE TIRE. WE HAD THE TIRE REPLACED AT A TIRE DEALER IN THAT AREA (STATESVILLE, NC) UNDER BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE LIMITED WARRANTY CLAIM NUMBER 7722731 AT A PRORATED PRICE. THE TIRE HAD 9/32 TREAD AT TIME OF CLAIM. REPLACEMENT TIRE IS ALSO A WILDERNESS A/T.( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY107 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I FILLED THIS FORM OUT PREVIOUSLY CONCERNING THESE TIRES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TREAD IS SEPERATING FROM THE SIDEWALL ON BOTH REAR TIRES. I HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE TWO REAR TIRES, IN ADDITION TO THE TREAD SEPERATION PROBLEMS, HAVE LARGE "BLISTERS" OR "BUBBLES" IN THE INTERIOR OF THE TIRE. ONE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY THREE INCHES ACROSS, AND ONE-HALF INCH HIGH. THE OTHER MEASURES APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES ACROSS, AND ONE-HALF INCH HIGH. THESE 16-INCH WILDERNESS AT TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, AND OTHERS, AND NEED TO BE RECALLED( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX217 TIRE SIZE: P25570R16 )

TIRES DID NOT FAIL BUT DEVELOPED CRACKS AROUND SIDEWALL WHERE TREAD ATTATCHES( DOT NUMBER: W2HL 1PY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ON THE NIGHT OF WEDNESDAY MAY 5TH 1999 I WAS TRAVELING HOME ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 44 IN THE LEFT LANE AT 70 MPH. ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE REAR HATCH OF MY FORD EXPLORER HAD BLOWN OPEN. I SOON DISCOVERED THAT MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAD EXPLODED. LUCKILY I QUICKLY MADE IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P2557R16 )

A SMALL PORTION OF THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, REPLACED IT.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 235/75-15 )

FIRESTONE/FORD NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL SIZED TIRES NOT JUST THE 15 INCH TIRES. WE HAD OUR 16 INCH TIRES CHECKED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND HERE ARE THERE COMMENTS ABOUT EACH TIRES: LR TIRE BAD WEAR ON OUT SIDE TREAD, RR TIRE HAS CHOPPY TREAD, RF TIRE LOW SPOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE, LF ALSO HAS LOW SPOT IN THE MIDDLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 38,000 MILES AND THESE TIRES ARE USED FOR NORMAL DRIVING, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT FIRESTONE/FORD NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SHODDY CRAFTMANSHIP AND IT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE 15 INCH TIRES. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO LOSE THEIR LIVES BEFORE IT IS REALIZED THAT THE MANUFACURE HAS ROLLED OUT TIRES THAT ARE NOT MADE TO WITHSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

TIRES ARE WILDERNESS, BUT NOT PART OF THE RECALL. LEAST TWO OF THESE TIRES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS IN SOUTH TEXAS IN THE PAST YEAR, ONE WHICH LEFT A WOMAN A QUADRAPLEGI WHY ARE THESE WILDERNESS TIRES NOT MADE AT THE DECATER PLANT PART OF THE RECALL????

ALTHOUGH MY TIRES WERE NOT PRODUCED IN DECATUR, I NOTICED A DISTURBINGLY LOUD NOISE SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE PURCHASE. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED, BUT NOT FOR THAT PARTICULAR TIRE. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND THE TIRES FEEL "MUSHY" WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, EVEN THOUGH PROPERLY INFLATED. I'VE CONTACTED OUR FORD DEALERSHIPS RE: REPLACEMENT, BUT THEY CANNOT ASSIST. HAVE CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND AM WAITING FOR AUTHORIZATION OR DENIAL.( DOT NUMBER: )

I WENT TO MY FORD DEALER & ASKED HIM TO INSPECT MY TIRES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 235 SERIES. HE SIAD " LOOKS JUST LIKE THE OTHERS, YOU SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED." MY TIRES ARE CRACKING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND THE BORDER OF THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL, AS WELL AS WITH IN THE TREAD ITSELF. I AM A BIT SCARED ABOUT THE TREAD TEARING OFF, THEY LOOK REALLY BAD( DOT NUMBER: VNCU1PX356 TIRE SIZE: 255 70R 16 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: )

SUMMER 1999- TRIP TO FLORIDA, RAN INTO RAIN STORM AROUND DECATUR, ALABAMA. WE HAD SLOWED TO 35 - 45 MPH MAXIMUM AFTER FEELING WHAT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE TRYING TO HYDRAPLANE. THEN WE HEARD A SLAPPING SOUND LIKE THE RUBBER WAS LOOSE. STOPPED AND CHECK IT AND TIRES APPEARED OKAY. CONTINUED CAREFULLY. TO DATE, WE STILL HEAR A SOUND SIMILIAR TO A BALL BOUNCING WHILE DRIVING IT. LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MGR. SAID THE TIRES WERE CUPPING. WE HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED EVERY 10,000 MILES MAX. AND THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES; ALL HAVE BEEN OKAY. I RUN APPROX. 32 LBS. IN THE TIRES. DOOR LOCKS - LEFT REAR HAD TO HAVE 2 MOTOR REPLACEMENTS BEFORE IT OPERATED PROPERLY. NOW LEFT FRONT CONTROL LOCK IS NOT UNLOCKING PROPERLY WITHOUT NUMBEROUS ATTEMPTS.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY49 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS/HT, 255/70R16 DOT, VMCU25570R TIRES BLEWOUT, CAUSING A FISHTAIL, BUT CONSUMER MAINTAINED CONTROL. FIRESTONE, AND FORD HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED DUE TO THE FAULTY TIRE. *SLC

CONSUMER INSPECTED TIRES AFTER SEEN THE RECALLS AND FOUND CRACKS ON FOUR SETS OF TIRES. THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER, AND DEALER POINTED OUTTHAT TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL. *AK

I LOST PART OF THE TREAD WITH ANOTHER PART PEELED BACK ALONG WITH STEEL BELT WHILE TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY NEAR MIAMI. I HEARD POPPING SOUND AND THEN A NOISE WITH EACH TIRE ROTATION. I DISCOVERED DAMAGE AFTER PULLING OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE LOST TREAD MEASURES ABOUT 12" LONG BY 3" WIDE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR LOSS OF CONTROL..JUST SEVERAL ANXIOUS HOURS RIDING TO AND FROM OUR VACATION WITH NO SPARE AND 3 OTHER POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHI IPY TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

TIRE NOISE AND VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED, REPLACED TIRES BEFORE FAILURE OCCURED.( DOT NUMBER: WZUU1PO446 TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A GRAVELED ROAD IN A REMOTE LOCATION IN NORTHWESTERN COLORADO THE LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY WENT FLAT . SOME PICTURES OF THE TIRE BEING CHANGED WERE TAKEN BUT MAY NOT SHOW THE DAMAGED TIRE. I MANAGE A FLEET OF GOVERNMENT VEHICLES AND THOUGHT THE TIRES LOOKED AS IF THERE WAS A BREAK DOWN OF THE MATERIALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THE TIRE GOING FLAT, IT JUST BLEW AND ALMOST CAME OFF THE RIM IN A DISTANCE OF LESS THAN 10 FEET.( DOT NUMBER: VD TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE TREAD PARTIALLY SEPARATED AT SPEED (NOT ALL THE WAY ACROSS--A STRIP ABOUT 1/3 THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE AND ABOUT 3 INCHES WIDE CAME OFF). TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 85 DEGREES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY346 TIRE SIZE: P23575SR15 )

THE TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE AND HIT THE WHEEL WELL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AND NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURED. THE TIRE WAS ON THE REAR AND FIRESTONE WOULD NOT EVEN PRORATE THE TREAD WEAR ON THE TIRE AND CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THE TIRE WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE.( DOT NUMBER: VD______ TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

DRIVING ON 1-75 TO NAPLES L REAR TIRE CAME APART. *AK

TIRE IS STARTING TO SEPARATE. DEALERS ARE BEING SLOW TO REPLACE IT. THE OTHER THREE TIRES ARE ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF SEPARATION.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

WE PURCHASED THE 97 EXPLORER IN 1999 - AS A NEW VEHICLE - WITH 9,000 MILES ON IT. WE ORIGINALLY NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAD A PROBLEM IN APRIL OF 2000 AND EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WE TOOK TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT THAT DID NOT HELP. THEY ROTATED THE TIRES THAT HELPED WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THE TIRES HAD ALREADY BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNED OF TREADWEAR CRACKING AND SIDEWALL CRACKING. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES AND WE SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH OUR TIRES AT THIS TIME. AFTER THE RECALL NOTICE, WE TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REFERRED US BACK TO FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE STATED THEY ARE NOT RECALLING OUR DOT NUMBER TIRE AT THIS TIME, BUT WE FEEL THAT THIS TIRE IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IN HAULING OUR FAMILY AND FEEL FIRESTONE NEEDS TO RECALL...

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WILDERNESS (P235/75R15) AT TIRES BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE CRACKS ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. NLM

NOTICED ON 8/11 THAT MY LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD GOOD SIZED CUTS/SPLITS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THIS TIRE IS NOT CODED VD AS IN THE RECALL BUT CODED VN WHICH MEANS IT WAS MADE IN THE FIRESTONE CANADIAN PLANT. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CHANGED-OUT WITH THE RELATIVELY NEW SPARE TIRE BY MY FORD DEALER IN NEW YORK.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VN-------- TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE SEPARATED WITH STEEL BELTING CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO QUARTER PANEL. DRIVER IS MILITARY AND IS TRAINED TO INSPECT TIRES BEFORE DRIVING VEHICLE AS HE DRIVES ON U.S. AIR FORCE RUNWAYS ON A REGULAR BASIS. HE HAD INSPECTED TIRES APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PRIOR TO INCIDENT. DRIVER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE THUS PREVENTING WORSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND BODILY INJURY TO HIMSELF AND PASSENGER. THIRTEEN DAYS PRIOR, TO INCIDENT, CAR WAS SERVICED WITH NO VERBAL MENTION OF TIRE PROBLEM. SERVICE REPORT READS LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TIRES EACH HAD 7/32 TIRE TREAD AND WEAR PATTERN GOOD. TIRES PRESSURE AT 26 PSI. IN REVIEWING PURCHASE CONTRACT DETERMINED STANDARD EQUIPMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN P225/7OR155L BSW A/S TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY436 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DOING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN MY BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. I COULD HAVE BEEN GOING A LITTLE OVER 80 HOWEVER. I DO NOT RECALL HITTING ANYTHING BUT JUST HEARING THE LOUD EXPLOSION AND SUDDENLY TRYING TO STEER ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AS I SLOWED DOWN. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPLACED. THEY SAID THE TIRE LOOKED TORN APART WITH A HOLE AROUND 9 INCHES OR SO. I DID NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT IT AT THE TIME OTHER THAN HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE IT. I DID NOT INQUIRE ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE OR IF IT SEEMED STRANGE. I WAS JUST GLAD TO HAVE NOT WRECKED AND JUST QUICKLY REPLACED IT. I SIMPLY WANTED TO REPORT THAT I DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS TIRE EVEN THOUGH I DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW...

I WAS DRIVING FROM L.A. TO PHOENIX ON 6/13/98. PRIOR TO MY DEPARTURE FROM L.A., ALL OF THE TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR THE DRIVE. THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION. AT 9:30AM I WAS DRIVING EAST ON I-10 @ 75MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE ROAD BECAME BUMPY AND I SWITCHED LANES. MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LUNGED TO THE LEFT AND I REALIZED THAT MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN, AND THE RIM HAD CAUGHT THE PAVEMENT. I WRESTLED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT WHILE HEADING FOR AN OFF-RAMP TO AVOID TRAFFIC & AN UPCOMING OVERPASS. IT FISH-TAILED BACK AND FORTH UNTIL AND BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. IT SLID THROUGH A ROAD SIGN AND THEN ROLLED OVER ENDING UPSIDE DOWN BESIDE THE ROAD, FACING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND I SUFFERED MANY CUTS TO MY HEAD (ALONG WITH MANY STRAINED MUSCLES.) I WAS LUCKY. THE CHP REPORT HELD ME...

MY 18 YEAR SON IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND WILL BE LEAVING FOR COLLEGE TEN DAYS. HIS SAFETY IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN AND AFTER SEEING THE AWFUL ACCIDENTS/DEATHS REPORTED IN RECENT WEEKS I WISH TO RECEIVED MORE INFORMATION. ALL THE INFORMATION I CAN GET FROM FIRESTONE IS THAT THE TIRES ARE SAFE. THIS IS EASY FOR THEM TO TELL ME AS THE CONSUMER. WE ARE PLAYING WITH THE LIVES OF MANY HUMAN BEINGS, MY SON INCLUDED. YES, I NEED A MORE INFORMED, CARING ANSWER THAN THE TIRES ARE SAFE. I HAVE DOCUMENTED EACH AND EVERY CONVERSATION I HAVE HAD WITH EITHER FIRESTONE OR FORD MOTOR COMPANY. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ? )

TIRE DELAMINATED COMPLETELY BUT BLADDER DID NOT DEFLATE. NO CRASH, BUT LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY TREAD AS IT LEFT VEHICLE. TIRE WAS SUBMITTED TO FIRESTONE UNDER CLAIM NUMBER 019721. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AND PAID INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE BUT DID NOT ADVISE AS TO CAUSE OF FAILURE. THEY SENT ME A CHECK FOR $397.76 WITH A LETTER DATED DECEMBER 10,1999. THE REMAINDER OF THE CLAIM WAS PAID BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA.( DOT NUMBER: UDHC1PY516 TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

WE WENT OFF THE ROAD AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE TREAD BREAKING LOOSE FROM THE TIRE. A DOUBLE TRAILER TRUCK BEHIND US ALMOST HIT US AS A RESULT OF OUR VEHICLE VIBRATING AND SLOWING DOWN. LUCKILY WE COULD PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE FRONT FENDER WAS DANGLING, AND THE WHEEL COVER WAS TORN AND BENT, RUBBING ON THE TIRE THAT REMAINED WITHOUT THE TREAD. A SCARY SITUATION. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS FAULTY. THEY ARE NOW TAKING LEGAL ACTION TO RECOVER THEIR COST OF REPAIR FROM FIRESTONE. MY HUSBAND HAD SEVERAL TREATMENT TO HIS SHOULDER, AND AN ORTHOSCOPIC OPERATION TO THE SHOULDER AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. I AM STILL FRIGHTENED EACH TIME I DRIVE THE EXPLORER, WORRYING ABOUT THE REMAINING TIRES FOR FEAR THE SAME THING MAY HAPPEN. FIRESTONE HAS NOT BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE. THEY...

WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH MY TIRES EXHIBIT A "HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION" SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED IN A 10-11-96 FORD MEMO, PROVIDED TO NHTSA. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS MATTER WITH A FORD DEALER WHO ADVISED ME THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT, BUT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, THE SUBJECT MEMO ALSO STATED THAT "THESE TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH LIKE TIRES". SO, AM I BEING LIED TO ? THESE TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED BEFORE AND ACCIDENT/INJURY/DEATH OCCUR.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P25570R/16 )

REGARDING THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES RECENTLY IN THE NEWS. I DO WANT TO REPORT THAT I DID HAVE A FIRESTONE ATX TIRE THAT CAME APART LAST YEAR (SEPT. 1999-THE TUESDAY AFTER LABOR DAY) AFTER A TRIP FROM CHARLESTON SC TO WILLIAMSBURG VA. I HAPPENED TO LOOK DOWN AT THE REAR LEFT TIRE AND DISCOVERED THAT A LARGE PIECE OF TREAD HAD PEELED OFF THE TIRE. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THE TIRE SHOULD NOT OF DONE THAT-I CALLED MY HUSAND AND HE ADVISED ME TO CALL AAA AUTOSERVICE, HAVE THE SPARE PUT ON AND GO TO FIRESTONE AND PURCHASE TWO NEW TIRES. THANK GOODNESS I NOTICED THE BAD TIRE WHEN I DID.

MY VEHICLE DID A 360 ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO CAUSE. THE ADJUSTER DETERMINED THERE WAS A DEFECT IN MY TIRE SO I HAD TO REPLACE A TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

MIGHT BE IN DIRECT RELATION OF THE TIRE RECALL ON THE FORD SUV'S - WE'VE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT END ALIGNED TWICE IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. DEALER SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORER AND THE TIRES THAT IS CAUSING THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM.