1998 FORD EXPLORER Tires Problems

WE WERE DRIVING ON HWY. 50 EAST IN SACRAMENTO, CA WHEN WE HEARD A NOISE, THEN THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING AND WEAVING. WE PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE HAD BLOWN. TOOK THE CAR TO A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE TIRE CHANGED TO THE SAME EXACT TIRE. WE WERE NOT GIVEN ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THE HISTORY OF THESE TIRES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

IN MAY I WAS TAKING MY SON TO HAMPTON, SC. I HAD BEEN ON A SECONDARY ROAD FOR LESS THEN FIVE MILES WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SUBSEQUENT DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING MY SUV. LUCKILY DRIVER'S ED FROM 26 YEARS AGO CLICKED IN AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET MY VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE. AS MY SON AND I REMOVED THE SPARE AND READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL, AN OFF DUTY SC PATROLMAN STOPPED TO HELP CHANGE THE TIRE. EVERYONE WHO SAW IT REMARKED THAT IT LOOKED DIFFERENT THAN THE USUAL "BLOW-OUT" IT LOOKED LIKE IT EXPLODED. I HAD THE TWO TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN I CAN GET THE OTHERS REPLACED. DESPITE THE HOT CLIMATE IN COASTAL SC, MY TIRES WILL BE RECALLED LAST AND I'VE ALREADY HAD ONE EXPLODING TIRE! PLEASE ADVISE ME OF WHAT STEPS I...

TIRE DEALER INSISTED TIRE FAILED DUE TO LOW AIR PRESSURE NOT HEAT OR DEFECT, FORD WAS NO HELP EITHER.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TWO TIRES FAILED INTERNALY, REPORTED TO DEALER, ROTATED TO REAR, FURTHER REVIEWE ON MY PART DECIDED TO REPLACE WITH NON-FIRESTONE( DOT NUMBER: )

AFTER READING AN ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER REGARDING FIRESTONE TIRES ON FORD EXPLORERS, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH TED WIENS FIRESTONE (3841 E. CRAIG ROAD, LAS VEGAS, NV --702-644-3384) ON AUG 5, 2000 TO DETERMINE THE SAFETY OF THE WILERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED ON MY FORD EXPLORER. AFTER BEING ASSURED THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY SAFE I LEFT THE STORE ONLY TO GET A BLOWOUT THAT SAME DAY. THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM. I APPRECIATE THE OFFER FROM FIRESTONE TO CHECK THE TIRES, HOWEVER, I QUESTION THEIR ABILITY TO DETERMINE THE TIRES SAFETY BASED ON MY BLOWOUT HAPPENING THE SAME DAY. I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME, NOT ONLY CONCERNING THE TIRES THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO FIRESTONE'S INADEQUATE ABILITY TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE CHECK OF THE TIRES. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL...

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY ON MARCH 29, THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. SHE WAS APPROACHING RED LIGHT, AND WHEN SHE WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND PROBLEM COULDN'T BE DUPLICATED. BRAKES FELT LIKE A SPONGE, AND CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, AND USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP.*AK CONSUMER STATES FIRESTONE TIRES DOT W2HL, TIRES MAKE THUMPING NOISES AND FIRESTONE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE TIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ON RECALL. *SLC

I HAVE HAD TWO BLOWOUTS ON THESE TIRES --- THE MOST RECENT AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. IN THE TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD THIS CAR, I HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES! *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THE LEFT-REAR TIRE FAILED AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH THEN OVERTURNED, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE. WE WERE NOT THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE (WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT), RATHER IT BELONGED TO MY AUNT AND UNCLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE FAILURE MAY BE RELATED TO INVESTIGATION PE00-020. MAJOR TEAR OCCURRED AT SIDEWALL/TREAD INTERFACE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FAIRLY NEW TIRE FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON WELL MAINTAINED ROADS. RECENT NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT THESE FAILURES INITIATED THIS REPORT. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE HERTZ AGENCY MENTIONED THEY HAD, HAD SEVERAL FAILURES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: UNKNOWN )

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

TIRE HAD GOOD TREAD LEFT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WITH LESS THAN 700 MILES ON THE SUV, A STONE FROM OUR DRIVEWAY PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND CAUSE IT TO GO FLAT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND A FIRESTONE DEALER ALSO. THERE WAS NO WARRANTY FOR THE TIRES. AGAIN AFTER LESS THAT 11K MILES ANOTHER STONE PUNCTURED ANOTHER OF THE TIRES. AGAIN FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED. WE ELECTED TO REPLACE ALL 4 FIRESTONE TIRES FOR GOODYEAR. OF ALL THE VEHICALS AND TIRES THAT HAVE PASSED OVER OUR DRIVEWAY NO OTHERS HAVE EVERY HAD A STONE PUNCTURE A TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 75R15 65 )

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHEN TIRE BLEW. TREAD BECAME TANGELED IN EMERGENCY BRAKE LINES EGANGING BRAKES AND DISABLING VEHICLE. TO DATE, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR VARIOUS DEFECTS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

I BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE TRUCK. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS HYDROPLANING ON WET SURFACES, AT ALL SPEEDS. TRUCK WEAVED ON DRY SURFACES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT TIRES WITH FIRESTONE ATX. TRUCK NOW SEEMS TO "SLIDE" WHEN THE WHEELS CROSS THE PAINTED LINES DURING A LANE CHANGE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THERE WERE 5 OTHER TIMES BESIDES THE MAJOR TWO TIMES(HAVE TO BUY NEW TIRES), WHEN I HAD FLATS ON THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE QUALITY OF TIRES IS UNACCEPTABLE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN CLINTON, WI AND NOW I HAVE MOVED TO AUSTIN, TX. THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER FOR ME IS MAXWELL FORD, 5000 IH-35 SOUTH, AUSTIN, TX 78745. (512) 326-8141. NOW I SAW THE NEWS HOW 21 PEOPLE WITH EXPLORERS HAVE DIED RELATED TO TIRE FAILURES. BOTH TIMES WHEN I HAD THE PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES WERE ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

RR TIRE BLEW OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EXTERNAL WALL JUST EXPLODED. NO ACCIDENT. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHILE REACHING THE SHOULDER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ?? )

TIRE CAME COMPLETELY APART WHILE TRAVELING ON A FIVE LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE CENTER MEDIAN BUT RIM WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THERE IS VERY LITTLE LEFT OF THE TIRE, ONLY 2 INCHES OF THE SIDE WALL. EVERYONE WHO HAS LOOKED A THE TIRE SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIRE SO SEVERELY DAMAGED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE FROM FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 (SUV) TIRES. AFTER ROUTINE SERVICE AND (SECOND) TIRE ROTATION/BALANCE AT 12,000 MILES, I NOTICED MY VEHICLE "PULLING" TO THE RIGHT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICING DEALER (KEARNY MESA FORD, SAN DIEGO CA), AND ASKED THEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ROTATE THE TIRES AND STILL HAVE THEM BALANCED WITHIN SPECIFICATION. CONSEQUENTLY, THE TIRES WERE RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITIONS ON THE VEHICLE. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN TO ME WAS THAT THERE WAS "LIKELY A LOOSE BELT WITHIN ONE OF THE TIRES PREVENTING IT FROM BALANCING CORRECTLY, BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE DIDN'T SEEM TO "PULL" WHEN THIS TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON THE REAR, I SHOULD JUST LEAVE IT THERE AND NOT ROTATE MY TIRES IN THE FUTURE." WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT WARRANTY AND/OR REPLACEMENT, I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE TIRES HAD 12,000...

THE TIRES LOOK FINE (PLENTY OF TREAD). I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED AS FORD SUGGESTS (THEY SEND A REMINDER LETTER) - THIS INCLUDES TIRE ROTATIONS, ALIGNMENT ETC. THE DAMAGED TIRES LOOK LIKE RETREADS, THOUGH I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND THE TIRE WARRANTY INDICATES 6 YEARS OR 2/32NDS OF AN INCH OF TREAD DEPTH - NEITHER OF WHICH HAD BEEN REACHED. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES, HOWEVER I HAVE KEPT THE OLD ONES. FIRESTONE HAS REQUESTED WE SEND BACK THE DAMAGED ONES SO THEY MAY DETERMINE IF A REIMBURSMENT IS WARRANTED. WHEN WE CALLED FIRESTONE/CERRITOS (8/1) THEY INSISTED THE TIRES HAD TOO MANY MILES AND WERE NOT DEFECTIVE (THEY DIDN'T SEE THE TIRES) - AFTER NOT ACCEPTING THAT RESPONSE AND PERSISTING THEY WERE DEFECTIVE, WE WERE GIVEN A TOLL FREE NUMBER TO FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE MAILED US A CLAIM FORM WITH INSTRUCTIONS. SHOULD WE PROCEED WITH COMPLETING THE CLAIM AND...

ON 06/01/00 WHILE HEADING TO A FAMILY REUNION WE "HYDROPLANED" ON THE INTERSTATE JUST OUTSIDE OF LAS VEGAS, NM. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO "FISHTAIL" FROM THE BACK TIRES (APPROX 5-6 TIMES), THEN IT SWERVED SIDEWAYS OFF THE ROAD (RIGHT SIDE LANE) AND ONTO THE MEDIAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME UP ONTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC SIDE IT "POPPED UP" ONTO TWO WHEELS, CAME BACK DOWN, AND THEN POPPED UP AGAIN AND ROLLED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (ONCOMING TRAFFICE SIDE DITCH). *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS ON A TRIP STARTING IN FLORIDA ON MY WAY TO MICHIGAN. IN KENTUCKY I RAN OVER A 2X4 PEICE OF WOOD ABOUT 6" LONG. THE FRONT TIRE WENT OVER OK, BUT THE REAR TIRE BLOW IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS NO TREAD SEPARATION JUST A BIG HOLE TOWARD ONE SIDE OF THE TREAD (NOT IN THE SIDEWALL). I WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY EVEN WITH A 500 LB LOAD IN THE REAR SECTION OF THE TRUCK. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/60R16 )

TURN SIGNALS AND HIGH BEAM INDICATOR LAMP FAILED SUDDENLY. FUSES ARE GOOD. REAR WIPER HAS NEVER WORK RIGHT. HAS NOT WORK AT ALL FOR SOME TIME. ALWAYS HAD LOW RUMBLE WHEN MOVING. APPEARS TO COME FROM FRONT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 70R15 100S )

MY TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE EXPLORER ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. MY DOGS WERE EJECTED FROM THE WINDOWS AS ALL THE WINDOWS BLEW. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I HAVE SUFFERED BACK INJURIES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75 )

ON MY WAY TO POWAY,CA, SOUTHBOUND I-5, MY CAR BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND SHAKE. I PULLED OFF TO CHECK MY TIRES. CHECKING ALL 4 TIRES FOR CORRECT INFLATION, I FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I GOT BACK ON THE FREEWAY, AS I WAS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, LOWERED MY SPEED AND CONTINUED. AS I APPROACHED POWAY THE FRONT END STARTED TO MAKE A THUMPING NOISE. I WAS LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM MY SISTER'S HOUSE, SO I LOWERED MY SPEED AGAIN AND FINISHED MY TRIP. WE LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A BULGE IN IT. IT WAS ABOUT 5" IN SIZE ALONG THE TIRE TREAD. ON 7/17 I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALER OF POWAY (PERRY FORD) FOR AN INSPECTION. ROBERT SAW THE BUBBLE AND SAID THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE SUGGESTED A NEW...

ONE YEAR AGO I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE MAKING A THUMPING NOISE. THEY STATED THE TIRES WERE "CUPPING". THAT IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM NOT A VEHICLE PROBLEM. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPING AND THAT IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM AND THAT THE" EXPLORERS ATE TIRES." TO DATE MY TIRES ARE STILL NOISEY AND I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I HAVE HAD TWO TIRES FAIL SO FAR, AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BELT BROKE INSIDE THE TIRES. FIRESTONE SAID IT COULD BE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERENOT INFLATED PROPERLY. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 24 YEARS NOW AND HAVE NEVER HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE ROAD. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THESE TIRES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO INSURE EVERYONE'S SAFETY IN THE U.S. JUST AS THEY HAVE DONE IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: P255 TIRE SIZE: 70R16109S )

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SLIDE AFTER STEPPING ON BRAKES. CURRENTLY, TIRES ARE CRACKING AND OPENING. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/ATX TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO WEAR THROUGH, BOTH OF THEM. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM, AND HAD THE TIRES CHANGED BEFORE A PROBLEM COULD OCCUR. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES (P225/70R15) WERE SHOWING STEEL BELTS AT 22,000 MILES. *AK

INVEST#PE00-020 TIRE ONLY HAD 30,000 MILES ON IT, CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED RIGHT THAT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT , BUT THERE WERE NO HOLES, AIR WAS COMING OUT THROUGH FIRST TREAD WHICH WAS SEPARATING. TIRE SIZE P25570R16. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX TIRES BUBBLED UP AND CAME APART, BUT VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVEABLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING IN A FORD EXPLORER 1998(VIN #[XXX]) AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65-70 MPH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES (DOT#VDHL1PY387 / P235/75R15) BLEWOUT AND TREAD SEPARATED ON PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE OVER WITHOUT INJURIES; TIRE & TREAD ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT ON FREEWAY

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND ABOVE THERE IS A ROARING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE TRUCK. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRES. *AK *ML

RIMS ARE NOT ROUND THEY ARE OVAL SHAPED. ALSO, PREMATURE WEAR OF TIRES, CAUSING EXTREMELY BAD VIBRATION.CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL DUE TO POOR TIRE(FIRESTONE WILDERNESS) TRACTION RESLTING IN AN ACCIDENT AND DUE TO POOR STABILITY OF THE DESIGN IT RESULTED IN VEHICLE ROLL OVER.

TIRES BLEW OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO STRIKE A GUARD RAIL AND ALMOST TURN OVER. (FIRESTONE/OWL 16").