1998 FORD EXPLORER Tirestreadbelt Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, SIZE LT235/75R15. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED DEBRIS COMING FROM THE TIRES AND THE VEHICLE, CAUSING HER TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, WHICH CAUSED MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE. A SPARE TIRE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AND SHE DROVE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR HER TIRES AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, HER DOT NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000. UPDATED 11/12/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/14/08. *JB

1998 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING EAST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE IN THE CENTER LANE WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE GOING OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. *MC THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB

THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER RT-5 P235/75.R16 TIRES ARE REGULARLY SERVICED. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION PRIOR TO EXPLOSION. NO BULGING IN THE TIRES. TIRES JUST CHECKED 3 WEEKS AGO. 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY, CLEAR WEATHER. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES BEFORE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S FRONT AND REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND THE TREAD CAME OFF. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS A/T, P225/75R15, DOTW1345600.

TIRE FAILURE ON LEFT REAR TIRE. *MR THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED.*SC THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH GOODYEAR TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RECALL HE HEARD ABOUT IN JULY 2001. THE TIRES THAT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WERE GOODYEAR TIRES AND THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES WITH MICHELINS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER WA ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. FIRESTONE LT P18575R14 #DOT VNJ7791. THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE FIRESTONE TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *TR

A COOPER TIRE'S [DISCOVERER H/T-SIZE P235/75 I5 M+S-DOT UTHL G5U4700 M5R] TREAD CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING HWY 95 IN NEVADA. IT DID APPROX. $2500.00 DAMAGE TO MY 98 FORD EXPLORER'S LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL.. COOPER ORIGINALLY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO PAY FOR DAMAGES.THEY BLAME UNDERINFLATION AND THAT IS A BIG LIE. I CHECKED THE PRESSURE THAT VERY SAME DAY!*AK

LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT, P225/70R15 BELT INSIDE IS BROKE, AND TREAD LOOKS LIKE IT WILL SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AKTHE VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD TRUCK EXPLORER. *JG

THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES DUE TO SAFETY RECALL AND IS NOW REQUESTING REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS DENIED BY MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE DEADLINE FOR REIMBURSEMENT HAD PASSED. (FIRESTONE TIRES)*YH

THE CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED OF RECALL 00T-005 BUT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED AT A FIRESTONE DEALER DUE TO LACK OF PARTS, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A COMPETITORS DEALER AND OBTAINED REPLACEMENT TIRES, AT THAT TIME THE CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PER TIRE REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT, THE CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF THE TIRES PURCHASED WHICH EXCEEDS FIRESTONES LIMIT, THE CONSUMER IS AWAITING RESPONSE. (FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT/VDHL1PLY368. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT FIRESTONE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE TIRES THAT WERE RECALLED WITH TIRES THAT WERE NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER, NO OTHER SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON TIRES GIVEN. *TT

UPON INSPECTION OF TIRES, CONSUMER FOUND THAT TWO OF THE TIRES(FIRESTONE P225/70R155SL BSW A/S) HAD TREAD SEPARATION WITH THE STEEL BELTS PROTRUDING FROM THE EDGES, CONSUMER HAD ALL TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELIN BRAND BEFORE THE FIRESTONE RECALL BEGAN, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JG

CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, IT WAS DISCOVERD THAT THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED, HOWEVER THE REPLACEMENT TIRES THAT ARE NOW ON THE VEHICLE ARE ON THE RECALL LIST. *JG

PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, HOWEVER MONTHS LATER CONSUMER FINDS OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND REFUNDS WERE BEING ISSUED, AND THE ONLY WAY THAT CONSUMER WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND WOULD HAVE BEEN TO SAVE THE TIRES, CONSUMER NO LONGER HAS THE TIRES AS REQUIRED BY STATED LAW TO DISPOSE OF THEM PROPERLY, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*JB

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING TIRE REPLACEMENT DUE TO RECALL. SEVERAL DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRES, BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE NOT IN STOCK, (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES(.*YH

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING TIRE REPLACEMENT DUE TO RECALL. SEVERAL DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRES, BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE NOT IN STOCK, (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES(.*YH

WHEN MAKING TURNS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT TURNS, VEHICLE SLIDES AND ALMOST TURNS OVER.*AK. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS,AND THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, SIGNALS ARE NOT WORKING, DEALER REPLACED A DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR AND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, FIRESTONE TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHICH WERE REPLACED IN JULY 2001, THE REAR SEATS MOVE/BOUNCE WHEN DRIVING, THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BUCKLES, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, THE WINDSHIELD WAS CHIPPED, THE ALARM WOULD NOT CHUT OFF AT TIMES, DEALER REPLACED A BAD LOOSE WIRE.*JB

PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, HOWEVER MONTHS LATER CONSUMER FINDS OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND REFUNDS WERE BEING ISSUED, AND THE ONLY WAY THAT CONSUMER WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND WOULD HAVE BEEN TO SAVE THE TIRES, CONSUMER NO LONGER HAS THE TIRES AS REQUIRED BY STATED LAW TO DISPOSE OF THEM PROPERLY, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*JB

CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, IT WAS DISCOVERD THAT THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED, HOWEVER THE REPLACEMENT TIRES THAT ARE NOW ON THE VEHICLE ARE ON THE RECALL LIST. *JG

UPON INSPECTION OF TIRES, CONSUMER FOUND THAT TWO OF THE TIRES(FIRESTONE P225/70R155SL BSW A/S) HAD TREAD SEPARATION WITH THE STEEL BELTS PROTRUDING FROM THE EDGES, CONSUMER HAD ALL TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELIN BRAND BEFORE THE FIRESTONE RECALL BEGAN, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JG

THE CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED OF RECALL 00T-005 BUT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED AT A FIRESTONE DEALER DUE TO LACK OF PARTS, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A COMPETITORS DEALER AND OBTAINED REPLACEMENT TIRES, AT THAT TIME THE CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PER TIRE REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT, THE CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF THE TIRES PURCHASED WHICH EXCEEDS FIRESTONES LIMIT, THE CONSUMER IS AWAITING RESPONSE. (FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT/VDHL1PLY368. NLM

TREAD SEPARATION OCURRED @ 55MPH WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN APPROX 5PM. TIRES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED AT 35PSI (CHECKED 4 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT). *AK

THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE TIRES P235/75R15 WHICH WAS ON RECALL (00T-005),BUT THE DEALER DENIED REIMBURSMENT. *YH

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, DOT NUMBERS 1FMZU32P8 AND WUA08268, BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER HAD TIRES REPLACED AND THEN BECAME AWARE OF RECALL 00T-005, FIRESTONE AND FORD TOLD CONSUMER THAT UNLESS THE TIRES WERE SAVED, NO REFUND WOULD BE GIVEN, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *YH

FIRESTONE IS DENYING CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALLED FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, 235/75R15, FIRESTONE STATES THAT THE PURCHASE OF THE TIRES WAS FROM A COMPETITIVE DEALER PRIOR TO AUGUST 9TH AND WAS NOT ON A PRO-RATA CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BASIS, THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT WAS NOT ATTACHED, AND THAT THE VOLUNTARY RECALL TIRE SURRENDER VERIFICATION FORM WAS INCOMPLETE, CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE REIMBURSEMENT. *ET

FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO RECALL 00T005, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES REPLACEMENT TIRES (NOT FIRESTONE'S) EXPERIENCE THE SAME VIBRATION AND WHEN MAKING A TURN IT FEELS LIKE VEHICLE IS GOING TO ROLLOVER, PROBLEM IS POSSIBLY SUSPENSION RELATED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN 1998, FORD, EXPLORER RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE, SIZE: P235/75R15, DOT: W2H EXPERIENCED COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON THE TIRES, AND THEY WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE. *AK FIRESTONE INFORMED CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS WITH FORD AND NOT THEM, CONSUMER HAS BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. *SLC

PRIOR TO RECALL 00T-005, CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS DUE TO SEPARATION, AFTER HEARING ABOUT RECALL, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO GET REIMBURSEMENT, HOWEVER FIRESTONE DENIED CLAIM BY STATING THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 9 2000, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, DOT FOR ONE SET WAS 8XHL1PY, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED FIRESTONE TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND AND HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY OTHER TIRE SEPARATIONS. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES DURING RECALL 00T-005, VEHICLE HAD 2 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. HE NOTICED THAT LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. FIRESTOINE, WILDERNESS, ATP23575R15, 105 M/S #DOT W28L. FIRESTONE WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RECALL (00T-005) REIMBURSEMENT OF ONLY $500.00 WHEN HE SPENT $763.00 *JB

CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF ALL 4 FIRESTONE(P235/75R15) TIRES INCLUDING SPARE TIRE. *JB

MASSIVE TREAD SEPARATION - NON-RECALLED TIRE. I HAVE THE TIRE. FIRESTONE SHOWED NO INTEREST IN THE FAILURE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRESIZE: P23575R15)

THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMEMT OF RECALLED FIRESTONE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000 ON A NON-PRORATED BASIS. NLM

PE 00 020/TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE PARKED NOTICED A CHUNK OF TREAD MISSING FROM LEFT REAR TIRE ON A 1998, FORD, EXPLORER; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, DOT# W2HL; FIRESTONE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOT RECALLED. TIRE WAS AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. *AK *SLC

THE TREAD OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE SEPARATED, THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW TIRE BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE NEW TIRE, THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT THE 16 " TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED. NLM

LEFT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/AT P23575R15 TIRE ON THIS EXPLORER HAD A BELT SEPARATION AT 60 MPH. FORD, AND FIRESTONE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT PRIOR TO THE TIRE FAILURE THERE WAS A VIBRATION, HE ALSO STATES THAT LOWERING THE TIRE PRESSURE FROM 35LBS TO 30LBS MAY HAVE CAUSED EXCESSIVE HEAT AND THE BELT SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, DOT #W2HL1PLY178. *SLC

FOUR WILDERNESS AT P23575R15 TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (00T-005), BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS, MANUFACTURE HAS DENIED RECALL REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM. CJ

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT RECALL 00T-005 IS NOT SUFFICIENT AND SHOULD BE EXTENDED(FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 235-75R-15). NLM

DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TIRE ROTATION, TECHNICIAN FOUND WIRE SHOWING THROUGH TIRES, OWNER REPLACED ALL 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P23575R15, DOT # WZHL, OWNER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMIBURESED IF ABOVE TIRES ARE PART OF RECALL (00T-005). CJ

MECHANIC FOUND DEFECT ON ONE OF THE CONSUMER'S FIRESTONE TIRES (P235/75R15), 3 MONTHS LATER A TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION SO CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND SENT FORMS TO FIRESTONE, HOWEVER FIRESTONE REJECTED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE TIRES BEING PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITIVE RETAILER PRIOR TO AUGUST 9,2000. *SLC

CONSUMER RETURNED RECALL CARD (00T005), HOWEVER HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY REIMBURSEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENTATION, CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON 8-9-00 BECAUSE OF A TRIP TO TEXAS AND DIDN'T WANT TO CHANCE ANYTHING. *SLC

THE VEHICLE BEGAN RIDING ROUGH AND MAKE ALOT OF ROAD NOISE, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL THE TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, CONSUMER SUBMITTED FORM FOR REIMBURSENT BUT THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITOR PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000 (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT). NLM

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 00T005 REGARDING THE FIRESTONE TIRES, HOWEVER SINCE CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE LETTER, THE REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT HAS BEEN DENIED. *SLC

THE LOWER PAXTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED I REPORT THIS PROBLEM - THE OFFICER THOUGHT WE HAD A CASE OF TIRE SEPARATION. THE FIRESTONE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT, (MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING), IT PULLED HIM OVER TO THE FAR EDGE OF THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. OUR FORD DEALER (MAGUIRES OF HERSHEY) TOLD US IT WAS NOT A FORD PROBLEM, AND SENT US TO A FIRESTONE DEALER. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL (457) TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

A BLOWOUT ACCURRED ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE AND A SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 25570R16, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, EXPLORER ROLLED OVER, THE OWNER, A PASSENGER AT THE TIME WAS KILLED, MOTHER, DRIVER OF VEHICLE AND FATHER BOTH SERIOUSLY INJURED. (RAYMOND R. STEFANI, ATTONREY FOR CLIENT) *CJ

CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR FOUR FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT 6-8 WEEKS SHOULD BE ALLOWED FOR REFUND BUT IT HAS BEEN 17 WEEKS AND CONSUMER HAS NOT RECIEVED REFUND. NLM

FIRESTONE TIRES INCLUDED IN RECALL (00T005) CAUSED VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE VIBRATION AND NOISE. *SLC

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-005, BUT THE CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THAT THE TIRES ARE SO NOISY THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO HOLD A COVERSATION, TIRES THUMP WITH EACH REVOLUTION OF THE WHEEL, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PATTERN OF NOISE JUST PRIOR TO LOOSING THE TREAD OF A FIRESTONE TIRE WHILE DRIVING. NLM