1997 Ford Expedition Tires & Wheels Problems

GENERAL AMERI-TRAC 255/70/R16 HAD A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION FROM MAIN TIRE. IT BEGAN WHEN I NOTICED SUDDEN AND VIOLENT VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY 82 IN MONTANA. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN, PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRE TO FIND CHUNKS OF RUBBER FALLING OUT AND TREAD BULGING & WARPED. THIS TIRE (PROPER MOUNTED & BALANCED) HAS APPX 75% TREAD. I SLOWLY DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS GOING TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SPARE. WHEN I WENT OUT THE NEXT MORNING THE TIRE HAD COMPLETELY GONE FLAT. A CLOSER LOOK REVEALED OVER NIGHT THE TIRE HAD EXPLODED WITH THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE AROUND 1/5 OF ITS CIRCUMFERENCE. THE STEEL BELTS STILL ATTACHED TO THE LIFTED PART OF THE TREAD. I WAS LUCKY THIS DIDN'T EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.. AS GOING 60MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY (ONE LANE EACH WAY) THAT IS HEAVILY USED BY LOGGING TRUCKS GOING 70+MPH COULD HAVE LEAD TO A DEVASTATING AND TRAGIC ACCIDENT. AN INCIDENT OF THIS NATURE ON ICY ROADS IN WINTER WOULD HAVE ONLY INCREASED THE LIKELY-HOOD OF A FATALITY. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS TIRE IS AN ISOLATED DEFECTIVE ITEM OR IF ALL THE 255/70 R16 AMERI-TRAC TIRES ARE BAD, BUT I CERTAINLY WANT THIS DEFECTIVE TIRE REPLACED BY GENERAL AS NO TIRE OF THIS POOR OF QUALITY SHOULD LEGALLY BE ON THE ROAD. IT WOULD BE LIKE ALLOWING BRAKE MANUFACTURERS TO SELL BRAKES SYSTEMS THAT ARE KNOWN TO FAIL OR ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL MANUFACTURERS TO SELL STEERING WHEELS THAT ARE KNOWN TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. IF HEAVY PENALTIES AND FINES WERE GIVEN TO THESE COMPANIES (THAT HAVE WEAK INSPECTION PROCEDURES) FOR EACH DEFECTIVE INCIDENT, MAYBE THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE TIRES TO BE SOLD... JUST BECAUSE THEY WISH TO CUT COSTS ON QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES AND HELP THEIR BOTTOM LINE PROFITS. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND ESPECIALLY FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER, SAFER AND HIGHER STANDARDS IN THIS INDUSTRY.

WHILE TRAVELING S/B AT APPROX 70 MPH ON I5 IN ORANGE COUNTY CA, RR TIRE OF 97 FORD EXPEDITION SUFFERED 360 DEGREE TREAD SEPARATION. LOSS OF CONTROL, ROLL. FRONT PASSENGER DIED. DRIVER LOST THREE FINGERS. DEFINITY DAKOTA H/T, DOT UPCU PA7 1508 (COOPER, FINDLEY PLANT). DOA 9/5/13. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WITH FOUR DAYTON TIMBERLINE HT 265/75/16 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON ALL FOUR TIRES THE SIDEWALL IS SEPARATING FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN AT 3 MPH, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY HEARD A NOISE. UPON STOPPING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE HAD FALLEN OFF BECAUSE OF A BROKEN CABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INSPECT OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,525. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,215.

THE SPARE TIRE OF MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION (TRUCK) IS NORMALLY THREADED WITH A WIRE ROPE AND WINCHED UP INTO PLACE BENEATH THE BACK OF THE EXPEDITION. IT WORKS WELL AND IS EASIER TO USE THAN THE TRADITIONAL BOLT/PLATE. HOWEVER, IN JANUARY 2005,MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON GRANT ROAD A MAJOR STREET IN TUCSON ARIZONA AND THE WIRE ROPE BROKE AND THE TIRE FLEW OFF FROM BENEATH OUR EXPEDITION AND BOUNCED WILDLY DOWN THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY NOTHING AND NO ONE HIT THE TIRE; BUT THERE WAS POTENTIAL FOR A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT HAD BEEN HIT BY ONE OR MORE CARS. TRAFFIC STOPPED AND MY WIFE WENT BACK AND RETRIEVED THE ERRANT TIRE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THREE LANES. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE CABLE WAS CORRODED; BUT LIVING IN A DRY CLIMATE OF THE ARIZONA DESERT I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS THE CASE. THERE WAS NO RUST OF ANY KIND I COULD SEE. I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD NOTIFY TRUCK OWNERS TO INSPECT THE CABLE FOR DEFECTS. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT A LOT OF DAMAGE WASN'T DONE TO OTHER VEHICLES OR HUMANS. *JB

THE SPARE TIRE RETENTION CABLE FAILED, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THIS HAPPENED UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS ON A BUSY SECTION OF ROAD. THERE FORTUNATELY WERE NO VEHICLES FOLLOWING AT THE TIME OR THERE MOST ASSUREDLY WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER FELT THE VEHICLE WOBBLE AND THUMP TO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH DID A THREE HUNDRED SIXTY DEGREE TURN ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED SPINNING THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE LUG NUTS HAD SIMPLY SHEARED OFF OF THE WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS ON THE SECOND TIME ONE LUG NUT WAS SAVED FROM BEING SHEARED OFF. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING SPARE TIRE FELL OFF FROM BACK OF VEHICLE. *AK *TT

SPARE TIRE FELL OFF OF 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD. THE SPARE IS SUSPENDED BY A CABLE UNDER THE REAR SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS EVENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEED. HOWEVER, THE CAR FOLLOWING BEHIND MY VEHICLE COULD NOT AVOID THE FALLEN TIRE AND DROVE OVER THE TOP. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE SUSPENSION CABLE WAS REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE, BY A LOCAL DEALER. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *AK

TIRE FAILURE, CAUSING IMMEDIATE DEFLATION WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TIRES ROTATED AND SERVICED 3 DAYS BEFORE FAILURE. SUSPECT POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH TIRES. ALL FOUR TIRES SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED AND STILL IN POSSESSION, IF NEEDED. *AK (TIRESIZE: P265/70R17)

THEY HAVE NOT FIX MY TRUCK AND I'M HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS CONTACT THEM I'M IN THE MILITARY AND DUE TO TRANSFER TO JAX, FL AND MY TRUCK STILL IS NOT FIX, THEY WANT ME TO HAVE A EXPERT LOOK AT THE TIRE AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR AND EXPERT SO THEY TOLD ME I HAVE 45 DAYS BEFORE THE DROP MY FILE. HELP. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT REAR DRIVING SIDE WHEEL AND RIM CAME OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC ASKED CONSUMER IF A RECALL WAS DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. DEFECT STILL THERE.*AK

CABLE THAT BINDS UP SPARE TIRE FAILS TO RELEASE SPARE TIRE FOR USE. DESIGN WAS VERY FLAWED.*AK CONSUMER STATES HE BOUGHT DESIGN FLAW TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD, THEY PULLED THE PART FROM THE PARTS BIN FOR THE 2001 EXPEDITION AND IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS CONSUMER'S VEHICLE.*JB

LUGS: NUTS KEEP LOOSENING AND CAUSING WHEELS TO ALMOST FALL OFF. STUDS: LUGS: NUTS LOOSEN UP JUST BY DRIVING VEHICLE. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME FOR THE SAME REPAIR.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ALL 4 TIRES' TREAD WAS CRACKING, AND STEEL WIRES WERE SHOWING. FIRESTONE PRORATED WITH SAME TYPE WILDERNESS AT. 3 OF THE TIRES HAD 8 30 SECONDS, AND 1 HAD 4 30 SECONDS. TIRES SIZE 255/70R16 ON 1997, FORD, EXPEDITION. *AK

A HIGH-END AFTER MARKET WHEEL SPLIT OPEN -WITH NO ABUSE. CO. SAYS NOT COVERED BY 2ND OWNER/SEEK KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER FAILURES OF THIS MFGR. TOO IMPORTANT OF A PIECE OF EQUIP. TO IGNORE. HOW MANY OTHER DEFECTS?*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH IN MIDDLE LANE AND MOVED TO RIGHT AFTER HEARING SOMETHING BUCKLING FROM PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE. CONSUMER WAS TURNING ON TO EXIT RAMP AND TIRE CAME OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND THEY FOUND THAT NUTS: BOLTS HAD BROKEN OFF. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE ADJUSTER HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. CONSUMER WILL CHECK TO SEE IF THE RECALL ID# 98V095000 MANUFACTRER RECALL 98S14 WILL APPLY.*AK

TREAD SEPARATED. CAP CAME COMPLETELY OFF FROM THE SIDEWALLS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH TRIED TO CHANGE TO FREEWAY AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAD FOUND OUT THAT BOLTS WERE RUSTED IN BACK OF IT, AND REST OF TIRES WERE IN SAME CONDITION.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED 2 FOUR INCH LONG CREVICES IN THE TREAD OF THE TIRE, 1 SIXTEEN INCH LONG CREVICES ACROSS AND ALONG THE TIRE TREAD (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P225/70R16). NLM