1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

I AM SENDING YOU A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION I MAILED FIRESTONE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. PLEASE CALL ME AS I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT SUFFERED THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL BLOWOUT AND I ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE FREEWAY BARRIER. (TIRESIZE: ?)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ? )

WHILE DRIVING, LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF OF CAR. TREAD PULLED ENTIRE LEFT REAR CORNER PANEL OFF.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 25/70R15SL )

THE BELT OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE BROKEN RESULTING IN A ROUGH RIDE, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRE WERE PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITOR PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000. NLM

TREAD ON FIRESTONE ATX TIRES WAS SEPARATING FROM INSIDE. TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL ONES BOUGHT WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. IT WAS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. DEALER HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF OF TIRE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. FIRST OCCURANCE IN APRIL WITH NO CRASH OR INJURY. SECOND OCCURANCE CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT BODY SHOP GETTING ESTIMATE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-15 )

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND TREAD SEPARATION INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THESE TIRES. FIRST ONE OCCURED NEARLY SIX MONTHS AGO. I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND TOOK OFF THE RUNNING BOARD ON THE RIGHT SIDE TRYING TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, DANGEROUS TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: )

RIGHT REAR TIRE PEELED COMPLETELY AROUND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL SLAMMING INTO THE GUARDRAIL ON THE FREEWAY MULTIPLE HITS TO LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. PINBALL EFFECT.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM016 TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

TREAD SEPARATED FROM CASING. TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE PARKED. ON RE-INFLATION, BUBBLE IN TREAD APPEARED WHEN AIR LEAK WAS BLOCKED WITH FINGER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70R16 )

ON JULY 8, 2000 AT 12 NOON, THE FIRESTONE TIRE ( FRONT PASSENGER SIDE) ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER SEPERATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. THE FORCE OF THE SEPERATION PULLED ME OUT OF THE LEFT LANE INTO THE RIGHT LANE. LUCKILY THE LANE WAS CLEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE AND PULL TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONDITION OF THE ROADS WERE CLEAR. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND HOT. THE INCIDENT OCCURED ON HWY 6 NEAR NAVASOTA, TX. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES, THERE WAS APPROX. $1200.00 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY FILED A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I SHIPPED THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE FOR ANALYSIS, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO COVER THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR. I STILL HAVE 2 REMAINING FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY VHECILE AND INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECALL RECENTLY ISSUED BY FORD/FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM455 TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

DRIVING DOWN 435 FREEWAY GOING TO THE MOVIE DRIVE IN AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL TIRE PEELED DOWN THE CENTER CAUSING ME TO SPIN AND LOSE CONTROL AND SPIN OUT, SLAMMING INTO THE GUARDRAIL, WRECKING THE FRONT LEFT CLIP AND BUMPER AND THE LEFT REAR SIDE, ALONG WITH THE BUMPER AND WINDOW AND HATCHBACK OF MY SUV . THE WHOLE QUATERLEFT SIDE IS TOTALLY WRECKED. TIRE NEVER DEFLATED IT JUST SEPARATED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM016 TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

AFTER NOTICING FLUID ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM FRONT AXLE. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE STEEL BELT COMPLETELY PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING A BLOWOUT. A DADE COUNTY D.O.T. REPRESENTATIVE ASSISTED ME AT ROADSIDE. BOTH OF US WERE AMAZED AT THE POOR CONDITION OF THE SHREADED REMAINS OF THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

4 FIRESTONE TIRES 1 ATX AND 1 AT OF THE ONES RECALLED BLEW. 2 OTHER FIRESTONE TIRES AT NOT RECALLED DID NOT BLOW.( DOT NUMBER: ATX < ATVD TIRE SIZE: 235 75 R15 )

TIRE FAILURE-FIRESTONE ATX-TREAD SPEARATED WHILE INSURED DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 15. INSURED LOST CONTROL AND ROLLED VEHICLE. (CLAIM# 28-3060-226) *MW

I WAS DRIVING 75 ON I76 IN COLORADO. I HAD THE SPEED CONTROL SET TO 75 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I COULDN'T CANCEL SPEED CONTROL AND THE SPEED STARTED INCREASING. I TRIED EVERYTHING TO CANCEL IT - NO LUCK. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SLOWER SPEED MOVING STRAIGHT BEFORE TURNING THE KEY AND ENGINE OFF - I KNEW THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK, THAT'S WHY I STRAIGHTENED THE CAR OUT ON THE SHOULDER BEFORE I TURNED IT OFF.*AK

RIGHT REAR TIRE THREAD CAME OFF AND ALMOST CAUSED WRECK. I KNOW THAT YOU KEEP STATISTICS ON DEFECTS SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I ALMOST HIT A CAR BUT MANAGED TO SWIRVE INTO A DITCH.

TIRE CAME APART SUDDENLY, AND DESTROYED LR FENDER AND DAMAGED UNDERCARRIAGE. TOTAL REPAIR COST $2400. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 )

WHILE WESTBOUND ON HWY 58, 26 MILES WEST OF NEEDLES, CA., THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPERATED AND WAS THROWN FROM THE TIRE. THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I HAD FELT AND INCREASING VIBRATION IN THE CAR PRIOR TO THE SEPARATION. I HAVE SUBMITTED THE TIRE AND REPAIR ESTIMATES TO FIRESTONE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM086 TIRE SIZE: P235/75 R1 )

CASING EXPLODED LEAVING ONLY INSIDE CORD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM216 TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. VEHICLE DRIVES ONLY IN REVERSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ON ROUTE 15 SOUTH BOUND SUDDENLY HEARD A BANGING. THIS LATER TURNED OUT TO BE TREAD SEPARATION FROM DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRES. *AK

ON JULY 2, 2000 THIS VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH ONE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE AND THREE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES WAS ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH, AND SUFFERED A REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLOWOUT, TAKING THE LIVES OF TWO OF THE OCCUPANTS, AND INJURING 3 OCCUPANTS. *AK *SLC

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70MPH WHEN THE REAR TIRE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILED. THE TIRE FELL APART . THE TIRE DID NOT EXPLODE IT JUST FELL APART. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRE SIDE WALL BLEW APART. LOOKED LIKE A DONUT. CONTACTED NEAREST FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP WHO WOULDN'T REPLACE ACCORDING TO TIRE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY. CONTACTED ELK GROVE FORD (NEAREST DEALERSHIP) WHO COLLECTED TIRE AND SENT TO FIRESTONE WHO AS OF AUG. 4, 2000 HAS NOT REPLACED DEFLECT TIRES NOR REFUND MONEY SPENT ON DUE TO REPAIRS AS A RESULT OF DEFLECTIVE TIRE ACCORDING TO BIG-O EMPLOYEE ADAM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235-75-15 )

SIDEWALL PUNCTURE TO LEFT REAR TIRE. DRIVER LOST CONTROL, RIGHT REAR TIRE DEBEADED, VEHICLE ROLLED THREE TIMES AND LANDED ON PASSENGER SIDE AGAINST INTERSTATE GUARDRAIL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE HAVING MY VEHICLE INSPECTED RECENTLY ATTENTION WAS CALLED TO EACH OF MY TIRES. THERE ARE TINY HAIR LINE CRACKS ALL AROUND EACH TIRE AT THE TREAD AS IF THIS IS WHERE IT WOULD SEPARATE. I COMPARED THE TIRES TO MY DAUGHTER'S TIRES WHICH WERE RECALLED, AND SHE HAD NO SUCH CRACKS OR LINES.( DOT NUMBER: VNCUIPL245 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

ON AUGUST 9, 2000, EXPLORER WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT THERE HAD BEEN SOME SLIPPING, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

SWAY BAR LINK FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL 00V402, HOWEVER WHEEL BEARING ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE FIRST FAILURE PRIOR TO THE RECALL, CONSUMER IS QUESTIONING IF THE SWAY BAR LINK BREAKING CAUSES THE WHEEL BEARING TO GO OUT ALSO. *SLC

PE00020 TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, LOST CONTROL OF THE EXPLORER AND CRASHED. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE EXPLORER BECAUSE THE TREAD ON THE REAR RIGHT TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN VEHICLE AND NOT SERIOUSLY INJURIED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE ATX, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 23575R15. THE INSURANCE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. OWNER WAS TOLD TO CONTACT FIRESTONE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION.*AK

REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OFF WHILE CRUISING AT 70MPH ALONG I-75 BRIDGEPORT, MICHIGAN. CAR THEN SWERVED ERRATICALLY. THANKS GOD I WAS DRIVING ON THE RIGHT LANE AND ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. ALMOST GOT AN ACCIDENT.PLEASE INVESTIGATE THOROUGHLY AS I HEARD REPORTED DEATHS WITH SIMILAR INCIDENTS. I WANT FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF MY EXPENSES FROM FIRESTONE. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

AT ABOUT 44K MILES, DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, THE GARAGE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE SEPARATING. SINCE I COULDN'T SEE THE PROBLEM, I DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. AT 61K MILES, JUNE 29, 2000, THE MECHANIC TOLD US TO REPLACE THE TIRES YESTERDAY. I RAN MY HAND ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE REAR TIRE AND CUT MY FINGER ON SOME SHARP STEEL COMING THROUGH THE TREAD AREA. REPLACED THE TIRES IMMEDIATELY WITH NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT'S. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE NEWS ABOUT FIRESTONE PROBLEMS STARTED APPEARING. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED THE NEW FIRESTONE TIRES AND REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELIN'S. MY FAMILY WAS VERY LUCKY. SINCE I DON'T HAVE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES, I DON'T KNOW THE SERIAL NUMBERS, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

A VERY LOUD SLAPPING NOISE STARTED, I PULLED OFF ROAD AND FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE TREAD HAD COME OFF THE RR TIRE, ALSO SEVERING THE BRAKE LINE AND DAMAGING THE RESIN FENDER FLARE. AFTER CONTACTING FIRESTONE AND SENDING THEM THE TIRE CARCASS, THEY DID IN FACT SEND A CHECK FOR THE COST OF THE TIRE AND THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT TIRE SEPARATION, FOR PEACE OF MIND, I PURCHASED 3 WILDERNESS AT TIRES, TO MAKE ALL FOUR "NEW.'' TIRES. HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE PUBLICITY THAT THE FIRESTONE RECALL OF THE WILDERNESS TIRES, MY WIFE REFUSES TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENTLY, IT SITS IN THE GARAGE. I WANT FIRESTONE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 16 INCH SIZE, AND RE-IMBURSE ME FOR MY EXPENSE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/R16 )

F-V1 DRIVING ON 12 0 FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW TREAD-DAMAGED CAR A-390 S-MAYBE POL 10/28/1991 FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX II 23575R15 TUOLPS. (CLAIM# 43-R534-991) *MW

TIRES WERE REPLACED ON 6/27/2000 AND FIRESTONE REBATE FORM WAS MAILED IN. FIRESTONE'S REPONSE WAS SINCE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JAN 1, 2000 THEY WERE DECLINING THE CLAIM. SINCE WHEN IS JUNE 27, 2000 PRIOR TO JAN 1, 2000??? FIRESTONE IS NOT COMPLYING WITH THEIR RECALL TERMS. ORIGINAL RECEIPT IS CLEARLY DATED 6/27/2000. THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED VERY CLOSELY BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AT PLACING LIVES IN DANGER AND THEN SHIRKING THEIR OWN RECALL CONDITIONS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX P23575R15 TIRES ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 96 EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55-60MPH TREAD SEPARATED ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE, RESULTING IN BODY DAMAGE. *AK *SLC

THE TREAD PEELED OFF THE TIRE WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING FROM CHARLESTON, SC TO SAVANNAH, GA ON INTERSTATE 95 DOING 70 MPH. WHAT SAVED OUR LIVES WAS THAT THE TIRE STAYED INFLATED THROUGH OUT THE WHOLE ORDEAL. THERE IS NO DOT FROM THE TIRE BUT PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

SENT WEBMASTER@NHTSA.DOT.GOV A LETTER ON 8/17/00 DETAILING PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: VDH1P5328 TIRE SIZE: 235-75-15 )

THE TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE PEELED OFF THE RUBBER AND BECAME CAUGHT IN THE AXLE CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER ONTO IT'S ROOF. NLM

I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. NOSAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WE WERE DRIVING BACK FROM MAMMOTH THROUGH THE MOJAVE DESERT ON WEEKEND OF JUNE 22, 2000. WE STOPPED FOR LUNCH IN BISHOP CALIFORNIA AND WHEN WE RETURNED TO OUR CAR WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. WE CALLED AAA AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOOK US TO THE ONLY STATION IN TOWN THAT WAS OPEN OF A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE TIRE THEY NOTICED THAT INSTEAD OF A PUNCTURE IN THE TIRE THAT CAUSED THE FLAT A TOP LAYER OF THE TIRE HAD PEELED AWAY AND WIRES WERE EXPOSED. I GUESS THIS IS THE DEGLAZING EFFECT THAT IS OCCURING WITH THE FIRESTONE ATX RADIALS. THE STATION DID NOT HAVE THE ATX TIRES WE ORIGINALLY HAD SO WE REPLACED THE FLAT WITH THE WILDERNESS TIRES. WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TIRES SO THEY WOULD MATCH. THE TEMPERATURE THAT DAY THAT WE WERE TRAVELING WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 DEGREES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL CASE NUMBER 00-40-23433-03( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 15 IN )

GAS PEDAL PIVOT FRAME BECAME DETACHED FROM FLOORBOARD/FIREWALL WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. PEDAL WAS HELD WITH 3 FLIMSY SPOT WELDS. REPAIRED BY DEALER BY BOLTING THROUGH BRACKET AND TRUCK BODY. CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. I NOTED A COUPLE OF INSTANCES OF SAME PROBLEM IN YOUR DATABASE. VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE BELTWAY, WHERE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS, IF NOT DEADLY.*AK

THE TREAD OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT TIRE CAME DETACHED FROM THE TIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-5 IN SAN DIEGO. MY CAR NEARLY FLIPPED OVER AND SOME DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY FRONT QUARTER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DID NOT KNOW THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TIRES DOING THE SAME THING TO OTHER PEOPLE, SO I REPLACED THE TIRES MYSELF AT A COST OF $546 OUT OF FEAR FOR SAFETY WITH THOSE TIRES. I'M CONCERNED THAT FIRESTONE WILL TRY TO IGNORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED NEW TIRES ON THEIR OWN, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FIRESTONE'S DEFECTIVE TIRES THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE HELP US MAKE SURE THAT FIRESTONE OWNS UP TO THEIR MISTAKE AND COMPENSATES PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.( DOT NUMBER: )

RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AT 70MPH, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 96 EXPLORER P235 SIZE. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15 *MW

THE GOODYEAR RADIAL ATX TIRE ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S LEFT SIDE. *MJS

WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR STUCK THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. NLM

TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED ROLLOVER ON THE FREEWAY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

JUST LEFT THE ON RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY SPEED APPROCED 45 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE STERING WHEEL BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. ALMOST LOST CONTROL, AND THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER. PROCEDED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGWAY AND INSPECTED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND DAMGED THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER/QUARTER PANEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00020;TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER COULD NOT CONTROL EXPLORER, WHICH ROLLED OVER. THREE OTHER PASSENGER'S WERE IN THE EXPLORER. ALL FOUR PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. TWO PASSENGER WERE TREATED FOR INJURIES. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, AT. TIRE SIZE P23575R15. TIRES WERE NOT PURCHASED ON THE EXPLORER. TIRE MILEAGE 22,000. THE EXPLORER WAS TOTALLED.. *AK THE DOT # IS VDHL1PY316. *SLC

ON THE MORNING ON 6/14/2000 AT 6AM I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON I-17 IN AZ ( 1 MILE N OF SUNSETPOINT MARKER 254) AT APPROX. 70 MPH (SPEED LIMIT 75 MPH). MY LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY SEPARATED AND EXPLODED SPINNING ME ACROSS TWO LANES OF HIGHWAY AND INTO A RUGGED DESER MEDIAN. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPIN, START TO ROLL TO THE SIDE AND THEN WAS UPRIGTED AS THE SIDE COLLIDED WITH A LARGE BOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS WISH BONED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE CARRIER. THE THREE OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO YAVAPAI COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER IN PRESCOTT BY PARAMEDICS WITH BUMPS AND BRUISES. THE DRIVER (MICHELE) SUSTAINED A SHATTERED LEFT ARM, HAND AND DISLOCATED WRIST. IMMEDIATE SURGERY WAS PERFORMED TO STABILIZE THE SHATTERED BONES AND INSERT AN EXTERNAL FIXATOR. A SECOND SURGERY TOOK PLACE APPROX. 5 WEEKS LATER TO ATTEMPT TO FURTHER REDUCE THE DISLOCATION AND SET MORE OF THE SHATTERED BONES. AT THIS TIME, 2 1/2 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE EXTERNAL FIXATR IS STILL IN PLACE BECAUSE THE BONES HAVE YET TO HEAL. EXTENSIVE THERAPY WILL BE NEEDED AND PERMANENT LOSS HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )