1996 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

SHOULDER BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE ARE FALLING APART. SEAT BELT MATERIAL IS ROTTING AWAY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE BELTS WILL BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML

AT APPROX. 5:00 PM ON MARCH 2000, WHILE RETURNING TO CHARLOTTE, NC FROM TRIP TO COLUMBIA, SC THAT MORNING (DRIVING TIME APPROX. 1 HR. 15 MINUTES EA. WAY), HANDLING BECAME ROUGH FOLLOWING NOISE OF SOMETHING HITTING UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. UPON PULLING OFF HIGHWAY, WE EXAMINED LEFT REAR TIRE AND DISCOVERED THAT TREAD HAD COMPLETELY PEELED AWAY, LEAVING EXPOSED SMOOTH RUBBER SURFACE. CHANGED TIRE AND CONTINUED BALANCE OF TRIP WITHOUT INCIDENT. TIRE WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 1999 FROM SEARS. IN LIGHT OF RECENT PUBLICITY, WE FELT WE SHOULD REPORT THIS. WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT TOOK THE REMOVAL ACTION BY SEARS TO SPOTLIGHT THIS PROBLEM AND WHY THE NTSA DID NOT MAKE THIS PROBLEM PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE BEFOREHAND. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STARTED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. I GOT PULLED OVER AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE AND OPENED THE HOOD WHERE I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. I TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT THE FIRE WAS BURING TOO HOT FOR ME TO GET CLOSE, THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AND PROCEEDED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS TOO LATE, THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP. I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THEN 4 MONTHS AND HAD NO WORK DONE TO IT AT ALL AND IT JUST BLEW UP ON ME. I JUST GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN TIME BEFORE BEING SEVERELY BURNED MYSELF. I DID PURCHASE A 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY FROM THE SELLING DEALER AT TIME OF PURCHASE WHIHC WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION, HENSE THE REASON I PURCHASED IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FROM HERE, BUT I NOW FIND MYSELF WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL INJURY, THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY KILLED ME AND THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. *AK

THIS LOSS IS SIMILIAR TO ANOTHER PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. THIS LOSS IS VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRE LOSSES IN THE LINCOLN TOWN CARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD, AND CAN NOT VERIFY THIS, THIS SAME PART IS USED IN THIS VEHICLE, THE BRONCO AND THE EXPEDITION. PLEASE CONTACT JOHN REUTTER FOR FURTHER DETAILS WHEN NEEDED. 727-848-3923

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE DURING NORMAL USE ON INTERSTATE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. AS THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING, IT FLAPPED AGAINST THE REAR FENDERWELL AND CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE BUMPER, TRIM AND REAR FENDER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

INCIDENT OCCURRED IN FEBRUARY, 2000, PRIOR TO INFORMATION IN THE PRESS ABOUT TIRE FAILURE. MY SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN THEY ACCELERATED THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED FOR HELP. THEY REPORTED THAT THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED AND THAT ALL THAT WAS LEFT WERE A FEW PIECES. THERE WAS A DRIVING RAIN STORM AT THE TIME,AND THEY HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING HELP THAT NIGHT. WE DID NOT LINK THIS PROBLEM WITH TIRE FAILURE UNTIL WE STARTED TO HEAR ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON THE NEWS. WE WERE GRATEFUL THAT THE BLOWOUT HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS AT A STOP, AND NOT WHILE OUR SON WAS DRIVING . HE HAD BEEN ON A ROAD WITH A STEEP INCLINE, AND HAD TURNED ON TO A ROAD THAT PARALLELED THE OCEAN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL (OOT-005) DUE TO VIBRATION AND BLOWOUT WHICH RESULTED IN MINOR ACCIDENT WHEN THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PANEL AND DRIVERS DOOR. CONSUMER HAD PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATION AND WENT TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS WITHOUT REMEDY (1998-1999). *MJS

BEERINGS WERE SHOT, TRUCK WAS NOT USED OFF ROAD AT ALL, FEEL THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE PART ALONE WAS $ 285.00 . I AM AWARE THAT I AM REPORTING THISVERY LATE, BUT THE REAL REASON IS THAT I AM UPSET THAT THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR IS NOT WORKING I.E. THE LITTLE ARROW IN THE DASHBOARD THAT TELLS YOU WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. THEY WANT $ 150.00 TO REPLACE THAT PIECE. I FEEL THAT THE INDICATOR SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I PLAN ON WRITING FORD ABOUT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS AND HOPE TO HAVE THEM PAY FOR THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR REPAIR. THANK YOU. *AK

I HAVE AN EXPLORER SPORT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR IS WILL TAKEN CARE OF EVEN IF IT HAS ALOT OF MILES ON IT. THE MANUAL SHIFT SHAKES CONSIDERABLY. IF THERE IS A ROUGH SURFACE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SEEMS TO BE READY TO TAKE FLIGHT. AT 165,000 MILES I HAD THE CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE, AND THROWOUT BEARINGS REPLACED. THE MACHINE AT THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T TELL ME WHY IT HAPPENED BUT HE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS STILL WRONG. NOW AT 212,000 MILES THE BEARINGS AND CLUTCH ARE OUT AGAIN. WHILE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER EXPLORERS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THAT THE NEWWER EXPLORERS HAVE A VIBRATION DAMPER MOUNTED ON THE REAR AXLE. FORD WOULD BE HAPPY TO PUT ONE ON MY CAR FOR $4,000. I AM VERY UPSET SINCE IT WAS THEIR DESIGN FLAW THAT IS CAUSING ALL MY PROBLEMS.I HAVE ALREADY SPENT ALOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX THEIR DESIGN ERROR. *AK

I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE , HENCE NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT 74960 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE FIRSTONE STORE IN MADISON, WI AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE WOULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE BLOWOUT WAS DUE TO 'ROAD HAZARD' AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I BOUGHT A NEW TIRE AND THEN CONTACTED FIRESTONE DIRECTLY AND EXPLAINED THAT I THOUGHT THAT THIS FAILED TIRE HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT; FIRESTONE THEN SENT ME A CHECK COVERING THE COST OF THE NEW TIRE. THE BLOWOUT POINT WAS WHERE THE TREAD WAS VULCANIZED TO THE SIDEWALL. ALSO STARTING IN MAY, 2000 (80702 MILES) I HAD TROUBLE KEEPING THESE TIRES BALANCED; AFTER THE TIRES WARMED UP THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION STARTING AT APPROXIAMETLY 55 MPH. THE TIRES WERE BALANCED THREE TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT SIX WEEKS. I HAD THE TIRES INSPECTED BY FIRESTONE AND JUST ONE OF THE TIRES HAD THE 'DOT VD' MARKING. I WAS TOLD BY THE FIRESTONE REP THAT THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL OF THE TIRES, FIRESTONE WOULD REPLACE THE ONE TIRE AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OTHER THREE. FIRESTONE DID NOT HAVE ANY REPLACEMENT TIRES IN STOCK AND COULDN'T GIVE ME A TARGET DATE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT THE VIBRATIONS WERE DUE TO THE VEHICLE AND NOT THE TIRES SO IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE, AT MY COST, REPLACED THE FIRESTONES WITH MICHELINS; THE NEW TIRES CURED THE VIBRATIONS. I HAVE MY TIRES INFLATED AT 32 TO 35 PSI AT ALL TIMES.( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

FIRE STONE TIRES KEEP SHREDDING. *AK

TIRE BEGAN TO DESINTEGRATE AND THROW TREAD, DAMAGING VEHICLE AND ALMOST CAUSING A ROLL OVER. COMPLETELY THROWN THE TREAD BUT REMAINED FULL OF AIR.

TIRE PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM BODY. VEHICAL WAS STOPPED BEFORE TOTAL SEPARATION. TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH SAME TYPE TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ORIGINAL TIRE ON VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER BOUGHT A SET OF FIRESTONE TIRES. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE TIRE HAD DEFECTIVE TREAD. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A BIG THUMP, LIKE SOMEONE THREW SOMETHING AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT INTO FORD AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IN THE MEANTIME MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON (SECOND TIME WITHIN 16000 MILES) AND MY WINDOW WASHER WAS BROKE SO THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. I WENT IN A WEEK LATER AND THEY PUT IT UP ON THE RACK AND THAT'S WHEN THE BOLT FELL OUT HOLDING MY FRONT END TOGETHER. I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY TO BE THERE FOR THEM TO FIX IT. IF IT WENT OUT ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING I WOULD HAVE BE KILLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SEEING HOW THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT DID IT CONSTANTLY . IF I WOULD HAVE WAITED , I WOULDN' T HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR THEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THIS HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT THIS ISN'T A RECALL ITEM. $500 PLUS LATER I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW WOULD THEY LIKE MY FAMILY OWNING FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR THEIR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP??? THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A NICE LAW SUIT. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND I'M CONSTANTLY PUTTING MONEY INTO IT (BESIDES MY MONTHLY CAR PAYMENTS) TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. I JUST WANT THE BUYERS TO BEWARE!!! *AK

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A BIG BANG, LIKE SOMEONE THREW SOMETHING AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT INTO FORD AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE THE BOLT BROKE HOLDING THE ARM TO CONTROL THE FRONT END. IT WAS JUST HANGING ON BY A THREAD WAITING TO POP OUT AND ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE, KILLED. THEY FOUND THIS OUT A WEEK LATER WHEN I RETURNED TO HAVE THE OTHER WORK COMPLETED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 16,000 MILES) AND MY WINDOW WASHER WAS BROKE. WHEN THEY WENT TO CHECK THE FRONT END AGAIN THEY PUT IT UP ON THE RACK AND THAT IS WHEN THE BOLT FELL OUT. I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY TO BE THERE. IF IT WENT WHEN I WAS DRIVING I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHAT REALLY UPSETS ME IS, THEY TOLD ME THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT DID IT CONSTANTLY. I AM STILL COUNTING MY BLESSINGS TO THIS DAY. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM OR WHY IT HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR CO. THAT THIS ISN'T A RECALL ITEM AND FINANCIALLY THEY COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WARRANTY OR NOT, THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED!! TO ME THIS IS SHODDY WORKMANSHIP ON FORD'S PART. THE PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE VEHICLES IS OUTRAGEOUS AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE DEATH TRAPS. I'M CONSTANTLY PUTTING MONEY INTO IT (BESIDES MY MONTHLY CAR PAYMENTS) TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN! I JUST WANT BUYERS TO BEWARE!!

THE BROKEN INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE MAY HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR A LONG TIME BUT, BECAUSE OF THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK FEATURE BEING ACTIVATED IT WASN'T NOTICED UNTIL THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS DEACTIVETED ONLY TO FIND THAT THE DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. UPON DISASSEMBLY, I FOUND THE PLASTIC CAM THAT UNLOCKS THE LATCH OF THE DOOR TO BE CRACKED OFF RENDERING THE HANDLE USELESS. AS FOR THE TRANSMISSION, THE PREMATURE AND EXPENSIVE FAILURE SHOULD BECOME A RECALL ITEM FOR FORD AS I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS OF THIS TYPE VEHICLE ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS OF GREAT FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCE AND POSSIBLE TRAGIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCE.. I'D SAY A DISPORPORTIONATE NUMBER OF EXPLORER OWNERS ARE ENCOUNTERING SIMILAR TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THE LIFE THREATENING CONDITION OF A BAD TRANSIMISSION COULD HAVE LED TO A LOCK-UP OR UNEXPECTED RAPID DECELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH COULD HAVE ROLLED THE TRUCK. INTERNAL COMPONENTS WERE BADLY SCARRED AND IRREPAIREBLY DAMAGED. INITIAL SYMPTONS WERE HESITATION ON ACCELLERATION AT SHIFT POINTS FORD ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS TO ADDRESS THESE SYMPTOMS BUT NEVER RECALLED THE DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. TIRE HIT THE BUMPER AND DAMAGED IT.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON REPEATEDLY. SOMETIMES WILL GO OFF BY ITS SELF,SOMETIMES BATTERY HAS TO BE DISCONNECTED.WILL NOT IDLE PROPERLY.WE HAVE HAD IT IN THE GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES TO BE PUT ON A SCOPE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RESULTS AT ALL.I FEEL IT IS SOME KIND OF A SENSOR PROBLEM.PLEASE HELP!! *AK

O/D AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED VARIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, INSTALLATION OF THE CASTER/CAMBER KIT WAS NECESSARY TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL AND CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE, TWO INJURIES DUE TO COLLISION. *MJS THE CONSUMER NOW BELIEVES THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE ADVISIORY TO INFLATE ALL 15 INCH TIRES TO 26 PSI, THE CONSUMER HAD 45 PSI ON REAR TIRES AND THE DEALER DEFLATED THEM TO 26 PSI WHICH SHE BELIEVES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. NLM

IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY I WAS ON A RETURN TRIP FROM ORLANDO, FLORIDA AND ON MY WAY TO TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA HOME. APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES NORTH OF ORLANDO I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS DRIVING ( 1996 FORD EXPLORER ). I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND AS I CONTINUED TO DECREASE IN SPEED THE VIBRATION INCREASED AND BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP I FELT A LARGE BANG IN THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS IF THE TIRE BLEW, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL NEARLY MISSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. I REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE THAT WAS ON THE VEHICLE AND MADE IT TO TALLAHASSEE. DURING THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE TO TALLAHASSEE I OBSERVED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REMAINING TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. MY CONCLUSION WHEN I ARRIVED IN TALLAHASSEE WAS THAT I DID NOT FEEL THAT THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE SAFE AND WOULD NOT BET MY FAMILIES LIFE THEM SO I HAD THEM REPLACED. WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK I HAD FOUR OF THE FIVE TIRES REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE, THE SPARE STILL REMAINS UNDER THE VEHICLE UNTIL SUCH TIME THIS MATTER IS RESOLVED. TO MY SURPRISE ON AUGUST 8, 2000 I HEARD RUMORS THAT THE TIRE OF THE SAME BRAND AND MAKE "FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX" SERIES MAY BE RECALLED. HOWEVER THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE FROM THE STEEL BELTED RADIAL THAT TORE AWAY FROM THE WHEEL ITSELF CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST MY LIFE FROM THE TIRE IN QUESTION. I FEEL THAT IT WOULD NOT BE UNREASONABLE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TIRES THAT I REPLACED AND THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY TO THE MATTER AT HAND. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235R15 )

LEFT REAR TIRE BEGAN TO SEPARATE, THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE THEN STEERED BACK ACROSS THE LANES ROTATING COUNTERCLOCKWISE, THE RIGHT TIRES WHERE DIGGING INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER TWICE IN THE GRASS MEDIAN, THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED DURING THE FINAL ROLLOVER SEQUENCE (FLORIDA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM306, LEFT REAR). NLM

AAA CAME TO REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE. TURNED THE CABLE FOR THE SPARE TIRE TO COME DOWN. TIRE WAS LOWERED FROM STORAGE AREA, REACHED UP, AND THE CABLE BROKE. MOVEMENT OR THE POSITION OF THE CABLE COULD BE RUBBING UP AGAINST THE RIM OF THE SPARE TIRE. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSON. AFTER SHIFTING INTO FOUR- WHEEL DRIVE. TRANSMISSION LOST LOW GEARS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. COMMON PROBLEM. *AK *ML

OWNER DEMANDED VEHICLE AFTER WAITING 2 1/2 HOURS TO HAVE RECALL (00V-402)WORK PERFORMED, OWNER WAS NOT TOLD JOB WAS COMPLETED, OWNER DROVE 31 MILES TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED BY FIRST DEALERSHIP. CJ

REIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE SHOULDER THROUGH THE MEDIAN AND OVERTURNED SEVERAL TIMES AND EJECTED THE DRIVER AND 4 OF THE 5 PASSENGERS,FIVE OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INCAPACITATING INJURIES AND ONE OCCUPANT WAS KILLED(BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM166, RIGHT REAR, FLORIDA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE ATX (P235/75R15) TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL 00T-005 DUE TO SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL REIMBURSEMENT, THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000. *CJ

THE BELTS OF THE FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES EXPERIENCED SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000 AND WERE NOT PURCHASED ON A PRORATED BASIS. NLM

TRUCK HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES FOR THIS AND STILL NOT FIXED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

12/30/1999 - DRIVER SIDE, REAR TIRE SEPARATED AND BLEW OUT ON I-40 NEAR MORGANTON, NC TRAVELING WEST AT 65 MPH. MY WIFE WAS FORTUNATE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND GET IT ONTO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER BEFORE ANY FURTHER DAMAGE OCCURRED. TIRE WAS REPLACED AT MARTIN FAMILY FORD IN MORGANTON, NC ON 12/30/1999. 07/10/2000 - THE PASSENGER SIDE, REAR TIRE SHOWED A NOTICEABLE TREAD SEPARATION FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES ALONG THE OUTSIDE TIRE WALL AT TREAD DEPTH. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO THE FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER AT 510 W. MARKET STREET IN GREENSBORO, NC AND REPLACED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: 25570R16 )

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P255 70 R16 EXPERIENCED SPLITTING. *SLC

WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING TO FAMILIES FOR CHRISTMAS.....ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD A FLAT TIRE. HAD TO FIX ON SIDE OF ROAD. WENT TO HAVE IT FIXED WHEN WE GOT BACK HOME, COULDN'T FIX IT. THE TIRE PEOPLE COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY IT WENT FLAT BUT THE TIRE WAS ALSO RUINED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

IN JUNE OF 1996, 1 NEW TIRE BLEW OUT, AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET A REPLACEMENT AND GOODYEAR REINBURSED ME FOR THE COST OF A NEW TIRE. EVENTUALLY, MY TIRES STARTED WEARING ODDLY, AND AFTER GETTING A WHOLE NEW SET, MY SWAY BAR LINK BROKE. I HAD THE SWAY BAR REPLACED, BUT MY NEW TIRES ARE ALSO WEARING VERY ODDLY. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, TIRE BALANCE AND FREQUENT ROTATIONS. NO ONE IS SURE WHY MY TIRES ARE WEARING AS THEY ARE, ON THE INSIDE ONLY. THE TREAD IS VERY THIN, AND I THINK I WILL NEED A THIRD SET OF TIRES ON THIS TRUCK. I WONDER IF THE SWAY BAR IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING BIG AND EXPENSIVE WENT OUT ON THIS CAR AS SOON AS IT HIT JUST OVER 100K MILES. OF COURSE MY TRANSIMISSION, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEMS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH BOTH WERE VERY CLOSE. I PLAN TO TAKE THE CAR TO FORD TO DISCUSS THE TIRE PROBLEM, I HOPE SOMEONE CAN EXPLAIN WHY I AM GOING THROUGH SO MANY SETS OF TIRE. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE, AND HAVE MAINTINED IT CAREFULLY. COULD THE SWAY BAR BE A PROBLEM? *AK (TIRESIZE: LT23S/75R1)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT23S/75R1 )

ON THE ABOVE DATE I WAS RETURNING FROM JACKSONVILLE ON I-95 SOUTHBOUND WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CARCAS ON MY LEFT REAR TIRE. THE TREAD TOOK OUT PART OF THE LOWER LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL WHEN IT CAME OFF. I FISHTAILED BUT MANAGED TO COME TO A SAFE STOP, AND NO FURTHER DAMAGE ENSUED. THESE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY SUV WHEN I BOUGHT IT. ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE GROUND WERE ROTATED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECS BY A LOCAL TIRE KINGDOM ON 12/03/1999. THEY FELT OUT-OF-ROUND ON THE TRIP BACK. I HAD THE FOUR TIRES ON THE GROUND REPLACED WITH GOODYEAR TIRES ON 04/25/2000. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SPARE. FIRESTONE HAS NOT BEEN COOPERATIVE IN MY EFFORTS TO BE REIMBURSED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME BY PHONE OR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE OVER TO SAFETY. LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIM. CONSUMER DID NOT PROVIDE TIRE BRAND OR SIZE. *SLC

THE TIRES IN QUESTION, ARE COMING APART THE RUBBER IS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 35 MPH. I ALSO TRIED TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED BUT IT DID NO GOOD . THE TIRES HAS MORE THAN 4/32 OF RUBBER LEFT BUT ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE 16" WILDERNESS SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE LIST OF TIRES RECALLED BY FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED HOT. DROVE TO DEALER 5 MILES AWAY. DIGNOSIS: BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I PURCHASED MY 96 FORD EXPLORER IN NOV. 95 AND HAVE HAD A VEHICLE SHUDDER PROBLEM THAT BECOMES A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN TIRES ARE INFLATED BEYOND THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE OF 26PSI. FORD HAVE NOW RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURES OF 30PSI, WHICH I CANNOT DO WITHOUT RISKING A VEHICLE LOSS OF CONTROL SITUATION.THE FIRST TIME TIS HAPPENED, IT ABSOLUTELY SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME, TO PUT IT POLITELY! I HAD JUST PICKED UP THE TRUCK FROM THE MISSION VALLEY FORD AFTER SOME BRAKE WORK. I TOOK THE TRUCK UP TO FREEWAY SPEED AND WHILE TRAVELING OVER SOME ROUGH FREEWAY SURFACE THE TRUCK ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE FAILURE ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED. THE ONLY ISSUE THE SERVICE ENGINEER IDENTIFIED AS ABNORMAL WAS THEY HAD SET THE TIRE PRESSURE TO 30PSI(ALL TIRES). RESETTING THE TIRES BACK TO 26PSI ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM.THIS PROBLEM RESURFACED TWICE MORE SINCE AND RESETTING THE TIRES TO 26PSI CORRECTED THE LACK OF CONTROL PROBLEM. THE SHUDDER I NORMALLY FEEL APPEARED TO EXTEND INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CONTROL THE TRUCK WHEN I TRAVELED OVER A ROUGH PATCH IN THE SURFACE OF A FREEWAY. EMERGENCY BRAKING BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK UNDER CONTROL. I NO LONGER ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THE EXPLORER.IM FAMILIAR WITH STEERING WHEEL SHUDDER AS A RESULT OF POOR WHEELING BALANCING, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT. THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHUDDERS, NOT THE STEERING WHEEL, AT CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE, AND IS PARTICULARLY OBVIOUS ON LONG JOURNEYS. THIS WAS IDENTIFIED TO YOUR SERVICE DEPT., WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE TRACKING AND/OR THE TIRES MAY BE AT FAULT. TRACKING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND NEW TIRES PURCHASED, BUT NEITHER CORRECTED THE PROBLEMT SHUDDER PROBLEM HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY THE SERVICE DEPT OF THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER. SEE ATTACHED SERVICE RECORDS DATED 6/12/97 AND 12/1/98 FOR THIS PROBLEM.PLEASE REVIEW THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND ATTACHED SERVICE RECORDS. I EAGERLY AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE.

NO SUMMARY

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLEWUP. DRIVER WAS ALONE IN THE TRUCK AND WAS NOT INJURED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, AT, P25570R16, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. OWNER DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF THE SITUATION AT THE TIME, AND JUST REPLACED THE TIRE HIMSELF. PLEASE LIST DOT #. *AK

FIRST BLOWOUT LISTED TOOK OUT GAS TANK FILL ASSEMBLY WITH TREAD, SECOND BLOWOUT IN DECEMBER( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 INCH )

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P235 75 R15) WERE CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND MAKE A PECULIAR NOISE, UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRES, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD WEAR AND WAS DOWN TO THE SECOND LAYER OF TREAD, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING FROM ORLANDO TO FT. LAUDERDALE TO VISIT MY FAMILY ON THANKSGIVING DAY, 1999, THE TIRE TREAD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED SUDDENLY WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED (ABOUT 65 - 70 MPH) ON I-95 NEAR JUPITER, FLORIDA. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS HARD TO CONTROL. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO CAR TO THE RIGHT (MY WIFE AND I WERE IN THE LEFT LANE) AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WE CHANGED THE TIRE ROADSIDE, AND HAD BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED THE NEXT DAY AT TIRE KINGDOM AT LAUDERDALE BY THE SEA. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL CAUSED BY THE PEELED AWAY TIRE, WHICH WE HAD FIXED AT A LATER DATE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT GREENWAY FORD IN ORLANDO. THE MECHANIC AT TIRE KINGDOM SAID THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL THAT THE TREAD CAME OFF WITHOUT CAUSING A BLOWOUT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE SEPARATED AND WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE A REPLACEMENT WAS PURCHASED. WITH DEALERS RECEIVING THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES, SHOULDN'T SOMEONE HAVE KNOWN EARLIER THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

ALL FOUR WILDERNESS AT P23575R15 TIRES REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL (OOT-005), BECAUSE OF TREAD SEPARATION, OWNER HAS BEEN DENIED REIMBURSEMENT.

PE00-020, FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P23575R15) WHICH CAME WITH 1996 EXPLORER, PASSENGER'S FRONT DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE TIRES WHICH WAS COMING OFF THE BELT. *AK DOT#W2HL1PM385. *SLC

TREND CAME OFF TIRE , DAMAGE TO REAR FENDER-TRAVELING APROX. 65 ON FREEWAY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

TWO FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL BLOWOUTS, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2000. NLM