1997 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

CONSUMER REPLACED ALL 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT ( P235/75R15 1055) TIRES, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT TIRES WERE NOT APART OF RECALL, EVEN THOUGH TIRES WERE SHOWING ABNORMALITIES OF TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF RECALL. *JB

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235 75 R15 EXPERIENCED CRACKING. *SLC

NEED TO SECURE CUSTODY OF VEHICLE LEFT IN TEXAS - PLEASE CONTACT US( DOT NUMBER: )

TIRES WERE STARTING TO SEPERATE. ALL FOUR TIRES HAD GROOVES WHERE TREAD JOINED THE SIDEWALL. THE GROOVES COULD NOT BE SEEN UNTIL THE AIR WAS REMOVED FROM THE TIRES. THE FIRST FIRESTONE STORE I CONTACTED WAS VERY SMART AND HATEFUL WHEN I ASKED WHAT I WAS TO DO. THAT STORE IS LOCATED IN EASTLAND MALL CHARLOTTE,NC. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF I BOUGHT NEW TIRES ON MY OWN AND DID NOT WAIT MY TURN FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE TIRES THAT FIRESTONE WOULD NOT PAY ME FOR THE NEW TIRES. I WOULD HAVE BEEN # 251 TO BEEN INSPECTED AND THESE TIRES WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BLOWN BEFORE THEN. FORD SENT ME A LETTER ASSURING ME THAT THE TIRES ON MY 1997 F-350 WAS NOT AFFECTED BUT FAILED TO SEND ME A LETTER TELLING ME THAT MY EXPLORER HAD THE KILLER TIRES. BOTH COMPANIES HAVE PUT MY FAMILY AT A HIGH RISK OF BEING KILLED AND HAVE DRUG THEIR FEET TO TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

TIRE BLEW OUT ON VEH AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS TOTALLED. THE TIRES VERE FIRESTONE, INSURED DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT. (CLAIM# 42-1283-914) *MW

PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH DOOR HANDLES. *SLC

UPON TAKING MY FORD EXPLORER TO FIRESTONE TO SEE IF MY TIRES ARE IN THE RECALL, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY FRONT TIRES WERE SO BADLY WORN ON THE INSIDE EDGE THAT THE STEEL BELTS COULD BE SEEN. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, HOWARD FORD OF WEST MEMPHIS, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CASTER AND CAMBER BUSHINGS WERE WORN OUT AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL WEAR ITEM. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS STATEMENT IS THAT I HAVE REGULARLY HAD FORD SERVICE MY EXPLORER AND ROTATE THE TIRES FROM DAY ONE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ASKED ME WHO HAS BEEN SERVICING MY EXPLORER RIGHT OFF THE BAT. HE SAID THIS AS IF WHOEVER IT WAS, SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS. WHEN I INFORMED HIM THAT HIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS THE ONLY ONE TO EVER DO ANYTHING TO THIS VEHICLE, HE CHANGED THE SUBJECT. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A SERVICE MANAGER AT A DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIP, IT IS MY FEELING THAT THIS POOR DESIGN OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, AND THE INFERIOR MATERIAL USED IN THESE BUSHINGS COULD BE JUST AS MUCH A CAUSE IN THE TIRE PROBLEM AS ANYTHING. MY REASONING IS THIS, I RECENTLY HAD MY TIRES ROTATED AND THE FORD DEALER NEVER MENTIONED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END. NOW, LESS THAN 5,000 MILES LATER, MY TIRES ARE SO WORN THAT YOU CAN SEE THE STEEL BELTS. I STRONGLY URGE NHTSA TO RESEARCH THIS MATTER AND MAKE FORD TO TAKE THERE SHARE OF THE BLAME FOR THESE ACCIDENTS AMD DEATHS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ALL OUR TIRES HAVE A SMALL "SEPARATION" LINE AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE, ACCORDING TO FIRESTONE'S AUTHORIZED DEALER, BELLE TIRE. BECAUSE OUR SPECIFIC TIRES WERE NOT PART OF THE INITIAL RECALL BY FIRESTONE, BELLE TIRE TRIED TO CONTACT FIRESTONE TO GET A DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT TO DO ABOUT OUR TIRES. THAT WAS THREE WEEKS AGO. BELLE TIRE AND US HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT ANY DECISION MAKERS AT FIRESTONE-WE KEPT RUNNING INTO DEAD ENDS, EVEN THOUGH WE TRIED NUMEROUS PHONE NUMBERS AND 2 EMAILS, LAST WEEK, WE READ IN OUR LOCAL PAPER ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAD OUR TYPE OF TIRES WHERE FIRESONE SAID THEY WERE OKAY AND THEN 2 WEEKS LATER, THE TIRES RUPTURED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THOSE TIRES WERE MADE AT FIRESONE'S CANADIAN PLANT, AS WERE OURS. WHILE THE LINES AOF SEPARATION ARE SMALL CURRENTLY, THEY ARE ABOUT 3/8 INCH BELOW THE TREADLINE AND ARE PRESENT AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF EACH TIRE. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY PEEL AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE AND ARE LIMITING OUR DRIVING UNTIL WE HEAR DEFINITIVELY FROM FIRESTONE AS TO THE SAFETY OF THESE TIRES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL 1PY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

HAIR LINE CRACKS AROUND SIDEWALL AND UNSUAL TREAD WEAR. FIRESTONE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TIRE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

PE00020, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT 0N 1997, EXPLORER, P23575R15 DOT W2-HL-IPY, ALL THE TIRES ARE HAVING SPIDER LIKE CRACKS ON THE SIDE OF THE TREAD AND ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TIRE. *AK

I BOUGHT REPLACEMENT WILDERNESS TIRES FOR MY EXPLORER LAST OCTOBER. THIS PAST AUGUST TWO WENT BAD. ONE BLEW GOING 55 MPH. NOBODY WAS HURT BUT I REPLACED THEM ALL. FOUR TIRES WERE NOT THE ONES MADE ON DECANTOR ILL BUT THE SPARE WAS. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE THE RECALL. I AM WONDERING IF THE ONES MADE "NOT AT THE ILL" PLANT ARE BAD AS WELL. MINE CERTAINLY ARE NOT RIGHT. I HAVE THEM SAVED IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THEM.( DOT NUMBER: NOT RECALL TIRE SIZE: RECALL )

TWO TIRES FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO BALANCE EITHER ONE. INDICATED THAT PROBABLE CAUSE WAS BELT SLIP. DO NOT USE VEHICLE FOR OFF ROAD OR OTHER SEVERE SERVICE. (DOT NUMBER: VNCU IPX TIRESIZE: 255/70R16)

BOTH OF THE PREVIOUSLY SPECIFIED 16-INCH WILDERNESS AT REAR TIRES ON MY EXPLORER ARE CRACKING WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX217 TIRE SIZE: P25570R16 )

TIRES ARE CRACKING WHERE THE TREAD IS FASTENED TO THE SHOULDER(SIDE WALL). THE TIRES HAVE ABOUT 40,00 MILES ON THEM. FAILURES HAVE BEEN VERIFIED BY A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER. SO FAR BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE DENY PROBLEMS WITH WILDERNESS AT TIRES NOT MADE AT THE DECATUR IL PLANT. THIS COMPLAINT SHOULD HELP PROVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN INDICATED BY BOTH COMPANIES.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER REPLACED RECALLED 00T-005 FIRESTONE AT TIRES (P235) INSTEAD OF WAITING ON THE LIST, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

CONSUMER HAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15 DOT#VNHL) ON VEHICLE, THE TIRES ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKING AND SMALL SLITS ON THE OUTER AND INNER SIDEWALLS, A SERVICE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE SYMPTOMS ON THESE TIRES ARE THE SAME THAT ARE OCCURRING WITH THE RECALLED TIRES. *SLC

FAULTY TIRES CAUSE HUMMING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, TREAD WEAR AND VIBRATIONS, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT (FIRESTONE P235/75R22L ALL TERRAIN SBR OWL TIRES, VNHL 1PY - 017 D22 7477). NLM

PE00 020;CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TIRES INSPECTED. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THERE WERE STRESS MARKS ON TIRES, BUT THESE TIRES WERE NOT THE ONES ON RECALL. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT#, P23575 R15 DOT#W2HL. *AK *SLC

THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 105S M/S TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED, THE TIRES HAD CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL AT THE TREAD LINE ON ALL FOUR TIRES WHICH CAUSED A CHOPPY AND NOISY RIDE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

A FIRESTONE TIRE FAILED AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE FIRSTONE WILDERNESS HT P225/70R15 100S. (CLAIM# 03-3164-305) *MW

WHILE DRIVING TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE LANDED IN A DITCH, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED (FIRESTONE TIRE). NLM

PE00 020; CONSUMER HAD TIRES INSPECTED BY FIRESTONE. TIRES WERE CRACKED ALL AROUND . THEY WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT, SIZE P235/75R15, DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILALE, BUT HAD W2 PRODUCTION CODE WHICH INDICATED THAT THESE TIRES WERE PRODUCED IN WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA. *AK

NOTICED ON 8/11 THAT MY LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD GOOD SIZED CUTS/SPLITS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THIS TIRE IS NOT CODED VD AS IN THE RECALL BUT CODED VN WHICH MEANS IT WAS MADE IN THE FIRESTONE CANADIAN PLANT. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CHANGED-OUT WITH THE RELATIVELY NEW SPARE TIRE BY MY FORD DEALER IN NEW YORK.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VN-------- TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER HAS A 1997 FORD, EXPLORER. ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE 31,000 MILES ON THEM. TIRES SIZE IS P235/75R15, AND DOT # VNHL. THERE WAS ABOUT 3/4 INCHES OF SEPARATION & CRACKING DOWN ON SIDEWALL TO FLAT TREAD. IN & OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW

THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CRACKING, DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS DRY ROT SYMPTOMS, TIRES NOT INCLUDED IN RECENT RECALL. *MJS

TIRE LOST ALL TREAD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TIRE RECENTLY INSPECTED BY FIRESTONE DEALER AND SAID TO BE IN EXCELLECT CONDITION.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL IPY TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00020; 1997 EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE P25570R16, DOT # W2CU1PX. DRIVER'S REAR TIRE BEGAN PEELING APART WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE TREAD TO SEPARATE. CONSUMER HAS THE TIRES IN THE GARAGE. FIRESTONE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70/R16 *MW

RETURNING HOME FROM MYRTLE BEACH, SC TO WASH, DC AREA, WHILE IN NC LOST CONTROLL OF CAR DUE TO TIRE BLOWING - MY SERIAL NUMBER OF THE TIRES WERE NOT THE OFFICIAL RECALL. STARTED WITH VH (?) INSTEAD OF VD. DID EVETUALLY HAVE TO GET ALL FOUR REPLACED AT THE DEALER IN NC BECAUSE THE OTHER THREE HAD DEFECTS. I STILL HAVE THE SPARE THAT MATCHED THE REPLACED TIRES. MY INSURANCE HAD TO COVER THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR - FIRESTONE WOULD NOT. I'M UPSET THAT MY OLD TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL - THEY SHOULD BE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS! I'VE HAD NO SUCCESS GETTING MY POINT HEARD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 14 IN )

HAD TIRE CHECKED APPROX 2 HOURS BEFORE INCIDENT, WHEN MECHANIC BROUGHT MY VEHICLE BACK TO ME I DROVE ABOUT HALF A BLOCK AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVING PROPERLY I GOT OUT AND LOOKED TO SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH AIR IN THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE WHICH WAS NOT PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK IT IN, AND I DROVE BACK TO STORE LOCATED AT 4561 ELVIS PRESLEY IN MEMPHIS, TN AND TOLD THEM MY PROBLEM. THE CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE AND ASKED ME TO PULL AROUND SO THEY CAN PUT SOME AIR IN IT. I DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME AND APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS LATER THE SAME TIRE BURST. I CALLED STORE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NO REPLACEMENT FOR ME AT THAT TIME. I AM STUCK WITH NO VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAD TO PUT MY SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT LEFT ME WITHOUT A SPARE TIRE. I HAVE TO BOMB A RIDE TO GET PLACES BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I DO NOT HAVE A SPARE SHOULD ANOTHER TIRE BURST. I HAVE BEEN PROMISED DIFFERENT DATES THAT THE TIRES ARE TO COME IN, AND EACH DATE THEY TELL ME THE NEXT WEEK SOM SHOULD BE IN, BUT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED EITHER. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW TO PURCHASE MY TIRES FOR REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE I AM LAID-OFF AND THIS IS HENDERING ME FROM SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THOSE ALTERNATING TREAD BLOCKS WHICH DO NOT WRAP ONTO THE SIDEWALL. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS, "THAT SIZE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL" AND CALLS IT "NORMAL" BUT OTHER BRANDS OF SIMILAR TIRES I HAVE EXAMINED DO NOT HAVE CRACKS LIKE THESE. I WILL PROVIDE PHOTOS IF DESIRED. I WANT TO KNOW IF THESE TIRES ARE SAFE. IF NOT, I WANT THEM REPLACED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

ALL 4 TIRES ARE FAILING DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. THEY HAVE A SINGLE, CONTINUOUS TREAD SEPARATION CRACK LOCATED WHERE THE TREAD MEETS BOTH THE INNER AND OUTER TIRE SIDEWALLS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHLIPY097 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A POPPING NOISE. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM WHEEL. TIRES WERE FIRSTONE WILDERNESS HT. *AK *SLC

TIRE IS STARTING TO SEPARATE. DEALERS ARE BEING SLOW TO REPLACE IT. THE OTHER THREE TIRES ARE ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF SEPARATION.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

AFTER SEEING THE INFORMATION FOR RECALL, CHECKED THE TIRES AND FOUND OUT THAT THREE OUT OF FOUR TIRES HAD CRACKS AND STARTED SEPARATING, EXCEPT THE LEFT REAR. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R15. *AK

INSPECTION REVEALED THAT ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P23475R15 TIRES HAVE CRACKS AROUND TREAD LINE, DOT # W2HL, DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE TIRES NOT INVOLVED IN RECALL (OOT-005). CJ

THE TIRE BLEW ON INTERSTATE I-69 ON CLEAR ROADS, OVERCAST DAY. THE DRIVER REAR TIRE LOST ITS TREAD WHICH FLIPPED UP BEHIND THE SUV CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I BEGAN A RIGHT HAND SPIN WHICH I GOT OUT OF AND THEN SPUN 180 DEGREES AND ENTERED THE MEDIAN BACKWARDS TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. SEVERAL WITNESSES GAVE STATEMENTS TO THE EATON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT INDICATING WHAT OCCURED AFTER THE TIRE BLEW OUT. I SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

MY HUSBAND, EUGENE, ON 08/07/00 HAD THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD ALL FOUR 4 TIRES REPLACED AT DISCOUNT TIRE CO., INC. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF A RECALL UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE TIRES IN QUESTION WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R-15. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED FOR ME BY OUR SON, STEVEN E. SAKOWSKI ON THE FORD MOTOR CO. EMPLOYEES "B LOT" AND I PURCHASED IT FROM HIM AFTER 30 DAYS WERE UP. WE WANT TO REGISTER THE INCIDENT WITH YOU SO THAT IF IN THE FUTURE THERE IS A RECALL WE WILL BE ON RECORD. THANK YOU, DOLORES G. SAKOWSKI( DOT NUMBER: W2DOT TIRE SIZE: P235/75R-1 )

RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAS BIGGER & DEEPER CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALLS NEAR THE TREAD. OTHER 3 TIRES HAVE SAME CRACKS, BUT NOT AS PRONOUNCED. BEEN TO DEALER & WAS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT.*AK ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES(P235 75 R15) DOT #HTW2 HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SLC

THE TREAD STRIPPED OFF THE TIRE, BUT THE INNERTUBE REMAINED INTACT..IT STILL IT FULL OF AIR WITH NO TREAD ON IT. THE LOOSE TREAD BEAT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL, CAUSING SOME VISIBLE DAMAGE. THIS IS OBVIOUSELY A TIRE PROBLEM AND I THINK FIRESTONE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

I WAS DRIVING TO AN AMUSEMENT PARK ON SUNDAY, 8/6/00 AFTERNOON. I WAS THE ONLY ADULT IN THE VEHICLE. MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, MY YOUNGER BROTHER, AND MY NEPHEW WERE ALL IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED THE VEHICLE VIBRATING QUITE A LOT AS I INCREASED MY SPEED TO 60 MPH. MY DAUGHTER EVEN REMARKED AT HOW BADLY THE CAR WAS SHAKING. I SLOWED THE SPEED TO 55 MPH. AS I DROVE SOUTH ON I-45 , TOWARDS THE PIERCE ST. EXIT, IN THE INSIDE LANE, I HEARD A LOUD POP, AND SAW A BLACK PIECE OF RUBBER, AND SOMETHING SHINY RIP AWAY FROM THE LEFT, REAR OF MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO GO OUT OF CONTROL, BUT I MANAGED TO STEER IT TO THE INSIDE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. MY SISTER WHO WAS FOLLOWING ME STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND GOT OUT OF HER CAR. WE BOTH TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT SHE TOLD ME WAS THAT MY LEFT, REAR TIRE HAD COME APART. SURE ENOUGH, THE REAR, LEFT TIRE TREAD HAD TORN COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. AFTER I CONTACTED MY HUSBAND, AND MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE FREEWAY, WE NOTICED THAT THE TREAD HAD CUT THE HOSES TO THE GAS TANK, EXPOSING THE MAIN LINE TO THE GAS TANK. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE COULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR, AND HAD TO HAVE A WRECKER TAKE THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL FORD DEALER IN TOWN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I LOST PART OF THE TREAD WITH ANOTHER PART PEELED BACK ALONG WITH STEEL BELT WHILE TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY NEAR MIAMI. I HEARD POPPING SOUND AND THEN A NOISE WITH EACH TIRE ROTATION. I DISCOVERED DAMAGE AFTER PULLING OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE LOST TREAD MEASURES ABOUT 12" LONG BY 3" WIDE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR LOSS OF CONTROL..JUST SEVERAL ANXIOUS HOURS RIDING TO AND FROM OUR VACATION WITH NO SPARE AND 3 OTHER POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHI IPY TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

LEFT REAR TIRE HAD THE TREAD SEPERATE ON THE "FIRESTONE AT" TIRE AND CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE GAS TANK, GAS PLUG, GAS LINE, REAR FENDER, AND MOLDING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE TIRE THAT HAS BEEN ON THE NEWS CAUSING ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE "FIRESTONE AT" TIRES BEING DEFECTIVE. (CLAIM# 43-R530-570) *MW

WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-69, 2 MILES BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION AREA, TIRE BLEW AND SENT THE VEH OUT OF CONTROL BUT DIDN'T COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. (CLAIM# 22-V372-826) *MW

NO INJURIES, ONE CAR ACCIDENT. CR ADVISED FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15. (CLAIM# 59-V543-719) *MW

MY SISTER TOOK HER VEHICLE INTO AUDUBON FORD FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND BECAUSE IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT THE TREAD ON THE TIRES WAS SEPARATING AND THE TIRES NEEDED REPLACED. SHE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SAM'S CLUB AUTOMOTIVE FOR A SECOND OPINION. THEY CONCURRED AND SHE BOUGHT 5 NEW TIRES. THIS WAS 3 DAYS BEFORE SHE WAS OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED BY FORD OF THE TIRE RECALL. SHE WENT TO FIRESTONE IN NEW ORLEANS AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THE PROBLEM. SHE WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HER BECAUSE: THE TIRES WERE REPLACED 3 DAYS BEFORE SHE WAS NOTIFIED, SAM'S CLUB MIGHT HAVE SOLD THE TIRES TAKEN OFF THE VEHICLE, SHE COULD NOT PRODUCE THE TIRES FOR THEM, AND SHE DID NOT KNOW THE NUMBERS ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRES. THIS IS BULL. FORD CAN TELL BY THEIR RECORDS WHAT TIRES WERE ON THE VEHICLE AND WHERE THEY CAME FROM. FIRESTONE CAN ALSO CHECK WITH THE SELLING DEALER'S MECHANIC TO VERIFY THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO USE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT UNTIL THE RECALL STARTS AND HOPE YOU DON'T DIE BECAUSE OF IT? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER.*AK (TIRESIZE: P23570R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CURRENTLY, TWO REAR TIRES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

PE 00020: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 35MPH & TURNED ONTO ANOTHER ROAD, WHEN RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A DITCH. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. CHECKED THE TIRE & FOUND TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARTATED. STILL HAD THE TIRE FOR THE LAWYER. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R15 WITH 25,000 MILES ON IT.*AK

I FELT A WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED AT GAS STATION AND FOUND THAT A CHUNK OF TREAD WAS MISSING FROM THE TIRE ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE TREAD. IT WAS A PATCH ABOUT 4" IN DIAMETER, AND LEFT TWO STEEL BELTS EXPOSED. I TOOK TIRE TO FIRESTONE ON 8/5/00, WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH WILDERNESS AT TIRES- JUST BAD PRESS. THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME $100+ FOR REPLACEMENT, AS A ROAD HAZARD INCIDENT, AND WHEN I COMPLAINED THEY REDUCED THE CHARGE. I DID NOT INSTALL THE NEW TIRE, BUT LEFT MY OLD SPARE IN PLACE, WHICH WAS ALSO DATE CODE W2. THAT TIRE HAD COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION ON 8/31/2000 WHICH I HAVE SEPARATELY REPORTED ON ANOTHER VOQ. THE OTHER TIRE WAS ALSO OF SAME DATE CODE WITH EXACTLY SAME DOT NUMBER. WHEN I MADE THE OTHER REPORT I MENTIONED THE 8/5/00 INCIDENT, AND INCORRECTLY REPORTED IT TO BE A VD DATE CODE. I JUST FOUND FIRESTONE RECEIPT WHICH SHOWS THE FIRST FAILURE LIKE THE SECOND WAS WITH DOTW2HL1PY416 TIRE. WHEN I CONTACTED FIRESTONE ABOUT DAMAGE TO MY CAR CAUSED BY THE TIRE FAILURE, THEY ASKED ME TO SHIP THE DEFECTIVE TIRE AND ALL THE PIECES I COLLECTED OFF THE STREET TO THEM. SHOULD I DO SO?( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY416 TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )

TIRE BLEW AND I/V WENT INTO DITCH. NOTES IN FILES INDICATE FIRESTONE EMPLOYEE SAW TIRE AND VERFIED TIRE HAD SEPARATED TIRE ONLY 8 MOS OLD. (CLAIM 33-0241-696) *MW

CONSUMER RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT ($100) FROM FIRESTONE FOR RECALLED SPARE BUT HAS NOT RECIEVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE OTHER WILDERNESS AT TIRES. NLM