1998 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE WERE INCLUDED IN RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, DEALER HAD NO TIRES IN STOCK TO REPLACE CONSUMER TIRES AND WAS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST.

CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RECALL REPAIR (OOT-OO5) FOR THE FIRESTONE TIRE DEFECT, CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR ROTATION, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REPAIR, CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES EXPERIENCED CRACKING AROUND THE TREAD AND SIDEWALLS, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

PE-00-039 OR PE-00-020; FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE, TIRE SIZE P23575R15, TIRES HAD 36 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN DRIVING AT 50-55 MPH AND ATTEMTPING TO CHANGE LANES TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ,CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE FLIPPED,AND ROLLED THREE TIMES, CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER OCCUPANT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TIRE TREAD SEPERATION CRACKS WERE TREAD JOINS SIDE WALL( DOT NUMBER: VNHI TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FIRESTONE TIRES P255/70R16 DEVELOPED CRACKS ALONG THE OUTSIDE OF THE SIDEWALL AND LOW AIR PRESSURE, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES DUE TO TIRES ALMOST THE CAUSE OF 2 ACCIDENTS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

PE00-020; TIRE SIZE P25570R16, ORIGNAL EQUIPMENT FORD, 1998, EXPLORER WITH 41,000 MILES. VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH . CONSUMER TOOK IT TO FORD, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SLIPPED BELT ON THE LEFT FRONT AND BOTH REAR TIRES. *AK

TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 22LBS. BECAUSE I COMPLAINED ABOUT ROAD NOISE. I HAD PUT THE PRESSURE @ 28. TIRES CAME BACK @ 22. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO FIRESTONE AND FORD AND BOTH TELL ME TO CONTACT EACH OTHER. THE TIRES ARE NOW @ 28. I HAVE ASKED BOTH IF THE TIRES HAVE BEEN DEGRADED AND AGAIN BOTH TELL ME TO GO TO THE OTHER. I'M AT A LOSE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

PE00020; ORIGINAL TIRES ON A FORD EXPLORER. TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, DOT W2HL. TREAD SIGNS OF SEPARATION. *AK THE TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL. THERE WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 15" BUT 16" WILDERNESS ARE ON THE LIST FOR REPLACEMENT BY THE MANUFACTURER. *YH

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, EXPLORER, P235/75R15, DOT#: WTHL. TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES IS STARTING TO SEPARATE ALONG THE SIDEWALL.*AK

ALL 4 TIRES CRACKING ON INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF TIRE NEAR TREAD LINE AS WELL AS THE CENTER MINOR DIAMETER. TWO INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTERS DECLARED UNSAFE. FIRESTONE CLAIMS "NORMAL WEAR" WILL NOT PRO-RATE TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRESIZE: P255/70/16)

WHEN THE VOLUNTARY RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED, I CONTACTED AN AUTHORIZED CENTER, WAS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST, AND WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE REPLACEMENT TIRES IN THREE WEEKS. LAST WEEKED, FOUR WEEKS LATER, I WAS INFORMED THAT NO PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE AND IT COULD POSSIBLY BE 9 MONTHS BEFORE I RECEIVED REPLACEMENT TIRES. BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS, I HAD THE FIVE TIRES REPLACED WITH ANOTHER MANUFACTURER'S TIRES YESTERDAY. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE, I AM ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR $100 PER TIRE REIMBURSEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY THIS AMOUNT DOES NOT COVER THE COST OF MY REPLACEMENT TIRES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE $100 PER TIRE REIMBURSEMENT IS EQUITABLE BECAUSE MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES IS APPROXIMATELY $200. IN VIEWING FIRESTONES WEBSITE EARLIER TODAY, I NOTICED UNDER A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PLAN, CONSUMERS WHO REPLACE OTHER TIRES UNDER A NHTSA CONSUMER ADVISORY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A $140 PER TIRE REIMBURSMENT. GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS ADDITIONAL AMOUNT WOULD COVER THE OUT-OF-POCKET COST OF MY REPLACEMENT TIRES, WHY IS THERE DISPARITY IN THE REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNTS?*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PY507 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE(P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

MY TIRES WERE CRACKED WORSE THEN THE THREE RECALLED SIZE 15 THAT I SAW !*AK (DOT NUMBER: P255570R16 TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)

WHEN INSTALLING THE INFANT SEAT, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BEING STATIONARY. IT SEEMS THAT THE SEAT BELT ANCHORS, AR WIDER THEN THE CARSEAT, THEREFORE, A LOT OF SLIDING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT TAKES PLACE, UNLESS I USE BLANKETS TO WEDGE BETWEEN THE CARSEAT AND SEATBELT. I ALSO HAVE LEATHER SEATS. IF I PULL THE SEAT BELT TIGHTER, THEN THE BABY IS LEANING TOO FAR FORWARD TOWARDS BACK OF SEAT AND BALL INDICATOR OF CARSEAT IS NOT IN ITS CORRECT POSTION

TIRES COMING APART, WIRES VISIBLE BETWEEN TREADS, TREAD WEAR NORMAL AND NOT EXCESSIVE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P25570R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P25570R16 )

CONSUMER VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, TIMING GUIDE AND NOW THEY PROPOSE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND CHECK FOR CARBON DEPOSITS IN THE RNGINE BUT THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THIS WILL STOP THE STALLING. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, SIZE P265/70R16 AND MANUFACTURED IN CANADA, EXPERIENCED CRACKING AROUND THE OUTSIDE EDGES, THERE HAVE BEEN 2 FLATS IN WHICH ONE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE CRACKING, CONSUMER HAD ALSO FOUND A SPOT ON ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES THAT EXPOSED THE STEEL BELT, CONSUMER HAD REPLACED ALL THE TIRES AT HER EXPENSE DUE TO THESE NOT BEING INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T005, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THESE TIRES BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT SHE BE REIMBURSED. *SLC

CONSUMER REPLACED 3 TIRES WITHIN ONE YEAR DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE ONLY ORIGINAL TIRE WHICH REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL AND WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

CONSUMER IS UNHAPPY WITH THE RECALL SITUATION BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE DEALER IN CONSUMERS LOCATION, CONSUMER WANTS PERMISSION TO USE A NON-FIRESTONE DEALER TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. NLM

THE RUBBER ON THE RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE TIRE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE SIDEWALL, SOON AFTER THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATING WHICH CAUSED POOR HANDLING, CONSUMERS TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL 00T-005 BUT CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P235/75R15) CAME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE, AFTER HEARING OF THE RECALL CONSUMER SEARCHED MANY FIRESTONE DEALERS FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES AND COULD NOT FIND ANY, NOT ONE DEALER OFFER TO THE CHECK TIRES OR SERIAL NUMBERS, ONLY ONE OF CONSUMERS TIRES HAD THE CORRECT SERIAL NUMBER FOR THE RECALL, CONSUMER RECIEVED NO NOTICE FROM FIRESTONE OF THE RECALL, CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL REPLACED TIRES. NLM

CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL NOTICE 00T-005 FOR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P235/75R15), THERE WAS A 40 PAGE WAITING LIST AT THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AND THE WAIT WAS SEVERAL MONTHS, THE RF TIRE HAD VISIBLE CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL, CONSUMER FELT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO WAIT SEVERAL MONTH AND HAD THEM REPLACED ELSEWHERE, CONSUMER SPENT SOME MONEY OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE ALL FIVE TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIVE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES (P235/75R15) CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR 2 TIRES WHICH WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL 00T-005 BECAUSE OF TIRE NOISE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE OTHER THREE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH THE VD SERIAL AND BELIEVES THE OTHER TWO ALSO HAD THE VD SERIAL NUMBER. NLM

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD WEAR AND PEELING. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, WHEN CHANGING TIRE DEALER BROKE THE JACK HANDLE AND NEVER MADE CONSUMER AWARE OF DAMAGE. *SLC

I HAVE BEEN TO THREE TIRE DEALERS. ONE A FIRESTONE DEALER, TWO TIRE DEALERS, AND MY FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALER AND THE TWO NON FIRESTONE DEALERS HAVE TOLD ME THESE TIRES ARE DRY ROTTED AND SEPERATING FROM THE CASEING WITH A LOT OF CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALLS. ALL FOUR TIRES ARE VISIBLELY IN THE SAME CONDITION AS DESCRIBED. BOTH THESE DEALERS AND FORD HAVE TOLD ME THESE TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH A PATTY IN FIRESTONES CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE (800)367-3872 AFTER WAITING 20 TO 30 MINUTES TO TALK WITH. AFTER EXPLAINING MY PROBLEM TO HER SHE SAID SHE COULD DO NOTHING AS THESE TIRES WERE NOT RECALLED OR AT PRESENT BEING RECALLED. SHE SAID I COULD POSSIBLY HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED ON A PRORATED BASIS AT MY EXPENSE. I AM TOTALLY DISCUSTED WITH THE ATTITUDE OF FIRESTONE, BOTH AT A DEALER LEVEL AND PATTY AT THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE. YOU PEOPLE AT NTSA NEED TO GET ON THE STICK AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THESE 16" FIRESTONE TIRES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY. BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT. (DOT NUMBER: W20CO1PX20 TIRESIZE: 255/70R16S)

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES ON MY VEHICLE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL. HOWEVER, EACH OF THE TIRES HAS A CRACK ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE WHERE THE CAP MEETS THE SIDEWALL. I HAVE VISITED BOTH THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AND MY FORD DEALER TO GET THEIR OPINION AND TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES. BOTH AGREED THAT THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES BUT NEITHER WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE TIRES WITH CLOSE-UP SHOTS OF THE CRACKS. THESE CAN BE PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY IF REQUESTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. (DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

I HAVE COMPLAINED AND HAD SERVICE DONE SEVERAL TIMES AT AL PIEMONTE FORD ABOUT AIR LEAKING OUT OF TIRES WEEKLY. THEY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. IF THIS WERE THE CASE, WHY DO I HAVE TO PUT OVER TEN POUNDS OF AIR EACH WEEK IN ALL MY TIRES. THESE SHOULD ALSO BE PART OF THOSE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON RECALL. PLEASE RESPOND TO MY INQUIRY.*AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

FIRESTONE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPLACE ALL THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS A (P235 75 R15)TIRES EXCEPT ONE DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES. *AK *SLC

I OWN ONE OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE. I SAW IN THE NEWS RECENTLY A VEHICLE LIKE MINE INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. ONE OF THE OCCUPANS (A FEMALE JUST MARRIED) GOT EJECTED FORM THE VEHICLE AND DIED WHILE WERING HER 3 POINT SEATBELT. OBVIOUSLY THE RESTRAINT EQUIPMENT FAILED. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THIS MATTER. THANKS IN ADVANCED FOR YOUR PROMPT RESPOND, RUIZ.

FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT IT MAY TAKE THREE TO SIX MONTHS TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FAULTY TIRE. NLM

DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE AT TIRE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL AND WAS REPLACED BY CONSUMER, CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT UNDER RECALL 00T-005 BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 9,2000 AND WERE NOT PURCHASED ON A PRORATED BASIS. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT HER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES LOOK DRY ROTTED BUT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-005 BECAUSE THE DOT NUMBER IS W2 NOT VD. NLM *TS

MOTOR ON REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER HAS GONE OUT 3 TIMES. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED IT TWICE BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE IT A THIRD TIME. THEY SAY FMC WILL NOT REPLACE THE REAR WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR ON THIS PARTICULAR MAKE OF VEHICLE UNTIL THEY CAN FIND. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THESE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, THOUGH NOT MADE AT THE DECATUR PLANT, HAVE DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANT CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES AT THE BASE OF THE TREAD. I AM CERTAIN THAT, IF DRIVEN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THIS TREAD WILL SEPARATE. PEOPLE AT TWO TIRE DEALERS AGREE BUT SAY THEY CAN DO NOTHING SINCE THE TIRE IS NOT RECALLED. I URGE YOU TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WILDERNESS AT TIRES MANUFACTURED AT ALL PLANTS. DECATUR IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM PLANT. THANK YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W..... TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE DEALER TO HAVE THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P235/75R15) TIRES INSPECTED BUT WAS REFUSED SERVICE. NLM

CONSUMER VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF SHREDDING/BALDING FIRESTONE TIRES, CONSUMER BELIEVES THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED, CONSUMER BELIEVES TIRES SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL AND REQUEST REIMBURESMENT. NLM

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

WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. *AK THE VEHICLE'S TIE ROD BENT AS THE RESULT OF THE VEHICLE COLLIDING WITH THE CRUB WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT . FIRESTONE REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CUSTOMER FOR REPLACEMNET TIRES PURCHASED. *YH

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCE VIBRATION AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND ALIGNED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT TIRES BE REPLACED. *SLC

I HAVE HAD MY TIRES INSPECTED TO SEE IF THEY WERE THE RECALLED ONES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ARE NOT BUT ALL 4 TIRES ARE CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE ONES BEING RECALLED. I AM AFRAID THEY WILL PEEL OFF AND I AM NOT WILLING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANY DISTANCE. I AM ASKING YOU TO INCLUDE THESE TIRES IN THE SAFTEY RECALL OR AT LEAST GET ME NEW TIRES AT NO COST. WHY ARE THESE ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE RECALLED ONES AND THEY HAVE FAILED ALSO. (DOT NUMBER: VN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER NOTED THAT THE FIRESTONE TIRES HAD NUMEROUS CRACKS AND ONE OF THE TIRES WAS PULLING APART, TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-005, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT (P255/70R16 109S M/S). NLM

UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THEIR FIRESTONE ATX WILDERNESS TIRES WERE CRACKING AROUND THE EDGE (P255/70R16 1095 M/S). NLM

ONE FIRESTONE TIRE PEELED OFF (LAMINATED) WHILE DRIVING, TIRE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 00T-005. NLM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CRACKS WERE NOTICED NEAR THE TREAD & SIDEWALLS ON ALL FOUR TIRES. CONTACTED FORD & FIRESTONE & BOTH INDICATED NOT RECALL & NOTHING WILL BE DONE TO REPLACED THE TIRES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE. FIRE STONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 DOT CODE VNHL. *AK

THESE TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL HOWEVER I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TIRE SIZE ON THE INTERNET. ADDITIONALLY MY TIRES HAVE CRACKS ALONG THE SIDEWALL WHERE IT MEETS THE TREAD. THE FORD DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A PROBLEM AND HAS MY NAME ON A "LIST" FOR WHEN FIRESTONE DECIDED TO RECALL THESE TIRES. IN THE MEAN TIME HOW SAFE AM I ....WHAT DOES ONE DO WHEN NO ONE WANT'S TO TAKE RESPONSABLITY ? HELP (TIRESIZE: 25570R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 25570R16 )

MY TIRES WERE REPLACED ON 7/27/00; JUST PRIOR TO THE FIRESTONE RECALL, THEREFORE, THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. MY SPARE IS STILL WITH THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, AND IT DOES NOT BEAR THE VD MARK. MY TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION AND STEEL SHOWING AS EVIDENCED BY MY INSPECTION AS WELL AS THE INSPECTION OF THE TECHNICIAN SERVICING MY CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRES PURCHASED AS WELL AS HAVE MY SPARE REPLACED WITH THE SAME TYPE OF GOODYEAR TIRE. (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00-020; TIRE SIZE P23575R15 DOT VNHL1PY507 ,ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1998 WITH 40,000 MILES. A CONTINUOUS CRACK ABOUT 3 QUARTERS OF INCH DOWN FROM TOP OFFIRESTONE WILDERNES AT TIRES TO TREAD LINE, GOING ALL AROUND THE TIRES. ALL 4 TIRES HAVE VISIBLE CRACKS.*AK *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, THE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACING THE TIRES. *SLC