2000 Ford Explorer Tires & Wheels Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FOR EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH DEFINITY DAKOTA A/T TIRES, SIZE: P235/75 R15 A/T (NA). WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER TIRE BEGAN TO SHRED. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO VISIBLE INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED; HOWEVER, A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,346 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,870. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING SLIGHTLY UPHILL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, OFF EXIT 16 ON THE PALISADES PARKWAY, DUE TO A CONTROLLED STOP SET UP BY POLICE TO CHECK INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION. I SAW SMOKE AROUND MY VEHICLE, SO I LOOKED AT MY INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SEE IF MY CAR WAS OVERHEATING. MY INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHEN I LOOKED UP, AN OFFICER WAS MOTIONING FOR ME TO PULL OVER SAYING MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR, GOT IN THE BACK SEAT TO GET MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE QUICKLY GOT OUT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD TO GET FAR AWAY. TWO POLICE OFFICERS TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH EXTINGUISHERS, BUT WERE UNABLE TO GET THE HOOD OPEN. WE WERE OUT OF THE CAR NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES WHEN IT WAS ENTIRELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, BY THEN THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

2000 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO FROM THE MIDDLE LANE INTO THE LEFT LANE AND HIT A WALL . *MC OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TR

I WAS NOT CONTACTED TO THE RECALL ON MY FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER, UNTIL LAST WEEK, AND TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO, AT MY EXPENSE, AND REPLACED SAID TIRES, WITH ANOTHER, MORE TRUSTED AND SAFER BRAND OF TIRE. NOW AFTER 6 YEARS. I RECEIVE A NOTICE FROM FIRESTONE ABOUT MY SPARE, BUT WITH THE CONDITION THAT I DRIVE 30 MILES, AND HAVE THE 1 TIRE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FIRESTONE TIRE. FIRESTONE REFUSED TO REPLACE MY ORIGINAL 4 TIRES, WITH COMPENSATION, AND NOW REFUSES TO REPLACE MY SPARE WITH A TIRE THAT I AM COMFORTABLE WITH........NOT A FIRESTONE! I FEEL THEY SHOULD COMPENSATE ME MY $350, ORIGINAL, AS WELL AS PAY FOR ANY TIRE I CHOOSE AS MY SPARE.....WHICH THEY REFUSE TO DO!!!!*JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPARE TIRE WAS MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE WITH A CABLE, AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. HE WENT TO A MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND NOTICED THE SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING, AND THE CABLE WAS FRAYED, THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT. *AK

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THIS, IN TURN, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH, SENDING THE OCCUPANTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE, UP AND DOWN, ALMOST CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVER TURN. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT HIT THE PAVEMENT , CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE OR THE TIRES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS LOCATED ON THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. NO POLICE REPORT TAKEN.*AK

2000 FORD EXPLORER FRONT RIGHT TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. *TS THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL WAS DAMAGED. THE RIGHT FRONT HUB COVER WAS MISSING. THE LUG SCREWS SHEARED OFF. THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR BUCKLED AND THE LUG NUTS WERE MISSING. *NM

BOUGHT A SET OF CONTINANTAL TIRES FOR MY 2000 FORD RANGER. AFTER USING THE TIRES FOR SOMETIME (APPROX 40% WARE) I NOTICED A SLIGHT SHAKING WITH THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE SAME SHOP I GOT THE TIRES AND HAD THEM ROTATED AND THE FRONT END ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO GET WORSE. I WAS WAITING FOR MY NEXT DAY OFF BUT THE DAY BEFORE MY DAY OFF I WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON I-95 IN PALM BAY, FLORIDA AND THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPERATED. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT DID TURN SIDEWAYS ON THE ROAD THREE TIMES AND AT ONE POINT I WAS UP ON ONLY TWO TIRES. UPON CHECKING I FOUND THAT ALL TIRES WERE INFLATED BUT THE TIRE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE HAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE. THAT SAME DAY I RETURNED TO THE TIRE SHOP AND HAD THE MANAGER LOOK AT THE TIRE. HE SAID THAT THE TIRE SHOULG NOT HAVE DONE WHAT IT DID WITH THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF MILES ON IT. HE SAID THAT FIRESTONE WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES AND REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE RIGHT REAR AREA OF MY TRUCK BED. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL THE THE FIRESTONE CLAMES OFFICER WHICH I DID ON THE MORNING OF 06-27-05. ALSO ON THAT DATE I WAS CONTACTED BY THE TIRE DEALER THAT FIRESTONE WOULD NOT HANDLE THE CLAME AS THE TIRES WERE "CONTINANTAL". I HAD TO CALL CONTINTAL AND THEY WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL. AFTER A VERY LONG CONVERSATION THEY FINALLY AGREED TO COVER A NEW SET OF TIRES WITH A 60% DISCOUNT. I GOT FIRESTONE TIRES. THEY ARE ALSO INSISTING THAT I SEND THEM THE DEFECTIVE TIRE FOR THEIR EXAMINATION TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. I DO NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD SEND THE EVIDENCE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE TIRE TO THEM AND LOOSE CUSTODY OF IT. I ASKED IF SOMEONE IN FLORIDA COULD CHECK THE TIRE AND THEY SAID NO> I FEEL THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE, I FEEL THAT MY LIFE AND SAFETY WAS IN QUESTION AND I FEEL THAT CONTENTIAL TIRE COMPANY IS ATTEMPTING TO CONCEAL THIS BY TAKING, OR ATTEMPTING, TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE TIRE.

DT: 2000, FORD EXPLORER XLS, LEFT REAR WHEEL BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE WHEEL PASSED THE CONSUMER AS THE VEHICLE WAS SWERVING TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER TOOK OUT 4 OR 5 CABLE BARRIERS, AND THEN BOUNCED BACK OUT TO THE INTERSTATE, THEN THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND HIT MORE CABLE BARRIERS, THEN, HIT ONE HEAD ONE AND THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THIS. *AK THE LEFT REAR WHEEL (FACTORY ALLOY WHEEL) CAME APART AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL. THE CENTER OF THE FACTORY ALLOY WHEEL WAS STILL BOLTED WITH ALL 5 LUG NUTS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED . *TT *NM

DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN LOUISIANA, DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH, CHANGED LANES AND HAD BLOWOUT ON THE DRIVER REAR TIRE. I WAS DRIVING A FORD EXPLORER. THE BLOWOUT LOOKED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED ON THE SIDEWALL, AT A POINT WHERE THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE STEEL BELTS ON THE DRIVING SURFACE OF THE TIRE. THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS ROAD DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. THE LOCAL GOODYEAR REP SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON THE TIRE AND THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS DAMAGE BEFORE AND WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE TIRE. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE FIRESTONE, BUT WERE CHANGED OUT BY THE FORD COMPANY TO GOODYEAR BECAUSE OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 29,000 MILES ON THEM AND THE AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECKED 2 DAYS BEFORE DURING AN OIL CHANGE. THE TIRE IS GOODYEAR, WRANGLER RT/S M+S P235/75R15 SER# 274220-GRF-70MMWVS IT ALSO HAS THE NUMBERS E13 0293095 STAMPED ON THEM. *JB

2000 FORD EXPLORER TURNED OVER FOUR TIMES. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER. HE STATED THAT NO ONE HAS HELPED HIM WITH TRYING TO HAVE ACTION TAKEN AGAINST FORD. *KB INFORMATION TAKEN FROM PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. THE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER REGAINED CONTROL WHILE ON THE GRASS SIDING UNTIL THE LEFT FRONT TIRE DETACHED FROM THE TRUCK. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO ROLL OVER 4 TIMES. PLEASE IDENTIFY IF AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND IF SEAT BELTS PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. *JB THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE MOVED FROM THE RIM SUDDENLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT (TIRE INFORMATION NOT GIVEN). *BF *NM

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THIS CAUSED A ROLL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM REAR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER. THE WINCH CABLE WIRE SHEARED OFF AND CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF AND BOUNCED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *LA

2000 FORD EXPLORER XLT,4DR, 4X2, 112" WHEEL BASE, 4.0L SOHC V6 ENGINE, 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC O/D TRANSMISSION, VIN 1FMZU63E7YXXXXXXX; P235/75R15 105S DUNLOP ROVER AT OWL TIRES.*AK, *GEM

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DEFLATED. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND NO PUNCTURES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT WHEELS:RIM PROBLEM. STATED THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK THE TIRE LEAKED BUT THE LOCATION OF THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE TIRE WAS REMOVED FROM THE RIM AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIM WAS CRACKED. *SCC *NLM

LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING.*AK

TREAD SEPARATION ON LEFT REAR TIRE OF 2000 FORD EXPLORER CAUSED DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DETREAD TIRE WAS PUT ON THE EXPLORER AS PART OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL IN SEPT. 2000. VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES, DRIVER SIDE LEADING. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE BELTED. FRONT PASSENGER REMAINS IN A COMA. TIRE CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC SUV M + S 235/75 R15 ADHL EJJ 4600. *JB