1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

SINCE I RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT FIRESTONE'S TIRE PROBLEM I THOUGHT I WOULD SEND THIS TO YOU. IN 1998 I WAS DRIVING 70MPH IN MY 1997 F-150 ON AN INTERSTATE AND MY RIGHT REAR TIRE (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS) BLEW OUT. SINCE IT WAS THE REAR TIRE, I STILL HAD STEERING ABILITY SO I DID NOT WRECK. I NOW BUY GOODYEAR!! *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215-75-16 )

POOR QUALITY TIRE. TIRES CONSTANTLY LEAKED AIR. WORSE TIRES I HAVE EVER OWNED. I WILL NEVER PRUCHASE FIRESTONE TIRES AGAIN. LOOKING AT THE CNN ARTICAL I SEE WHY I HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM. I ALSO HAVE A SMALL RANGER WITH THE SAME TIRES AND I AM LOOKING FOR THEM TO BE RECALLED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

FRIESTONE ATX TIRE BEGAN TO SEPARATE AT 12,000 MILES. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED. *AK

PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A FORD F150 1997, TIRE SIZE P235R16, DOT NUMBER VN081PU107. TWO FRONTAL TIRES AND ENTIRE OUTER EDGE IS DISINTEGRATING AT THE PLACE WHERE TREAD STARTS. TIRES HAVE AROUND 25 THOUSANDS MILES ON THEM AND ARE 16 INCHES. *AK THE TWO BAD TIRES WERE REPLACED BY FIRESTONE. *YH

MY TIRES ARE NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL BUT I THINK THEY SHOULD BE. I HAD A TIRE PERSON CHECK THEM AND HE SAID THEY ARE CRACKING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. FIRESTONE HAS NOT GONE FAR ENOUGH IN THEIR RECALL, LEAVING LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE ME ON THE ROAD WITH UNSAFE TIRES AND NO HELP. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

OWNER CONCERNED BECAUSE THREE OUT OF FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS SIZE 16" TIRES WENT FLAT WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TIRE SIZE P23570R16, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT, AND TIRE MILEAGE 39,000. TIRES WERE TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP. TWO OF THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK DOT#W208. *SLC

NO SUMMARY

BOTH SIDES OF DOORS ARE BEGINING TO CRACK FROM 3 INCHES UP. CRACKS APPEAR FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOWS, AND ARE A QUARTER OF INCH LONG. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK

LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE FLARE CRACKED, ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT, RESULTING BRAKE FAILING. *AK

OUR FORD F150 HAS BEEN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WE CARRIED IT TO A TIRE DEALER FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT IN JULY. MANAGER SAID IT WAS THE TIRE. HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT. WE SPENT $45.00. THIS WAS IN JULY. WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE TIRES. WE NOW DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THESE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VN081PT098 TIRE SIZE: P235 70R16 )

SIX FLATS IN ONE YEAR--THREE IN ONE WEEKEND--TRADED IN 4 OF THE TIRES, HAVE ONLY THE SPARE LEFT. FIRESTONE DEALER SAID TIRES WERE FINE..FORD SALESMAN SAID THEY WERE LOUSY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70RX1 )

NO SUMMARY

ALL 4 TIRES SHOWED CRACKING WHERE THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE TREAD. I HAD THEM REPLACED SUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 70R16 )

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. THERE WAS A LUGS: NUTS: BOLTS RECALL IN MAY,1998. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE PURCHASE BUY NEW OWNER. FORD HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONT END OF VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE DUE TO TIRE BLOWOUT. *AK THIS HAPPENED ON LEFT FRONT TIRE. ALSO THE ENTIRE TREAD PEELED OFF OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. *YH

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P235/70R16 TIRES EXPERIENCED BLISTERS ON THE SIDEWALL, WHICH CAUSED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SEIZED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. NLM

MY BRAKES HAVE GIVE ME TROUBLE AND WAS FIXED TWICE AND NEEDS IT AGAIN MY PAINT IN COMING OFF AND IS CRACKING AND PEALING MY ALARM HAS BEEN GOING OFF AND THE FIXED IT ONCE AND IT NEEDS FIXED AGAIN BUT NO ONE WANTS TOO FIX IT OR PAINT IT AND THEY DOORS NEED NEW DOORS I HAVE A TEN YEAR OLD AND I DO NOT WISH TO HAVE SOMETHING GO WRONG AND THE DOORS FALL OFF

LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED. HAS BEEN CERTIFIED BY LOCAL FORD DEALER( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-70R-16 )

2 OF 4 TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED CONSIDERABLE CRACKS AROUND THE TREAD LINE ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO 2 DIFFERENT FIRESTONE DEALERS AND GET VARIED INSPECTION REPORTS. AT ONE OF THE SERVICE CENTERS, A SERVICE MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT HE "WOULDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICHLE ON THE HIGHWAY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE STATE THAT THEY (TIRES) ARE IN" WHILE HIS MANAGER TELLS ME THAT "THE CRACKS ARE PROBABLY CAUSED BY ARMOR ALL". THE OTHER SERVICE CENTER MANAGER I TOOK THE TRUCK TO TELLS ME THAT HE HAS PLACED A CALL IN TO FIRESTONE TO SEE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT SINCE THE TIRES ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST BUT ARE QUESTIONABLE. HE WAS TO GET BACK TO ME BUT HAS NOT TO DATE. MY INITIAL COMPLAINT WAS INTERMITTANT SHUTTER IN THE FRONT END WHEN BRAKING HARD FROM HIGH SPEED. THE PROBLEM DIDN'T SEEM TO BE BRAKE RELATED BUT MIGHT BE TIRE RELATED GIVEN THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME AND THAT THE CRACKING TIRES ARE ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THEY WERE PURCHASED FROM A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AS REPLACEMENTS FOR THE OEM WILDERNESS HT TIRES SOLD ON THE TRUCK WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW AND HAVE ABOUT 32,000 MILES ON THEM. FIRESTONE WILL NOT TELL ME THAT THEY ARE SAFE BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE ON "NOT ON THE LIST". ONE MANAGER DID TELL ME THAT FIRESTONE WOULD PROBABLY END UP REPLACING ADDITIONAL TIRE SIZES IN THE FUTURE. I AM NO TIRE EXPERT BUT GIVEN THE CRACKS DEVELOPING WHICH ARE MORE THAN "COSMETIC" IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE ARE MORE ISSUES WITH OTHER SIZES OF THIS LINE OF TIRE FROM FIRESTONE. ANY ASSISTANCE OR ADVISE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, STEVEN D. TERRELL( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255-70R16 )

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS POORLY, ESPECIALLY WHILE TOWING. IT CAN'T MAKE UP ITS MIND WHICH GEAR TO BE IN.*AK

I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING 65MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK STARTED OUT OF CONTROL I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHECKED EVERYTHING AND COULDNT SEE ANY PROBLEMS.I RESUMED SPEED UP TO 65 AND IT STARTED JUMPING ALL OVER THE ROAD AGAIN.I REDUCED THE SPEED TO 45MPH AND ACME HOME.THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I HEARD ABOUT THE TIRE PROBLEMS THAT FIRESTONE WAS HAVING SO I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A SERVICE STATION AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL 4 TIRES TREAD WAS SEPERATING AND I NEEDED NEW TIRES,I TRIER CALLING FORD AND FIRESTONE TO NO AVAIL,ALL LINES STAYED BUSY.I FINALLY E MAILED THEM AND THEIR REPLY WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT RECALLING 16 INCH TIRES AT ALL.I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE FIRESTONE STORE AND THEY FOCUMENTED THAT THE TIRES WERE SEPERATING AND THEY WOULD EXCHANGE THEM FOR NEW FIRESTONE TIRES FOR $495.00.I HAVE GONE TO A MICHELIN TIRE STORE AND BOUGHT NEW TIRES.MY OLD TIRES HAD PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT BECAUSE I DRIVE VERRY SAFE,I AM 71 YEARS OLD AND WAS AFRAID TO PUT FIRESTONES BACK ON THE TRUCK.I KEPT THE TIRES AND ALL THE DOCUMENTATION FROM EVERYONE.PEOPLE CANT AFFORD TO SPEND THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK ON TIRES INSTEAD OF FOOD.THESE TIRES SHOULD BE RECALLED AT LEAST ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS SOLVED AND PEOPLE GET THEIR MONEY BACK FROM HAVING TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE TIRES.I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES THAT LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT.PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE,SINCERELY,TOMMY WAGES( DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

THE RAISED WHITE LETTERING ON THE SIDES OF ALL 4 TIRES HAVE SPLITS IN THEM AND THE CORDS ARE SHOWING( DOT NUMBER: VN 08 TIRE SIZE: 23570R 16 )

THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A WATERY OR WHINY NOISE WHEN TURNING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHERS ABOUT THIS VIA INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS AND IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. SOME HAVE HAD THEIR ENTIRE COLUMN REPLACED AND STILL HAVE A PROBLEM. ONE PERSON I SPOKE TO SAID THERE WAS A TSB IN EFFECT AND THAT THE TIE-ROD WAS THE CULPRIT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT FORD WAS ON BACK-ORDER FOR THAT PART AND THAT IT WAS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT LISTED ON YOUR SITE AS A RECALL AND MY WARRANTY PERIOD IS UP. I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE HAD NO HELP IN DIAGNOSING AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

SIDE WALL CRACKING,DEALER WANTS TO ADJUST WITH NEW FIRESTONES. THESE ARE PRACTICALLY NEW AND THEY ARE CRACKING, WHY WOULD ANOTHER SET BE ANY BETTER. THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF FIRESTONES THAT HAVE CRACKED.( DOT NUMBER: VNCU TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND THEY DEVELOPED SEVERE SIDE WALL CRACKING. EVENTUALLY THEY WENT FLAT. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND HE ACTED AMAZED, HE SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. HE WOULDN'T ADJUST THEM, BUT OFFERED ME A GOOD DEAL ON A NEW SET OF WIDERNESS AT P255/70R16 DOT VNCU . NOW THESE ARE CRACKING AROUND THE SIDE WALLS AND THE DEALER WANTS TO ADJUST THEM WITH NEW FIRESTONES. I SAID NO THANK YOU. THESE TIRES ARE PRACTICALLY NEW AND THEY CRACKED, WHY WOULD I TRUST ANOTHER SET! THE DEALER AND DISTRIBUTOR FOR FIRESTONE CLAIM THAT IS ALL THEY CAN DO FOR THESE SIZES.( DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

THE TREAD SEEMS TO BE SEPERATING FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THERE IS A SMALL WIRE MESH BETWEEN THE TWO.( DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR EXTERIOR SHEET METAL IS CRACKING AND SEPARATING AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW, CRACK IS ABOUT ONE INCH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, F150, P235/75R16 SIZE. TREAD IS STARTING TO CRACK ALONG THE SIDEWALL.*AK

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO UNDERSIDE OF PICKUP. I DO NOT HAVE THE EXACT DATE OF THE ACCIDENT BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS IN 1997 OR 1998. ALL THE ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED.*AK

FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, F150, P235/70R16 SIZE, DOT#: W2HL. TIRES BLEED DOWN TO 24PSI IN A MATTER OF DAYS.*AK

REAR SLIDDING GLASS WINDOW IS LEAKING WATER INTO TRUCK DUE TO FAULTY CRAFTMANSHIP.*AK

FIRESTONE WIDERNESS HT TIRES P235/70R16 DOT VNO81PT227 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, VEHICLE RODE BUMPY DUE TO FAULTY TIRES. *SLC

I HAD MY TIRES INSPECTECTED THE DAY THE NHTSA ISSUED A WARNING THAT INCLUDED MY TIRE MODEL. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TREAD HAD BEGUN TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE; THE STEEL BELTS ARE PROTRUDING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SIDEWALL. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, BUT LATER FOUND THAT I WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE NOT MANUFACTURED IN DECATUR, IL. THEY WERE MANUFACTURED IN QUEBEC. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235/70/R16) (TIRESIZE: 235/70/R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/70/R16 )

TWO FACTORY ORIGINAL TIRES SUFFERED TREAD SEPARATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN SUMMER DESERT CONDITIONS. ONE TIRE HAD 43,000 MILES AND THE OTHER ABOUT 45,000 MILES. SEPARATION OCCURED WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHEN THE SECOND EVENT OCCURED ABOUT 1 MONTH PRIOR TO THE REPORTS ABOUT THE FIRESTONE TIRES. FORD WAS NOT VERY INTERESTED AND I COULD GET NO INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THIS TYPE OF TIRE. I STILL HAVE ONE TIRE. GENERAL TIRE WANTS TO GET IT BACK. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME WEST BOUND CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMERS TRUCK CAUSING FRONT END COLLISION, NEITHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *ET

THE TIRE PRESSURE IN THE GOODYEAR TIRE HAS TO BE PERFECTLY MAINTAINED IN ORDER TO HAVE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, CONSUMER HAD A SLIGHTLY LOW REAR TIRE AND WHEN HE SWERVED TO MISS SOMETHING IN THE ROAD HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SLID DOWN A CONCRETE BARRIER. NLM

RIMS ARE SPLITTING ON THE INSIDE BEAD. *SLC

ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS, A CRACK WAS NOTICED ABOVE THE DOOR HANDLES AND ON THE SIDE OF THE WINDOWS. THE CRACKS ARE 1/4 INCH LONG. A FRIEND HAD HEARD OF THIS AND I CHECKED MY TRUCK AND SURE ENOUGH, I HAVE CRACKS. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHERS EXPERIENCED THIS. LOW AND BEHOLD MANY MANY TRUCK OWNERS OF 97 AND 98 F-150S HAVE THIS. SHEET METAL STRESS IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING ON ANY VEHICLE. WHEN ON A DOOR IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE SHEET METAL CANNOT HANDLE BUMPS AND ROAD CONTOURS WITHOUT CRACKING HOW CAN IT BE OF MUCH USE IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT? THESE ARE STRUCTURAL AND DESIGN FLAWS THAT SHOULD BE FIXED ON VEHICLES THAT CANNOT STAY TOGETHER THROUGH NORMAL DRIVING SITUATIONS. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS AT NO COST AS A RECALL ITEM. *AK

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE WILL BOUNCE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX DEFECT 3 TIMES BY REPLACING DRUMS/ ROTORS. BUT DEFECT KEPT REOCCURRING. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS COMMON THAT REAR DRUMS GETS HOT AND BECOME OUT OF ROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 TIRE BLEWOUT. IT WAS A FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS/HT, P23570R16. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

CHECKING ON A RECALL FOR THIS TIRE.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

INNER TIE ROD FELL OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS IN PARK POSTION, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR PRIOR WARNING .PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THERE ARE STRUCTURAL CRACKS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

BRAKES FAILED CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED THE VACUUM BOOSTER BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DISLIKED THE SOFT BRAKES. *SLC

WHEN DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, THEY WILL SHUT OFF WHEN IT IS RAINING . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

REAR WINDOW LEAKS DUE TO DEFECTIVE SEALS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT TOUCHING CONTROLS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEFECT OCCURS INTERMITTENLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK

SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND MISREADS HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

TIRES DID NOT LAST OVER 30,000 MILES. AS THE TREAD WORE, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO WOBBLE AND THE STEEL BELTS STARTED SHOWING THROUGH THE RUBBER. TIRE SIZE P23570R16. OWNER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. TIRES NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL (00T-005) *CJ