1997 Ford F-150 Tires & Wheels Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS CHAPARRAL AP TIRES, SIZE LT265/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING SEVERELY. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE THE TIRES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO A THIRD DEALER AND THEY LOADED DOWN THE TIRES WITH WHEEL WEIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 11-25-08 *BF UPDATED 11/26/08*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN LTXM/S TIRES, SIZE P235/70/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT ON THE VALVE STEMS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, BOTH PASSENGER SIDE TIRES DEFLATED. THE CONTACT REDUCED THE SPEED AND PROCEEDED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO BOTH VALVE STEMS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE VALVE STEMS ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE VALVE STEM DEFECT. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER MESA A/P TIRES, SIZE P225/70/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SHE SAFELY MANEUVERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR SIDEWALL WAS SHREDDED. THE INTERIOR AND TREAD ON THE TIRE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. PRIOR TO OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED STATED THAT THEY WERE SAFE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 158,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER DETACHED FROM THE END OF THE SPARE TIRE RETAINER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH ,AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANY BUMPS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000.*AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RETAINER WAS AT THE END OF THE CABLE ASSEMBLY USED TO LOWER AND RAISE THE SPARE TIRE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE TIRE BOUNCED 6FT IN THE AIR AND ALMOST HIT THE CARD BEHIND HIM. UPDATE 05/04/07*TR

TL* - WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE STARTED WOBBLING. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY. THE TIRE DISENGAGED, AND THE CONTACT CAME TO A STOP. THE TIRE WAS NEW, AND ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 15 MILES. THE TIRE ALWAYS TEARS BETWEEN THE BEAD AND SIDEWALL. *AK UPDATED 04/05/07

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY, HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF TRUCK AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BLOWOUT. AS I CHANGED LANE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER I SAW WHAT APPEARED TO BE PIECES OF TIRE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE PULLED OVER, I GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE, AT FIRST EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OK UNTIL I LOOKED AT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, SAW THAT THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED, BUT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, THE SIDEWALLS WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION, BUT THE TREAD HAD JUST PEALED AWAY FROM THE CENTER. *MM

A COOPER DOMINATOR SPORT A/T TIRE OF THE TYPE THAT IS CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF EA 06 -021 EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION WHILE MOUNTED ON THE REAR AXLE OF A FORD F150. THE TREAD SEPARATION LED TO A LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE ROLLOVER THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF ONE MAN AND INCAPACITATING BRAIN INJURIES TO ANOTHER. THE TIRE HAD 7/32 OF TREAD AND WAS IN GOOD CONDITION BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ABUSE OR MISUSE. THE TIRE THAT FAILED WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2004 AT COOPER'S FINDLAY, OHIO PLANT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF THE GROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE SECONDS. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CABLE TO THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER WAS REPLACED. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,000.

FIRESTONE STORES AT 11865 W 95 OVERLAND PARK KS 66214 AND ONE AT 7575 WORNALL RD KANSAS CITY MO 64114 ARE FALSIFYING DOT REGISTRATION ON OVER 90% OF TIRES SOLD. PROCESS USED IS THAT A FICTITIOUS NUMBER THAT HAS THE RIGHT SERIES OF CHARACTERS IS USED ON ALL TIRE INVOICES REGARDLESS OF SIZE OR TYPE. THIS IS ALSO ENTERED INTO THE COMPUTER WHICH ACCEPTS THE FICTITIOUS NUMBER AS LONG AS THE CHARACTER STRING IS LONG ENOUGH. THE NUMBER IS GIVEN TO NEW HIRES AS IT WAS ME WHEN I STARTED AND WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO SUPERIOR I WAS FIRED. OVER A PERIOD OF 1 MONTH OVER 700 TIRES WERE SOLD IN THIS FASHION AND NO OTHER EMPLOYEE SAW THE PROBLEM WITH THE POLICY OTHER THAN TO SAY THEY DID NOT WANT TO LOSE THEIR JOB. *NM

LUGS:NUTS CAME LOOSE ON BACK REAR TIRE.........HUB CAME LOOSE AND RUINED THE WHEEL PULLED IN DRIVEWAY AND HUB WAS JUST HANGING THERE WITH THE LOOSENED LUGNUTS.HAD A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM YEARS AGO AND HAD IT SUPPOSEDLY FIXED....TOOK TO FORD DEALER AND WAS CHARGES $500.00. *AK

FIRESTONE TIRE - 235/70 R16 WILDERNESS HT DOTW208IPT186. WHILE DRIVING, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRE ONLY HAD 24000 MILES ON IT. *JB THE TIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL, FRAME BRACE AND MUFFLER BRACKET. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. GENERAL, GRABBER ST, P235/70R16. THERE WAS APPROXIMATED 50,415 MILES ON THE TIRE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE RUBBER CAP CAME OFF THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FIRESTONE. WILDERNESS, P235/70R16. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK

WHILE ON A TRIP TRAVELING THROUGH TENNESSEE ON A STEEP MOUNTAIN PASS IN HEAVY RAIN LATE AT NIGH THE REAR TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL WHILE CROSSING THREE LANES OF HEAVY TRACTOR TRAILER TRAFFIC. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE TIRE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INNER CASING SEPARATED FROM THE OUTER CASING. THERE WAS STILL PLENTY OF TREAD ON THE TIRE WHICH DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE BLOW OUT IN ANY WAY. TWO TENNESSEE STATE POLICE OFFICERS AGREED THAT CASING SEPARATION APPEARED TO BE THE CAUSE. *AK

FIRESTONE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. MODEL "WILDERNESS", SIZE 23570R16, DOT-W2081PT176, TIRE MILEAGE 8,308 ON 11-07-03. CIRCUMSTANCES: WHILE ENTERING THE TOWN OF CLINTON, LA. AT 45MPH, HEARD LOUD SHARP THUD AND MY 1997 FORD, F150, IMMEDIATELY VEERED ACCROSS THE DIVIDED CENTER LANE TOWARD AN ON COMING LOGGING TRUCK. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED TO MY RIGHT AND STOPPED IN THE FRONT YARD OF HOUSE #12780. UPON EXITING VEHICLE DETERMINED THE SUBJECT LEFT REAR TIRE TRED HAD SEPERATED (ALTHOUGHT STILL ATTACHED TO TIRE) DAMAGED THE FENDER AND SCRATCHED THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE EXTENDING TO THE GAS CAP. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN AUGUST 03. DURING A CONVERSATION WITH A FIRESTONE REP. MY TIRE DEALER WAS ADVISED THAT THIS PARTICULAR TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE 17TH WEEK OF 1996 AND I SHOULD REPLACE MY TIRES (TAYLOR'S AUTO REPAIR, FRANKLINTON, LA.) THE TIRE WAS SENT TO FIRESTONE WITH TWO EXTIMATES OF DAMAGE. FIRESTONE'S RESPONCE WAS THERE WAS NO MATERIAL DEFECT AND THE SEPERATION WAS A RESULT OF LOW TIRE PRESSURE THEREFOR THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN MY CLAIM, OR RESPONSIBILITY. THE SUBJECT"NEW TIRE "WAS MADE BEFORE MY VEHICLE CAME OFF THE ASSEMBLEY LINE. THE TIRE IS CURRENTLY STILL AT FIRESTONE AWAITING ANY DIRECTION FROM FOR RETURN (21 DAYS FROM THEIR LETTER OF 11-20-03) I HAVE ALSO TAKEN PHOTO"S OF THE SUBJECT TIRE & DAMAGE. IS THIS AGENCY INTERESTED IN VIEWING THE TIRE? IF SO, PLEASE ADVISE MAILING ASAP. THANKYOU, RIJ. *AK

GENERAL AMERI 550 AS TIRE BLEW OUT 18 AUG ON 1997 FORD F-150 REAR PASSENGER SIDE ON OPEN ROAD AT ROUGHLY 22,500 MILE. SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT YESTERDAY, 19 SEPT., ON OPEN ROAD AT ROUGHLY 23,820 MILES ON SAME TRUCK AND SAME REAR PASSENGER LOCATION. THIRD TIRE USED AS REPLACEMENT FOR BLOWN TIRE FOUND TO HAVE BULGE APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AFTER 2D BLOWOUT. AGAIN, SAME WHEEL LOCATION ON SAME TRUCK. TIRES ARE ALL GENERAL TIRE AMERI 550 AS AND ORIGINAL TIRES ON TRUCK. TRUCK NOW HAS 23,921 TOTAL MILES. TRUCK HAD NO LOAD WHEN TIRES BLEW. *LA

I HAVE A FORD F150 1997 WITH BRIDGESTONE, DUELER H/T TIRES, SIZE P245/70/R16 106S, DOT ENMT CBF 1900 19905D689P2.MY HUSBAND WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK TODAY ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE UNEXPLICABLY SEPERATED WITHOUT WARNING. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS NOT HURT. THERE WAS DAMAGED CAUSED TO THE TRUCK'S WHEEL WELL AND FENDER.*AK

MY PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT NEARLY TIPPING MY TRUCK OVER. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND PULL TO THE SIDE WHILE THE CARS BEHIND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TRYING TO AVOID HITTING DEBREE FROM THE TIRE. I NOTICED THAT MY TIRE HAD NOT BLOWN BUT THE ENTIRE TREAD WAS MISSING. THE TIRES ON MY TRUCK ARE THE WILDRENESS AT P255/70R16 DOTW2CO 1PX 158. IN MY OPINION ALL THESE TIRES BLOW OUT THE SAME WAY AND SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED! *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING PASSENGER REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P25570R16. *AK