2001 FORD EXCURSION Complaints

FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S LT265/75RX16R4S----SIDEWALLS OF 4 TIRES PEELED FROM THE CORDS/BELTS, FAILURES OCCURED ABRUPTLY

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FOUR DOORS TO THE VEHICLE HAVE ALL LOST POWER TO THEM, ALSO THE LOCKING ABILITY IS ALSO GONE. NLM

SAFETY BELT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF MIDDLE BENCH WILL NOT LATCH. THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE PART WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED FOR SOME TIME BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD A MYRIAD OF EXCUSES SUCH AS WRONG PARTS, WRONG TOOLS OR BACKORDERED.*AK

AS OF SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2002, I HAVE HAD TWO TIRES WITH SEPERATED BELTS. I HAVE HAD MY EXCURSION IN TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS DUE WHAT APPEARED TO BE STEERING ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WONDERS ON THE ROAD AS IF IT HAS BALD TIRES. I HAD ONE DEALERSHIP TELL ME IT IS CHARACTORISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD A SECOND TELL ME IT WAS TIRE PRESSURE AND PROCEEDED TO INFLATE MY REAR TIRES TO 65 PSI. I HAD ANOTHER DEALER THIS WEEK TELL ME THE TWO REAR TIRE APPEAR TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE "BELTS". NOW THIS SAME DEALER JUST ROTATED MY TIRES. I STARTED RESEARCHING FOR DEFECTS AND WAS ASTONISHED AT THE AMOUNT OF REPORTS OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET. WHY IS IT THAT YOUR AGENCY IS NOT PURSUING THESE DEFECTS? PLEASE ADVISE? NLM

LT265/75R16, DOT UNKNOWN, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 2000 FORD EXCURSION WITH 27000 MILES. 2 BLOWOUTS AT 25 MPH, REAR PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER TIRE. ON 18 AUGUST 2002 TREAD SEPARATION ON REAR DRIVER TIRE AT 50 MPH.*JB *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH AS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

WE HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON OUR LEFT FRONT TIRE, RESULTING IN A BLOWOUT. FIRESTONE, STEELTEX A/T, LT265/75R16. NEAR ROLLOVER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.*AK

ON 7/18/02, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE QUICKLY WENT FLAT AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65MPH. THE MILEAGE ON THE TIRE WAS 24,000. THE BRAND NEW SPARE, ALSO A FIRESTONE STEELTEX, WAS INSTALLED ON THE RIGHT FRONT, AND BLEW OUT AT APPROX 20 MILES. THE NUMBER ON THE NEW TIRE IS DH323XG12D, SERIAL # VNW81X03400. NUMBER ON THE TIRE WITH 24000 MILES IS D5323XG16L, SERIAL #VNW81X03400. THESE 2 FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRE FAILURES OCCURRED ON THE SAME DAY LESS THAT A FEW HOURS APART. ROADS WERE DRY, AND TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 85 F. OBVIOUSLY, I LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE TIRES, AND REPLACED ALL 5 TIRES (YES, EVEN THE SPARE) WITH MICHELINS AT A COST OF OVER $1100. THESE ARE LOAD RANGE E TIRES WHICH MAKES THEM QUITE EXPENSIVE. ALTHOUGH THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE NOT SUBJECTED TO RECALL, I WONDER WHY NOT. THE FIRESTONE DEALER I CONTACTED WAS EXTREMELY RUDE, AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT THE FAILURE AS THEY WERE NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL. ALSO, FORD SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. TALK ABOUT PASSING THE BUCK. AT LEAST, I KNOW MY FAMILY IS NOW SAFE ON MICHELINS. I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANYTHING WITH THE FIRESTONE BRAND AS I BELIEVE THEY HAVE SERIOUS QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEMS. WOULD BE PLEASED TO FURTHER DISCUSS THIS WITH ANYONE. I AM NOT PARTICULARLY LOOKING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BUT HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER FORD EXCURSIONS STILL WITH THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES ON THE GROUND, AND WONDER ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THOSE INVOLVED. THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55-60MPH VEHICLE HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND BEGAN BOUNCING ERRATICALLY, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP VEHICLE IN LANE,AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL ONCE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE; 1ST INCIDENT 06/03/02, AND 2ND INCIDENT 07/16/02. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING CHECKED BY DEALER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS A VIBRATION WAS NOTICEABLE. VECHILE HAD TENDENCY TO PULL TO THE LEFT. STOPPED AND CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. PRESSURE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES WAS 62PSI HOT. STOPPED A WALMART SERVICE TO HAVE BALANCE CHECKED. RIGHT TIRE HAD A BULGE WHERE THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM TIRE. TIRE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED PRESSURE. REMAINING TREAD DEPTH WAS 11/32.*AK