1999 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

(SENT TO FIRESTONE AND FORD) DEAR SIRS: WE OWN A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION WITH WILDERNESS AT, WHITE LETTER, SIZE P255/70R16 TIRES. TODAY, THE VEHICLE HAS 22,000 MILES ON IT. LAST YEAR, AS WE APPROACHED ABOUT 9,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, WE NOTICED EXCESSIVE VIBRATION ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED -- FIRST AT A RETAIL TIRE STORE. THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TIRES WERE AGAIN BALANCED. THE VIBRATION CONTINUED EVEN AFTER FORD PERFORMED THEIR OWN BALANCING. IT SEEMS THESE TIRES COULD NOT AND CANNOT BE PROPERLY BALANCED. THE SITUATION HAS WORSENED OVER TIME WHERE EVEN AT LOWER AROUND TOWN SPEEDS, THE VIBRATION IS READILY EVIDENT. THERE ARE ALSO NOTICEABLE CRACKS IN THE TREADS; IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE DRY ROT! THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES HAVE BEEN METICULOUSLY MONITORED IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE OUR GAS MILEAGE; SO WE KNOW AIR PRESSURE IS NOT THE CULPRIT. AS PARENTS OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN, ONE 5 YEAR OLD BOY AND A 2 YEAR OLD GIRL, WE NOW FEAR FOR OUR FAMILY'S SAFETY AFTER SEEING WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE TIRES. WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION? WE WILL APPRECIATE YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE, ANITA J. AND WALTER L. HILLIARD, JR.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

TIRES CRACKING AROUND TREAD/TIRE SEPERATION( DOT NUMBER: VNCU TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

1 TIRE BLEW HOLE THROUGH TREAD, 3 OTHERS VARIOUS PATCHABLE HOLE, 1 QUESTIONABLE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265 70 R17 )

PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A FORD, EXPIDITION 1999. THERE ARE LITTLE SLICES GOING ALL THE WAY AROUND TIRE, CONSUMER TOOK TO FIRESTONE AND THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THEM. CONSUMER WILL BE CHARGED. *AK

ALL FOUR TIRES STARTED SEPERATING / CRACKING AROUND 11/99 . TOOK VEHICILE TO FIRESTONE DEALER 08/00 THEY INSPECTED TIRES AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL . I ASKED FOR A RECIEPT THEY SAID THEY DO NOT GIVE RECIEPTS FOR INSPECTIONS. I TOLD THEM I NEVER HAD TIRES DO THAT BEFORE . THEY HAD NO COMMENT. I ASSURE YOU TIRES WITH 35000 MILES SHOULD NOT DO THAT. I SENT LETTERS TO FORD & FIRESTONE THEY NEVER ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS. THATS WHY I CONTACTED NHTSA( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265/70/17 )

I REALIZE THAT THESE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED, NOR AM I NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, EVEN PRIOR TO THE CURRENT RECALLS, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THESE TIRES AS WE HAVE HAD 3 FLATS IN A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS ON A NEW VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, WE HAD ORIGINAL TIRES ON TWO PREVIOUS 4-RUNNERS FOR A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. MAYBE IT IS PURELY BAD LUCK, BUT GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRES AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WHO TRAVEL IN THIS CAR DAILY, I FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO REPORT OUR EXPERIENCE IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ARE COLLECTING DATA ON THIS SIZE TIRE AS WELL. WE HAVE REAL CONCERNS THAT THESE TIRES ARE IN SOME WAY DEFECTIVE... ( WE DO LIVE RURALLY, BUT DO NOT TAKE THE EXPEDITION "OFF-ROAD".) THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/70R17 )

TIRE CAME APART ON THE FREEWAY. MY WIFE CHRISTINE WAS HIT BY A CAR AND HAD SURGERY TO REPAIR BROKEN LEG & KNEEE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/70R17 )

TIRE TREAD SEPERATION ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR( DOT NUMBER: W2T6 TIRE SIZE: P265/70R17 )

PE00-020; FIRESTONE , WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 WITH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FORD EXPEDITION 1999, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED 2 BLOWOUTS,ONCE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH 10-15,000 MILES, AND ANOTHER WHILE DRIVING AT APRROXIMATELY 60 MPH. WITH 17-20,000 MILES. CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE REST OF TIRES. *AK THE CUSTOMER REPLACED FAILED TIRES AS WELL AS OTHERS DUE TO SAFETY CONCERN. *YH

RECALL (99V-009) SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE 17" ALUMINUM WHEELS AS WELL AS THE 17" CHROME WHEELS. CONSUMER'S 17" ALUMINUM WHEELS CRACKED AND CAUSED VIBRATION AS STATED IN RECALL. *CJ