1996 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1996, EXPLORER, P255/70R16 SIZE . TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AT 40 MPH, BREAKING THE BRAKE LINE .*AK

I HAD MY TIRES INSPECTED AT TWO REPUTIBLE TIRE DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH HAVE INDICATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION AND HAVE RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT AND HIGHLY SUGGESTED NOT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL OF THE TIRES HAVE CRACKS AT THE TREADLINE, SOME WIDE ENOUGH TO PLACE A PENNY INTO. I HAVE LETTERS FROM BOTH TIRE DEALERSHIPS OUTLINING THIS PROBLEM AS WELL AS PHOTOS OF THE CRACKS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PARTICULAR TIRE HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED IN VENEZUALA, HOWEVER HAS NOT BEEN ADDED TO FIRESTONE'S CURRENT US RECALL LIST. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIV. ABOUT THIS CONCERN AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. IN TURN THEY REFERRED ME TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THIS TIRE WASN'T ON THE RECALL LIST. THESE TIRES ARE IN BAD SHAPE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. KNOWING THAT THIS SIZE TIRE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOT INCLUDED WITH FIRESTONE'S RECALL CONCERNS ME GREATLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX505 TIRE SIZE: P255 70R16 )

PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 3/10/2000 MILEAGE ON VEHICLE 37,410. ON MAY 21, 2000 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 99 AT APPROXIMATELY 67-70 MPH AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 IN THE AFTERNOON MY FRONT TIRE SHRED. THIS RESULTED IN APPROX 1,700 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. ON JULY 20 WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 152 AT APPROXIMATELY 65-67 MPH THE REAR TIRE SHRED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ULTIMATELY OUR VEHICLE ROLLING OVER. BOTH OF THESE TIRES WERE FIRESTONE FR480'S. MY LAWYER IS RETAINING THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND IT STILL HAS TWO OF THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES ON IT. PLEASE RECONSIDER YOUR RECALL LIST, AS I DO NOT THINK IT IS COMPLETE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/70R15 )

RIGHT REAR TIRE SHEDDED, DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL, GRANDCHILDEN AND WIFE OF DRIVER WERE REALLY EMOTIONALLY UPSET..( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT RIGHT BUMPER, FRONT RIGHT SIDE PANEL, AND FRONT RIGHT DOOR, INSIDE FLOORBOARD NEAR RUNNING BOARD. I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL AVENUES IN ATTEMPTING TO FIND A RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I DO HAVE A PHONE LOG STATING ALL THE FRUSTRATING PHONE CALLS I HAVE MADE WITH NO RESULTS OTHER THAN "WE WILL SEND YOU THE FORMS". MEANWHILE, I AM STUCK WITHOUT A CAR, UNABLE TO GET TO WORK; I'VE HAD TO COMPROMISE MY LIFESTYLE. I AM EXPECTED TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR REPAIRS TO MY CAR. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR (IT HAS BEEN STORED SINCE THE INCIDENT 9/16/00) HAVING STILL, THREE DEFECTIVE "HUMAN KILLING" TIRES" PUTTING MY LIFE, AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF OTHERS IN JEOPARDY. ONE WOULD THINK A LARGE COMPANY WOULD LEAP TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT FURTHER TRAGEDY.( DOT NUMBER: W2CU1PX475 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRE (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, THE BLOWOUT OF THE TIRE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

LEFT REAR FIRESTONE ATX TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005 WHILE DRIVING BUT DID NOT GO FLAT, THE FLAPPING TREAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WELL AND RUNNING BOARD, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

BOLTS HOLDING BACK OF FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT HAVE SHEARED OFF. THIS CAUSED SEAT TO RECLINE BACKWARDS. DRIVER'S VIEW WOULD BE OBSTRUCTED WHEN EITHER ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. *AK

WHILE HAVING TIRE SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTICE TREAD SEPARATION. *AK THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BY CUSTOMER ON ADVICE BY TIRE SERVICE CENTER. TIRE SIZE P255/70X16 AND DOT # W2C41PX505. *YH

LEFT FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINK (SWAY BAR LINK) BROKE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMP IN ROAD. CAR DROVE POORLY AFTER THAT. FORD REPLACED BOTH FRONT LINKS AND CHARGED ME A TOTAL OF $81 FOR THE REPAIR.