1996 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH HEARD A LOUD THUMPING FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. STOPPED VEHICLE & CHECKED TIRE. NOTICE TREAD WAS OFF THE TIRE. TIRE WAS NOT FLAT, BUT WAS DRIVING ON THE STEEL BELT. HAD 32LBS PSI IN TIRE. HAPPENED 1 YEAR AGO. DID NOT HAVE TIRE. *AK

THE POLICE REPORT # IS 00-14477, WASHTENAW COUNTY. I SWIRL TOWARDS THE MIDIUM TO AVOID A VEHICLE CUTTING IN AND MY VECHILE LOST CONTROL. THERE WAS LOUD NOICE FROM THE TIRES(FEELED LIKE I WAS RUNNING ON BUMPY ROADS AND CLINKING SOUNDS) PRIOR TO ROLLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT COULD BE TIRE ISSUE TILL I READ IN THE PAPER (USA TODAY 8/22). THE DESCRIPTION ON THE TREAD SEPARATION MATCHES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN THE JUNK YARD AND HENCE I'M NOT ABLE TO GET MORE DETAILS ON THE TIRES. NO INVESITIGATION WAS CONDUCTED TOWARDS THE TIRE FAILURE BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORAMTION, PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL OR MY CELL PHONE 65-96663895 BECAUSE I JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO SINGAPORE FOR WORK. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: )

INFORMANT'S (ATTORNEYS) CLIENTS WERE TRAVELLING IN A FORD EXPLORER AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERTURN, AND 5 OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED, 1 FATALITY AND 4 INJURIES, 2 OF WHICH WERE SERIOUS, THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P225/70R16). *AK (ATTORNEY- HARRY W. GOLDBERG, P.A. #301-654-5757.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW. THE TREAD SEPARATED AND I SKID ALL OVER THE FREEWAY. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HIT ANYTHING AND MANAGED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, AT THE TIME I DID THINK I WAS GOING TO FLIP THE CAR. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED I LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE. THE TREAD HAD KNOCKED OF A PART OF THE BUMPER, THE RUNNING GAURD, AND DAMAGED THE REAR PANEL. IN TOTAL IT DID ABOUT $2,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I ALSO HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRE. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND DID NOT REPORT THE ACCIDENT TO ANYONE EXCEPT FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY. WHEN I HEARD THE REPORTS ON THE NEWS, I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THE INCIDENT TO HELP IN THE HEARINGS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRES HAVE NOT FAILED. THEY WERE REPLACED BEFORE THEY DID. THEY EXHIBIT DEFINITE SPLITTING BETWEEN THE TREAD AND BODY OF THE TIRE AND ALTHOUGH NOT SUBJECT TO THE CURRENT RECALL ARE BEING REPORTED TO SUPPORT CONTINUED INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM. THE TIRES ARE STILL IN MY POSSESSION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNCU1PL245 TIRE SIZE: P25570R16 )

NO PROBLEM WITH TREAD SEPARATION, THE TREAD PATTERN WOULD NOT ALLOW WATER TO EXCAPE FROM THE SIDES WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERE HYDROPLANING. HAD TO GO TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY DURING RAINSTORM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

ANOTHER FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX TIRE 30X9.50R15LT- DOT VD 66AXC146 FAILED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VD66AXC156 TIRE SIZE: 30X9,5R15L )

BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS JAM/LOCK REPEATEDLY AND HAVE SINCE 11/97. I HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIPS 6 TIMES TO HAVE THEM FIXED. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, YET THEY CONTINUE TO JAM/LOCK AND ARE UNUSABLE UNTIL THEY ARE FIXED. OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UNJAM THEM MYSELF WITHOUT GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN (AGES 6 AND 8) I MUST HAVE PROPERLY WORKING SEAT BELTS. OVER THE SUMMER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT ALSO HAS BEEN JAMMING OCCASSIONALLY. I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BELTS AS WELL. IF THEY ARE LOCKING UP, HOW CAN THEY POSSIBLY WORK EFFECTIVELY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT? *AK

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 225/70/R16 TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE TIRE (NO TIRE INFORMATION) WHEN FLAT AND TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER CAR AND CAUSE DAMAGE. *TT