1996 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

FIRST BLOWOUT LISTED TOOK OUT GAS TANK FILL ASSEMBLY WITH TREAD, SECOND BLOWOUT IN DECEMBER( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 INCH )

THE TIRE SEPERATED ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX.65MPH. THE HIGHWAY PATROL DID STOP AND TALK TO US. WHEN THE TIRE SEPERATED IT DID DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND UNDER CARRIAGE OF FRONT BUMPER. I REPLACED THE 2 FRONT TIRES THAT DAY AS THE OTHER TIRE WAS QUESTIONABLE. I REPLACE LIKE FOR LIKE ON THE TIRES NOT KNOWING OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH SAID TIRES. THIS YEAR I AGAIN HAD A PROBLEM AND REPLACED 2 MORE FIRESTONES THIS TIME I BOUGHT REMINGTON TIRES. 3 DAYS LATER A RECALL OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES WAS ANNOUNCED. I HAVE TALKED TO MAGIC FORD AND THEY FEEL IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I HAVE TALKED TO FIRESTONE AND BECAUSE I DID NOT KEEP THE FIRST 2 TIRES WITH SEPARATION THEY SAY THAT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. HAD I KNOWN A RECALL WOULD HAPPEN I WOULD HAVE KEPT THE BAD TIRES. I DID TAKE PICTURES OF THE TIRES AND DAMAGE TO CAR BUT FIRESTONE DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE. I AM NOW OUT OF POCKET FOR 5 FIRESTONE TIRES AND FRONT END DAMAGE ON MY CAR. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )

DRIVER EASTBOUND ON S.R. 202, LEFT REAR TIRE DETREADS, VEHICLE VEERED TO LEFT INTO MEDIAN, ROLLED FOUR TIMES, LANDING ON WHEELS IN MEDIAN. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

DRIVER SOUTHBOUND ON I-75. LEFT REAR TIRE DETREADED, VEHICLE VEERED TO RIGHT AND ROLLED THREE TIMES ACROSS SOUTHBOUND LANES LANDING ON PASSENGER SIDE ON WEST SHOULDER. TWO BACK SEAT PASSENGERS EJECTED.( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPM136 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

FIRESTONE ATX TIRES EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT CAUSING 3 DEATHS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE DURING NORMAL USE ON INTERSTATE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. AS THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING, IT FLAPPED AGAINST THE REAR FENDERWELL AND CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE BUMPER, TRIM AND REAR FENDER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TREAD CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE TIRE DAMAGED THE REAR QUARTER PANEL OF THE SUV AND BROKE THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT. NO ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE DECOMPOSITION.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE TIRE IN QUESTION SHED A LARGE LUMP OF TREAD WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE OVER MEMORIAL WEEKEND 1999. THE FORD EXPLORER WAS CARRYING TWO CHILDREN (ONE YEAR AND SEVEN YEARS OLD) AND THE TWO MONTH PREGNANT DRIVER (AGED 32). A LOUD 'THUMP' WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR, FOLLOWED BY A SCRAPING SOUND (PRESUMABLY AS THE TREAD CAUGHT AROUND THE WHEEL ARCH). THE TIRE SHOWS SIGNS OF THE SHED TREAD HAVING RUBBED AGAINST THE REST OF THE TIRE AS IT CONTINUED TO REVOLVE WITH THE TREAD CAUGHT IN THE WHEEL ARCH. THE FOLLOWING WEEK FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED AND EXPRESSED NO CONCERN WHATSOEVER, SAYING THAT THE TIRE HAD PROBABLY HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD OR BEEN PREVIOUSLY CURBED, CAUSING THE TREAD SHED. THE TIRE, AND OTHERS ON THE VEHICLE, WERE REPLACED (WITH THE LATEST VERSION OF THE SAME TIRE TYPE), AT THE DRIVER'S EXPENSE. I WAS MOST CONCERNED WHEN I NOW LEARN OF A RECALL ON ALL SUCH TIRES AND CONTACTED FIRESTONE ON THE FREEPHONE NUMBER. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE 'STANDARD' REPLACEMENT ANSWER, AS I STILL HAD THIS TIRE IN MY POSSESSION. I WAS GIVEN VARIOUS OTHER NUMBER TO CALL WITHIN THE COMPANY, BUT RECEIVED NOTHING MORE THAN THE STANDARD "TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT" ANSWER. I FEEL THAT FIRESTONE SHOULD AT VERY LEAST HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO RECOVER THE TIRE AND ANALYZE THIS EXAMPLE FOR THEIR RECORDS. I THEREFORE CONTACTED NHTSA FOR THEIR ADVICE AND HAVE BEEN SENT A LABEL FOR RETURN OF THE TIRE. THIS TIRE DID NOT ACTUALLY BURST IN THIS INCIDENT, BUT FROM THE CONDITION IT WAS IN ON REMOVAL, WAS VERY CLOSE TO THAT POINT. HAD FIRESTONE TREATED THIS CASE SERIOUSLY AT THE TIME, DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM126 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

SIDEWALL PUNCTURE TO LEFT REAR TIRE. DRIVER LOST CONTROL, RIGHT REAR TIRE DEBEADED, VEHICLE ROLLED THREE TIMES AND LANDED ON PASSENGER SIDE AGAINST INTERSTATE GUARDRAIL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

ON THE FIRST INCIDENT ONE OF THE TIRES WAS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE AND READY TO EXPLODE, IT CAUSED MY CAR TO BE MISALIGNED. DURING THE ALIGNMENT THEY DISCOVERED THE DEFECT AND REPLACE THE TIRE FOR THE SAME TYPE. ON THE SECOND INCIDENT THE TIRE PEELED-OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH. I WAS LUCKY TO BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND PULL TO THE SIDE, BUT IT WAS VERY SCARY AND I ALMOST CRASHED. AT THAT TIME I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE (PREGNANT 6 MONTHS) AND MY 3 YEAR OLD SON. THE TIRE PROBLEM CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND PART OF IT WAS COVERED BY THE INSURANCE. PLEASE HELP ME GET A REFUND FROM THESE PROBLEMS AS NOW FIRESTONE HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS QUALITY ISSUE. THANKS. FRANCISCO BUITRON.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )