1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P 235/75R15 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (00T-005), HOWEVER THEY ARE EXPERIENCING DRY ROT AND SEPARATION PROBLEMS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE TIRES. *MJS

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES AND JERKS FORWARD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK

MY CLIENT WAS DRIVING A 1997 FORD EXPLORER ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING MY CLIENT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE EXPLORER, ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235/75/R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )

THERE IS METAL FATIGUE OF DOOR PANEL AT HINGE AT THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE REAR LIFT GATE. THE COMPANY SAYS THE DOOR HAS TO BE REPLACED, THAT IT CANNOT BE FIXED AS A FIX WOULD FURTHER FATIGUE THE METAL. THE BENDING OF THE METAL IS TAKING PLACE WHERE THE HINGE ATTACHES AND IS BENDING THE PANEL UP SO THAT WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, THE BENT BODY WORK ACTS AS A SCOOP, DRAWING RAIN WATER, AIR AND, I ASSUME, EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I COMPLAINED TO FORD AND THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL COVER APPROX. $1,000 OF THE $1300 ESTIMATE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER GENEROUS THAT MAY BE, I FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM THAN IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT IT MAY AFFECT MANY MORE THAN JUST MY UNIT. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR THE REPAIR....THE EARLIEST I CAN GET AN APPT. IS 12/11. THE DEALER HAS BEEN MOST COOPERATIVE IN THIS BUT THE EXPENSE OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DOOR IS LARGE AND, IN MY ESTIMATION, SHOULD BE 100% COVERED BY THE COMPANY. JM. *AK

THE DEALER REPLACED FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES WITH NEW ONES BUT THE TIRE VALVES ON TWO TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKS CAUSED BY IMPROPERLY INSTALLED TIRE VALVE RESULTING IN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE, THE CONSUMER HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15, DOT VDHL). NLM

BELT FAILURE ON ALL FOUR TIRES . SPARE IS NEW/UNUSED. 'HAVE BEEN BABYING VEHICLE DRIVING HABITS. TREAD IS GOOD BUT VEHICLE WOBBLES EVEN AFTER AN ALIGNMENT AND REPEATED WHEEL BALANCING EPISODES. BELTS ARE SEPARATING. SINCE I HAVE FOUR USED AND ONE UNUSED...IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO USE THESE FOR INVESTIGATIVE TESTS. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER FELT A KNOCKING NOISE ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THEN, PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A HUMP ON TIRES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT TREAD WAS SEPARATING ON THREE TIRES. P235/75R15, DOT W2HL1PY406.*AK THE CONSUMER HAD ASKED FIRESTONE TO INCLUDE THE FAILED WILDERNESS AT TIRES IN THE RECALL LIST SINCE THEY ARE SIMILAR WITH ONES ON RECALL. *YH

1997, FORD, EXPLORER, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES SIZE P235/75R15 DOT#VNHL1PY027, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. CONSUMER NOTICED TIRES WERE CRACKING ALL AROUND SIDEWALL WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE SEPARATED, BUT CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES.*AK *SLC

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P 235/75R15 TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL DUE TO ONE FLAT AND TREADWEAR AND VIBRATION PROBLEMS. *MJS

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION, CRACKING, AND VIBRATION, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES. *SLC