1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE P23575R15. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS INSIDE OF THE RIM, ALSO EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. *AK

FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS MAINTAINING AIR PRESSURE IN MY WILDERNESS AT TIRES. AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK 2 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES LOSES 10 POUNDS OF AIR PRESSURE. TIRES HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT BY AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY ARE FINE- NO LEAKS OR PUNCTURES - YET I AM CONSISTENTLY HAVE A PROBLEM MAINTAINING PROPER INFLATION OF THE TIRES. (TIRESIZE: 255/70R/16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70R/16 )

PE00 020; CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A RATTLING NOISE AND FELT VIBRATION INSIDE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND NOTICED THAT LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS#ATX, P2375R15 # . THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO REPORT. *AK

CONSUMER HAD FOUND OUT CRACKS ON TIRE TREADS. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT TIESCOULD SEPARATE IF KEPT DRIVING .THEN, REPLACED FOUR TIRES. FORD, EXPLORER, 1997, P235/75 R15, DOT SN. *AK FIRESTONE DEALER REPLACED FOUR TIRES. *YH

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS SO BAD THAT JACK FURRIERS WESTERN TIRE CENTER REMOVED IT AND PUT ON MY SPARE UNTIL THEY CAN GET THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. JIM CLICK FORD, JOHN FARINSKI-SERVICE ADVISOR, TOLD ME THAT FORD COULD NOT HELP IN MY CASE. (DOT NUMBER: O2 TIRESIZE: 255.70R.15)

FIRESTONE EXPERIENCED STEEL BELT PROTRUDING THROUGH, CONSUMER REQUESTS DEALER REIMBURSE FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES. *SLC

PE00-020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1997, P23575R15, DOT W2HL326 WITH 37000 MILES. ALL 5 TIRES HAVE JAGGED CRACKS WHERE CONSUMER COULD PUSH AGAINST THE TIRES, AND SEE THE SEPARATIONS AROUND THE EDGE. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TIRES AT OWNERS EXPENSE.*AK

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE LOOKS LIKE IT CAN BE PEELED IT LIKE AN ORANGE, AND CONSUMER CAN SEE THE STEEL DOWN INSIDE OF TIRE.*AK THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE LOST CHUNK OF RUBBER WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. *YH

PE0002, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P23575R15, DOT # VNHL1PY436. ALL FOUR TIRES FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT HAD CRACKED AROUND TREAD AND SIDEWALL, BIGGER THAN A HAIRLINE CRACK. FIRESTONE SAID IT WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK *SLC

CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY VIA E-MAIL ON 8/29/00. THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO WAIT FOR FIRESTONE TO RECALL TIRES. ALL FIRESTONE AND FORD DEALERS IN THE AREA WHERE I HAD THE INSPECTED AGREE THAT THE TIRES SHOW DEFECT MARKS SIMILAR TO THOSE BEING RECALLED. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM BECAUSE FIRESTONE WILL NOT AUTHORIZE OR HAS NOT AUTHORIZED THAT PARTICULAR DOT NUMBER. TIRES ARE BEGINING TO LOOK UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PLEASE ADVISE. (DOT NUMBER: VN TIRESIZE: 235P65R15)