1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

2 TIRES BEGAN SEPARATE AT 70 MPH ON A 110 DEGREE DAY. CAUSING TRUCK TO GO OFF THE ROAD.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VD66 TIRESIZE: 30X9.50R15)

PULLED INTO PARKING LOT OFF HIGHWAY. TIRE WENT FLAT WITH LOUD POP. UPON INSPECTION OF TIRE, NOTED SIDEWALL HAD BURST, LEAVING APPROX 4 INCH SPLIT IN SIDEWALL FROM RIM TO TREAD. HAD PRESSURIZED TIRE TO APPROX 30 PSI PER RECALL INSTRUCTIONS. FIRESTONE DEALER IN VOORHEES, NJ REPLACED AT NO CHARGE FOR TIRE. DEALER DID CHARGE FOR MOUNTING. TIRE HAD LESS THAN 5000 MILES WEAR, PURCHASED IN MARCH 2000.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XHL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILURE AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ENTERED THE MEDIAN AND ROLLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES EJECTING THE LEFT REAR OCCUPANT,THE EJECTED OCCUPANT WAS KILLED ALL OTHER OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED(ARIZONA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, W2HL1PM316, RIGHT REAR). NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPAREATED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RUN OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A FENCE LINE AND ROLLOVER THREE TIME LANDING UPRIGHT, ALL FOUR OCCUPANT WERE INJURED (TEXAS PEACE OFFICERS ACCIDENT REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, RADIAL ATX M/S, VDHL1PM286, LEFT REAR). NLM

THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND TRAVEL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, THE RIM ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DUG INTO THE GRASS AND SOIL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL PASSENGER SIDE DOWN FIRST, THE DRIVER WAS KILLED, THE THREE OTHER OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED NON-INCAPACITATING INJURIES(TEXAS PEACE OFFICERS ACCIDENT REPORT, P255/70R16, WILDERNESS AT M/S, W2CU1PX106, LEFT REAR). NLM

TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST, NO SKID MARKS WERE OBSERVED ON THE ROADWAY, DRIVER SUSTAINED NON-INCAPACITATING INJURIES (FLORIDA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, WILDERNESS AT M/S, W2HL1PY436, UNKNOWN TIRE POSITION). NLM

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME APART CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE LEFT SPINNING AROUND ONTO THE MEDIAN AND STRUCK THE CONCRETE BARRIER WITH THE RIGHT FRONT, THEN CONTINUED TO SPIN AND STRUCK THE BARRIER WITH THE RIGHT REAR, THE VEHICLE THEN OVERTURNED SEVERAL TIMES AND CAME TO REST, ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND THE OTHER SUFFERED NON-INCAPACITATING INJURIES (FLORIDA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE P235/75R15 WILDERNESS M/S W2HL1PY416 RIGHT REAR). NLM

THE VEHICLE WENT ONTO THE SHOULDER THEN OVER, CORRECTED WHILE COMING BACK ONTO TO ROADWAY AND ROLLED OVER STRIKING A LIGHT POLE (BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, P235/75R15, WILDERNESS AT M/S, VDHL1PY207, LEFT REAR). NLM

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A FORD EXPLORER 1997, P23575R15 DOT VNHN. ALL 4 TIRES ARE SHOWING EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATING.*AK THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND HAD BEEN INDICATED TO BE DEFECTIVE BUT THE NUMBERS ON THESE TIRES DO NOT MATCH THE ONES THAT BEING DEFECTED. *YH