1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

PE00020, TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH SIDEWALL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT. DRIVER WAS ALONE AND NOT INJURED. TIRE SIZE P23570R15. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD, EXPLORER. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 27,000. FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE TIRE. FIRESTONE TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE LIST DOT # IF POSSIBLE.*AK

PE-00-020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A FORD, EXPLORER, 1997, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, DOT NUMBER BEGAN WITH VN ON ALL FOUR TIRES. TIRES HAVE 37 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. CONSUMER NOTICED HAIRLINE CRACKS DEVELOPING RIGHT AT THE TREAD LINE ON ALL FOUR TIRES. FOUR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND AT CUSTOMER EXPENSE. *AK THE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE TIRES FAILED DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN LAND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *YH

PE00-020, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, DOT VNHLIPY456, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1997. 2 POPULAR TIRE SHOPS HAVE CLAIMED ALL 4 TIRES' TREAD WAS SEPARATING. TIRE THERE WAS A LINE GOING AROUNG THE TIRE ,UNDERNEATH TREAD NEAR SIDEWALL. *AK THE CUSTOMER STATES THAT FIRESTONE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE FAILED TIRE BECAUSE THERE WERE NO TIRES IN THE STORE ACCORDING THE DEALER. *YH

2 RIGHT SIDE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P255/70R16 WERE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, THEY WERE SPLITTING AND SEPARATING, CONSUEMR REPLACED TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

4.0LITER SOHC HAS DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF TIMMING CHAIN IDLER . THIS CAUSED ENGINE TO STALL AND SEVERE VALVE DAMAGE . FORD IS RECOMENDING COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT ( $4,800 ) WITH 2000 MODEL. FORD IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. *AK

IMPORTANT: DOT CODE "VNHL". THIS TIRE HAS A CRACK AROUND THE ENTIRE TIRE ON INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WHERE TREAD AND SIDE WALL MEET. IT IS NOT UNDER THE CURRENT "VD" RECALL BUT IS EVIDENCE OF EARLY STAGE OF FAILURE MODE ON A TIRE MADE AT THE CANADA PLANT. THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE ALL PLANTS!!!*AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE NHTSA WILL EXAMINE AND PLACE A WARNING ON THESE TIRES, BECAUSE I FEEL THE ARE UNSAFE. I HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE ONE OF THE TIRES BLEW OUT FROM THE SIDE AT A MODERATE SPEED (35-45MPH) FOR NO REASON. THE SERVICE TECH AT THE TIRE DEALER THAT I WENT TO EXAMINDED THE TIRE, AND COULD FIND NO PUNCTURES OR LEAKS. THE OTHER 3 TIRES WERE ALL AT THE PROPER AIR PRESSURE, SO HE TOLD ME THAT HE COULDN'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THIS TIRE BLEW OUT, AND THAT IT WAS JUST A BAD TIRE. THIS ALL HAPPENED WAY BEFORE ANY PUBLIC CLAIMS REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH FIRESTONE TIRES WERE MADE, SO HE WASN'T BEING PREJUDICED. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM STILL DRIVING ON 3 OF THESE TIRES. THE 235-SIZED TIRES MADE FROM THE SAME PLANT WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR WARNING, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE 255'S COULD BE ANY SAFER, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE 2 CM WIDER. DO THOSE 2 CM MEAN THAT THE TIRE WAS MADE PROPERLY? I DOUBT IT. WELL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE IN THIS MATTER, AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BRING MATTERS LIKE THESE TO THE PUBLICS ATTENTION. PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE THE REST OF THEM BLOW UP! THANK YOU -- JEREMY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

PE00-020, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FORD EXPLORER 1996 TIRE SIZE P25570R16109S WITH 55,000 MILES.CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MERCHANT TIRES TO HAVE BRAKES LOOKED AT WHEN MANAGER OF STORE STATED THAT REAR LEFT TIRE STEEL BELT ON THE SIDE OF TIRE WAS VISIBLE AND CRACKING AROUND THE CROSS SITES. AT THE TIME, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL 4 TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING DEFECT.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70/R16 *MW

I CANNOT GET THROUGH TO FIRESTONE. I AM ON THREE WAITING LISTS FOR REPLACED TIRES BUT AM TOLD NEW TIRES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR 4 WEEKS. I PLAN TO RENT A CAR DURING THAT PERIOD AND EXPECT FIRESTONE/FORD TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE RENTAL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )