TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZES P235/75R15 AND P255/70R16

Oct 15, 2001 — Recall Campaign #01T016000

TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZES P235/75R15 AND P255/70R16, PRODUCED FROM JULY 1994 THROUGH APRIL 1998. THESE TIRES POSE AN INCREASED RISK OF TREAD SEPARATION.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 2,800,000 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

01T016000

Manufacturer:	Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations
Recall date:	October 15, 2001
NHTSA Campaign #:	01T016000
Units affected:	2,800,000

Description:: TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZES P235/75R15 AND P255/70R16, PRODUCED FROM JULY 1994 THROUGH APRIL 1998. THESE TIRES POSE AN INCREASED RISK OF TREAD SEPARATION.
Consequeces:: IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
Corrective action:: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSHMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON JANUARY 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE AT 1-800-465-1904 OR 1-888-276-2120 IN PUERTO RICO FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

Affects the following:

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT Complaints
TL- THE POLICE INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE VEHICLE, A 1990 RAM VAN 350(X-WAGON) EQUIP WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES SIZED P255/70R/16(DOT VDCN1PX-519) WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 55-65 MPH WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. DURING THE CRASH ALL NINE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. THREE OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN ONE FATILTY. THE POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. JFT;
WILDERNESS AT P25570R16 Complaints
WE WERE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON US HWY 131 JUST NORTH OF KALAMAZOO, MI. OUR WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 SHREDDED AND ALMOST CAUSED US TO ROLL OVER. THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY $2400 PLUS $197 FOR TWO TIRES. WE BOUGHT SUBURBAN FROM A FORD DEALER IN WI IN DECEMBER 2011. THE TIRES WERE ON THE VEHICLE. WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE RECALLED AND ALSO WERE 14 YEARS OLD. WE WENT TO THE FORD DEALER TO SEE ABOUT BEING REIMBURSED FOR THE TWO TIRES THAT THEY KNOWINGLY PUT ON THE SUBURBAN. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY PUT THE TIRES ON BUT CLAIMED IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO KNOW ALL THE TIRES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WE THEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FIRESTONE. NINE MONTHS AFTER WE FILED THE COMPLAINT, SENT THE EVIDENCE, ALL PAPERWORK, THE TIRE WITH SHREDDED PIECES, AND COST OF REPAIRS, WE RECEIVED A NOTE THAT FIRESTONE WAS NOT LIABLE, THAT THE TIRE WAS 14 YEARS OLD, AND THAT THEY WOULD ONLY PAY FOR ONE TIRE. THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT PROPERLY INFLATED. WE TOOK THE AIR OUT WHEN IT WAS SENT BECAUSE UPS WOULDN'T TAKE IT WITH AIR IN IT. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE SECOND TIRE. IT HAS EXCELLENT TREAD. THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING FROM LOOKING AT IT THAT IT IS A HAZARD. SHOULDN'T A TIRE COMPANY THAT RECALLED TIRES HAVE TO REPLACE THEM EVEN IF THEY ARE OLD? WE HAVE PICTURES TO SHOW THAT THE TIRE WENT COMPLETELY BALD AND NEVER WENT FLAT. *TR;