Engineers report by certified professionals determined that the tire was manufactured defectively in that the tread was not properly bonded to the belts, which allowed the tread to become separated from the belts, altering the structural integrity of the tire. This separation caused the vehicle to flip five times, totaling the vehicle and injuring the driver. The accident occurred in Texas, in hot weather and on a highway. The faulty tire was only 5 months old.( dot number: Vdhl1pm126 tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Austin, TX, USA

We were driving back from mammoth through the mojave desert on weekend of June 22, 2000. We stopped for lunch in bishop California and when we returned to our car we had a flat tire. We called aaa and the tow truck driver took us to the only station in town that was open of a Sunday afternoon. When they looked at the tire they noticed that instead of a puncture in the tire that caused the flat a top layer of the tire had peeled away and wires were exposed. I guess this is the deglazing effect that is occuring with the Firestone ATX radials. The station did not have the ATX tires we originally had so we replaced the flat with the wilderness tires. We had to replace both tires so they would match. The temperature that day that we were traveling was approximately 100 degrees.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, USA

Tire separated going about 20 mph on a graded but unpaved road. Temperature was about 102 degrees. The separation looked identical to media pictures of other tire separation problems. Tire had approximately 20,000 on it. Plenty of tread was left.( dot number: Tire size: 235 75R15 )

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

I have had two tire separations on my Firestone ATX II tires within approximately 60 days. The tires were replacement tires purchased in pairs (at different times). Both failures occurred at speeds less than 50 mph, and at appropriate tire pressures of approximately 33psi.( dot number: ? tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

Who is responsible for the damage done to car from the recalled tire? the tread was partially detatched from casing and slapped the rear quarter panel and tail gate. Who do we contact.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Tulsa, OK, USA

Tire failed as tread separated from tire body. Although tire was replaced via pro-rata value of tire tread used, we replaced the Firestone tires with Michelin tires on March 24, 1999. We did this because of lack of trust in the Firestone tires, and even though the Firestone tires would have been good for another 20000 miles or so based on tread left..( dot number: Tire size: 235/75R15 )

- Weston, FL, USA

In the month of January I was on a return trip from orlando, Florida and on my way to tallahassee, Florida home. Approximately 60 miles North of orlando I began to experience a vibration in the vehicle that I was driving ( 1996 Ford Explorer ). I was traveling at 60 mph and as I continued to decrease in speed the vibration increased and before I was able to bring the vehicle to a stop I felt a large bang in the left rear of the vehicle as if the tire blew, the vehicle began to swerve back and forth to the left and to the right, I was able to get the vehicle under control nearly missing another vehicle. I replaced the tire with the spare that was on the vehicle and made it to tallahassee. During the duration of the drive to tallahassee I observed the performance of the remaining tire on the vehicle. My conclusion when I arrived in tallahassee was that I did not feel that the tires on the vehicle were safe and would not bet my families life them so I had them replaced. Within the next week I had four of the five tires replaced on the vehicle, the spare still remains under the vehicle until such time this matter is resolved. To my surprise on August 8, 2000 I heard rumors that the tire of the same brand and make "Firestone radial ATX" series may be recalled. However there was substantial damage to the vehicle from the steel belted radial that tore away from the wheel itself causing damage to the vehicle and almost my life from the tire in question. I feel that it would not be unreasonable to be reimbursed for the tires that I replaced and the damage to my vehicle. I would appreciate a reply to the matter at hand.( dot number: Tire size: P235R15 )

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

While traveling from orlando to ft. Lauderdale to visit my family on thanksgiving day, 1999, the tire tread in the front passenger side tire separated suddenly while at highway speed (about 65 - 70 mph) on I-95 near jupiter, Florida. Vehicle pulled to the right and was hard to control. Luckily, there was no car to the right (my wife and I were in the left lane) and no accident occurred. We changed the tire roadside, and had both front tires replaced the next day at tire kingdom at lauderdale by the sea. There was also damage to the wheel well caused by the peeled away tire, which we had fixed at a later date during routine maintenance at greenway Ford in orlando. The mechanic at tire kingdom said that it was unusual that the tread came off without causing a blowout.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Mountainview, CA, USA

Rear tire tread failed causing loss of control and vehicle rollover( dot number: )

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

My family & I were driving to ca. From las vegas down I-15, about 25 miles out of las vegas. The tread completely blew off our right, rear tire, driving about 70 mph. My husband fought to keep control of the car, it swayed & rocked violently. We had heard a loud "bang" but didn't know what it was & didn't suspect a flat tire, thought something had hit us.the road was clear at the time; had usual traffic been present we would've hit anthing in the lane next to us, due to severe swerving. Had we turned over and rolled, most definitely wouldn've been severely injured if not killed. Pulled over, saw that tread was completely gone. Rear light was broken, quarter panel dented, rear bumper disengaged from car. After getting tire changed by aaa club, immediately return to lv. At Goodyear shop, told them to take off all tires & bought new ones for total of $500. The previous week had had car serviced for trip to calif. & no problems noted with tires (had specific conversation). No clue that this would happen. Am currently worried about Goodyear steel belted tires that have been on since 7/99 since I live in desert & it's frequently over 100 degrees. I have them checked frequently too but now I have no peace of mind after harrowing experience of last summer.( dot number: "?" tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Henderson, NV, USA

On two different occasions, a rear tire suffered a tread separation that caused extensive damage to the wheel well and nearly caused accidents. After the second one, I removed the remaining Firestone tires and replaced all four with michelins.( dot number: " tire size: " )

- Tempe, AZ, USA

Follow a long weekend trip, I noticed a large section of the outside tread was missing from the rear passenger side tire revealing the steel belt. It is was the original equipment tire, the Firestone ATX, that came with the Explorer which we purchase new in '96. The missing piece was at least five inches in length and two inches wide. I immediately replaced the damaged tire with the matching spare. In early June I replace the entire set of Firestone tires with another brand. At that time I was told by a discount tire employee the damage was probably caused by hitting a large pothole (which I didn't believe.) please add our complaint to your file surrounding the Firestone tires. We have a two-year old son who we drove around exclusively in the Explorer. Thank god nothing happen, but I will always remember the delay Ford and Firestone displayed with this recall.( dot number: Tire size: 235 )

- Burbank Ca, CA, USA

Tire tread separated. 95 degrees outside. Almost flipped SUV. One week later, I witnessed the same problem (Firestone widerness on an Explorer) cause a gruesome death because the vehicle flipped.( dot number: Tire size: P255/70R16 )

- Austin, TX, USA

Just wanted to add our name to your list of incidents reported about tread separtion on these Firestone tires. We feel very fortunate that no damage was done and no one was injured when the tread separated on both our rear tires on two separated occasions this summer while we were on vacation.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Clermont, FL, USA

I lost control and flipped my Ford Explorer when my Firestone ATX tire lost its tread while I was driving on the freeway in southern ca. My Explorer was a total loss and I fortunately walked away with only minor back and neck problems and a concussion. It was recently brought to my attention that this was not a freak accident but something that has occurred more frequently and I wanted to log my complaint.( dot number: Tire size: 32 psi )

- New York, NY, USA

Noticed bumpy ride on road tripj(like running over bumps).

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

Tire blew out on highway. Tread separated from rest of tire. This was very similar to published reports of Firestone/Explorer failures. Driver was able to remain in control and pull over.( dot number: )

- Colleyville, TX, USA

Both tire defects appear as large bubbles in the tread of the tire. The first tire defect became apparent the first time that tire was mounted after having been used as the spare tire all of it's life, never having been mounted untill then. The bubble became apparent to me as a vibration and road slap noise. The most recent defect (different tire) appears as a bubble approximately 12" in length, approximately 3" wide along the inside tread surface.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Van Nuys, CA, USA

While wife was driving felt some vibration and started to slow down, then automibile began to sway- later, found out from the police officer that Firestone tire that was on and tread had began to peel off.

- Lake Dallas, TX, USA

Consumer's son was driving down road and driver thought that he had a blowout, but discovered that tread had peeled off of tire. Size of tire was wilderness P255/70 R 16. Firestone Wilderness AT P255/70/R16

- Tageland, SC, USA