1996 Ford Explorer accident due to tread separation. Cw according to an eye witness statement, the driver of the vehicle crossed several lanes, struck a guardrail and went airborne and landed on it's roof. The witness stated two people were ejected from the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle eventually died. (lawyer wrote in on behalf of clients)

- Newburgh, NY, USA

I was told from employees at amercan tire company. That the dominator tires had defects. Now will not replace another bad tire.

- Fresno, CA, USA

Recall with Bridgestone Firestone * the stated he had already replaced the tires at his expense. He attempted to request for reimbursement, however he was denied twice.

- Hermosa Beach, CA, USA

I own a 1996 Ford Explorer. On May 9, 2006, I took it to a Ford dealer for a safety inspection (the multi-point inspection report card as recommended by Ford Motor Company) all four tire were marked on the tread depth scale in the green 7/32 or greater box. Later that same evening after school let out I proceeded on a trip. I left tucson, AZ around 5:30 to 6:00pm got no farther than yuma AZ when the tread from my right rear tire completely separated from the steel belt underneath tearing the rear right bumper off, the bumper area underneath the door was hanging on the ground and big black circular marks were on the back passenger door where the tread had hit during separation. The event itself was horribly frightening for us as well as my 3 children. Thank the lord we did not wreck and there was no turnover of the vehicle. We were able to change the tire with a spare but the damage was already done to the vehicle. The tire was a Firestone wilderness ht P225/70R15. I went back to the Ford dealer who had safety checked the tire and he said it was a defect in manufacturing and had no way of knowing when these things would happen. The dot code on the tire is W2uu ipo.99. I contacted Firestone who said the last 2 numbers would be the date the tire was manufactured. My questions are is this a common thing for these types of tires and what is the life span of that tire. Shouldn't I have been made aware that the tire was 7 yrs old or does it matter how old the tire is. I bought new tires (certainly not firestones) but I feel like I should have been made aware of the age of my tire if its simply checking a manufacturing date. That way I could have chosen to not put my families life in jeopardy!!

- Sahuarita, AZ, USA

Driving home from school on interstate 20 my car started to shake. I reduced the speed of my vehicle from about 68 mph to 60 mph. Then I heard a loud pop and my car started to fishtail across three lanes of traffic, missing a tractor trailer by about one foot. I finally handled the truck and pulled onto the side of the interstate. I proceeded to get out of my vehicle to try to control my nerves and try to figure out what happened. I walked over to the rear passenger side of my vehicle and the entire tread of my tire was gone. It was strewn about. The tire other than the tread was in perfect condition. It was the full size spare on the car when I bought it and it had only been driven on for aprox. 6 months with no problems. I proceeded to look at the side of my vehicle and my sidestep was missing, and my car was dented up. It looks terrible. The scratches start at the rear passenger door and went all the way to the back of the vehicle. I do not have the money to fix my car. The incident was not my fault. My car is well taken care of. I have to take care of it because I have three children. This is my only mode of transportation. The Firestone that was on my car is model, P235/75 R15 ATX. It has the beginning dot letters vd from Decatur, Illinois. I have a 1996 Ford Explorer.

- Conyers, GA, USA

While driving 70 mph rear right tire tread separated, causing the vehicle to hit a pole and roll once. Vehicle landed upside down on an embankment. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy. Driver sustained minor injuries.

- Summerfield, FL, USA

The left rear dunlop radial rover (LT235/75R15) tread separated from tire. Occurred on freeway at 70mph. There was a thumping noise just prior to incident. The tire did not lose pressure. No crash, no injuries but some damage to left 1/4 panel & trim on vehicle, 1996 Ford Explorer. All 4 tires replaced at same time & had approximately 40,000 miles on them when this occurred.

- Canyon Country, CA, USA

Left rear tire blew out causing the vehicle to spin out of control, and vehicle also flipped over several times, the left rear tire experienced tread separation, driver suffered minor injuries. (uniroyal Laredo tires P235/75R15 M+S)(Ohio traffic crash report)

- Chicago, IL, USA

Consumer is trying to receive a refund for the recalled Firestone Wilderness AT tires, size P235775R-15, which was put on the Explorer, Ford Motor Company denied reimbursement because the repair receipt does not fall within the program dates, august1, 2000 to May 22,2001.

- Valparaiso, IN, USA

Prior to recall, consumer replaced the Firestone wilderness ATX tires due to tread separation, consumer was denied by Firestone stating the tires were replaced prior to the announcement.( Firestone tires P235/75R15)

- Cave Creek, AZ, USA

Reight rear tire separated causing driver to loose control of the vehicle, the vehicle went off the shoulder through the median and overturned several times and ejected the driver and 4 of the 5 passengers, five occupants sustained incapacitating injuries and one occupant was killed(Bridgestone/Firestone, P235/75R15, radial ATX M/S, vdhl1pm166, right rear, Florida traffic crash report). Nlm

- Orlando, FL, USA

Rear left tire separated from the tread causing triver to loose control of the vehicle hich the traveled to the left grass shoulder, after entering the shoulder the vehicle started to rotate in a clockwise direction and started to overturn for about 89 feet before it came to rest on the drivers side, driver, passenger and rear right passenger sustained incapacitating injuries, the rear left passenger sustainednon-incapacitating injuries (Bridgestone/Firestone, P235/75R15, radial ATX M/S, vdhl1pm246, left rear, Florida, traffic crash report). Nlm

- Biloxi, MS, USA

Rear tire blewout causing driver to loose control as a result the vehicle ran off the road, the driver jerked the steering wheel to the right and the vehicle entered the road and flipped three times landing on its wheels, physical evidence does not support blowout, but does indicate tread separation which partially came off the body of the tire, three people were injured one was killed (Texas peace offices accident report, Bridgestone/Firestone, P235/75R15, radial ATX M/S, vdhl1pm276, right rear). Nlm

- Wortham, TX, USA

The left rear tire tread separated from the tire which wrapped around the axle, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it rolled over from end to end with the left front and right rear corners sustaining most of the impact, during the rollover both rear seat passengers were ejected, one person was killed in this accident three others were injured (Arizona traffic crash report, Bridgestone/Firestone, P235/75R15, radial ATX M/S, left rear). Nlm

- Chandler, AZ, USA

The tread on the left rear tire separated causing the driver to loose control and roll several times, the driver sustained incapacitating injuries (Texas peace officers accident report, Bridgestone/Firestone, P235/75R15, radial ATX M/S, vdhl1pm465). Nlm

- San Antonio, TX, USA

Left rear tire began to separate, the vehicle veered into the emergency lane then steered back across the lanes rotating counterclockwise, the right tires where digging into the grass median which caused the vehicle to rollover twice in the grass median, the driver was ejected during the final rollover sequence (Florida traffic crash report, Bridgestone/Firestone, P235/75R15, radial ATX M/S, vdhl1pm306, left rear). Nlm

- Plant City, FL, USA

The left rear tire tread separated from the body of the tire which caused the driver to loose control, the driver steered back left partially into the left lane then back to the right, at this point the vehicle spun partially clockwise off roadway then rolled over onto its top and a guardrail, traveled over the guardrail to final rest on its roof, one passenger was killed four other sustained incapacitating injuries(Florida traffic crash report, Bridgestone/Firestone, P235/75R15, radial ATX M/S, vdhl1pm196, unknown position). Nlm

- Davie, FL, USA

The right rear tire tread detached from the tire, the tire then blewout causing the vehicle to veer to the right, the driver attempted to regain control by overcorrecting to the left, this caused the vehicle to go into a broadside skid, as the vehicle was sliding the right side tire deflated causing the rim to dig into the pavement thus causing the vehicle to flip over twice landing right side up, there was 1 fatalitie (driver) and three passengers (rf, rr, cr) sustained injury (New Mexico uniform accident report, Bridgestone/Firestone P235/75R15 radial ATX M/S vdhl1pm385). Nlm

- Miami, FL, USA

While driving, Firestone tire (no tire information) when flat and tread separated, causing vehicle to hit another car and cause damage.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

While driving, consumer noticed vehicle was riding rough but was able to control vehicle, however in September 1998 while driving the vehicle was riding rough and consumer was having trouble controlling the steering, once consumer returned home she got out of the vehicle and noticed that the thread of the rear tire had started to peel off, consumer eventually replaced all five tires, consumer received the recall information from Firestone and sent it back, only to receive a denial letter stating that the replacement tires were purchased prior to recall notification.(Firestone ATX P235/75R15 serial # vdhlatn368.

- Presidio, TX, USA