10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
34 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
84 / 21
Average Mileage:
2,054 miles

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problem #132

Aug 232000

Explorer

  • miles
1/tire blew on paved off-ramp from I-4; 2/steel belts started showing at 45,000 miles.( dot number: 25400urbmo tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #131

Aug 262000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Both of these tire blowouts occurred while driving on washboarded gravel roads. No road hazards were found during repair (e.g. no nails or other objects). They appear to have just blown out.( dot number: W2cu1px446 tire size: P255 70R16 )

- Edmonds, WA, USA

problem #130

Sep 042000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
It is my belief that all the Wilderness AT tires are defective, not just the ones made in decator. Our tires were wearing from 3 months into owning the vechicle, but neither Ford nor Firestone would take any action. I believe it's a design flaw! Firestone should compensate owners of all the tires. Please continue your investigation further into all brands, not just the vdhl coded tires. Thank you. Gary J. spanedda( dot number: W2hl tire size: P235/75R15 )

- New York City, NY, USA

problem #129

Sep 012000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Tires are cracking at bottom of tread line on side wall, also "chunking"at top of tread, pieces of top of tread are lifting from tire( dot number: W2hl tire size: P235/75/15 )

- Hampstead, MD, USA

problem #128

Aug 302000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
I live in a section of Virginia that is 25 miles from the nearest Ford or Firestone store. All 4 of my tires have severe cracking at the area where the tread connects to the tire. I took the car to the nearest tire store or tucks tire center in moneta, va. 1-540-297-5155. They verified that my tires are severely cracked and ready for tread separation and I am due repacements even without being on the recall. However they spents two days on the phone calling Firestone for authorization to replace the tires. They were on the phone for hours on hold and nobody ever come on the line. I proceeded to contact Ford via email, explained all the preceeding and they basically told me to get lost since I had 16 inch tires. Right now I cant drive the car because the tires can separate at any time. Yet I cant get any action from Ford or Firestone. This is a bonafide case of a 16 inch non recalled tire that will have tread sepatation soon upon driving the car.( dot number: W2C1px017 tire size: P255/70R16 )

- Moneta, VA, USA

problem #127

Sep 042000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
I was driving my 1997 Ford Explorer with Firestone tires (not part of current recall) when my front right tire blew out causing me to lose control of the SUV and have the accident( dot number: W2hlipy077 tire size: E4027477 )

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #126

Sep 072000

Explorer

  • miles
Although my tires are not included in the current recall I believe that they should be. I was lucky. My eplorer warned me that something was wrong when it started pulling to the right. I thought I needed and alignment and took my Explorer to a Ford dealer for an alignment. My alignment was fine and I was flabergasted when the Ford people told me that my front left Firestone Wilderness AT tire, not involved in the recall, had a belt completely seperated from the rest of the tire. They told me not to drive on it. As if was not safe and had been completely destroyed. I was in shock as I had my grandchildren in the Explorer a few day before. I was concerned for my safety and the safety of others so I immediately bought five new tires.we were planning to drive from Florida to portland, Oregon on the original Firestone tires. Since I am retired and so not drive very much I would not have had to buy new tires for sometime as they only had 32,400 plus miles on them. I am informing you of this hoping that someone else that might be planning a long trip on the Firestone tires not involved in the recall will reconsider. Thank you for being there.( dot number: W2hlipy446 tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Leesburg, FL, USA

problem #125

Aug 162000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Tires were starting to seperate. All four tires had grooves where tread joined the sidewall. The grooves could not be seen until the air was removed from the tires. The first Firestone store I contacted was very smart and hateful when I asked what I was to do. That store is located in eastland mall charlotte, nc. They also told me that if I bought new tires on my own and did not wait my turn for them to replace the tires that Firestone would not pay me for the new tires. I would have been # 251 to been inspected and these tires would have probably blown before then. Ford sent me a letter assuring me that the tires on my 1997 F-350 was not affected but failed to send me a letter telling me that my Explorer had the killer tires. Both companies have put my family at a high risk of being killed and have drug their feet to try to correct the problem.( dot number: Vdhl tire size: P23575R15 )

- Gold Hill, NC, USA

problem #124

Aug 202000

Explorer

  • miles
Tires coming apart at same point as the Decatur built tires. Have contacted both Ford and Firestone and was basically ignored. They would only address officially rcalled tires.( dot number: Vnhl tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Argyle, TX, USA

problem #123

Aug 182000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Tire exhibited 360 degree cracks in sidewall 1/2" from corner of tread, moderate loss of air pressure - replaced by Firestone dealer( dot number: Vn tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Uxbridge, MA, USA

problem #122

Sep 072000

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
Am in possession of 5 tires dot vnhl separating at the shoulder.these tires are made in Canada & not currently on the recall.( dot number: Vnhl tire size: P235/75/15 )

- Thorndale, PA, USA

problem #121

May 282000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
I was on the highway driving 65 mph at the time when I thought there was a funny noise, then I started to swerve, but kept it under control, slowed down and pulled to the side of the road in a driveway. When I had left my home that morning I had felt a funny vibration, but had figured it was just a tire out of balance and on the front of the vehicle. The farther I drove the worse the vibration got, to the point my seat belt was "engaged" all the time. I was dressed up, going out of town to a reception, the tires were fairly new with correct air pressure and plenty of tread left. I do not enjoy changing tires, especially on an Explorer on the side of the road in nice clothes in the mist. I keep good tires on my vehicles, in fact these were 6-ply tires since I live in the country. Two good samaratins stopped and changed the tire for me (and put on my spare which is now in the recall!) and they said the tires were worn funny and the tread was split. I no longer have that tire, but I have the one that was purchased at the same time, if anyone would care to look at it. I replaced those tires with 6-ply kelly tires and put thenm on the front. Three weeks ago, I noticed some strange splits in the sidewalls of my remaining 2 bridestone tires, now on the back of the Explorer. I showed them to a mechanic who said I would be wise to get them replaced. I have since replaced them with 2 more 6-ply kelly tires. When I recieved my recall notice I noticed that, even though these were bridgestones and 6-ply tires, the symptoms of the tread failure were the same and I decided to report it to someone. I hope you can use this information to help othe people avoid scary situations on the highway. Thank you.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Hannibal, MO, USA

problem #120

Jul 312000

Explorer

  • miles
Mr. Hattaway was driving down I-95 when tread separated from tire causing vehicle to become uncontrollable. Vehicle hit guardrail and flipped over. Mr. Hattaway had severe injuries and was in a coma for a long period of time.( dot number: Vdhl 1py )

- Effingham, SC, USA

problem #119

Oct 201999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Accidentally hit the curb at 25 mph. The jolt produced a bubble at the side of two tires which had to be replced to avoid tire explosion. Expected a better performance from an "off the road" SUV.( dot number: W2hl tire size: 235/75R15 )

- Maplewood, NJ, USA

problem #118

Sep 052000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
The four tires did not fail as I replaced them when I noticed a continual crack around the entire tire, on both sides of each tire, which indicated the possibility of tire tread separation. I showed this to two different Firestone stores and one Ford dealer and they said that they could not replace my tires under the recall because the tires on my vehicle did not have the code on them to meet the recall criteria. What can I do?( dot number: Vnhl tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Pataskala, OH, USA

problem #117

Aug 152000

Explorer

  • miles
All our tires have a small "separation" line around the circumference of the tire, according to Firestone's authorized dealer, belle tire. Because our specific tires were not part of the initial recall by Firestone, belle tire tried to contact Firestone to get a determination as to what to do about our tires. That was three weeks ago. Belle tire and us have been unable to contact any decision makers at Firestone-we kept running into dead ends, even though we tried numerous phone numbers and 2 emails, last week, we read in our local paper about another person who had our type of tires where firesone said they were okay and then 2 weeks later, the tires ruptured causing an accident. Those tires were made at firesone's Canadian plant, as were ours. While the lines aof separation are small currently, they are about 3/8 inch below the treadline and are present around the entire circumference of each tire. We are very concerned that they will eventually peel away from the rest of the tire and are limiting our driving until we hear definitively from Firestone as to the safety of these tires. Thank you for your consideration.( dot number: Vnhl 1py tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

problem #116

Sep 052000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
I feel these tires are unsafe, per my auto mechanic and should be replaced at no cost to me. They are wearing badly.( dot number: W2hl tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Midland, MI, USA

problem #115

Aug 252000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
No summary( dot number: Tire size: 15 )

- Battle Creek, MI, USA

problem #114

Aug 072000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
My husband, eugene, on 08/07/00 had the left rear tire blow out on the highway going approximately 55-60 mph. The next day we had all four 4 tires replaced at discount tire co., Inc. We were not aware of a recall until the next day. The tires in question were Firestone wilderness P235/75R-15. The vehicle was originally purchased for me by our son, steven E. sakowski on the Ford Motor Co. Employees "B lot" and I purchased it from him after 30 days were up. We want to register the incident with you so that if in the future there is a recall we will be on record. Thank you, dolores G. sakowski( dot number: W2dot tire size: P235/75R-1 )

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #113

Apr 171999

Explorer

  • miles
During regular driving my tire exploded and fell apart( dot number: Tire size: 235 75 R15 )

- Miami, FL, USA

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