1996 Ford Explorer Tires

ALL FOUR WILDERNESS AT P23575R15 TIRES REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL (OOT-005), BECAUSE OF TREAD SEPARATION, OWNER HAS BEEN DENIED REIMBURSEMENT.

I HAVE HAD FOUR TIRE SEPARATIONS ON THIS SAME EXPLORER. TWO WERE ON THE ATXII 235/75R15 - BOTH VDHL FROM DECANTUR, IL PLANT. THE COMPANY (AFTER MUCH HASSLE) REPLACED THEM WITH THE FIREHAWK R45 ALSO VD DOT NUMBERS INDICATING THEY ARE FROM THE SAME PLANT. BOTH BLOWOUTS CAUSED OVER $1000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VECHICLE. THIS LAST TIME, I HAD TO PAY $350 FOR NEW TIRES. I SUSPECTED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ATX LONG BEFORE THE RECALL (AUG. 3, 1997 WAS THE FIRST BLOWOUT, JUNE 9, 1998 WAS THE SECOND). NOW I SUSPECT SOMETHING MUST EITHER BE WRONG WITH THE FIREHAWKR45, OR THE FORD SUSPENSION SYSTEM. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL OR WRITE IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHKFMA457 TIRESIZE: LTP235/75)

THE BELTS OF THE FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES EXPERIENCED SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000 AND WERE NOT PURCHASED ON A PRORATED BASIS. NLM

FIRESTONE TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED REFUND BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENTS WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JAN 1, 2000 (SERIAL # VHDLF0A219). NLM

(FIRESTONE ATX TIRES EXPERIENCED SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITOR PRIO TI AUGUST 9,2000. NLM

THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE ATX (P235/75R15) TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL 00T-005 DUE TO SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL REIMBURSEMENT, THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000. *CJ

FIRESTONE ATX,P235/75R15, FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO BLOW OUTS PRIOR TO THE RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*YD

ALL FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ARE CRACKED ON THE SIDEWALL WHERE THE TREAD BEGINS, THE VEHICLES TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT ALL FOUR TIRES BE REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 109 M/S, FILE NO: NSR01R0449). NLM

CONSUMERS FRONT LEFT FIRESTONE TIRE WAS BAD AND WAS CAUSING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURESEMENT BUT WAS UNABLE TO SUBMIT ORIGINAL RECIEPT BECAUSE IT WAS SUBMITTED FOR A REBATE OFFER, CONSUMER BELIEVES AMPLE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED FOR REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DEFECTIVE SPARE TIRE, THE CONSUMER ONLY RECIEVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRE MOUNTING, THE CONSUMER IS STILL AWAITING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACED TIRE (FIRESTONE ATX II).

TIRE TOTALLY BROKE DOWN LIKE NEVER BEFORE SEEN; INSPECTED BY GOODYEAR; SAID NORMAL BLOWOUT OF UNDER INFLATED TIRE. INSPECTED BY CERTIFIED MECHANIC. STATED SUCH NEVER BEFORE SEEN AND SHOWDED WHY UNDERINFLATION COULD NOT BE THE CAUSE. STILL HAVE TIRE IN MY POSESSION.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15) (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THREE TREAD SEPARATIONS AND ONE BLOW OUT, IN WHICH ONE OF THE TREAD SEPARATIONS WAS A REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE OCCURENCES HAPPENING BEFORE RECALL WAS ISSUED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A FIRESTONE DEALER THAT ONLY THE TIRES BEING REPLACED IN THE YEAR 2000 WOULD BE REIMBURSED. FIRESTONE TIRES ATX/P235/7R15.*JB

CONSUMER NOTICED A SMALL RING AND SEPARATION ON ALL FOUR OF THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES, A MICHELIN DEALER ALSO NOTICED THIS AND CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, CONSUMER RECEIVED LETTERS FROM FIRESTONE AND FORD REGARDING THE RECALLED TIRES, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS DENIED ANY REIMBURSEMENT FROM BOTH PLACES. *SLC

I HAVE TRIED TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD AND FIRESTONE EVER SINCE AUGUST 2000 FOR FOUR FAILED FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX'S. FROM THE BEGINNING WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES ON MY FORD EXPLORER. WHEN WE TRAVELED AT 60MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD AND FIRESTONE DEALERS WHO TOLD US THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. SO FOR THE NEXT 2 1/2 YEARS, WE DID NOT DARE DRIVE ABOVE 60MPH. WHILE THESE TIRES WERE ON THE EXPLORER, I MADE SURE TO HAVE THEM ROTATED AND PROPERLY INFLATED PER THE DIRECTIONS ON THE TIRES. ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER, WE NOTICED EXTREME WEAR ON THE OUTER PERIMETERS OF ALL FOUR TIRES, AS WAS NOTICED BY THE PLACE WHERE WE GOT THE TIRES ROTATED, AS WELL AS STRANGERS AT GAS STATIONS. I TOOK IT AGAIN TO FIRESTONE AND DEMANDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO MILEAGE WARRANTY, AND BECAUSE THEY WERE SO WORN OUT (STEEL BELTS VISIBLE) ON THE PERIMETER (BUT NOT THE MIDDLE TREAD AREA) THERE WAS NO WEAR CREDIT. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL I COULD DO WAS PURCHASE NEW TIRES AT MY COST. NOT WANTING TO PUT MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN JEOPARDY, IN EARLY 1999, I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AT MY COST ($367.29) WITH MICHELINS. SINCE THEN, NOT ONLY IS THE CAR RUNNING SMOOTHLY ABOVE 60MPH, WITH 20,000 MILES ON THEM, THEY STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD FOR ANOTHER 20-30,000 MILES. WHEN THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST 2000, I REJOICED BECAUSE I KNEW SOMETHING WAS INHERENTLY WRONG WITH THE TIRES, AND BECAUSE I THOUGHT (MISTAKINGLY) I WOULD BE REIMBURSED. BUT...BECAUSE I HAD REPLACED MY TIRES BEFORE THE OFFICIAL RECALL, I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. IRONICALLY, WHEN I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER RECENTLY FOR A DIFFERENT RECALL, HE NOTICED THAT I STILL HAD A WILDERNESS ATX AS A SPARE, SO I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THAT ONE. IT IS HIGHLY UNETHICAL AND INSULTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR A NEVER-USED SPARE AND NOT FOR THE OTHER FOUR, (DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1PM 4 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

THE RIGHT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION PRIOR TO THE RECALL BECOMING PUBLIC, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, THE MANUFACTURER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2000. NLM

AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, CONSUMER BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE, TIRES WERE REBALANCED AND ROTATED, BUT THE VIBRATION STILL EXISTED, CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE FIRESTONE P235/75RX15 TIRES WITH GOODYEAR TIRES AND THE VIBRATION IMMEDIATELY STOPPED, EVEN THOUGH PROBLEM OCCURRED PRIOR TO RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING SOME TYPE OF COMPENSATION FOR HIS EXPENSE AND TIME OF RESOLVING THE VIBRATION.*JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED A $400 REFUND FROM FIRESTONE, HOWEVER REQUESTED $500, FIRESTONE STATED THAT CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR ITEMS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, THIS IS NOT CORRECT, CONSUMER REQUESTED BALANCING, VALVE STEMS, SALES TAX, AND APPLICABLE DISPOSAL FEES, ALL OF WHICH ARE INCLUDED, CONSUMER REQUESTS AN ADDITIONAL CHECK FOR $100. *SLC

FRONT DUNLOP RADIAL ROVER TIRES , SIZE: LT235/75R15, DOT: DAHK ON 1996, FORD, EXPLORER WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE , AS IF A ROCK WAS IN TREAD OF TIRE. CLICKING NOISE TURNED INTO A THUMPING NOISE, AND CONSUMER REPLACED FRONT TIRES. SERVICE CENTER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOISE WAS DUE TO IMPROPER ROTATION/MAINTENANCE OF TIRES. *AK TIRES EXPERIENCED CUPPING. *SLC

LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATION CONTRIBUTED TO ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON MARCH 10, 2001. TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL BUT THEY WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION, AND BY THE ACCOUNT OF THE EMERGENCY PERSONEL, AT THE SITE,THE TOW COMPANY, AND BODY SHOP, AHVE ALL SAID THE SEPARATED FRONT TIRE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ROLLOVER. WHAT IS MY OPTIONS AT THIS POINT?*AK (TIRESIZE: 255/70R/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70R/15 )

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.*JB

TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1996, FORD, EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE P255/70R16, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE, TIRES HAD 80 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT REAR PASSENGER AND FRONT DERIVER'S SIDE TIRES WOULD NOT STAY INFLATED. ALSO, REAR TIRE WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION . CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. PLEASE.*AK *JB

PRIOR TO RECALL THE CONSUMER FOUND A BULGE ON THE BACK LEFT TIRE AND REPLACED WITH MICHELINS, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURDSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO AUG 9, 2000(FIRESTONE WILDRNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 ).

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) *YH

CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P255/70R16) AND WAS DENIED BECAUSE THESE TIRES WERE NOT PART OF RECALL, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES THAT TIRES EXPERIENCED SEVERE CRACKS AND THAT A LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND TO HAVE TIRES BALANCED, BUT WAS ADVISED BY DEALER TAHT TIRES COULD NOT BE BALANCED BECAUSE THEY WERE BEYOND BALANCING AND THAT INSIDE CONTAINED ONLY WIRE, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR FIRESTONE ATX TIRES, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE TIRES WERE PURCHASED BEFORE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT. *JB