1998 Ford Explorer Tires

THESE TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL HOWEVER I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TIRE SIZE ON THE INTERNET. ADDITIONALLY MY TIRES HAVE CRACKS ALONG THE SIDEWALL WHERE IT MEETS THE TREAD. THE FORD DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A PROBLEM AND HAS MY NAME ON A "LIST" FOR WHEN FIRESTONE DECIDED TO RECALL THESE TIRES. IN THE MEAN TIME HOW SAFE AM I ....WHAT DOES ONE DO WHEN NO ONE WANT'S TO TAKE RESPONSABLITY ? HELP (TIRESIZE: 25570R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 25570R16 )

WHEN THE FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED, I CHECKED THE TIRES ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE DOT NUMBERS AND SIZE WERE NOT AMONG THOSE LISTED IN THE RECALL, THE TIRES SEEMED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION SO I WASN'T OVERLY CONCERNED. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY VEHICLES METICULOUSLY, INCLUDING THE TIRES.AIR PRESSURE IS CHECKED WEEKLY AND KEPT AT 30 PSI AS INSTRUCTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, AND ROTATED AT EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE (6000 MI ).WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED A SLIGHT HAIRLINE CRACK ON THE SIDEWALL ABOUT 3/4 OF AN INCH DOWN FROM THE TREAD AREA. THIS CRACK DID NOT GO COMPLETELY AROUND THE TIRE AT THIS TIME AND WAS EVIDENT ON ONLY TWO TIRES. I HAVE KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON THEM EVER SINCE. THIS PAST WEEKEND I NOTICED IT ON ALL FOUR TIRES, NEARLY COMPLETELY AROUND ON TWO OF THEM. THIS CRACK LOOKS LIKE THE EARLY STAGES OF TREAD SEPARATION,AND HAS OUR FAMILY AFRAID TO DRIVE OUR EXPLORER ANY FURTHER THAN AROUND TOWN AT CITY SPEEDS. I BELIEVE THAT ALL WILDERNESS AT TIRES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE VISIBLE DEFECTS. THANK YOU (TIRESIZE: P255R70-16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255R70-16 )

UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER NOTED THAT THE FIRESTONE TIRES HAD NUMEROUS CRACKS AND ONE OF THE TIRES WAS PULLING APART, TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-005, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT (P255/70R16 109S M/S). NLM

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES BEGAN DETERIORATING AND ONE WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION OF THE TREAD BELT, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THEIR FIRESTONE ATX WILDERNESS TIRES WERE CRACKING AROUND THE EDGE (P255/70R16 1095 M/S). NLM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CRACKS WERE NOTICED NEAR THE TREAD & SIDEWALLS ON ALL FOUR TIRES. CONTACTED FORD & FIRESTONE & BOTH INDICATED NOT RECALL & NOTHING WILL BE DONE TO REPLACED THE TIRES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE. FIRE STONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 DOT CODE VNHL. *AK

DRIVING 35MPH & HEARD ON NEWS ABOUT FIRESTONE TIRES. PULLED OVER & CHECKED TIRES. NOTICED TIRES HAD CRACKS/SPLITS AROUND THE TIRES NEAR THE TREAD WHICH WAS MEETING THE SIDEWALL. TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE RETAILER & INFORMED IT WAS BAD BUT NOT ON RECALL & WAS NOT REPLACING. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOOKED THE SAME AS THE RIGHT FRONT. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P235/75R15 WITH 24,000 MILES. *AK

ONE FIRESTONE TIRE PEELED OFF (LAMINATED) WHILE DRIVING, TIRE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 00T-005. NLM

I HAVE HAD MY TIRES INSPECTED TO SEE IF THEY WERE THE RECALLED ONES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ARE NOT BUT ALL 4 TIRES ARE CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE ONES BEING RECALLED. I AM AFRAID THEY WILL PEEL OFF AND I AM NOT WILLING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANY DISTANCE. I AM ASKING YOU TO INCLUDE THESE TIRES IN THE SAFTEY RECALL OR AT LEAST GET ME NEW TIRES AT NO COST. WHY ARE THESE ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE RECALLED ONES AND THEY HAVE FAILED ALSO. (DOT NUMBER: VN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCE VIBRATION AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND ALIGNED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT TIRES BE REPLACED. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. *AK THE VEHICLE'S TIE ROD BENT AS THE RESULT OF THE VEHICLE COLLIDING WITH THE CRUB WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT . FIRESTONE REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CUSTOMER FOR REPLACEMNET TIRES PURCHASED. *YH

ORIGINAL TIRE ON A 1998 FORD, EXPLORER, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS (P255 70 R16). WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE DELAMINATED, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK *SLC

DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE AT TIRE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL AND WAS REPLACED BY CONSUMER, CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT UNDER RECALL 00T-005 BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 9,2000 AND WERE NOT PURCHASED ON A PRORATED BASIS. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT HER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES LOOK DRY ROTTED BUT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-005 BECAUSE THE DOT NUMBER IS W2 NOT VD. NLM *TS

FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT IT MAY TAKE THREE TO SIX MONTHS TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FAULTY TIRE. NLM

TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND ALMOST CAUSED ROLLOVER. THIS IS NOT ONE OF RECALLS , BUT IT IS DEFECTIVE AND MAYBE SHOULD BE INCLUDED.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

WE FOUND CONTINUOUS CRACKS IN ALL FOUR OF OUR 15" WILDERNESS TIRES ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2000. FIRESTONE REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THE DOT CODE WAS VNHL INDICATING THAT THEY WERE MADE IN QUEBEC. OUR FORD DEALER, JIM ROSS, TOLD US TO GO ANYWHERE AND BUY ANY TIRES, AND THAT FORD OF FIRESTONE WOULD REIMBURSE US. HE SAID THEY WERE SCAREY LOOKING. HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT MY WIFE, LUANNE, DRIVING ON THEM. LUANNE BOUGHT 4 NEW MICHELINS AND HAD THEM PUT ON FOR $507.32. SINCE THE DAMAGED FIRESTONES WERE NOT MADE IN DECATUR, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL NOT GET OUR MONEY BACK. WE ARE UPSET ABOUT LOSING THIS MUCH MONEY, BUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN $500. I HOPE YOUR OFFICE CAN LOOK INTO THIS PROBABLE PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES THAT SO FAR HAVE ESCAPED THE RECALL, BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST AND PROPERTY DAMAGED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. SINCERELY, BILL DUGAN( DOT NUMBER: VNHL )

AFTER THE TIRE FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE VEHICLE ROLLED 2.75 TIMES AND SPUN 180, SENDING MYSELF AND MY 20 DAY OLD BABY TO THE HOSPITAL. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN A COASTAL TOWN, NOT IN A WARM CLIMATE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

I DID NOT KNOW OF THE PROBLEMS THAT FIRESTONE TIRES WERE HAVING AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS RELEVANT TO THE CURRENT PROBLEMS AND WANTED TO GO ON RECORD AT THIS POINT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WAS DRIVING 70MPH & HEARD A NOISE. STARTED TO SLOW DOWN & LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. SPUN ACROSS HIGHWAY. THEN ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. HAD A BROKEN WRIST. CHECKED TIRES AFTER VEHCLE STOPPED. LEFT REAR TIRE HAD NO TREAD ON IT. IT WAS FLAT & BALD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. BOUGHT VEHICLE USED & REPLACED ORIGINAL TIRES. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, SIZE P235/75R15 WITH 11,000 MILES ON, AND DOT#W2HL1PY.*AK *MJS

JULY 19, MID-AFTERNOON, WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-35W NORTH OF HILLSBORO, TX, MY LEFT FRONT TIRE SUFFERED COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION, ALERTING US TO A PROBLEM WITH A LOUD SOUND. I PULLED ON TO THE SHOULDER WITH TRUCKS WHIZZING PAST; AND WITH MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, WE "EYE-CHECKED" TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. WE COULD SEE BLACK STUFF ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 75 YARDS BACK AND ASSUMED I'D HIT SOME ROAD DEBRIS. WE SAW THAT THE FRONT-UNDER-BUMPER SPOILER WAS DRAGGING THE GROUND AND THAT THE FRONT LEFT FOG LIGHT WAS DAMAGED. WE RETURNED HOME THAT AFTERNOON, TRAVELING WITHIN THE STREAM OF TRAFFIC. ONCE WE WERE HOME, IN EXAMINING THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK MORE CLOSELY IN MY DRIVE, WE SAW THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE WITH JUST THE STEEL BELT SHOWING. I DROVE CAREFULLY TO THE NEAREST TIRE COMPANY THE NEXT MORNING AND HAD TWO FRONT TIRES REPLACED WITH NEW WILDERNESS AT TIRES, UNAWARE THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THIS BRAND OF FIRESTONE TIRE. I HAD MY TRUCK REPAIRED. ON AUGUST 5, 2000, AS A RESULT OF NEWS ACCOUNTS I CALLED FIRESTONE AND FOLLOWED THEIR DIRECTIONS TO HAVE MY BACK TIRES EXAMINED, CARRYING THE DOCUMENTATION OF THE MONEY I'D ALREADY SPENT REPLACING TWO TIRES AND REPAIRING THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE REMAINING TWO TIRES IMMEDIATELY, GIVING ME CREDIT FOR MY CONTRACT ON THE TIRES OF APP $25 PER TIRE. THEY REPLACED THE TIRES WITH TWO MORE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. THE TOTAL COST OF THE TIRE REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIR TO THE TRUCK IS $493.04. I NOW HAVE JUST HEARD ON ABC TV NEWS (08/10/00) THAT THE REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE PROBLEMS, ALSO. MY DAUGHTER AND I ARE LUCKY THAT WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE TIRE FAILED AND THAT ONLY MINOR DAMAGE WAS SUFFERED BY THE TRUCK. HOWEVER, I'M NO LONGER SURE ABOUT MY SAFETY WHILE TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS DURING OUR HOT SUMMERS HERE IN TEXAS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON FREEWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, AND FELT LIKE SHE WAS LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE ROLLED ONCE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HER ANKLE. THEY WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT TIRES. *AK

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT RECALL THAT WAS MADE ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES, AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OTHER STATES INCLUDED, JUST LIKE THOSE FOUR STATES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 75 MPH ON A HIGHWAY A REAR LEFT TIRE BLEWUP FOR THE SECOND TIME AT THE SAME PLACE. BUT, CONSUMER KEPT CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS THE DRIVER HEADING WEST ON THE 202 FREEWAY IN PHOENIX ARIZONA. I MERGED INTO THE 10 FREEWAY NEAR 16TH STREET WHEN MY REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY FORD EXPLORER VEHICLE. WITH THE LOST OF CONTROL THE VEHICLE ROLLED ABOUT 4 TO 5 TIMES. CAUSING THE DEATH OF MY FRIEND (PASSENGER) AND MY YORKSHIRE TERRIER DOG ROLLED OUT AND RAN UNABLE TO BE FOUND. I WAS INJURED AND WAS AMBULANCED TO THE HOSPITAL. I STILL HAVE MAJOR EFFECTS FROM THE TRAUMA.*AK( DOT NUMBER: P235/75R15 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )