1998 Ford Explorer Tires

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: )

MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER ([XXX]) CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE WILDERNESS TIRES. DURING THE FALL OF 1998, I EXPERIENCED 4 TIRE REPAIRS AND IN THE EARLY PART OF 1999, 2 MORE TIRE REPAIRS AND TWO FAILURES (NOTE: FOUR TRIPS TO ARIZONA, FROM COLORADO, HAD OCCURRED). THE TWO FAILURES OCCURRED LATER DURING TRAVEL IN 1999, ONE ON I-40 OUTSIDE ALBUQUERQUE, NM (ENROUTE TO AZ AT APPROX 62 MPH, A SEPARATION AT THE SIDEWALL/TREAD AREA) AND THE OTHER IN PHOENIX, AZ FOUND AS A LEAKING TIRE BUT IDENTIFIED, UPON BREAKDOWN, AS A NON-REPAIRABLE SIDEWALL/THREAD SEPARATION AT THE THREAD LINE). EACH FAILURE WAS REPLACED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. HOWEVER, I LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE FIRESTONE TIRES AND ON MAY 6 1999 I REPLACED THE FOUR INSTALLED TIRES WITH MICHELIN LTX (MS) TIRES, RETAINING THE SPARE AS AN ORIGINAL FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: VD TIRE SIZE: 235/75R/15 ). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BOTH THE FORD DEALER AND TIRE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZZARD. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE RIM. THE BEAD OR BUBBLE EXTENDED FROM THE RIM TO THE TREAD AND WAS ABOUT TWO INCHES WIDE AND ABOUT 3/4" HIGH. I REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND USED THE DEFECTIVE TIRE AS THE SPARE. DURING MY LAST SERVICING, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE SPARE WAS FLAT. NO REASON WAS GIVEN BY THE DEALER. THIS DEFECT HAS MADE THE TIRES SUSPECT AND MADE MY WIFE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS SIZE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

BOTH THE FORD DEALER AND TIRE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZZARD. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE RIM. THE BEAD OR BUBBLE EXTENDED FROM THE RIM TO THE TREAD AND WAS ABOUT TWO INCHES WIDE AND ABOUT 3/4" HIGH. I REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND USED THE DEFECTIVE TIRE AS THE SPARE. DURING MY LAST SERVICING, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE SPARE WAS FLAT. NO REASON WAS GIVEN BY THE DEALER. THIS DEFECT HAS MADE THE TIRES SUSPECT AND MADE MY WIFE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS SIZE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW AT 65 MPH, 100 DEGREE DAY, 30 MINUTES AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 32 PSI INFLATION( DOT NUMBER: VNHL 1PY TIRE SIZE: P235/75-15 )

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH FRONT TIRE STARTED VIBRATING, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL. THEN, FOUND OUT THAT RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT, CRASHING INTO A ROCK BLUFF. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R16. *AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD SOMETHING SLAPPING UP AGAINST VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARTED. TIRES ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS # AT, SIZE P235/75 R15 #DOT VDHL THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING TO THE MALL EXPERIENCED SUDDEN SEPARATION OF TIRE FROM THE WHEEL, WITH WHEEL DRAGGING ON THE GROUND; VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUNBURY MOTORS, SUNBURY, PA. THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARANTY AND NEITHER WOULD FIRESTONE AT SUNBURY PA NEXT TO SUNBURY MOTORS. HAD TO BUY A NEW WHEEL AND GET THE VEHICLE TOWED. I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE PROBLEM IS MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THE DECATUR PLANT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P23575 R15 )

I AM CURRENTLY LEASING AN EXPLORER WITH WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, I HAVE A WILDERNESS AT TIRE THAT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION (AN EMPLOYEE OF FIRESTONE AGREED THAT THIS TIRE IS FAILING JUST LIKE THE RECALLED TIRES). MY FORD DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND FIRESTONE WILL ONLY REPLACE THEM WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, WHICH I DON'T WANT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. HOW CAN THEY ONLY RECALL WILDERNESS TIRES MADE FROM THEIR DECATUR, IL PLANT? ARE WE TO ASSUME THAT THESE TIRES ARE MADE DIFFERENTLY AT THEIR OTHER PLANTS? IF SO, WHY ARE MY TIRES FAILING THE EXACT SAME WAY? WHAT MAKES ME REALLY UPSET IS THE FACT THAT THEY INSIST THAT THE TIRES ARE SAFE AND THAT IT IS THE TIRE OWNERS' FAULT FOR THE TIRES FAILURES. THEY REFUSE TO TAKE THE BLAME. I ROTATE MY TIRES AND HAVE THE PRESSURE CHECKED WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE (EVERY 3000 MILES) AND STILL MY TIRES ARE FAILING. IF THE FAULT WAS THE TIRE OWNERS FAULT, THEN WOULDN'T YOU SEE THE SAME TYPE OF STATISTICS FROM GOODYEAR TIRES AND MICHELIN TIRES? ARE WE ASSUME THAT FIRESTONE TIRE OWNERS TAKE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS CARE OF THEIR TIRES THAN OTHER TIRE OWNERS? THE NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP IN AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE BY FORCING FIRESTONE TO RECALL ALL WILDERNESS AT TIRES -- NOT JUST THE ONES FIRESTONE WANTS TO. EVEN IF 80% OF THE WILDERNESS AT FAILURES WERE FROM TIRES MADE FROM THE IL PLANT, DOES THAT MEAN WE SHOULD RECALL THOSE TIRES ONLY? WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 20% (WHERE I OBVIOUSLY FALL)? DON'T THEIR (MY) LIVES MATTER AS WELL? FIRESTONE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION THE WAY THEY WANT TO. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO TAKE CHARGE, SAVE PEOPLE, AND MAKE FIRESTONE TAKE THE BLAME INSTEAD OF PUSHING ONTO ITS TIRE OWNERS. CORPORATIONS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR KILLING PEOPLE JUST LIKE PEOPLE HAVE TO. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH, 10 MINUTES SOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO. *AK( DOT NUMBER: 7002577 TIRE SIZE: P2357515 )

I DID NOT HAVE A BLOW-OUT. WHAT I HAVE THAT YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN IS FOUR TIRES WITH CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES WHERE THE TREAD LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD SEPARATE. I CAN E-MAIL YOU A PHOTO IF YOU PROVIDE ME WITH AN ADDRESS. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED IMMEDIATELY BY NTB, AND FIRESTONE WILL PROBABLY WANT THEM IN RETURN FOR REIMBURSING ME. SO, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING ANY OF THESE TIRES PLEASE CONTACT ME BY 8/17/00. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PY TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )

TIRE SPLIT APART WHILE TRAVELING IN PA ON RTE 76, STOPPED ON THE RIM .( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70R16 )

THE TIRES HAVE NOT FAILED BUT THEY ALL HAVE 360 DEGREE CIRCUMFERENTIAL CRACKS ON EACH TIRE WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. TO ME THIS INDICATES A POTENTIAL PRELUDE TO A TREAD SEPARATION. I FEEL THAT THE FIRESTONE RECALL SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO JUST ILLINOIS TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VN TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

I HAVE THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES MADE IN CANADA THAT WERE NOT RECALLED, BUT ALL 4 TIRES HAVE A CRACK AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE RIGHT WHERE THE TREAD WOULD SEPARATE. I SHOWED THEM TO A FIRESTONE DEALER AND HE AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. I WANTED TO REPORT TO SOMEONE THAT THESE TIRES WERE NOT IN THE RECALL BUT APPEAR TO HAVE PROBLEMS.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY507 TIRE SIZE: 235/75 R15 )

EXPERIENCED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASION TIRE FLATS ON THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES ON MY SUV

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED 2 REAR TIRE (FIRESTONE AT) BLOWOUT IN ONE DAY THE SECOND TIRE LEFT REAR BLOWOUT CAUSED CONSTUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CAME THROUGH A FENCE AND THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 2-3 TIMES AND BECAME LODGED UNDER THE TRAILER OF A SEMIM BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINEDBACK AND LEG INJURIES. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER) NLM

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE GOING UP THE HUEY P. LONG BRIDGE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE WAS FORCED TO GO UP AND OVER THE BRIDGE TO A SAFE PLACE TO CHANGE THE FLAT TIRE. AS A RESULT OF ROLLING ON THE FLAT TIRE, THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE WAS RUINED. WE BOUGHT A NEW TIRE FROM FIRESTONE TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED FLAT TIRE. THE NEW TIRE IS ONE THAT IS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL CURRENTLY IN EFFECT BY FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL328 TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS NOT TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT STILL NOTICED THAT TREAD WAS CRACKING AROUND TIRE SIDEWALLS. TIRES ARE FIRSTONE WILDERNESS, TIRE SIZE ARE P23575/R15, AND THE DOT CODE #W2HL. TREAD HASN'T SEPARATED YET, BUT HE IS CONCERNED. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, AND THEY PUT HIM ON A WAITING LIST. *AK *SLC

TWO OF THESE TIRES SHOW SEPERATION AT THE POINT WHERE THE TREAD ATTACHES TO THE BODY. FIRESTONE SAYS THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL AS THEY WERE NOT MADE IN DECATUR. HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELINS AT OUR EXPENSE. WE FEEL THESE TIRES SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL AS THEY ARE EVIDENCE THE PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO ONE PLANT.OLD TIRES ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY308 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRE CAME OFF WHEEL AND DEFLATED CAUSING ROLLOVER . I THINK WHEEL HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM CAUSING THE BEAD TO SEPERATE FROM WHEEL WHEN ROUNDING CORNERS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-75 )

PURCHASED A 1998 FORD EXPLORER, WHICH HAD FOUR FIRESTONE TIRES,SLOWING TO A SPEED OF 15MPH, RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OUTWITHIN SECONDS IT WAS COMPLETELY DEFLATED.

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS RIGHT REAR TIRE P255/70R16 DOT W2CU1PX408 EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING, TIRE CAME OFF WHEEL, WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RAINY, WINDY, AND COLD. *SLC

PE02000; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. TIRE SIZE P23575R15, TIRES WERE NOT BUILT AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS PLANT. DOT # BEGINNING WITH VN (FROM THE CANADIAN PLANT). ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. TIRES PURCHASED ON A 1998, FORD, EXPLORER. FIRESTONE AND FORD HAVE BEEN CALLED ABOUT THE TIRES. *AK THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES, BUT HAS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED. *SLC

WENT TO HAVE OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED FOR TRIP OUT OF TOWN AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME MY TIRES STATING THE UNSAFETY OF THEM DUE TO ALL 4 WERE SHOWING CRACKING AND "DRY-ROT" AROUND THE TIRE WELL AND TREAD. HE STATED THAT A TIRE OF THIS LOW MILEAGE IS NOT TO DO THIS AND IF DRIVING THE 4 HOUR DRIVE WE WERE ABOUT TO IMBARK ON WITH THIS HEAT HE ADVISED IT WAS TOTALLY UNSAFE AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. WE STILL HAVE THE TIRES AND WERE PREPARED TO SHOW THEM TO A FIRESTONE PERSON AND THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE RECALL SIZE ALTHOUGH THEY WERE LOOKING AT OTHER SIZES. I COULD NOT CONSCIOUSLY PUT MY FAMILY IN THAT DANGER WAITING ON A RECALL. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TIRES BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE CRACKED RUBBER AROUND ALL 4 TIRES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/16 )

BLOW OUT WITHIN 2 MILES OF THE DEALERSHIP ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE DEALER TOWED IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND REPLACED THE TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )