general problems of the 1997 Ford Explorer - part 2

No summary listed for above vehicle. ( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 ).

All 4 tires show definite cracking entire circumference where tread meets body. Mfr refuses to replace (dot number: vnhl tiresize: p235/75r15).

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 ).

While vehicle was parked consumer found out that left tire was flat. Tire repair man said that he could not repair the tire. Firestone, wilderness at,p235/75 r15.

On 9/1/00 with my 2 children in the car, I suffered a blow-out on a highway @ 65mph. I was lucky beyond measure, traffic was light & I was able to pull over to safety. The tire was inspected by our mechanic at goodyear & found to have no foregin objects in it; the tread was peeling away on the inside. The next morning I read that NHTSA had included my model tire in its warnings to firestone & Ford. I called firestone directly, they said that since my tire isn't included in the recall, I should just save my receipt for the replacements & watch the news for any additional info. This company didn't even take my name, or ask for the tire info, much less ask if there were any injuries. I am furious that my family came so close to being a statistic. Inaction by firestone will only lead to additional fatalities, please don't allow them to continue on the path of denial. ( dot number: vdhlawr457 tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Treads began to peel from tire( dot number: w2hl tire size: p235 75r15 ).

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 ).

Consumer inspected tires after seen the recalls and found cracks on four sets of tires. Then took vehicle to a firestone dealer, and dealer pointed outthat tires were not on recall.

4 tires are splitting where tread joins to body. These are not the recalled tires but appear to be having the same problem. If this is a trend with non-decatur mfg'd tires it should be looked into. Firestone dealer would only offer to replace with like tires. I have lost faith in firestone and replaced these tires with michelin. Old tires still had at least 75% of the tread left. I'm a retired sears auto center salesman so I know of what I speak. (dot number: vl tiresize: p235 75 15).

While the consumer was driving at 65 mph the driver's side rear tire completely disintegrated. The consumer replaced all the tires after the incident, goodyear wrangler, p235/75r15.

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 ).

Contacted Ford motor company via e-mail on 8/29/00. Their response was to wait for firestone to recall tires. All firestone and Ford dealers in the area where I had the inspected agree that the tires show defect marks similar to those being recalled. However, they will not replace them because firestone will not authorize or has not authorized that particular dot number. Tires are begining to look unsafe to drive at highway speeds. Please advise. (dot number: vn tiresize: 235p65r15).

No summary( dot number: tire size: 15 ).

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 ).

Firestone wilderness at tires p235 75 r15 experienced cracking.

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 ).

I bought replacement wilderness tires for my Explorer last October. This past August two went bad. One blew going 55 mph. Nobody was hurt but I replaced them all. Four tires were not the ones made on decantor ill but the spare was. The original tires were the recall. I am wondering if the ones made "not at the ill" plant are bad as well. Mine certainly are not right. I have them saved if you would like to inspect them. ( dot number: not recall tire size: recall ).

Two tires failed at approximately the same time. Dealer was unable to balance either one. Indicated that probable cause was belt slip. Do not use vehicle for off road or other severe service. (dot number: vncu ipx tiresize: 255/70r16).

Pe00 020;consumer took vehicle to a firestone dealership to have tires inspected. Mechanic at dealership told him that there were stress marks on tires, but these tires were not the ones on recall. Firestone wilderness at#, p23575 r15 dot#w2hl.

Tire lost all tread while driving on highway. Tire recently inspected by firestone dealer and said to be in excellect condition. ( dot number: w2hl ipy tire size: p235/75r15 ).

The original firestone wilderness at p235/75r15 tires on the vehicle experienced cracking, dealership said it was dry rot symptoms, tires not included in recent recall.

Tire is starting to separate. Dealers are being slow to replace it. The other three tires are also showing signs of separation. ( dot number: vdhl tire size: 235/75r15 ).

I lost part of the tread with another part peeled back along with steel belt while travelling on highway near miami. I heard popping sound and then a noise with each tire rotation. I discovered damage after pulling over to side of road. The lost tread measures about 12" long by 3" wide. There were no injuries or loss of control. . Just several anxious hours riding to and from our vacation with no spare and 3 other possibly defective tires. ( dot number: vdhi ipy tire size: p23575r15 ).

Vehicle has the wilderness/atx tires. While pulling into driveway rear driver's side tire completely separated.

Road noise got so loud that walker Ford told me to get new tires( dot number: w2???? tire size: p235/75r15 ).

All 4 firestone wilderness at tires (p235 75 r15) experienced cracking, the tires are not part of the recall.

Pe00-020 ;consumer had found cracks on the tires after seen the recall information on it. Consumer had contacted firestone dealer. Ford, Explorer, 1997, p235/75r15. Dot#vnhl1py077.

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 ).

Tire noise and vibration at highway speed, replaced tires before failure occured. ( dot number: wzuu1po446 tire size: p225/70r15 ).

At the time of incident the temperature was about 80 degrees. This happened on I-66 west when the vehicle came to a complete stop I checked the tire and the tread completely came off of the rim. I called #77 for road assistance. The tire has been diposed of I had no known knowledge of any defects with the tires until after the fact. ( dot number: w2hl1py ).

Firestone experienced steel belt protruding through, consumer requests dealer reimburse for replacement tires.

The vehicle experienced failure of the firestone atx tire causing loss of control and vehicle rollover, ejecting the consumer and resulted in death.

The vehicle sustained right rear tire failure and the driver was unable to maintain control of the vehicle, the vehicle entered the median and rolled over multiple times ejecting the left rear occupant,the ejected occupant was killed all other occupants were injured(arizona traffic crash report, bridgestone/firestone, p235/75r15, radial atx m/s, w2hl1pm316, right rear). Nlm.

The vehicle sustained right rear tire failure and the driver was unable to maintain control of the vehicle, the vehicle entered the median and rolled over multiple times, ejecting the victim who died on the scene (firestone atx tire size p235/75r15). Nlm.

Tire failed despite not being made in decatur, IL( dot number: vnhl1py tire size: p235/75r15 ).