general problems of the 1998 Ford Explorer - part 2

No summary( dot number: w2hl tire size: 15 ).

Traveling @ 45mph/noticed tire thumping/stopped and found rt front tire had seperated. Went to firestone dealer and they said sorry tire not recalled and charged me prorated amount plus tax and mounting for new tire/ I still have 3 + spare of these tires on vehicle p( dot number: w2hc1py108 tire size: p235/75r15 ).

I have the defective tires if review is needed. (dot number: vnhl tiresize: 235/75r15).

Tire tread is showing sings of separation (cracked around circumference of tire, below tread line). Firestone in springfield, va (703)9226565 confirms that this is a defect, however this is not a recalled tire. This tire was made in canada vn series, not vd. It is, however, showing the same danger signs the recalled tires are exhibiting. Firestone refused to replace it under the recall, but did offer a prorated cost replacement (once they can find some tires to sell me). ( dot number: tire size: 235r75-15 ).

I have three tires with cracks at the base of the tread. Both I and my tire dealer believe that these tires exhibit the beginning of tread separation. Furthermore, if left in service we are confident that they will fail. I have contacted Ford by phone and firestone via email without satisfaction. Both Ford and firestone believe that the firestone wilderness at failures are limited to those tires marked dot vdl. Unfortunately, they are both wrong. While I still have the defective tires in my posession, they have been taken out of service. Please work with Ford & firestone to expand the recall to include these tires. Thank you in advance for your attention to this request. (dot number: vnhl tiresize: p235/75r15).

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. ( dot number: tire size: p235/75/15 ).

The tire shredded so quickly I barely had time to think about what to do before I was riding on my rim and careening all over the freeway. It is fortunate that no one was hurt and my dealership took care of putting knew tires on my vehicle. All five of my tires were the faulty model. ( dot number: vdhl1pm046 tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Consumer had found cracks on the four set of tires. Dealer had refused to replace them.

Consumer took vehilce to be inspected to see if the tires were included in the firestone recall notice, upon inspection by the dealer consumer was told that code edhl meant vehicle was not include but upon self inspection at home consumer saw that the tires were plainly marked vdhl, which was the proper code and recall identification. Nlm.

Read two e-mail being forwarded with this form( dot number: ????? tire size: 23575r15 ).

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 ).

Pe00 020; consumer took vehicle to firestone. Front passenger's and the rear driver's tires had stress marks going all around the tires. Consumer replaced three tires. One of the tires was recalled. They were firestone, wilderness#at, p23575r15, #dot vnhl. There were no injuries.

Westbound on I-10 in madison county, FL when right rear tire detreads, vehicle steers into median, vehicle rolls over, roof crush. ( dot number: w2hlipy088 tire size: p235/75r15 ).

While travelling at 70 mph, the back of the truck started to "bob and sway. " the tire then came apart and the truck went skidding across 2 lanes of traffic a total of three times. During the skid, the vehicle had a heavy rolling sensation and felt as if it were on only two weels multiple times. ( dot number: vdhlipy tire size: 235/75/r15 ).

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 ).

I had noted that my tires were all four looking bad for no more miles than I had on the car. Tires had been rotated each time the oil was changed (3000 miles), since purchasing new. On 08/09/00 went in for oil change and tire rotation and colony tire suggested that it would not be safe for me to be driving with tires as the left rear had three splits and had separated in one place. The others showed cracks. Colony tire called firestone to see about consideration for the tires. At that time he was told of the upcoming recall but these were no a part of recall. Since that time I have written the bridgestonefirestone CO. , Ford motor CO. Called cella Ford, also colony tire has sent the tires (4) back to firestone. All this to no avail as all they have on their mind is the recall. Which doesn't pay for my having to buy four new tires or run the risk of a fatal accident driving in 90+ degree weather. (tiresize: 225-70-15)( dot number: tire size: 225-70-15 ).

Tire came completely apart while traveling on a five lane highway. I was able to get the car to the center median but rim was also damaged. There is very little left of the tire, only 2 inches of the side wall. Everyone who has looked a the tire says they have never seen a tire so severely damaged. Luckily no one was hurt. ( dot number: ).

After reading an article in the local newspaper regarding firestone tires on Ford Explorers, I scheduled an appointment with ted wiens firestone (3841 e. Craig road, las vegas, nv --702-644-3384) on Aug 5, 2000 to determine the safety of the wilerness at tires installed on my Ford Explorer. After being assured the tires were completely safe I left the store only to get a blowout that same day. The blowout occurred on the left rear wheel while driving approximately 55-60 mph on a smooth highway at approximately 9pm. I appreciate the offer from firestone to check the tires, however, I question their ability to determine the tires safety based on my blowout happening the same day. I would like to register my complaint at this time, not only concerning the tires themselves, but also firestone's inadequate ability to conduct a comprehensive check of the tires. Please feel free to call anytime 702-396-3803. 21 deaths is enough.

While driving one of the firestone wilderness at tires (p255/70r16) failed, driver attempted to get vehicle onto grassy shoulder, the vehicle returned to the pavement and ended up rolling 1-2 times down the interstate where it ended upside down in the left lane. Nlm.

Traveling northbound on I-295. Puncture to right rear tire, driver lost control, rolled three times landing on roof against median guardrail. Front seat passenger ejected and killed, second seat passenger ejected. ( dot number: w2hlipy148 tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Firestone wilderness at tires (p235 75 r15) failed.

Firestone wilderness/atx tires on the front of this vehicle began to wear through, both of them. Consumer noticed this problem, and had the tires changed before a problem could occur.

No summary listed for above vehicle. ( dot number: w2 tire size: p235/70r16 ).

Cracks at tread cap( dot number: vn tire size: 15 ).

Ford dealer says tire is defective but not part of recall (yet). Please help!( dot number: w2hl tire size: p235/75r15 ).

3 tires separated within 2 weeks. Dealer informed firestone of defect and recommended replacement. Firestone refused replacement. Further contact with firestone resulted in replacement based on prorata for bridgestone duellers. ( dot number: tire size: 16 ).

The 2 front tires on my Ford Explorer had steel cord showing through them at 38,00 miles I took the car to big o to have the tires replaced the informed me that the tires did not match the dot code that firestone is recalling but the new tires could not be put on the car without having the wheel barrings repacked. I don't know if Ford has had problems with the front wheel assemby on the Explorers or if the firestone tires are to blame but I would appreciate any information you can give me. I am afraid of the car now and I am out $547. 00 on a car that I still consider to be new for these problems. ( dot number: w2hl tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Driving back from las vegas nevada at 11:00 at night. Suddenly the car swerved into the right lane, then the outside mirror broke. Fortunately I was uninjured,but if it heppened 5 minutes later I would have been in the gorge and most likely would have had a serious accident. Body damage and replacing tires has cost almost $4,000. (tiresize: 15)( dot number: tire size: 15 ).

The side walls on the 16 inch firestone tires on my 1998 Ford Explorer, eddie bauer model began to crack and the thread began to separate. I brought my SUV into a firestone tire and service center. The service manager inspected the tires and agreed that the 16 wilderness at tires were defective. However, he said that he could not replace them since firestone hq said there was nothing wrong with their 16" wilderness at tires. Contrary to hq claim the service manager seeing the obvious defect/failure of the tires agreed to gave me a small allowance on the tires if I bought 4 brand new bridgestone tires. Fearing for the safety of my family I had no choice but to pay full retail, less the allowance in order to get new tires. Please for the safety of the driving public , make a full investigation of the 16 inch firestone wilderness at tires and get these unsafe, defective 16" firestone wilderness at tires off the road and market before people are killed. ( dot number: tire size: p255/70/16 ).

Firestone wilderness tires (p225/70r15) were showing steel belts at 22,000 miles.

I own four wilderness tires w ith the vd mark, the recalled tires; the tire shredded and I had to bring the vehicle to a stop which resulted in riding on the right front tire rim. The rim became jagged and it cost $175 to get it smoothed out. I am requesting a replacement of rim in addition to replacement of all tires on the Explorer. I am also requesting a refund of $175 for having the rim repaired. ( dot number: vd 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 firestone wilderness at tire experienced failure while driving causing loss of control and vehicle accident.

While driving the consumer braked the vehicle, upon braking the firestone atx tires on the left hand side of the vehicle exploded causing the vehicle to go into a tail spin and rollover, injury to consumer as a result of tire failure.

Firestone written 11 sept 2000 all tire were affected by recall. ( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 ).