1983 Ford Econoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1983 FORD ECONOLINE VAN, EQUIPPED WITH COOPER LIFELINER CLASSIC II TIRES, SIZE 255/70/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS AND BLISTERS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SEE THE METAL INSIDE THE TIRE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFUSED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. KMJ UPDATED 8/26/13 *CN THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED CRACKS IN THE TIRE EXPOSING THE INSIDE WIRES.

VAN WAS BOUGHT USED FROM DEALER BUT I KNEW PREVIOUS OWNER. VAN HAD 4 LIKE NEW TIRES. VAN WAS IN NEAR MINT CONDITION DESPITE AGE AND MILEAGE. WHILE ON VACATION, RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. BIG HOLE, STEEL BELT SHREDDED. WAS ABLE TO CHANGE SPARE DESPITE VERY HAZARDOUS LOCATION. MADE IT INTO DOUGLAS GEORGIA, EVERYTHING CLOSED EXCEPT WAL-MART. REPLACED TIRE WITH GOODYEAR TIRE. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER WAS NEAR DOTHAN ALABAMA AND ABOUT 45 MILES FROM HOME WHEN I NOTICED SAME SYMPTOMS OTHER TIRE HAD DISPLAYED BEFORE BLOWING OUT. TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME BUT TIRE BLEW OUT EXACTLY LIKE FIRST ONE ON THE CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER BRIDGE. TIRE WAS AGAIN REPLACE AT WAL-MART. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I NOTICED TREAD ON RIGHT FRONT WAS SHOWING STEEL BELT THROUGH BREAK IN TREAD. I PHONED FIRESTONE HEADQUARTERS AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TIRES. WAS TOLD NO BUT THEY WOULD GIVE ME AN ADJUSTMETN ON THE 2 WHICH WERE STILL ON VEHICLE. I TOOK VAN TO RON'S FIRESTONE IN GENEVEA, ALA. RONS HAD SOD TIRES ORIGINALLY AND WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH VAN AS HE HAD DONE ALL MAINTENANCE ON IT. RONS REPLACED BOTH TIRES ALTHOUGH THE ADJUSTMENT WAS SO POOR THAT I COULD HAVE JUST GONE TO WAL-MART AND BOUGHT 2 NEW COMPARABLE OR BETTER TIRES FOR SAME PRICE. WHEN NEWS OF LATEST RECALL CAME OUT I PHONED FIRESTONE TOLL FREE NUMBER. WAS TOLD TO CALL ANOTHER NUMBER. DID SO AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK. THEY NEVER DID. HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO CALL THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD EACH TIME FOR OVER AND HOUR (YES THAT'S RIGHT) AND STILL DIDN'T GET THROUGH. TRIED TO PHONE REGULAR CORPORATE NUMBER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PUT ME THROUGH TO ANYONE. IT APPEARS FIRESTONE HAS ERECTED A TOTAL WALL AROUND COMPANY EXCEPT FOR ONE TOLL FREE NUMBER WHICH CAN ONLY GIVE ADVICE ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE DISCUSSED. FRANKLY AM FED UP WITH THE COMPANY AND THEIR REFUSAL TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: 235 75R15 )