I OWN A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. ON MAY 9, 2006, I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION (THE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION REPORT CARD AS RECOMMENDED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY) ALL FOUR TIRE WERE MARKED ON THE TREAD DEPTH SCALE IN THE GREEN 7/32 OR GREATER BOX. LATER THAT SAME EVENING AFTER SCHOOL LET OUT I PROCEEDED ON A TRIP. I LE…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. ON MAY 9, 2006, I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION (THE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION REPORT CARD AS RECOMMENDED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY) ALL FOUR TIRE WERE MARKED ON THE TREAD DEPTH SCALE IN THE GREEN 7/32 OR GREATER BOX. LATER THAT SAME EVENING AFTER SCHOOL LET OUT I PROCEEDED ON A TRIP. I LEFT TUCSON, AZ AROUND 5:30 TO 6:00PM GOT NO FARTHER THAN YUMA AZ WHEN THE TREAD FROM MY RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BELT UNDERNEATH TEARING THE REAR RIGHT BUMPER OFF, THE BUMPER AREA UNDERNEATH THE DOOR WAS HANGING ON THE GROUND AND BIG BLACK CIRCULAR MARKS WERE ON THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WHERE THE TREAD HAD HIT DURING SEPARATION. THE EVENT ITSELF WAS HORRIBLY FRIGHTENING FOR US AS WELL AS MY 3 CHILDREN. THANK THE LORD WE DID NOT WRECK AND THERE WAS NO TURNOVER OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE WITH A SPARE BUT THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P225/70R15. I WENT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER WHO HAD SAFETY CHECKED THE TIRE AND HE SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THESE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN. THE DOT CODE ON THE TIRE IS W2UU IPO .99. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE WHO SAID THE LAST 2 NUMBERS WOULD BE THE DATE THE TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED. MY QUESTIONS ARE IS THIS A COMMON THING FOR THESE TYPES OF TIRES AND WHAT IS THE LIFE SPAN OF THAT TIRE. SHOULDN'T I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THE TIRE WAS 7 YRS OLD OR DOES IT MATTER HOW OLD THE TIRE IS. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES (CERTAINLY NOT FIRESTONES) BUT I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE AGE OF MY TIRE IF ITS SIMPLY CHECKING A MANUFACTURING DATE. THAT WAY I COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO NOT PUT MY FAMILIES LIFE IN JEOPARDY!! *NM
NHTSA ODI #10157680
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2004
TiresCrash
FORD EXPLORERS MODEL 1996 (XTL) PROBLEM-SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP. *BF THERE WERE TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO TIRE BURSTS. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10101890
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2004
Tires
DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL ON INTERSTATE 20 MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE. I REDUCED THE SPEED OF MY VEHICLE FROM ABOUT 68 MPH TO 60 MPH. THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC, MISSING A TRACTOR TRAILER BY ABOUT ONE FOOT. I FINALLY HANDLED THE TRUCK AND PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE INTERST…
Read full complaint
DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL ON INTERSTATE 20 MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE. I REDUCED THE SPEED OF MY VEHICLE FROM ABOUT 68 MPH TO 60 MPH. THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC, MISSING A TRACTOR TRAILER BY ABOUT ONE FOOT. I FINALLY HANDLED THE TRUCK AND PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. I PROCEEDED TO GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE TO TRY TO CONTROL MY NERVES AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I WALKED OVER TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND THE ENTIRE TREAD OF MY TIRE WAS GONE. IT WAS STREWN ABOUT. THE TIRE OTHER THAN THE TREAD WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION. IT WAS THE FULL SIZE SPARE ON THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN ON FOR APROX. 6 MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I PROCEEDED TO LOOK AT THE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND MY SIDESTEP WAS MISSING, AND MY CAR WAS DENTED UP. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. THE SCRATCHES START AT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX MY CAR. THE INCIDENT WAS NOT MY FAULT. MY CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT BECAUSE I HAVE THREE CHILDREN. THIS IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. THE FIRESTONE THAT WAS ON MY CAR IS MODEL, P235/75 R15 ATX. IT HAS THE BEGINNING DOT LETTERS VD FROM DECATUR, ILLINOIS. I HAVE A 1996 FORD EXPLORER.
NHTSA ODI #10097989
186,000 miles · Aug 4, 2004
Tires
FOUR TIRES CRACKED AT THE SIDEWALL. DEALER STATED THE CRACKS WERE CAUSE FROM DRY ROT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10087144
165,000 miles · Mar 3, 2004
Air BagsTiresCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE AND ROLL ONCE. VEHICLE LANDED UPSIDE DOWN ON AN EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10061258
75,000 miles · Oct 14, 2003
Tires
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT NORMAL SPEED, THE TRUCK WINCH CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, POPPED AND TIRE FELL ONTO THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10042898
Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires
MULTIPLE FAILURES INCLUDING: DEFECTIVE TIRES, ROTORS AND BRAKES CRYSTALLIZING, "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ILLUMINATING, CROSS BARS ON THE TRUNK, PAINT PEELING AND DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. *TS
NHTSA ODI #10015302
Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2003
Tires
THE LEFT REAR DUNLOP RADIAL ROVER (LT235/75R15) TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. OCCURRED ON FREEWAY AT 70MPH. THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE JUST PRIOR TO INCIDENT. THE TIRE DID NOT LOSE PRESSURE. NO CRASH, NO INJURIES BUT SOME DAMAGE TO LEFT 1/4 PANEL & TRIM ON VEHICLE, 1996 FORD EXPLORER. ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED AT SAME TIME & HAD APPROXI…
Read full complaint
THE LEFT REAR DUNLOP RADIAL ROVER (LT235/75R15) TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. OCCURRED ON FREEWAY AT 70MPH. THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE JUST PRIOR TO INCIDENT. THE TIRE DID NOT LOSE PRESSURE. NO CRASH, NO INJURIES BUT SOME DAMAGE TO LEFT 1/4 PANEL & TRIM ON VEHICLE, 1996 FORD EXPLORER. ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED AT SAME TIME & HAD APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON THEM WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
NHTSA ODI #10002979
139,000 miles · Jan 19, 2003
Tires
FORD EXPLORER WITH 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTARE 12 NEAR MILEMARKER 75 THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES BUT HAVE THE FAILED TIRE AND DIGITAL PHOTOS IF THEY ARE NEEDED
NHTSA ODI #10002947
60,000 miles · Dec 19, 2002
Tires
THERE WERE TWO TIRES BLOWOUTS AT THE SIDEWALL SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. THE BLOWOUTS CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH DRIVER'S FRONT AND REAR WHEELS. TIRE INFO: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 235/75R15 (DOT/UNAVAILABLE) 20K MILES ON BOTH TIRES DRIVER'S FRONT AND REAR. TS SCC
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENT WITH TWO POP RIVETS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.
THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3
PE00039 · Front Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link
Opened Sep 20, 2000 · Closed Nov 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE99068 · Accelerator Pedal
Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed Mar 9, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE97010 · Electrical Fire In Center Console
Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONSOLE FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MOST OFTEN OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LAMP OUTAGE MODULE (LOM), WHICH IS PART OF THE MESSAGE CENTER, WERE TOWING A TRAILER AND WHICH HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY ADDING AN AFTERMARKET TRAILER WIRING HARNESS INTO THE VEHICLE'S TAILLIGHT CIRCUITS.THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES NEVER AND MORE THAN OTHER TRAILER LIGHT BULB TO ONE CIRCUIT HOWEVER TRAILERS FREQUENTLY CONTAIN SEVERAL BULBS.THE RESULTING EXCESS CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE LOM COULD CAUSE IT TO OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A FIRE.PROPER AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION OF TRAILER WIRING REQUIRES THE USE OF A BYPASS MODULE, WHICH OBTAINS POWER FOR THE TRAILER LIGHTS DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY RATHER THAN FROM THE VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHT AND STOP LAMP CIRCUITS, OR THE USE OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WIRING HARNESS.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1997, FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION TO PRECLUDE FURTHER INCIDENTS INCLUDING ISSUING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, NOTIFYING TRAILER RENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES WHERE KNOWN, AND ADVISING OWNERS BY LETTER OF THE PROPER METHOD FOR CONNECTION OF TRAILER TOW WIRING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE WAS NO DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, AND FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION.
Illustration