1996 Ford Explorer

MY FORD EXPLORER LIMITED AWD V-8 STARTED TO SHAKE AND BOUNCE WHILE I WAS DRIVING NEAR MY HOUSE IN MILILANI HAWAII. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE NEAREST TIRE DEALER, GOODYEAR AUTO SERVICE CENTER IN MILILANI HAWAII AND SPOKE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER. HE INSPECTED MY VEHICLE TIRES AND DETERMINED THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED "PREMATURE" TREAD BELT SEPARATION AND ADVISED THAT I NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE UNTIL ALL AFFECTED TIRES WERE REPLACED. HE STATED THAT OPERATION OF MY VEHICLE W/O REPLACING THE AFFECTED TIRES WOULD RESULT IN TOTAL TIRE FAILURE WHICH COULD EXPOSE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER(S) TO HARM, INJURY OR DEATH. AS SUCH, I COMPLIED WITH HIS RECOMMENDATION THAT THE AFFECTED TIRES BE REPLACED. THIS TOOK PLACE APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS BEFORE FIRESTONE RECALLED ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES TWO WEEKS AGO. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT FIRESTONE DID IN FACT SEND ME A RECALL NOTICE (UNSOLICITED) BUT THAT THE RECALL DATE IS BETWEEN JAN. 01, 2000 AND AUGUST 9, 2000. ALTHOUGH NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD EXPAND THEIR "RECALL" TO INCLUDE ANY CUSTOMER THAT CAN SHOW DOCUMENTED PROOF THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THEIR FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX P235/75R15 TIRES DUE TO TREAD BELT SEPARATION. THANK YOU, WALLACE CHOY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I COMPLAINED TO FORD WHEN CENTER CONSOLE AREA VIBRATED SIGNIFICANTLY ANYWHERE FROM 65 MILES PER HOUR TO 75 MILES PER HOUR. IT WAS AT ITS WORST AT ABOUT 72-73 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE CD PLAYER INSTALLED (BY FORD) IN THE COMPARTMENT BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. FORD BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON THE TIRES AND HAD ME GO TO A TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED IN 1997! THE TIRE SHOP (DON OLSON TIRES) CLAIMED THERE WAS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORERS AND IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THEY REPLACED THE TIRES WITH NEW FIRESTONE RADIAL ATXS. WE REALIGNED THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY. AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK (NOT AS SEVERE). I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REALIGNED ABOUT EVERY 4 MONTHS. UNFORTUNATELY, AS THE TIRES GOT OLDER, THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. I CONTINUED THE BALANCING OF THE TIRES AND REALIGNMENT PROCESS OFTEN. AUGUST 15, 2000 WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY, WE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION OF THE RADIAL ATX TIRES. THEY HAD ABOUT 35000-40000 MILES ON THEM. THEY WERE REPLACED BY THE FIRESTONE "FIREHAWK" TIRES (NOT THE RECALL ONES). I HAD THE VEHICLE REALIGNED AGAIN. I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CENTER CONSOLE AREA SHAKING. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE AT ABOUT THE SAME 72-73 MILES PER HOUR. FORD HAS NEVER CLAIMED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVEN'T ASKED THEM FOR THEIR OPINION SINCE THE FIRST TIME I APPROACHED THEM (IN 1997), THEY BLAMED THE TIRES. IT APPEARS TO ME AS IF IT IS A FORD EXPLORER PROBLEM AS MUCH AS A FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEM. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS IF POSSIBLE AND HAVE FORD REEVALUATE THEIR POSITION ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF YOU NEED ANY MORE INFORMATION AS I WILL BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS IT WITH YOU. MY OFFICE PHONE NUMBER IS 305-526-1215. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. BRIAN FIELDS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/15 )

LOCAL FORD DEALER AND FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER HAVE BEEN NON-RESPONSIVE TO CUSTOMER CONCERNS RELATED TO "RECALL"INVESTIGATION. ATTEMPTS TO ASSURE CUSTOMERS CONFIDENCE IS . I HAVE A VEHICLE AND TIRES THAT MY WIFE DOES NOT TRUST AND HAS LIMITED OUR VEHICLE IN TOWN USEAGE ONLY. OUT OF FRUSTRATION DUE TO RUN AROUND BY FORD AND FIRESTONE VENDORS, WE AS CONSUMERS DO NOT TRUST THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY VENDORS BLAMING EACH OTHER. THE FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT HAVE STRESS RELATED DETERIORATION, WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY SEVERAL ALTERNATIVE VENDORS TO REPLACE EXISTING TIRES, REGARDLESS OF THE MINIMUM TREAD WEAR, WHAT IS THE "TRUTH" AND ACCOUNTIBILITY. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING TIRES REGARDLESS OF ADEQUATE TREAD LIFE REMAINING ON FIRESONE WILDERNESS AT NOT PART OF THE "RECALL" AND NHTSA "ADVISORY.VISORY"ADVISORY ADEQUATE TREAD LIFE REMAINING BUT MINIMUM TREAD, WE EXPECT PRODUCTS WE CAN TRUST TO PROVIDE EAR. WE EXPEC VENDORS MY WIFE DOES NOT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2CUIP4086 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

THE POLICE REPORT # IS 00-14477, WASHTENAW COUNTY. I SWIRL TOWARDS THE MIDIUM TO AVOID A VEHICLE CUTTING IN AND MY VECHILE LOST CONTROL. THERE WAS LOUD NOICE FROM THE TIRES(FEELED LIKE I WAS RUNNING ON BUMPY ROADS AND CLINKING SOUNDS) PRIOR TO ROLLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT COULD BE TIRE ISSUE TILL I READ IN THE PAPER (USA TODAY 8/22). THE DESCRIPTION ON THE TREAD SEPARATION MATCHES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN THE JUNK YARD AND HENCE I'M NOT ABLE TO GET MORE DETAILS ON THE TIRES. NO INVESITIGATION WAS CONDUCTED TOWARDS THE TIRE FAILURE BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORAMTION, PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL OR MY CELL PHONE 65-96663895 BECAUSE I JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO SINGAPORE FOR WORK. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: )

INFORMANT'S (ATTORNEYS) CLIENTS WERE TRAVELLING IN A FORD EXPLORER AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERTURN, AND 5 OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED, 1 FATALITY AND 4 INJURIES, 2 OF WHICH WERE SERIOUS, THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P225/70R16). *AK (ATTORNEY- HARRY W. GOLDBERG, P.A. #301-654-5757.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW. THE TREAD SEPARATED AND I SKID ALL OVER THE FREEWAY. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HIT ANYTHING AND MANAGED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, AT THE TIME I DID THINK I WAS GOING TO FLIP THE CAR. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED I LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE. THE TREAD HAD KNOCKED OF A PART OF THE BUMPER, THE RUNNING GAURD, AND DAMAGED THE REAR PANEL. IN TOTAL IT DID ABOUT $2,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I ALSO HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRE. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND DID NOT REPORT THE ACCIDENT TO ANYONE EXCEPT FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY. WHEN I HEARD THE REPORTS ON THE NEWS, I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THE INCIDENT TO HELP IN THE HEARINGS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

TIRES HAVE NOT FAILED. THEY WERE REPLACED BEFORE THEY DID. THEY EXHIBIT DEFINITE SPLITTING BETWEEN THE TREAD AND BODY OF THE TIRE AND ALTHOUGH NOT SUBJECT TO THE CURRENT RECALL ARE BEING REPORTED TO SUPPORT CONTINUED INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM. THE TIRES ARE STILL IN MY POSSESSION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNCU1PL245 TIRE SIZE: P25570R16 )