1998 Ford Explorer tire problems

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

SPARE TIRE THAT IS SECURED TO UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD DUE TO SNAPPED CABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10255724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

WE HAD TWO INCIDENTS OF TIRE BLOW OUTS IN 4 MONTHS THE LAST ONE OCCURRING ON OCT 12, 2008. THE CAUSE OF BOTH BLOW OUTS WAS THE TIRE STEM BUT WE DID NOT HEAR ABOUT THE RECALL UNTIL I HEARD IT ON THE NEWS TODAY. WE HAVE SINCE BOUGHT NEW TIRES AFRAID THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN BUT WHAT CAN WE DO NOW? I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BUT HOW? THE FORD DEALER WE BOUGHT THE TIRES FROM IS OUT OF BUSINESS SO WE COULD NOT GO THERE WHEN WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS A TIRE STEM PROBLEM AND WITHOUT KNOWING THERE WAS A RECALL WE HAD NO OPTION BUT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE WHICH WAS AMERICAN TIRE. WE WENT TO AMERICAN TIRE BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED FOR THEM TO FIX THE TIRES AND THEY DID NOT MENTION A RECALL EITHER. THE TIRES WERE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO BE REPLACED BUT FOR OUR OWN SAFETY WE DID THAT. I GUESS I KNOW THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO BUT JUST WANTED TO GET SOME ADVISE OF WHAT TO DO, IF ANYTHING. THANKS, PATTY P.S. NO CRASH, NO DEATHS, THANK GOODNESS

NHTSA complaint #10246435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, SIZE LT235/75R15. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED DEBRIS COMING FROM THE TIRES AND THE VEHICLE, CAUSING HER TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, WHICH CAUSED MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE. A SPARE TIRE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AND SHE DROVE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR HER TIRES AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, HER DOT NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000. UPDATED 11/12/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/14/08.

NHTSA complaint #10245043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

I WAS TRAVELING IN MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER WITH MY SON AND FIANCE TO BULLHEAD, AZ. TRAVELING EAST ON HWY40. ABOUT 30 MILES WEST OF NEEDLES, CA I EXPERIENCED A BLOWN TIRE ON MY LEFT REAR WHEEL. THESE TIRES WERE A YEAR OLD AND LATER WE DISCOVERED A NAIL IN THE TIRE. WE SAFELY MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON THE LEFT REAR. THIS SPARE TIRE IS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P235/75 R 15). WE TRAVELED AGAIN FOR ABOUT 20 MILES WHEN THE SPARE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING MY SUV TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE MOVEMENT BACK AND FORTH AND ALMOST TIPPING OVER; SLAPPING THE TREAD INTO THE REAR FENDER AND HATCH OF THE CAR. MY FIANCE MANAGED TO GET THE CAR UNDER SOMEWHAT CONTROL AND GET US OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE WERE TRAVELING APPROX. 70 TO 72 MPH AND BECAUSE OF THE FIRST BLOWN TIRE WE ALL WERE SKIDISH AND KEEPING BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, WHICH I FEEL WAS THE REASON WE DID NOT ROLL OVER. I CALLED AAA AND GOT TOWED TO NEEDLES, CA WHERE WE GOT A NEW TIRE ON THE SPARE WHICH COST $175.00. WE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL UP HWY95 TO BULLHEAD CITY, AZ, APPROX. 15 MILES, WHERE OUR HOUSE WAS. JULY 3 WE WENT TO SUPERIOR TIRES AND BOUGHT 4 NEW GOODYEAR TIRES. I AM LEFT WITH A DAMAGED REAR FENDER AND A DAMAGED HATCH DO TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION.

NHTSA complaint #10235809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2007 AT AROUND 4:15 PM WHILE DRIVING HOME ON CHEVERLY AVENUE I RECEIVED A CALL ON MY TWO WAY RADIO FROM THE CHEVERLY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE CALLER STATED THAT MY 1998 FORD TWO DOOR, FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAD DROPPED ITS SPARE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF CHEVERLY AVENUE. AT FIRST I DID NOT BELIEVE THE OFFICER, BEING THAT I AM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, I THOUGHT THAT HE JUST NEEDED TO TALK TO ME SO I MADE A U-TURN AND DROVE BACK TO WHERE THE OFFICER WAS PARKED. TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS THE OFFICER WITH A SPARE TIRE WHICH I LATER IDENTIFIED AS BEING MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPARE TIRE. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND THE CABLE THAT HELD THE TIRE IN PLACED WAS DAMAGED, RUSTED, AND IT HAD DROPPED THE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. EARLIER THAT DAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE CAPITAL BELTWAY ROUTE 495 IN THE WASHINGTON DC AREA AND IF THAT TIRE WOULD HAVE DROPPED I THE MIDDLE OF THIS BUSY ROADWAY CAN YOU IMAGINE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT? FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO FIND A BETTER IDEA FOR THE SPARE TIRE AND FORD OUGHT TO TELL ALL VEHICLE OWNERS THAT HAVE A SIMILAR SYSTEM FOR THE SPARE TIRE TO CHANGE THEM, REPLACE THEM EVERY SO MANY DAYS AND/OR USE DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT WOULD NOT RUST. THANK GOD I WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND GOING AT A LOW SPEED. OTHERWISE ONLY GOD WOULD KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10208133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

I HAD 4 OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY EXPLORER WHEN I HEARD OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. I REMOVED THEM IMMEDIATELY (MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE USING THAT CAR) BEFORE THEY WERE RECALLED. FIRESTONE REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THEM BECAUSE I TOOK THEM OFF BEFORE THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10169292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

DT: CONTACT STATED THAT RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE HE HAD REPLACE THE BRAKES, TIRES, FUEL FILTER, THE FUEL INJECTION WAS CLEANED , THE ANTI LOCK SENSORS WHERE REPLACED, THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED . THE AIR BAGS ARE ALSO DEPLOYED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT VIBRATES ON THE LEFT SIDE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THEY PUT THE VEHICLE ON A RACK TRYING TO LINE THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD NOT LINE UP. THEY FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINTS BAD, ALSO THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE BROKEN. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE FRAME IS BENT BEYOND REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10142752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER RT-5 P235/75.R16 TIRES ARE REGULARLY SERVICED. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION PRIOR TO EXPLOSION. NO BULGING IN THE TIRES. TIRES JUST CHECKED 3 WEEKS AGO. 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY, CLEAR WEATHER. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES BEFORE.

NHTSA complaint #10119554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S FRONT AND REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND THE TREAD CAME OFF. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS A/T, P225/75R15, DOTW1345600.

NHTSA complaint #10089954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TIRE FAILURE ON LEFT REAR TIRE. *MR THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED.*SC THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH GOODYEAR TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RECALL HE HEARD ABOUT IN JULY 2001. THE TIRES THAT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WERE GOODYEAR TIRES AND THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES WITH MICHELINS.

NHTSA complaint #10089112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER WA ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. FIRESTONE LT P18575R14 #DOT VNJ7791. THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE FIRESTONE TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10076102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

STOCK JACK WITH FORD EXPLORER WILL NOT ALLOW THE TIRE TO BE CHANGED. ALSO FOUND DEALER DID NOT REPLACE RECALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT RECALLED TIRE AS PER INVOICE. TIRE EXPLODED AND RUINED. NEAR MISS 16 WHEELER.

NHTSA complaint #10063850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

WHILE DRIVING THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT OF MY BRIDGESTONE TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10062653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

A COOPER TIRE'S [DISCOVERER H/T-SIZE P235/75 I5 M+S-DOT UTHL G5U4700 M5R] TREAD CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING HWY 95 IN NEVADA. IT DID APPROX. $2500.00 DAMAGE TO MY 98 FORD EXPLORER'S LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL.. COOPER ORIGINALLY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO PAY FOR DAMAGES.THEY BLAME UNDERINFLATION AND THAT IS A BIG LIE. I CHECKED THE PRESSURE THAT VERY SAME DAY!

NHTSA complaint #10043632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10023999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

DRIVER WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THREE PASSENGERS IN A 1998 EXPLORER WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT. INSTALL AT 29,17 MILES, TIRE SIZE 235/75R/15. DOT # UNAVAILABLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURERS WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA complaint #8024233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR 4 FIRESTONE 15INCH TIRES WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO FIRESTONE RECALL RECEIVED. CONSUMER MAILED REPLY CARD BUT HAS YET TO HEAR FROM FIRESTONE REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #564776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT, P225/70R15 BELT INSIDE IS BROKE, AND TREAD LOOKS LIKE IT WILL SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AKTHE VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD TRUCK EXPLORER.

NHTSA complaint #8018544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES DUE TO SAFETY RECALL AND IS NOW REQUESTING REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS DENIED BY MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE DEADLINE FOR REIMBURSEMENT HAD PASSED. (FIRESTONE TIRES)

NHTSA complaint #564984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF CAR DUE TO TIRE TRACTI0N DURING INCUMBIENT WEATHER. DRIVER STATED THAT TIRES WERE BRAND NEW BF UNIROYAL TIRE PAW TIRES DOTP235/75R15SL SIZE 15X7 PURCHASED NEW DUE TO FIRESTONE RECALL.CONSUMER WANTS TIRES REPLACED WITH A BETTER BRAND AT NO COST.

NHTSA complaint #785820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.