40 of the 277 complaints about the 2000 Ford F-250 SD are about the tires — 14% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 47,000 miles.
40
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
TIRES
THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL MULTIPLE TIMES. THE TIRE HAD BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND HAD MORE THAN ADEQUATE TREAD.
NHTSA complaint #10871871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
DATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2011 DRIVING SOUTH ON THE 605 FREEWAY REAR LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT THE TREAD BELT PORTION OF THE TIRE TORE OF AND CAUSED BODY AND PAINT DAMAGE TO THE REAR FENDER. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE TIRE AND BODY DAMAGE IT CAUSED. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND I MAILED THE DOCUMENTS REQUESTED. BF GOODRICH NOTIFIED ME THAT MY TIRES ARE OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO AGE AND MY TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL NOTICE. I TOLD THE PERSON ON THE PHONE THE INCIDENT IS THE SAME AS NOTED "TIRE TREAD SEPARATION" AS ON THE RECALL NOTICE. I ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES ON THE TIRES WHEN IT HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10493821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
I OBSERVE THE VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUES BY GOODYEAR (NHTSA 12T0030000) AND SINCE I OWN A 4 WHEEL SET OF THOSE TIRES ON MY FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY, I NOTICED THAT MY SIZE WASN'T LISTED. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH MY SET OF SILENT ARMOR TIRES IN THAT THEY CAN NOT BE BALANCED AS THEY SHOULD BE AND VERY PRONOUNCED CRACKS HAVE APPEARED ON THE SIDE WALLS CLOSE TO THE TREAD LINE. I LIMIT MY SPEED TO NO MORE THAN 50MPH. MY TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER, 2009 AND IF I COULD CRAWL UNDER MY TRUCK IN SEARCH OF THE PRODUCTION DATES, I'M SURE THEY WOULD BE IN OR CLOSE TO THE LISTED PRODUCTION DATES. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE SILENT ARMOR PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND SHOULD NOT BE RECALLED IN SUCH A NARROW DATE RANGE OR SIZE RANGE. PLEASE EXPAND THE RECALL TO ALL SIZES AND A BROADER PRODUCTION DATE RANGE.
NHTSA complaint #10449615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
TIRE SEPARATED LIKE A RETREAD AND CAUSE OVER $3500 DAMAGE TO THE BED OF THE PICKUP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10433899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
SEPARATION OF STEEL BELTS ON TIRES IMPORTED BY FOREIGN TIRE SALES OF NEW JERSEY. AFTER CONTACTING THEM TWO YEARS AGO ABOUT THE RECALL, THEY SAID MY TIRES WERE NOT IN THE BATCH FOR THE RECALL. TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES I PURCHASED HAVE FAILED WITH BELT SEPARATION ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. MY TIRES DOT NO. S ARE DOT7DT4FTS 1303 AND 0403. THE BATCH IN THE RECALL ARE DOT7DT4FTS 0404.
NHTSA complaint #10282917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DISCOVERER S/T TIRES, SIZE 285/75/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 78 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT AND NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE SAFELY PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE. INSTEAD, THE TREADING SEPARATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BED OF THE VEHICLE AROUND THE WHEEL WELL, WHICH WAS SHREDDED. THE TIRE WAS CHANGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND DISCOVERED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE SHOP FROM WHERE THEY WERE PURCHASED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WHERE UNAWARE OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED FOR FREE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,350.
NHTSA complaint #10250246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
REPEATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. FORD REPLACED MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 F250 UNDER WARRANTY, WITH ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN FAILED WITH ABOUT 84,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK, 49,000 ON THE TRANSMISSION, AND $4,000 OUT OF MY POCKET. THIS TRUCK IS WELL MAINTAINED AND RARELY OPERATED WITH A LOAD. A SECOND COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAVE NOW TAKEN MY TRUCK IN FOR THE 100,000 TUNE UP. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF BECAUSE THE CABLE HOLDING IT BROKE. THE SPARE TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN IF SPARE TIRES ARE FALLING OFF OF TRUCKS.
NHTSA complaint #10222353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
I HAVE A 2000 FORD F-250 SUPERDUTY. IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE AMONG FORD OWNERS THAT THE BALLJOINTS IN THE SUPERDUTY LINE ARE PRONG TO PREMATURE FAIURE. I'VE HEARD OF FAILURES ON VEHICLES WITH MILEAGE AS LOW AS 24,000. CHECK SOME OF THE FORD TRUCK FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, THERES ALOT OF DATA TO BACK MY CLAIMS. MINE FAILED BEFORE 50,000. REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT WILL COST $960.00. THATS EXPENSIVE, I HAD TO KEEP DRIVING MY TRUCK TILL I COULD AFFORD TO FIX. WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO STEER STRAIT AND WORE OUT MY FRONT TIRES, SO NOW I HAVE TO PUT TIRES ON TO THATS ANOTHER $300.00. THE LAST TIME I DROVE IT BEFORE IT WENT TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS THE FRONT TIRES STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IT SHOOK SO HARD I ENDED UP IN THE DITCH. ALOT OF PEOPLE AGREE THAT FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE BALLJOINTS EVEN LARGE FLEET OPERATIONS. THESE ARE HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND SHOULD'NT FAIL WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. I WORK WITH LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND THE LONGER THESE TRUCKS ARE IN SERVICE THE MORE LIKELY YOUR GOING TO SEE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. AS THESE TRUCKS FILTER DOWN THE ECONOMIC LADDER THE LESS LIKELY THE OWNERS CAN AFFORD TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS. THESE PEOPLE WILL KEEP DRIVING THEM UNTIL THE WORST HAPPENS. I REALIZE THIS IS AN ODD WAY TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE BUT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT, IF NOT NOW IN THE FUTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10220123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILEDRIVING HOME FROM VACATION ON I 65 SOUTH OF MONTGOMERY ALABAMA A FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S TIRE, LL 265 /75 R 16 ON THE RIGHT REAR HAD THE TREAD SEPARATE, AND DID DAMAGE TO THE TOW VEHICLE AND THE TRAILER. THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED, AND I STILL WAS WORKING ON RESTITUTION FOR THE DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10191064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
TRAVELING AT 55 MPH, FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRE BLEW APART AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO TRUCK RR PANEL, RIM AND BED. SPARE WAS INSTALLED AND DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO INSURANCE CO. TIRE PARTS WERE SAVED. REPAIRS UNDER WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10167565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED. AAA CHANGED THE TIRE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, THE FENDER WAS BENT, A MUD FLAP WAS TORN OFF, AND THE LEFT RUNNING BOARD WAS TORN LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AFTER THE INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10166409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THREE OF FOUR COOPER TIRES SUFFERED TREAD SEPARATIONS WITHIN A MONTH. TWO COMPLETELY SEPARATED ON THE HIGHWAY NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND CAUSING EXTENSIVE VEHICLE DAMAGE FROM THE TREAD IMPACTING THE VEHICLE. TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND. COOPER TIRE WAS NOTIFIED. SO FAR THEY CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THEY HAVE THE FIRST TIRE AND I HAVE THE SECOND AND THIRD AS WELL AS THE SEPARATED TREAD. WHILE COOPER TIRE CO. WAS EVALUATING OUR CLAIM FOR THE VEHICLE DAMAGE ANOTHER COOPER TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING ADDITIONAL VEHICLE DAMAGE. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING, AND CAN TELL YOU THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE TREAD PEELED OFF AND SMASHED THE REAR TAILLIGHT, DENTED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND BENT THE REAR BUMPER!
NHTSA complaint #10159378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
TIRE WAS AT NORMAL PRESSURE, DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THE WHOLE TIRE EXPLODED OUT OF THE SIDEWALL. THERE WAS NO SIDEWALL LEFT. IT FELT LIKE A BOMB HAD EXPLODED. MY RIM WAS DESTROYED, MESSED UP MY BUMPER. NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN DONE AT THIS TIME, I NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW RIM AND TIRE. I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE TIRE AND STILL HAVE THE TIRE IN MY POSSESSION AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10157048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE TREAD SEPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10152217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 80 IN THE FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA AREA. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE LEFT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A MAJOR TREAD SEPARATION WHICH WAS VERY VIOLENT. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL I BELIEVE DUE TO MY 24 YEARS OF POLICE DRIVING EXPERIENCE. MY VEHICLE IS A 2000 FORD F250 SUPERDUTY PICK UP TRUCK. I HAVE FIRESTONE STEELTEX A/T TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000 MILES. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SAFETY OR RECALL INFORMATION IN REGARD TO THE TIRES FROM FORD OR FIRESTONE. DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE EVENT I FEEL VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A MAJOR CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10140548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE PULLING MY FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER, AT 5:30 A.M., 68 DEGREE TEMPERATURE, TRAVELING AT 55 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND BENT THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER, BROKE THE RIGHT RUNNING BOARD, AND DAMAGED THE BUMPER. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED. I SENT THE DEFECTIVE TIRE TO FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE AND THEY SAID THE STEELTEX R4S, LT 265-75R16, HAD BEEN UNDER-INFLATED, CAUSING OVERHEATING AND THE SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION. THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE OR REPAIR ANYTHING IN THIS SITUATION. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM IN REGARD TO THE INFLATION PRESSURE THAT THEY SAY CAUSED THE SEPARATION. I AM VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT MAINTAINING TIRE PRESSURE DUE TO TOWING A 10,000 POUND TRAILER. THE PRESSURES MAINTAINED WERE 55 PSI(NO TRAILER WEIGHT) AND 75 PSI(WITH TRAILER WEIGHT). THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I AM OFFENDED THAT THEY WOULD CLAIM OTHERWISE. I REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE TIRE AND HAVE IT AND THE OTHER THREE TIRES AVAILABLE FOR TESTING.
NHTSA complaint #10137071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING MY LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S II LT265/75/R16 SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THEN BLEW OUT, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE LEFT OF CENTER, LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC COMING. WHEN I SENT MY TIRE TO FIRESTONE THEY HAD SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE SEPARATION. FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE STATED IN A LETTER THAT THE TIRE WAS OVER LOADED. THE TIRE IS OEM FOR MY 2000 FORD F-250. THE TIRES ON FRONT WE REPLACED FULL COST TO ME WITH TRANSFORCE.
NHTSA complaint #10131492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH ONLY THE DRIVER. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED WHILE DRIVING HOME IN THIS CONDITION. THE TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON A 2000 FORD F250- SUPER DUTY TRUCK. AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENTS MADE BY GENERAL, MODEL NAME APACHE, INSTALLED AT 46,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE LT265/75R16, DOT# ADW81EE1202. TIRE DEALER WAS CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #10095322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. WITH ONLY THE DRIVER. THE TIRE WAS ON A 2000, FORD, F250-SUPER DUTY TRUCK. AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AT 46,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE LT 265/75R16, AND DOT # ADW81EE1202.
NHTSA complaint #10095279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE FAILURE/BLOW-OUT. BRIDGESTONE HAS ISSUED A SAFTEY COMPAIGN NOTICE ON AUGUST 26, 2004. THIS INFORMATION SUBSTANTIATES MY ORIGINAL FAULTY TIRE CLAIM BACK IN FEBRUARY. I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRE(S) AND VEHICLE DAMAMGE. *AK PLEASE ADVISE AS TO HOW I SHOULD PROCEED. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10093494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT AN ESTIMATED 70MPH TOPS. THE TIRE TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE STEEL BELT OF MY FIRESTONE STEELTEX AT LT265/75R16 LOAD RANGE E TIRES, ON MY 2000 FORD F-250 PICKUP. THIS SEPERATION CAUSED ME TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL AND ENDANGERED MY PREGNANT WIFE AND OTHER 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. THE TIRES WERE NOT UNDER INFLATED BECAUSE I HAD CHECKED THEM NOT A WEEK BEFORE AND ALL OTHER TIRES ARE CURRENTLY STILL INFLATED TO CORRECT SPECS. THE TREAD WAS NOT OVERLY WORN THE TIRES STILL HAD QUITE ALOT OF MILAGE LEFT ON THEM. AND WHATEVER ELSE FIRESTONE MIGHT CLAIM WAS WRONG, DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE TREAD SHOULD FLY OFF THEYRE TIRES. QUALITY TIRES SHOULD BE ABLE TO STILL HOLD TOGETHER REGUARDLESS OF ANY SMALL LACK OF ATTENTION ON THE DRIVERS PART. ON A SECOND NOTE THIS ISNT THE FIRST TIME FIRESTONES HAVE FAILED ME IN AN IDENTICAL WAY. THE SAME THING HAPPEND TO THE FIRESTONE TIRES TWICE ON MY JEEP GRAND CHEEROKEE. AND EVERYONE KEEP IN MIND THIS TIRE I HAVE LISTED ABOVE IS THE ONE BEING USED TO REPLACE THE RECENTLY RECALLED IDENTICAL MODEL BUT LOAD RANGE D TIRE FROM FIRESTONE.
NHTSA complaint #10090942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
STEEL BELT & TREAD CAME OFF OF TIRE DOING ABOUT $200 DAMAGE TO LEFT REAR FENDER.
NHTSA complaint #10078613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPARATION ON INTERSTATE 80 WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH CAUSING TIRE BLOWOUT. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10073169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER AT TIRES, SIZE 285/75R16 . THERE WERE 3 TIRE BLOWOUTS WITHIN 16,000 MILES. THERE WERE 2 BLOWOUTS ON THE REAR TIRES. 1 FRONT TIRE BEGAN TO VIBRATE BEFORE IT BLEW OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10071696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BRIDGESTONE DUELLAR AT LT285/75R16 S/N# K9801D693AZ. DRIVING E/B 210 FRWY BETWEEN SAN DIMAS AND FONTANA, NOTICED A VERY UNUSUAL VIBRATION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK. THE LEFT MIRROR WAS ALSO VIBRATING. CAME TO THE END OF THE FREEWAY IN RIALTO, AS I SLOWED DOWN TO A STOPP LIGHT THE WHOLE TRUCK WAS SQUIRMING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I FOUND THAT THE TREAD HAD BUBBLED UP FOR APPROX. A QUARTER OF THE TIRE, I PUT MY SPARE ON AND EXAMINED THE TIRE. THERE IS STEEL POPPING OUT OF THE INSIDE PART OF THE TREAD, IT'S OBVIOUS THE TREAD IS SEPERATING AND COMING APART. WHAT IS BRIDGESTONE GOING TO DO ABOUT THESE TIRES? I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH THE SAME TIRES THAT HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM, BOTH UNFORTUNATELY SUFFERED BLOWOUTS AND MAJOR BODY DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10067821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND PULLING A TRAILER CONSUMER FELT A TREMBLE. THEN, HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER FOUND THAT TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE SEPARATED TREAD DAMAGED THE MUFFLER AND THE REAR FENDER.
NHTSA complaint #10064637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
STEELTEX R4S TIRES ON MY 2000 F250. ONE DEVELOPED A SIDEWALL BULGE AT APPROX. 27000 MILES. I REPLACED ALL BASED ON WEB RESEARCH OF PROBLEMS OTHERS WERE HAVING. HAVE TIRES IF INTERSTED IN REVIEWING..
NHTSA complaint #10060389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70MPH WHEN TREAD SEPERATED FROM TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS SENT ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFICE INTO THE MEDIAN AND ALMOST INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ENDING UP IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT TOOK OUT THE ALL DASHBOARD CONTROLS AND DID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE QUARTER PANEL AND BUMPER. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT IT COULD HAVE ENDED UP A LOT WORSE.
NHTSA complaint #10059988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
THESE TIRES (GENERAL GRABBER TR, SIZE 235/85R16) CAME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 2000 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY. THIS TRUCK IS USED MAINLY ON PAVED ROADS; OCCASIONALLY ON GRAVEL ROADS. THE WORST "OFF ROAD" DUTY THIS TRUCK EVER SEES IS A RARE TRIP ONTO DIRT OR GRASS. I AM CAREFUL ABOUT KEEPING WHEELS BALANCED AND TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED AND ROTATED. IN THE SPRING OF 2003, WITH ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON THE TIRES, I DISCOVERED A GRAPEFRUIT SIZED BULGE IN THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF ONE OF THEM. A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FROM GENERAL TIRE PROCLAIMED THAT THIS BULGE WAS DUE TO A "ROAD HAZZARD." [MY FIRST SIDEWALL BULGE IN 37 YEARS OF DRIVING, BUT I GUESS IT CAN HAPPEN. HOWEVER, DON'T LET THE LOW MILAGE ON THE TRUCK FOOL YOU. ALTHOUGH I DRIVE LESS NOW THAN I USED TO, WITH OTHER VEHICLES I STILL AVERAGE OVER 35,000 MILES PER YEAR. I HAVE OWNED A LOT OF TIRES.] I WAS NOW SUSPICIOUS OF THESE TIRES, SO IN AUGUST 2003 (AT 22,000 MILES) BEFORE A 2,000 MILE TRIPT WHICH I HAD TO MAKE WITH THE TRUCK, I CAREFULLY INSPECTED THE TIRES AND DOUBLE CHECKED THE INFLATION. UPON MY RETURN HOME I DISCOVERED A LEMON SIZED BULGE IN THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL OF ANOTHER ONE OF THIS SET. I THEN IMMEDIATLY REPLACED THE TIRES ON THE TRUCK WITH ANOTHER BRAND. UPON INSPECTION OF THE REMOVED TIRES, I DISCOVERED THAT A THIRD TIRE HAD A WALNUT SIZED BULGE IN A SIDEWALL. SO, IN 24,000 MILES, THREE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUR TIRES DEVELOPED SIDEWALL BULGES. INTERESTINGLY, ALL OF THE BULGES WERE BETWEEN THE BEAD AND THE WIDEST PART OF THE SIDEWALL, NOT BETWEEN THE WIDEST PART OF THE SIDEWALL AND THE TREAD - WHERE YOU WOULD WOULD EXPECT A TIRE TO BE MORE LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER A "ROAD HAZZARD." IN MY OPINION, THE BIGGEST "ROAD HAZZARD" I'VE ENCOUNTERED IN THIS TRUCK ARE THESE TIRES. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN ANY "COMPENSATION" FROM THIS COMPANY. I JUST WANT TO WARN OTHER CONSUMERS AND NHTSA TO WATCH THESE TIRES. JUDGING FROM THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT GENERAL GRABBERS, SIDEWALL FAILURES ARE A HIGH PERCENTAGE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10039589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FAILURE OF FIRESTONE STEELTEX 16" TIRE. TREAD SEPARATION AT HIGH SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10023249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.