146 of the 744 complaints about the 1998 Ford Ranger are about the tires — 20% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 50,580 miles.
146
Complaints
14
Crashes
1
Fires
10
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
TIRES
WHILE ON FREEWAY LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CENTER DIVIDER. VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS. THE TIRE FAILURE APPEARS AS TREAD SEPARATION.
NHTSA complaint #10248882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
ON JULY 10, 2003 MY COUSIN'S 1998 FORD RANGERS LEFT REAR TIRE PEELED APART, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO FLIP AND BLOW-UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING, WHAT-SO-EVER. MY COUSIN AND A PASSENGER WERE BOTH KILLED. THE REAR TIRES WERE COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES. A TIRE EXPERT LATER DETERMINED THAT THIS TIRE HAD BOTH A MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN DEFECT. THE FAMILY ATTEMPTED TO MITIGATED THIS TRAGIC EVENT BY CONTACTING COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY DIRECTLY. COOPER TIRE COMPANY OFFERED NO DEFENSE, NOTHING. WE ARE NOW IN LITIGATION. I PERSONALLY ASKED COOPERS' ATTORNEYS ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THEIR TIRES RUBBER. I WAS TOLD, "COOPER GETS THEIR RUBBER FROM VARIOUS SOURCES." WE REQUEST THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE COOPER TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY'S MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW IF THIS COMPANY USES UNSAFE RUBBER MADE IN CHINA IN THE MANUFACTURER OF ITS H/T DISCOVERER TIRE. WE ALSO REQUEST THE NHTSA DISCUSS WITH COOPER ITS MISLEADING USE OF THE LETTERS " H/T" WHICH SUGGEST THE TIRE IS SAFE FOR BOTH HIGHWAY AND TERRAIN (OFF ROAD) USE. THIS IS AN UNSAFE TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10197122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES AN HOUR WHEN I HEARD A 'POPPING' SOUND AS IF MY TIRE WAS FLAT. THE NOISE CAME FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT. MY TRUCK (A 98 FORD RANGER) WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE GRASS ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS SOON AS I HEARD THE NOISE, I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BY APPLYING THE BRAKE AND CONTINUED TO DO SO AS I MOVED ONTO THE GRASS. UNFORTUNATELY WHETHER THE GRASS WAS TO WET, OR FOR WHATEVER REASON, MY TRUCK DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND I RAN INTO A TREE- RENDERRING MY TRUCK UNDRIVEABLE. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE TREAD OF MY FIRESTONE P225 70R15 WILDERNESS TIRES HAD PEELED. THERE WAS STILL AIR FILLING THE TIRE, BUT THE TREAD HAD PEELED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10036684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND WRAPPED AROUND REAR AXLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10033709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT (BLOWOUT WAS A SIDEWALL). UP TO THIS POINT, TIRES HAD WORN EVENLY. TWO MONTHS PRIOR, ALL TIRES WERE CHECKED BY VARIOUS TIRE SHOPS AS I WAS THINKING OF REPLACING THE TIRES. NO ONE COULD FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF WEAR AND RECOMMENDED I KEEP THESE TIRES AS THEY WERE IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE. REAR TIRES NOW SHOW EVIDENCE OF WEAR THAT IS NOT VISIBLE ON FRONT TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10030707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER WENT IN FOR HIS REPLACEMENT TIRES FOR RECALL 00T005, THE TIRES BEING REPLACED WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, CONSUMER IS UNHAPPY THAT THE REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE NOT SIMILAR REPLACEMENTS, GENERAL AMERI 550 AS P235/70R16 WERE USED AS THE REPLACEMENTS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #566449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
PE00 020; CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT TIRES. SHE RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL O1D77 FOR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. BUT, FIRESTONE MECHANIC REPLACED FIRESTONE TIRES WITH MICHELIN CROSS TIRES. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #898833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD START TO SHIMMY/ VIBRATE AT 35MPH AND ABOVE, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND HAD TIRES ROTATED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE, AND NOTHING WAS BEING DONE ABOUT THE TIRES. P225/70R15 ON A 1998 FORD, RANGER.*AK CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A FIRESTONE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #896419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN INCREASED DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING/HANDLING, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND THE FRONT TIRES REVEALED THAT THE RUBBER WAS WEARING IN A VERY UNUSUAL MANNER, IT APPEARED THAT THERE WERE RUBBER STUDS PROTRUDING FROM THE FRONT TIRES WHERE THE TREADS SHOULD HAVE BEEN, HOWEVER NOT BEING AWARE OF THE TIRE RECALL, CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO NEW TIRES OF THE SAME MAKE AND DISCARDED THE OLD TIRES, AND THE DIFFICULTY OF THE STEERING/HANDLING SEEMED TO HAVE BEE RESOLVED, MONTHS LATER CONSUMER THEN EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT OF ONE OF THE NEW TIRES THAT WERE PURCHASED, WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, CONSUMER IS NOW AWARE OF RECALL EVEN THOUGH TIRES WERE NOT APART OF THE RECALL, HE IS NOW SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT.(FIRESTONE TIRES)
NHTSA complaint #562395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
ATTORNEY FOR ,[XXX],CONSUMER, REPORTED THAT WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING APPROXIMATELY AT SPEED LIMIT, CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. BLOW OUT CAUSED VEHICLE INTO A ROLLOVER. ALSO, FRONT RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT, P225/70R15 100S. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES WHEN HE WAS EJECTED FROM VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS A 1998, FORD TRUCK RANGER PICKUP. ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #894470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING S/B IN THE CARPOOL LANE ON THE 605 FREEWAY AT 65/70 MPH WHEN WE HEARD A FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THINKING WE HAD A FLAT, WE STARTED TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT AND EXIT THE FREEWAY. AT AROUND LANE 3 I COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT FISH-TAILED TWICE AND THEN FLIPPED OVER AND SLID INTO THE ICEPLANT ALONG THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE TRUCK THEN RIGHTED ITSELF AND WE ENDED UP FACING N/B ON THE SHOULDER. WE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED!!! MY WIFE SUSTAINED SOME BUMPS AND BRUISES BUT IS OTHERWISE OK. I WALKED AWAY WITHOUT A SCRATCH. ON INSPECTING THE TIRE (WHICH WE NOW HAVE IN OUR POSSESION) WE NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALL HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE!! MY WIFE AND I ARE CONVINCED THAT THESE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES ARE UNSAFE!!! WE HAVE PHOTOS OF THE TRUCK AND WE SAVED THE TIRE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS - PLEASE CALL US ANYTIME. THANKS - WALLACE (DOT NUMBER: W2UU TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)
NHTSA complaint #749081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A SLICK ROAD, HE SHIFTED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH VEHICLE ROTATED TO THE LEFT, CONSUMER TURNED OFF 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND PULLING BECAME MORE SEVERE, VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN AND ENDED UP IN A HOLLOW PIT WITH BACK END AGAINST FENCE, CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND SAW THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THREE OF THE FOUR FIRESTONE (P235/75R15) TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #561775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TUOLPS, P235/75R15, EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER STATES THE STEEL WAS SHOWING THROUGH ONE OF THE TIRES, THESE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #560810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
TIRES ARE CRACKING AT SIDEWALL, INDICATES TIRE DEFECT AND NOT VEHICLE DEFECT - I READ RECENTLY THAT FIRESTONE IS CLAIMING IT IS A VEHICLE DEFECT WITH THE FORD EXPLORER. THESE TIRES PROVE THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TIRES THEMSELVES. THESE WILDERNESS ATS HAVE NEVER BEEN ON AN EXPLORER, YET THEY ARE CRACKING AND SHOW THE INITIAL STAGES OF TREAD SEPARATION. ALTHOUGH FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES, I WAS TOLD ABOUT A LONG WAITING LIST THAT PREVENTED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. I WENT TO SEARS AUTO CENTER THE OTHER DAY AND THEY CAN HAVE THEM IN UNDER FIVE DAYS. SINCE THESE TIRES COULD FAIL ME AT ANY TIME, I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THEM AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD LATER. ALTHOUGH FORD IS OFFERING ONLY $110 PER TIRE, I WILL STILL BE OUT $114.78 (THE DIFFERENCE) OF MY EARNINGS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I CAN ASSURE YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE, FIRSESTONE/BRIDGESTONE'S CLAIMS ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I HAVE FOUR TIRES THAT ARE PROOF THAT THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE TYPE. IF THEY AGUE THAT THE FORD EXPLORER HAS A DESIGN DEFECT AND IS UNSAFE, THEY MUST BE WILLING TO ARGUE THE SAME THING ABOUT THE RANGER. THESE TIRES WERE KEPT AT 30 PSI AND MAINTAINED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS CLAIM FOR ME. THANKS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: P235/R75 TIRESIZE: 15-INCH)
NHTSA complaint #746595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
I HAVE HAD TWO FIRESTONE 16 INCH WILDERNESS AT TIRES FAIL. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TRUCK. IT IS AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A FURTHER RECALL OF ALL /FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE MAKE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P23570R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )
NHTSA complaint #746400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
FOURTH FLAT TIRE IN ONE YEAR PERIOD; THIS TIME, SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM TREAD!*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/75 R1)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/75 R1 )
NHTSA complaint #746417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT ON RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT(P225/70R14SL) TIRE, CONSUMER STATED SHE WROTE FIRESTONE AND MANUFACTURER AND SHE WAS TOLD BY BOTH COMPANIES THAT TIRE WAS NOT AT FAULT.
NHTSA complaint #561229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
LAST JULY ON A HOT, 87 DEGREE AFTERNOON, MY FRONT LEFT TIRE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS FLAT BY THE TIME I STOPPED SO I CHANGED IT. I PURCHASED TWO NEW COOPER TIRES TO REPLACE THE FRONTS. I HAVE ROTATED SNOW TIRES ON THE REAR AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE REMAINING FIRESTONE ORIGINAL TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2UU IPO TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)
NHTSA complaint #745726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
AFTER MARKET TIRE, P225/70R14 SIZE. TREAD ON TIRES HAVE STARTED TO SEPARATE IN CENTER OF TIRE.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES, DOT NUMBER VNFC1P4218, CONSUMER STATES TIRE ON LEFT FRONT IS SEPARATING AND TIRES HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED, CONSUMER FOUND OUT HER TIRES WERE SEPARATING WHEN SHE TOOK ONE IT THAT WAS FLAT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #888878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
TIRE SIZE P22570R14, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD, RANGER, 1998 WITH 38,000 MILES. ALL 4 TIRES HAVE EVIDENCE OF CRACKING ON OUTSIDE WHERE TREAD MEETS AND RUNS DOWN CIRCUMFERENCE ON ALL 4 CHANNELS. THERE IS STILL TREAD LEFT.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT, DOT VDHLXBU1700. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #888185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, RANGER, P235/70R16 SIZE, DOT# VN081BU. SIDEWALL ON RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT AT 80MPH. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA complaint #887220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, FORD, RANGER, AND TIRES HAD 49000 MILES ON THEM. CONSUMER HAD NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION FROM OUTER SIDEWALL WHERE TREAD MET SIDEWALL. P265/75R15, DOT W2B1PK. *AK 2 FIRESTONE DEALERS AND 1 FORD DEALER STATED CONSUMER SHOULD REPLACE ALL TIRES, 1 OTHER FIRESTONE DEALER STATED TIRE CRACKING WAS OZONE CRACKING AND THAT THE TIRES WERE OKAY, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES AT HIS COST. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #886902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 M.P.H. TIRE COLLAPSED. I. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2FC1P4228 TIRESIZE: P225/70R14)
NHTSA complaint #741716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE JUST SEPARATED AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT IF TRAFFIC WERE HEAVIER AT THE TIME I WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE SWERVED VERY ABRUPTLY WHEN THE TIRE BLEW. IT WAS MY SPARE TIRE THAT COULDN'T HAVE HAD MORE THAN 3000 MILES ON IT. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE REST OF THE TIRES ON MY TRUCK. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY138 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
NHTSA complaint #741002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
NOTICED HAIR LINE CRACKS WHERE TREAD MEETS TIRE, ON A 1998,FORD, RANGER; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P235/70R15, DOT# W2HL1PY138. TIRE CENTER NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO HELP IN THIS MATTER. TIRE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #880399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
INSIDE/OUTSIDE EDGES OF FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235/70R16 ARE SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR, WAS HAVING STEERING CONTROL PROBLEMS & VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE RETAILER. LEFT TIRES ALONE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND OF TIRES. DOT VN08 *SLC
NHTSA complaint #878380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
CONSUMER REPLACED ALL THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 225/70R15 TIRES, THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING HANDLING PROBLEMS AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #557858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE TIRES HAD VISIBLE SPLITS AT THE TREAD/SIDEWALL INTERFAVE OF SEVERAL TIRES, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #556728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, ON ONE OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES THE STEEL BELT WAS SHOWING. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #556848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
TIRE WAS LOW ON AIR, AND THE SIDEWALL WAS PEELED BACK TO THE RIM.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VN08IPU TIRESIZE: 235/70R16)
NHTSA complaint #737928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.