Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#730654September 7, 2000
TIRES
MR. HATTAWAY WAS DRIVING DOWN I-95 WHEN TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. VEHICLE HIT GUARDRAIL AND FLIPPED OVER. MR. HATTAWAY HAD SEVERE INJURIES AND WAS IN A COMA FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1PY )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#730662September 7, 2000
TIRES
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 65 MPH AT THE TIME WHEN I THOUGHT THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE, THEN I STARTED TO SWERVE, BUT KEPT IT UNDER CONTROL, SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A DRIVEWAY. WHEN I HAD LEFT MY HOME THAT MORNING I HAD FELT A FUNNY VIBRATION, BUT HAD FIGURED IT WAS JUST A TIRE OUT OF BALANCE AND ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FARTHER I DROVE THE WORSE THE VIBRATION GOT, TO THE POINT MY SEAT BELT WAS "ENGAGED" ALL THE TIME. I WAS DRESSED UP, GOING OUT OF TOWN TO A RECEPTION, THE TIRES WERE FAIRLY NEW WITH CORRECT AIR PRESSURE AND PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. I DO NOT ENJOY CHANGING TIRES, ESPECIALLY ON AN EXPLORER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN NICE CLOTHES IN THE MIST. I KEEP GOOD TIRES ON MY VEHICLES, IN FACT THESE WERE 6-PLY TIRES SINCE I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY. TWO GOOD SAMARATINS STOPPED AND CHANGED THE TIRE FOR ME (AND PUT ON MY SPARE WHICH IS NOW IN THE RECALL!) AND THEY SAID THE TIRES WERE WORN FUNNY AND THE TREAD WAS SPLIT. I NO LONGER HAVE THAT TIRE, BUT I HAVE THE ONE THAT WAS PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME, IF ANYONE WOULD CARE TO LOOK AT IT. I REPLACED THOSE TIRES WITH 6-PLY KELLY TIRES AND PUT THENM ON THE FRONT. THREE WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED SOME STRANGE SPLITS IN THE SIDEWALLS OF MY REMAINING 2 BRIDESTONE TIRES, NOW ON THE BACK OF THE EXPLORER. I SHOWED THEM TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID I WOULD BE WISE TO GET THEM REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THEM WITH 2 MORE 6-PLY KELLY TIRES. WHEN I RECIEVED MY RECALL NOTICE I NOTICED THAT, EVEN THOUGH THESE WERE BRIDGESTONES AND 6-PLY TIRES, THE SYMPTOMS OF THE TREAD FAILURE WERE THE SAME AND I DECIDED TO REPORT IT TO SOMEONE. I HOPE YOU CAN USE THIS INFORMATION TO HELP OTHE PEOPLE AVOID SCARY SITUATIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730702September 7, 2000
TIRES
AM IN POSSESSION OF 5 TIRES DOT VNHL SEPARATING AT THE SHOULDER.THESE TIRES ARE MADE IN CANADA & NOT CURRENTLY ON THE RECALL.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730709September 7, 2000
TIRES
TIRE EXHIBITED 360 DEGREE CRACKS IN SIDEWALL 1/2" FROM CORNER OF TREAD, MODERATE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE - REPLACED BY FIRESTONE DEALER( DOT NUMBER: VN TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869924September 7, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. DRIVER COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE, CHANGING LANE BECAUSE OF THE SEPARATION. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT P235/75 R15 DOT W2HL027477. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869834September 7, 2000
TIRES
PE00-020; TIRES SIZE P235/75R15, DOT W2HL1PY, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1997 WITH 40,000 MILES. FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD SEPARATED TO THE POINT WHERE STEEL BELTS WERE VISIBLE WHICH CAUSED VIBRATION. FIRESTONE INSPECTED TIRE, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT PART OF RECALL. FORD CLAIMED THERE WAS NO DEFECT .*AK FORD COMPANY AGREED TO REPLACE TWO OF THE TIRES AND THE CUSTOMER REPLACED THE REMAINING TWO TIRES. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730522September 6, 2000
TIRES
THE DOOR PANEL INFORMATION STATES THE TIRES SHOULD BE INFLATED TO 26PSI. THIS IS NOT THE RECOMENDED PRESSURE THAT FIRESTONE SAYS TO RUN IN THESE TIRES (30PSI)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730540September 6, 2000
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, NOTICED A LOUD NOISE. SLOWED DOWN TO REALIZE TIRE HAD BLOWN. THE TREAD HAD PEELED OFF OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I HAVE PICTURES IF NEEDED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730542September 6, 2000
TIRES
WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 75 IN OKLAHOMA WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT FROM TREAD SEPARATION. IT WAS 105 DEGREES AT THE TIME. WHAT SAVED US FROM ROLLING OVER WAS THAT WE WERE PULLING A LOADED TRAILER, AND IT KEPT US ON THE ROAD. THERE WERE 2 OF US IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I HAVE SINCE TRADED THAT EXPLORER FOR A NEWER MODEL EXPLORER, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEWER MODEL ALSO HAS THE FIRESTONE TIRES. THE MILEAGE I SHOWED AT THE TOP OF THE FORM WAS THE MILEAGE ON THE DAY I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED - I STILL HAVE A COPY OF THE RECEIPT FOR THE NEW TIRES. AN OKLAHOMA STATE HIGHWAY PATROLMAN STOPPED AND HELPED US CHANGE THE TIRE, SO THERE MAY BE A RECORD, BUT I'M SURE IT ISN'T VERY DETAILED. SINCE THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE MODEL OF TIRE OR WHERE IT WAS MANUFACTURED, AND OF COURSE, I DON'T HAVE THE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730450September 6, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
BALL JOINTS SHOULD LAST FOR 100,000 MILES THIS ALONG WITH THE TIRES IN QUESTION SHOULD MAKE YOU LOOK AT FORD FOR THE CURRENT TIRE FAILURES . IF I HAD NOT WENT TO FIRESTONE TO GET THE TIRES CHECKED I WOULD HAVE HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE FRONT AND BLAMED IT ON THE TIRES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT THERE PROBLEM THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD BUT AT THIS TIME I AM DEALING WITH FORD MOTOR CO. TO GET THE SITUATION RESOLVED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730466September 6, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THIS TIRE BROKE DOWN ON THE INSIDE. I AM NOW USING 4 OF THE SAME TIRES AND AM VERY WORIED THAT THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM . I UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS TIRE. WILL THE COMPANY STAND BEHIND THIS PRODUCT? . *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/75/R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730492September 6, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPARATION AT 25MPH ON UNPAVED ROAD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730496September 6, 2000
TIRES
ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE CURB AT 25 MPH. THE JOLT PRODUCED A BUBBLE AT THE SIDE OF TWO TIRES WHICH HAD TO BE REPLCED TO AVOID TIRE EXPLOSION. EXPECTED A BETTER PERFORMANCE FROM AN "OFF THE ROAD" SUV.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730418September 6, 2000
TIRES
I LIVE IN A SECTION OF VIRGINIA THAT IS 25 MILES FROM THE NEAREST FORD OR FIRESTONE STORE. ALL 4 OF MY TIRES HAVE SEVERE CRACKING AT THE AREA WHERE THE TREAD CONNECTS TO THE TIRE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST TIRE STORE OR TUCKS TIRE CENTER IN MONETA, VA. 1-540-297-5155. THEY VERIFIED THAT MY TIRES ARE SEVERELY CRACKED AND READY FOR TREAD SEPARATION AND I AM DUE REPACEMENTS EVEN WITHOUT BEING ON THE RECALL. HOWEVER THEY SPENTS TWO DAYS ON THE PHONE CALLING FIRESTONE FOR AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THEY WERE ON THE PHONE FOR HOURS ON HOLD AND NOBODY EVER COME ON THE LINE. I PROCEEDED TO CONTACT FORD VIA EMAIL, EXPLAINED ALL THE PRECEEDING AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GET LOST SINCE I HAD 16 INCH TIRES. RIGHT NOW I CANT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE TIRES CAN SEPARATE AT ANY TIME. YET I CANT GET ANY ACTION FROM FORD OR FIRESTONE. THIS IS A BONAFIDE CASE OF A 16 INCH NON RECALLED TIRE THAT WILL HAVE TREAD SEPATATION SOON UPON DRIVING THE CAR. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2C1PX017 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869690September 6, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER HAS A 1997 FORD, EXPLORER. VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SHAKING DURING DRIVING. VEHICLE WSA TAKEN IN FOR THE PROBLEM & PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE BELT INSIDE WAS BROKEN . TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. DOT# UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED 1 TIRE AT HALF PRICE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 30,415. *AK GOODYEAR WRANGLER P235/75/R15 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869656September 6, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00-020; P25570R16 WITH 6,000 MILES, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD EXPLORER, 1997. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH DRIVER'S REAR TIRE BLEWOUT, AND NOTICED OUTER EDGE OF TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE, DID NOT ASSIST DEALER, AND CHARGED CONSUMER FOR REPLACEMENT.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P225/70/R16 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869679September 6, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00-020; TIRES SIZE P23575R15, AND DOT VNHL, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1997, FORD EXPLORER WITH 37,000 MILES, ALL 4 TIRES DEVELOPED VISIBLE CRACKS ON THE TREAD AND WHERE IT MET SIDEWALL .*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869700September 6, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD IS SEPARATING FROM ALL FOUR TIRES, AND NONE OF THEM ARE ON RECALL. STEEL BELTS ARE SHOWING THROUGH THE TIRES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869720September 6, 2000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
1997 FORD, EXPLORER WITH ORIGINAL TIRES. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 38,000, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, AND DOT#W2HL. ALL 4 TIRES WERE DRY ROTTEN COMPLETELY AROUND SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869694September 6, 2000
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
REAR VIEW MIRROR IS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER ON MANY COUNTS HAS HAD CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF ACCIDENTS. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHNG THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.*AK THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AT EYE LEVEL AND IS HARD TO SEE VEHICLES THAT ARE BEHIND. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT IT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED OR REPLACED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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