Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#732151September 21, 2000
TIRES, AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
TOOK SEAT BELT TO BE REPAIRED 3 OR 4 TIMES AND ENDED UP BEING ORDERED AND WRECKED BEFORE GETTING IT REPLACED. TIRE ON RIGHT REAR SHREDDED AND FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT REAR BLEWOUT. IT WAS A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT FRONT TO REAR AND SIDE ROLLOVER AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T COME OUT. MY 5 1/2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS THROWN AND KILLED IN THE WRECK.( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
1
#732174September 21, 2000
TIRES
ON MONDAY 8/21/00 WHILE HAVING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON MY '98 FORD EXPLORER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES ON MY EXPLORER WERE TIRES THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED BY FIRESTONE(P235/75R15 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT WITH A DOT CODE OF VDHLIPY368). HESTER TRUCKING, INC & TIRE SERVICE(HESTERS TIRE CO.) THE BUSINESS PERFORMING THE SERVICE OFFERED A SELECTION OF TIRES. I CALLED 1-800-465-1904 AND SPOKE WITH FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVES, JASON MILLER AND DAVID ALVALBALOS. THEY INFORMED ME THAT I COULD HAVE THE FIRESTONE TIRES REPLACED WITH ANY BRAND THAT I SELECTED AND FIRESTONE WOULD REIMBURSE ME UP TO $100 PER TIRE. WE HAD A SET OF MICHELINS INSTALLED. REYNOLD HESTER (MANAGER AT HESTER'S TIRE SERVICE 910-863-3149) DID NOT HAVE THE FORMS NEEDED TO REQUEST A REFUND FROM FIRESTONE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FORMS WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON TUESDAY 8/22. I RETURNED TO THE HESTER'S TIRE CO. TUESDAY EVENING TO FIND THAT NO FORMS WERE AVAILABLE. I CONTACTED THE TIRE WHOLESALER THAT DOES BUSINESS WITH HESTER'S TIRE(1-800-237-7479, ZEE WESTBROOK AND JEFF), THEY INFORMED ME THAT A SHIPMENT OF RECALLED FIRESTONE TIRES HAD BEEN SHIPPED TO THEM FROM HESTER'S TIRES AND THAT THE TIRES THAT I HAD REPLACED WERE PROBABLY IN THAT SHIPMENT. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE EXPLORER, (LAFAYETTE FORD, SERVICE MANAGER PAULA) SHE INFORMED ME THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE FORMS AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT A FIRESTONE DEALER. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE DEALERS IN FAYETTEVILLE NC,LUMBERTON NC .(BLACKS TIRE SERVICE) AND IN TAR HEEL NC (ALLENS TIRE SERVICE) AND WAS INFORMED THAT I SHOULD CONTACT A FORD DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732195September 21, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT HAS A LOT OF CREAKING AND KNOCKING NOISES COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF EXPLORER, YOU CAN FEEL THE KNOCKING THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. HAVE NOT FOUND ANYTHING BROKEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732196September 21, 2000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
ALL 5 TIRES INCLUDING THE SPARE HAVE AN HAIRLINE CRACK ON THE SIDE WALL APPROX. 1'' DOWN FROM THE TREAD SURFACE( DOT NUMBER: VIIHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#871170September 21, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00-020, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1998, FORD, EXPLORER WITH 32000 MILES, P25570R16, DOT WD, CONSUMER WENT TO TIRE SHOP TO GET TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED. WHEN TIRE TECHNICIAN TOOK OFF TIRES HE NOTICED THE BEGINNING OF TREAD SEPARATION , AND STRESS FRACTURES. TOLD CONSUMER TO HAVE THEM REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731972September 20, 2000
TIRES
FIRESTONE TIRE DELAMINATED AND THE EXPLORER WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER NUMEROUS TIMES. ALL 4 OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED SEVERE BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731991September 20, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
IN A COLLISION WITH A DEER, PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE WAS FORCED ONTO SOFT SHOULDER, AT WHICH TIME 1 (OR BOTH) TIRES CAME OFF THE RIM (WHOLE TIRE WAS INTACT). I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE TIRES HAVEING LEFT THE RIM AND WHEN RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE ROAD, THE BARE RIM FORCED A VEHICLE ROLLOVER (AT LEAST 4 TIMES) INJURING MYSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AS WAS PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE VEHICLE. I AM COMPLETING THIS REPORT TO SUPPLIMENT THE INVESTIGATION OF FIRESTONE/FORD ON THE WILDERNESS AT DEFECTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE INVESTIGATION HAS ALSO FOUND PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES COMING OFF THE RIM, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF MY ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#732028September 20, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ALL FOR TIRES SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. HAIRLINE CRACK AROUND ALL TIRES BETWEEN TREAD AND SIDWALL. FIRESTONE WILL NOT REFUND REPLACEMENT COSTS. THESE TIRES SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHLIDY387 TIRE SIZE: 15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732047September 20, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY TIRES HAD APPROX. 39,000 ON THEM WHEN I HAD THEM CHECKED BY A FIRESTONE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE MADE IN CANADA WITH THE DOT CODE VNHL. I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WHEN I NOTICED OBVIOUS STRESS CRACKS WHERE THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE TREAD. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THEIR TIRES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732064September 20, 2000
TIRES
THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE IN NJ. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND SIDE-SWIPED A ROAD SIGN. THE VEHICLE HAD OVER $6300 IN REPAIRS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#871083September 20, 2000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
PE00 020; TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDIVIDUAL TIRE PLACE FOR BALACING AND ROTATION OF TIRES. MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAS CRACKING ALL AROUND THE SIDEWALLS. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS #AT, P23575R15 #DOT W-2. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#871038September 20, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A FORD, EXPLORER, 1998, P23575R15 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE DELAMINATED. TOOK TO FIRESTONE, AND THEY NOTICED ALL 4 TIRES WERE CRACKING, SO THEY REPLACED THEM.*AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#871054September 20, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, EXPLORER, P235/75R15 SIZE, DOT#: VNHL. TREAD ON ALL FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES HAVE STARTED TO SEPARATE ALONG THE SIDEWALL.*AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#871025September 20, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE-00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, FORD, EXPLORER, 26,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE 235/75R15, DOT VNHL 427. LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS A VISIBLE BUBBLE UNDER THE TREAD. *AK UPON EXAMINATION BY A DEALER , ONE OF THE FOUR TIRES APPEARED TO HAVE SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#871050September 20, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235/75R15 DOT W2HL EXPERIENCED 1 TREAD SEPARATION ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A SPLIT OF TREAD IN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731929September 19, 2000
TIRES
AFTER TAKING MY EXPLORER IN TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN MESA, HE REPLACED THE 2 REAR TIRES AND SPARE. HE INSPECTED THE OTHER TIRES AND SAID THEY WERE FINE. HE PLACED THE FRONT TIRES ONTO THE REAR AND PLACED THE NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT. 3000 MILES LATER W( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PY068 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731944September 19, 2000
TIRES
SIX FLAT TIRES ON REAR OF EXPLORER SINCE BEGINNING OF SUMMER( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731865September 19, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THE SPARE TIRE NOT SUBJECT TO THE FIRESTONE RECALL. FORD'S CONTRACT WITH FIRESTONE REQUIRED FIVE TIRES OF THE SAME SIZE, TREAD DESIGN, LOAD CAPACITY, ETC TO BE INSTALLED ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THAT WAS DONE TO ASSURE THAT WHEN SPARE TIRES WERE USED EITHER IN A FIVE TIRE ROTATION OR AS AN EMERGENCY TIRE, THEY WOULD ALL BE OF THE SAME TREAD DESIGN, ETC SO THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PERFORM SAFELY. FOUR OF MY FIRESTONE TIRES WERE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL,BUT NOT THE SPARE. I REPLACED THE FOUR ON THE GROUND WITH BIG "O" BRAND TIRES MEETING FORD'S SPECS, AND THE SPARE AS WELL IN ORDER TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FORD;S SPECIFICATIONS. FIRESTONE HAS REIMBURSED ME $400.00 FOR THE FOUR RECALLED TIRES, BUT REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE SPARE WHICH I CANNOT SAFELY USE ON MY VEHICLE. SINCE I EXERCISED MY OPTION OFFERED BY FIRESTONE TO USE ANOTHER MANUFACTURERS TIRES, WHICH DO NOT MATCH FIRESTONE'S TREAD DESIGN, YOU NEED TO ORDER FIRESTONE TO REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE AT THE SAME REIMBURSEMENT LEVEL OFFERED FOR THE RECALLED TIRES. DOING SO WILL BRING ME AND OTHERS INTO CONFORMITY WITH FORD'S SAFETY HANDLING CONCERNS FOR THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TO HAVE TIRES OF THE SAME TREAD DESIGN ON THE ROAD DURING FIVE TIRE ROTATION OR DURING EMERGENCY NEEDS. THANK YOU. ROBERT J. WHITTAKER. JR.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#870903September 19, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00-020; CONSUMER HAD INSPECTED THE TIRES AND FOUND CRACKS ALL AROUND THE TIRES. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID OF TREAD SEPARATION, JUST LIKE SEEN ON TV. FORD, EXPLORER, 1998, P235/75 R15, DOT VNHL CANADA. *AK THERE WERE ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS IN CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA DUE TO THESE TIRES WHICH ARE NOT ON RECALL BUT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731842September 19, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
AFTER HAVING THE SECOND REPLACEMENT BY THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THEY ALWAYS BURN OUT. I HAVE HADE A PROBLEM WITH FOGLIGHT BURNING OUT ABOUT EVERY FEW MONTHS AS WELL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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