Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#727061August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727071August 8, 2000
TIRES
MY TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE EXPLORER ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. MY DOGS WERE EJECTED FROM THE WINDOWS AS ALL THE WINDOWS BLEW. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I HAVE SUFFERED BACK INJURIES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#727074August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE BLEW OUT WHEN TRAVELING AT 70 MILES PLUS. I NEARLY HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID COLLISION. THE INCIDENT CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE STEEL ALLOY RIM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727082August 8, 2000
TIRES
ON MY WAY TO POWAY,CA, SOUTHBOUND I-5, MY CAR BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND SHAKE. I PULLED OFF TO CHECK MY TIRES. CHECKING ALL 4 TIRES FOR CORRECT INFLATION, I FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I GOT BACK ON THE FREEWAY, AS I WAS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, LOWERED MY SPEED AND CONTINUED. AS I APPROACHED POWAY THE FRONT END STARTED TO MAKE A THUMPING NOISE. I WAS LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM MY SISTER'S HOUSE, SO I LOWERED MY SPEED AGAIN AND FINISHED MY TRIP. WE LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A BULGE IN IT. IT WAS ABOUT 5" IN SIZE ALONG THE TIRE TREAD. ON 7/17 I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALER OF POWAY (PERRY FORD) FOR AN INSPECTION. ROBERT SAW THE BUBBLE AND SAID THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE SUGGESTED A NEW SET OF FIRESTONES. HAVING HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEM ON OUR 1993 RANGER, AND SEEING THE BUBBLE ON A TIRE THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED I REFUSED. HE WAS VERY PERSISTANT SAYING FIRESTONE MAKES A GREAT TIRE, BUT I REFUSSED. HAVING ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED, MOUNTED, BALANCED, AND AN ALIGNMENT, IT COST $550.21 TO GET MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN HOME TO ANAHEIM. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE EXPLORER IN 1998, WE ASKED FOR THE TIRES AT THAT TIME, BEFORE PICK-UP, TO BE REPLACED AS WE HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH FIRESTONES ON THE RANGER. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM, BUT GAVE US THE NAME OF A PLACE TO GO TO GET NEW TIRES AND POSSIBLY AT A DISCOUNT AS THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE NEW AND COULD BE BOUGHT BACK. IF THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR AWHILE, WHY WOULD THE FORD DEALER OF POWAY SUGGEST(ALMOST INSIST) THAT THE SAME TIRE BE PUT BACK ON?? ISN'T THAT A LITTLE NEGLECTFUL OF ROBERT AND THE DEALER KNOWING I WAS GOING TO GET BACK ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY CHILDREN AND DRIVE OVER 80 MILES? I AM VERY ANGRY AND UPSET ABOUT HEARING ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION GOING ON AND THE FACT THAT NOTHING WAS SAID TO ME, AND IT COST ME $550.00 FOR A PROBLEM THAT THEY CREATED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727084August 8, 2000
TIRES
ONE YEAR AGO I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE MAKING A THUMPING NOISE. THEY STATED THE TIRES WERE "CUPPING". THAT IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM NOT A VEHICLE PROBLEM. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPING AND THAT IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM AND THAT THE" EXPLORERS ATE TIRES." TO DATE MY TIRES ARE STILL NOISEY AND I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727088August 8, 2000
TIRES
I HAVE HAD TWO TIRES FAIL SO FAR, AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BELT BROKE INSIDE THE TIRES. FIRESTONE SAID IT COULD BE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERENOT INFLATED PROPERLY. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 24 YEARS NOW AND HAVE NEVER HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE ROAD. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THESE TIRES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO INSURE EVERYONE'S SAFETY IN THE U.S. JUST AS THEY HAVE DONE IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: P255 TIRE SIZE: 70R16109S )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727102August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHEN TOWING TRALIER WITH THIS TIRE/VEHICLE COMBINATION AT SPEEDS OVER 65 (IN A 70 MPH ZONE) MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO FISHTAIL. THE TRAILER AND ITS LOAD ONLY WEIGHED 1,400-1,500 POUNDS ON EACH OCCASION WITH CORRECT BALANCE. THE LAST TIME THIS VEHICLE TOWED A TRAILER WITH THESE TIRES THE TRAILER WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLABLE FISHTAIL. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE ENDING IN THE MEDIAN WITH THE TRAILER BREAKING LOOSE. AFTER PURCHASING NEW DUNLOP TIRES AND A NEW TRAILER THE VEHICLE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH FISHTAILING. ON A FEW OCCASIONS I TOWED AN 18 FOOT BOAT AT LOWER SPEEDS AND REALIZED VERY QUICKLY THAT THERE WAS NO WAY IT COULD PULL ITS RATED LIMIT OF 5,500 POUNDS (THAT BOAT COMBINATION WAS 2,200 POUNDS). I THINKS THE NHTSA SHOULS TEST THIS TIRE UNDER TOWING CONDITIONS AS WELL. THESE TIRES NEVER PEELED, BUT THEY WERE NOT GIVEN A CHANCE AS THEY WERE REPLACED AT 10,000 MILES. I HAVE TOWED ENOUGH IN MY DAY TO REALIZE WHAT IS USER ERROR OR EQUIPMENT FAILURE. THESE TIRES ARE NOT SAFE TO TOW WITH AT LEAST NOT ON AN EXPLORER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2357515 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867091August 8, 2000
TIRES
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/ATX TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO WEAR THROUGH, BOTH OF THEM. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM, AND HAD THE TIRES CHANGED BEFORE A PROBLEM COULD OCCUR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867099August 8, 2000
TIRES
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES (P225/70R15) WERE SHOWING STEEL BELTS AT 22,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867203August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020: WAS DRIVING 60MPH WHEN IT FELT LIKE VEHICLE HAD A FLAT. RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS DEFLATED, BUT TREAD WAS STILL ATTACHED. HOWEVER, CASING HAD SEPARATED. TIRE WAS CHANGED WITH SPARE. DO NOT HAVE TIRE. WERE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH VEHICLE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P225/70R15 WITH 25,000 MILES. *AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867207August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020: WAS TRAVELING 75MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING BADLY. STOPPED & PULLED OVER. CHECKED THE TIRES. NOTICED THE SURFACE WAS WAVY & BUMPY. TREAD WAS SEPARATING IN THE CENTER, BUT STILL REMAINED ATTACHED. RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT AT 20,000 MILES, AND LEFT FRONT WENT OUT AT 25,000 MILES. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, AND SIZE 0235/75R15. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867211August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE 00020: WHILE DRIVING 35-40MPH TO GET OFF RAMP, AND WHILE EXITING RAMP RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. STOPPED VEHICLE & CHECKED TIRE TO CHANGE WITH SPARE. NOTICED TREAD WAS STILL INTACT, BUT SLIGHTLY SEPARATED. DO NOT HAVE TIRE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. WERE ORIGINAL TIRES. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS ATX WITH 19,000 MILES, AND SIZE OF TIRE P255/70R16. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867165August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020, 1998 EXPLORER, REAR DRIVER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. OTHER THREE TIRES WERE FORMING CRACKS ALONG THE TIRE TREAD AND SIDEWALL. TIRE SIZE P235/75R15 AND DOT # VDHL1PY457. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867127August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SLID OUT AND VEHICLE BEGAN SPINNING, OFFICER INSPECTED TREAD SEPARATION OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 DOT W2HL1P2158. *SLC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726862August 7, 2000
TIRES
RR TIRE BLEW OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EXTERNAL WALL JUST EXPLODED. NO ACCIDENT. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHILE REACHING THE SHOULDER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ?? )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726867August 7, 2000
TIRES
TIRE CAME COMPLETELY APART WHILE TRAVELING ON A FIVE LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE CENTER MEDIAN BUT RIM WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THERE IS VERY LITTLE LEFT OF THE TIRE, ONLY 2 INCHES OF THE SIDE WALL. EVERYONE WHO HAS LOOKED A THE TIRE SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIRE SO SEVERELY DAMAGED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726869August 7, 2000
TIRES
UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE FROM FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75R15 (SUV) TIRES. AFTER ROUTINE SERVICE AND (SECOND) TIRE ROTATION/BALANCE AT 12,000 MILES, I NOTICED MY VEHICLE "PULLING" TO THE RIGHT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICING DEALER (KEARNY MESA FORD, SAN DIEGO CA), AND ASKED THEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ROTATE THE TIRES AND STILL HAVE THEM BALANCED WITHIN SPECIFICATION. CONSEQUENTLY, THE TIRES WERE RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITIONS ON THE VEHICLE. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN TO ME WAS THAT THERE WAS "LIKELY A LOOSE BELT WITHIN ONE OF THE TIRES PREVENTING IT FROM BALANCING CORRECTLY, BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE DIDN'T SEEM TO "PULL" WHEN THIS TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON THE REAR, I SHOULD JUST LEAVE IT THERE AND NOT ROTATE MY TIRES IN THE FUTURE." WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT WARRANTY AND/OR REPLACEMENT, I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE TIRES HAD 12,000 MILES ACCRUED, THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. AS A RESULT OF NOT ROTATING MY TIRES (...SOMETHING I NORMALLY DO AS SCHEDULED), MY TIRES HAVE WORN IRREGULARLY AND I BELIEVE HAVE WORN OUT PREMATURELY (...IN THIS CASE, APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES; HOWEVER I GENERALLY GET MUCH GREATER TIRE LIFE DUE TO THE "HIGHWAY" DRIVING I DO AND PROPER TIRE MAINTENANCE). I AM HOPING THIS INFORMATION WILL BE HELPFUL IN YOUR INVESTIGATION OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726921August 7, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRESTONE WILDNERNESS TIRE, I FEEL MY LIFE AND MY PASSENGERS' ARE IN DANGER WITH THE USE OF THIS TIRE. I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BE ANOTHER FATALITY AS A RESULT OF TIRE FAILURE. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THESE TIRES, INCLUDING THE ATV & ATV II SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE ON THE ROADWAYS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? THE SOONER FIRESTONE IS FORCED TO RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES...THE SAFER THE HIGHWAYS WILL BE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726944August 7, 2000
TIRES
THE TIRES LOOK FINE (PLENTY OF TREAD). I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED AS FORD SUGGESTS (THEY SEND A REMINDER LETTER) - THIS INCLUDES TIRE ROTATIONS, ALIGNMENT ETC. THE DAMAGED TIRES LOOK LIKE RETREADS, THOUGH I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND THE TIRE WARRANTY INDICATES 6 YEARS OR 2/32NDS OF AN INCH OF TREAD DEPTH - NEITHER OF WHICH HAD BEEN REACHED. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES, HOWEVER I HAVE KEPT THE OLD ONES. FIRESTONE HAS REQUESTED WE SEND BACK THE DAMAGED ONES SO THEY MAY DETERMINE IF A REIMBURSMENT IS WARRANTED. WHEN WE CALLED FIRESTONE/CERRITOS (8/1) THEY INSISTED THE TIRES HAD TOO MANY MILES AND WERE NOT DEFECTIVE (THEY DIDN'T SEE THE TIRES) - AFTER NOT ACCEPTING THAT RESPONSE AND PERSISTING THEY WERE DEFECTIVE, WE WERE GIVEN A TOLL FREE NUMBER TO FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE MAILED US A CLAIM FORM WITH INSTRUCTIONS. SHOULD WE PROCEED WITH COMPLETING THE CLAIM AND SEND BACK THE TIRES?*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY487 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866964August 7, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE AT 70 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF DRIVER CONTROL. EXPLORER ROLLED OVER . DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE EXPLORER, AND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS (P235/75R15), ORGINAL EQUIPMENT. *AK *MJS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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