Ford Explorer Complaints (1996)

1,450 consumer complaints on file.

#727325August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FOLLOW A LONG WEEKEND TRIP, I NOTICED A LARGE SECTION OF THE OUTSIDE TREAD WAS MISSING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE REVEALING THE STEEL BELT. IT IS WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRE, THE FIRESTONE ATX, THAT CAME WITH THE EXPLORER WHICH WE PURCHASE NEW IN '96. THE MISSING PIECE WAS AT LEAST FIVE INCHES IN LENGTH AND TWO INCHES WIDE. I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THE DAMAGED TIRE WITH THE MATCHING SPARE. IN EARLY JUNE I REPLACE THE ENTIRE SET OF FIRESTONE TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD BY A DISCOUNT TIRE EMPLOYEE THE DAMAGE WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY HITTING A LARGE POTHOLE (WHICH I DIDN'T BELIEVE.) PLEASE ADD OUR COMPLAINT TO YOUR FILE SURROUNDING THE FIRESTONE TIRES. WE HAVE A TWO-YEAR OLD SON WHO WE DROVE AROUND EXCLUSIVELY IN THE EXPLORER. THANK GOD NOTHING HAPPEN, BUT I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE DELAY FORD AND FIRESTONE DISPLAYED WITH THIS RECALL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727333August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, A REAR TIRE SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION THAT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. AFTER THE SECOND ONE, I REMOVED THE REMAINING FIRESTONE TIRES AND REPLACED ALL FOUR WITH MICHELINS.( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: ? )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727348August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY FAMILY & I WERE DRIVING TO CA. FROM LAS VEGAS DOWN I-15, ABOUT 25 MILES OUT OF LAS VEGAS. THE TREAD COMPLETELY BLEW OFF OUR RIGHT, REAR TIRE, DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH. MY HUSBAND FOUGHT TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR, IT SWAYED & ROCKED VIOLENTLY. WE HAD HEARD A LOUD "BANG" BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS & DIDN'T SUSPECT A FLAT TIRE, THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HIT US.THE ROAD WAS CLEAR AT THE TIME; HAD USUAL TRAFFIC BEEN PRESENT WE WOULD'VE HIT ANTHING IN THE LANE NEXT TO US, DUE TO SEVERE SWERVING. HAD WE TURNED OVER AND ROLLED, MOST DEFINITELY WOULDN'VE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED IF NOT KILLED. PULLED OVER, SAW THAT TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE. REAR LIGHT WAS BROKEN, QUARTER PANEL DENTED, REAR BUMPER DISENGAGED FROM CAR. AFTER GETTING TIRE CHANGED BY AAA CLUB, IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO LV. AT GOODYEAR SHOP, TOLD THEM TO TAKE OFF ALL TIRES & BOUGHT NEW ONES FOR TOTAL OF $500. THE PREVIOUS WEEK HAD HAD CAR SERVICED FOR TRIP TO CALIF. & NO PROBLEMS NOTED WITH TIRES (HAD SPECIFIC CONVERSATION). NO CLUE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. AM CURRENTLY WORRIED ABOUT GOODYEAR STEEL BELTED TIRES THAT HAVE BEEN ON SINCE 7/99 SINCE I LIVE IN DESERT & IT'S FREQUENTLY OVER 100 DEGREES. I HAVE THEM CHECKED FREQUENTLY TOO BUT NOW I HAVE NO PEACE OF MIND AFTER HARROWING EXPERIENCE OF LAST SUMMER.( DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727357August 9, 2000
TIRES
I WENT TO THE TIRE STORE TO HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME TWO OF MY FIRESTONE ATX RADIALS WITH THE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THESE TIRES SHOWED VERY LITTLE WEAR AND SHOWED NO OTHER OBVIOUS DAMAGE. I WANTED TO INFORM YOU OF THIS DEFECT TO HELP POINT OUT A QUESTIONABLE TIRE DESIGN. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT I WAS LUCKY THESE TIRES DID NOT COME APART DURING USE. I WAS ABOUT TO START ON AN EXTENDED TRIP.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R17 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727373August 9, 2000
TIRES
I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC TO LOOK OVER AND RECOMMEND WHAT WORK NEEDED TO BE DONE IN ORDER FOR ME TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL LIST. AMONG THE THINGS THAT I SAID NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED/REPLACED WERE THE TIRES. THE DEALER REFUSED. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND I BEGAN DRIVING IT. IT IS MY FIRST SUV AND I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE WAY IT HANDLED ON BUMPS IN THE ROAD, OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, IN DIPS IN THE ROAD, ETC. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE WAY IT HANDLED. BECAUSE THE DEALER "COULD NOT DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT BECAUSE IT IS AN SUV I SHOULD GET USED TO THE ROUGHER RIDE. THE PROBLEM HOWEVER WAS IN THE WAY I FELT I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, NOT THAT THE RIDE WAS ROUGH. I CONTINUED TO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE WAY IT HANDLED ON SUBSEQUENT VISITS. I EVEN BEGAN ASKING THEM TO LOOK AT THE TIRES. I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIRES AS I SAW DRY ROT ON THE OUTER EDGES OF EACH OF THE TIRES. AGAIN, I BELIEVE EVERYTIME I TOOK IT IN I ASKED THEM TO EXAMINE THE TIRES AND LET ME KNOW IF I SHOULD BE CONCERNED. THEY WOULD NOTE THE TIRE TREAD ON MY PAPERWORK BUT NO ONE EVERY COUNSELED ME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION NEAR MY HOME TO SEE WHAT THEY THOUGHT. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO TRY NOT TO DRIVE FOR MANY MILES AT A TIME AND ESPECIALLY DURING HOT DAYS. I REPLACED THE TIRES WITHIN THE WEEK. I AM CONCERNED NOW ABOUT THE FIRESTONE RECALL AND THAT VA IS IN PHASE THREE. I REPLACED MY OLD FIRESTONE TIRES WITH MICHELINS AND DO NOT WISH TO HAVE A FIRESTONE PRODUCT ON ANY OF OUR CARS. HOW CAN I GET THE SPARE TIRE REPLACED AND HOW CAN I GET A CREDIT FOR THE OLD TIRES TO APPLY TOWARD THE TIRES I REPLACED?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70R/16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727376August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
REAR TIRE TREAD FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE ROLLOVER( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#727397August 9, 2000
TIRES
2 SEPARATE FAILURES DUE TO DELAMINATION( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727416August 9, 2000
TIRES
ON 9-12-99, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30PM, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER EXPLORER AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE BELTWAY 8 IN HOUSTON. THE LEFT REAR TIRE SHREDDED AND HAD A BLOW OUT. SHE THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE AUTO. THE AUTO TURNED RIGHT AND TRAVELED TOWARD THE RIGHT HAND CONCRETE BARRIER. SHE FRANTICALLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, AND JUST BEFORE HITTING THE BARRIER, SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR TO THE LEFT. THE CAR THEN DID "360'S" CAREENING ACROSS ALL THE LANES OF THE TOLL WAY. THE CAR STOPPED PARALLEL TO THE LEFT CONCRETE BARRIER, APPROX. 12" FROM THE BARRIER. A HARRIS CO. CONSTABLE STOPPED AND HAD THE CAR TOWED, DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE CAR. WE ADVISED MACHAIK FORD THAT THEY SHOULD PAY FOR REPLACING THE TIRE, DUE TO ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. SERVICE MANAGER MARY STATED "WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES." SHE WAS TOLD THE MATTER WOULD BE REFERRED TO MY ATTORNEY. AT THAT POINT, I ASKED THAT THE TIRE BE PUT INSIDE MY CAR AND MY SPARE PUT ON. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, NO ONE AT MAK HAIK HAD ANY IDEA WHERE MY TIRE WAS. NOBODY KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO IT. I FEEL THEY INTENTIONALLY HID EVIDENCE ON MY TIRE PROBLEM, AFTER I ADVISED THEM AN ATTORNEY WOULD BE INVOLVED.( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727421August 9, 2000
TIRES
ON JULY 8, 2000 AT 12 NOON, THE FIRESTONE TIRE ( FRONT PASSENGER SIDE) ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER SEPERATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. THE FORCE OF THE SEPERATION PULLED ME OUT OF THE LEFT LANE INTO THE RIGHT LANE. LUCKILY THE LANE WAS CLEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE AND PULL TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONDITION OF THE ROADS WERE CLEAR. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND HOT. THE INCIDENT OCCURED ON HWY 6 NEAR NAVASOTA, TX. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES, THERE WAS APPROX. $1200.00 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY FILED A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I SHIPPED THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE FOR ANALYSIS, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO COVER THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR. I STILL HAVE 2 REMAINING FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY VHECILE AND INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECALL RECENTLY ISSUED BY FORD/FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM455 TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727423August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING FROM ORLANDO TO FT. LAUDERDALE TO VISIT MY FAMILY ON THANKSGIVING DAY, 1999, THE TIRE TREAD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED SUDDENLY WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED (ABOUT 65 - 70 MPH) ON I-95 NEAR JUPITER, FLORIDA. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS HARD TO CONTROL. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO CAR TO THE RIGHT (MY WIFE AND I WERE IN THE LEFT LANE) AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WE CHANGED THE TIRE ROADSIDE, AND HAD BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED THE NEXT DAY AT TIRE KINGDOM AT LAUDERDALE BY THE SEA. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL CAUSED BY THE PEELED AWAY TIRE, WHICH WE HAD FIXED AT A LATER DATE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT GREENWAY FORD IN ORLANDO. THE MECHANIC AT TIRE KINGDOM SAID THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL THAT THE TREAD CAME OFF WITHOUT CAUSING A BLOWOUT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727195August 9, 2000
TIRES
THE TIRE FAILED CONSISTENT WITH REPORTS THAT ARE CAUSING THE RECALL OF THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. THE TREAD PEELED OFF, THE TIRE BLEW, AND MY WIFE LOST CONTROL INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN BARRICADE.( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#727379August 9, 2000
TIRES
TIRE BLEW ON FREEWAY IN FAST LANE. LUCKY TO BE ALIVE WITH NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE..( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: F235/75 15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867310August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. TIRE HIT THE BUMPER AND DAMAGED IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867312August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867315August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE/ VIBRATION. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STILL ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD FIRESTONE ATX TIRES, DOTVDHL1PM146, AND TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. *AK FIRESTONE ATX P235/75/R15 *MW
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
2
#726947August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
SPONTANEOUS TREAD SEPARATION. OUR EXPERTS DETERMINED NO INJURY TO TIRE: DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. HAVE FILED SUIT IN FEDERAL COURT, 10TH CIRCUIT, CIVIL NO. 00-1144-BB (10TH CIRCUIT). CONTACT US OUR OFFICES IF YOU WISH MORE INFORMATION.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
2
#726951August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
JUST LEFT THE ON RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY SPEED APPROCED 45 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE STERING WHEEL BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. ALMOST LOST CONTROL, AND THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER. PROCEDED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGWAY AND INSPECTED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND DAMGED THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER/QUARTER PANEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726955August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON OCT 12, 1999, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A 2-LANE STATE HIGHWAY NEAR MOJAVE, CA ON A HOT, AUTUMN DAY, MY RIGHT REAR TIRE LOST TREAD/DELAMINATED CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. I SWERVED SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE SUV ROLLED COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT, LANDING UPRIGHT FACING THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING OR TRAILING TRAFFIC, SO NO OTHER VEHICLES/PERSONS WERE INVOLVED. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT & WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO SUSTAIN ONLY VERY MINOR INJURIES & WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE SUV W/ SOME ASSISTANCE FROM PEOPLE WHO STOPPED TO HELP. AS I COMPLAINED OF NECK PAIN, I WAS AMBULANCED TO THE ANTELOPE VALLEY HOSPITAL, BUT WAS RELEASED W/ ONLY MINOR BRUISES, CUTS & SORE MUSCLES. MY INSURANCE COMPANY (20TH CENTURY) DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS (PICTURES AVAILABLE) AND PAID ME $24,072.70, PLUS COVERED MY AMBULANCE & EMERGENCY ROOM BILLS. PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT I HAD ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY SUV IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. TIRE PRESSURE WAS ROUTINELY CHECKED IN CONJUNCTION W/ REGULAR OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES. ALL TIRES HAD PLENTY OF REMAINING TREAD & HAD BEEN RECENTLY ROTATED & BALANCED. I CONTEND THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE FIRESTONE AT TIRES. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED A 2000 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER W/ THE INSURANCE PROCEEDS PLUS ANOTHER APPROXIMATE $11,000 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. ADDITIONALLY, I IMMEDIATELY TRADED IN THE STANDARD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES FOR MORE TRUSTWORTHY ( & MORE EXPENSIVE) BF GOODRICH AT TIRES. I WILL NEVER USE FIRESTONE TIRES ON ANY OF MY CARS AGAIN. IF A CLASS ACTION SUIT SHOULD BE FILED AGAINST FIRESTONE FOR THESE NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THEIR ALL TERRAIN TIRES W/ FORD EXPLORERS, I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SUIT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THESE DANGEROUS TIRES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 OWL )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#726970August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FILDED INCEDENT REPORT WITH FIRSTONE IN MAY. THEY READILY PAID FOR NEW TIRE NAD REPAIRS TO VEHICLE. OUR 20 YEAR OLD SON WAS TRAVELING HOEM FROM COLLEGE ON I75 IN MIDDLE LAND WHEN TREAD SEPARATED . THREW HIM TO LEFT EMERGENCY LAND. LUCKILY HE CONTROLLED VEHICLE AND CAME TO STOP. TIRE DID NOT LOSE PRESSURE ANDLUCKILY THE SHREDING TORE UP TEH REAR FENDER ETC AND DID NOT GO INTO AXEL. TORE UP WHEL WELL, QTR PANEL, REAR, R. BUMPER,A DN LIFTGATE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM096 TIRE SIZE: 23575SR/55 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726977August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE, VEHICLE BEGAN BOUNCING AND SWERVING VIOLENTLY. I STOPPED AT A AUTO CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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