Ford Explorer Complaints (1996)

1,450 consumer complaints on file.

#728198August 16, 2000
TIRES
THE TIRES IN QUESTION, ARE COMING APART THE RUBBER IS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 35 MPH. I ALSO TRIED TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED BUT IT DID NO GOOD . THE TIRES HAS MORE THAN 4/32 OF RUBBER LEFT BUT ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE 16" WILDERNESS SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE LIST OF TIRES RECALLED BY FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728018August 15, 2000
TIRES
NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728040August 15, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE TREAD CAME OFF ON FREEWAY WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH, CAR SHOOK AND THE TREAD DID SOME DAMAGE TO THE CAR.........I REPLACED ALL MY TIRES IN JANUARY WITH WILDERNESS AT,I FEEL ALL THE WILDERNESS TIRES SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND NOT JUST A WAY TO CUT BACK ON THE RECALLS BY BLAMING IT ON THE DECATUR PLANT ..I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES ON MY CAR, I HAD IT HAPPEN ONCE WITHOUT INJURIES AND DONT WANT TO WAIT TILL MORE PEOPLE DIE OR HAVE INJURIES.....( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM TIRE SIZE: 235/75/R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9001801August 15, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
NOTICED BUMPY RIDE ON ROAD TRIPJ(LIKE RUNNING OVER BUMPS).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867822August 15, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLEWUP. DRIVER WAS ALONE IN THE TRUCK AND WAS NOT INJURED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, AT, P25570R16, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. OWNER DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF THE SITUATION AT THE TIME, AND JUST REPLACED THE TIRE HIMSELF. PLEASE LIST DOT #. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867875August 15, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SHE DID NOT HEAR A NOISE, BUT IT FELT LIKE SHE RAN OVER A ROCK. THEN, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TREAD HAD SEPARATED. DEALERSHIP AND FIRESTONE WERE NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727896August 14, 2000
TIRES
TREAD PEELED OFF TIRE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID, DAMAGED REAR QUARTER PANEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727900August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
A VERY LOUD SLAPPING NOISE STARTED, I PULLED OFF ROAD AND FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE TREAD HAD COME OFF THE RR TIRE, ALSO SEVERING THE BRAKE LINE AND DAMAGING THE RESIN FENDER FLARE. AFTER CONTACTING FIRESTONE AND SENDING THEM THE TIRE CARCASS, THEY DID IN FACT SEND A CHECK FOR THE COST OF THE TIRE AND THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT TIRE SEPARATION, FOR PEACE OF MIND, I PURCHASED 3 WILDERNESS AT TIRES, TO MAKE ALL FOUR "NEW.'' TIRES. HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE PUBLICITY THAT THE FIRESTONE RECALL OF THE WILDERNESS TIRES, MY WIFE REFUSES TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENTLY, IT SITS IN THE GARAGE. I WANT FIRESTONE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 16 INCH SIZE, AND RE-IMBURSE ME FOR MY EXPENSE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727902August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE WESTBOUND ON HWY 58, 26 MILES WEST OF NEEDLES, CA., THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPERATED AND WAS THROWN FROM THE TIRE. THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I HAD FELT AND INCREASING VIBRATION IN THE CAR PRIOR TO THE SEPARATION. I HAVE SUBMITTED THE TIRE AND REPAIR ESTIMATES TO FIRESTONE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM086 TIRE SIZE: P235/75 R1 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727924August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE SEPARATION WAS WITNESSED BY MELBOURNE, FL. FIRESTONE STORE MANAGER -TED MCKERCHER (321) 723-4618. TIRES WERE REPLACED 4-24-2000.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727933August 14, 2000
TIRES
TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME APART. ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION OF THE REMAINS, WHICH INCLUDED THE TREAD BUT NO SIDE WALL, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THERE WAS NO CUT, PUNCTURE OR OTHER EXTERNAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE CAUSE FOR THE BLOWOUT. I TOOK THE REMAINS TO THE FIRESTONE STORE FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE TIRES AND THE MANAGER AGREED WITH ME THAT THE TIRE HAD FAILED AT THE SIDEWALL , AND INVOLVED AN APPARENT HIGH TEMPERATURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. THAT TIRE ALONG WITH THE OTHERS ARE SHOWING, IN MY OPINION, A STRANGE PATTERN OF "WEAR" ON THE SIDEWALLS AND NEAR THE BEAD. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN NOV. 1999. THESE TIRES ARE NOT THE SIZE TIRES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN RECALL AS OF 8-14-00, BUT I BELIEVE THEM TO BE FAULTY. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: 000 TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727934August 14, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING MY 1996 EXPLORER AT 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY I HEARD A LOUD CLICK AND LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR CRANKED BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. MY MECHANIC TOWED THE CAR AND UPON EXAMINING THE CAR FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BROKEN. HE FELT THAT MY EXPLORER'S CRANKSHAFT HAS A DEFINITE MANUFACTURING DEFECT SINCE THE CAR MILEAGE IS ONLY 28000MILES. HE URGED ME TO CONTACT TOWER FORD WHERE I PURCHASED THE EXPLORER. TOWER FORD ADVISED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY ANYTHING TOWARD THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I AM FRUSTRATED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE INJURY ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 28000MILES WITH A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT -WITH NO HELP FROM FORD. I BELIEVE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT IN MY EXPLORER HAS A DEFINITE MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND FORD NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727835August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
1996 FORD EXPLORER TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 95. DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD CAME OFF CAUSING THE SUV TO FLIP TWICE. ALL 3 OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED AND HOSPITALIZED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: P235/75A15 TIRE SIZE: 105 SM/S )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#727851August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE REMAINED INFLATED (LATER CHECKED TO CONFIRM CORRECT INFLATION PRESSURE); TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY, DAMAGED VEHICLE, LODGED AROUND AXLE IN WHEEL WELL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM136 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#553740August 14, 2000
TIRES
RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT (FIRESTONE). NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867767August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
HE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ON TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
2
#867673August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE ATX TIRE P235/70R15 DOTVDHL1PM086 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED, IT ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. *SLC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727759August 13, 2000
TIRES
I KNOW THESE TIRES WERE NOT RECALLED, BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE EXPERIENCED A TIRE SEPARATION AND BLOW OUT ON THIS FIRESTONE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE NOT WORN OUT, BUT I REPLACED ALL OF THEM. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SPARE IN STORAGE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727761August 13, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE FLIPS AND FATALLY INJURED. THE PASSANGER IN THE BACK SEAT, THOUGH SERIOUSLY AND SEVERLY INJURED, SURVIVED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM116 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
2
#727768August 13, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I ORIGINALLY HAD THE ATX'S ON MY EXPLORER. ONCE THE RECALL WENT INTO EFFECT, I WENT TO A FIRESTONE CAR CARE CENTER IN NASHVILLE (STORE # 028150) AND THEY REPLACED THEM WITH THE BRIDGESTONE DUELERS. I DROVE TO WORK AFTERWARDS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN I NOTICED A SHAKING IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD JUST HAD A BALANCE AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT TO GO ALONG WITH THE REPLACEMENTS. SO THE NEXT DAY, I TOOK IT BACK AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE MANAGER. IT WAS BUSY AND AT THE END OF THE DAY SO I SAID I WOULD BRING IT IN THE FIRST THING SATURDAY MORNING. THEY PLACED MY TIRES ON THE BALANCING MACHINE AND I WATCHED AS WE ALL NOTICED A WOBBLING IN ALL THE TIRES. THE MANAGER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE CAUSE OF THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHEN THEY MANUFACTURE THE TIRES, THEY HAVE A LIGHT AND HEAVY SPOT IN THEM. IF THAT HEAVY SPOT IS OFF OR EXTREMELY HEAVY, IT CAN CAUSE A WOBBLE. NEVERTHELESS, I ASKED WHAT AM I TO DO NOW. THE MANAGER STATED THAT I WOULD NOW BE PLACED ON THE REPLACEMENT LIST. I WOULD PREFER TO GO TO A FORD DEALERSHIP NOW, BUT SINCE I ALREADY HAD A REPLACEMENT DONE, I DOUBT IF THEY WILL REPLACE THEM AGAIN. THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP. I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION STATING THE DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT TIRES. CAN YOU SEND ME A LETTER AUTHORIZING A DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN? OR CAN YOU HELP ME OUT IN ANY WAY OR SUGGEST WHAT ALTENATIVES I HAVE? ALSO, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD TO REPURCHASE THE LIFETIME WARRANTIES ON THE BALANCE AND ROAD HAZZARD WHEN I HAD THEM ORIGINALLY ON THE ATX'S. THE ATX'S WERE A RECALL, NOT TIRES THAT WORE DOWN FROM NORMAL USAGE WHERE A WARRANTY WOULD EXPIRE. I KNOW THE BRIDGESTONE DUELERS WERE NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL, BUT THEY WERE MY REPLACEMENT TIRES, AND THEY TOO WERE IMPERFECT AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE FIRESTONE CAR CARE CENTER. AS A CONSUMER, I HAVE DONE WHAT WAS DIRECTED BY YOUR ADMINISTRATION. AS A CONSUMER AND A STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE, I HAVE GAINED NOTHING BY DOING WHAT I WAS DIRECTED TO DO. HELP ME!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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