Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#728582August 21, 2000
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE, WENT ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND HIT THE CENTER MEDIAN. AFTER HITTING THE CENTER MEDIAN ROLLED THE CAR AT LEAST ONCE. AFTER EXITING THE CAR, NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD COME APART AND CAME OFF THE RIM.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#728622August 21, 2000
TIRES
HAD TIRE CHECKED APPROX 2 HOURS BEFORE INCIDENT, WHEN MECHANIC BROUGHT MY VEHICLE BACK TO ME I DROVE ABOUT HALF A BLOCK AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVING PROPERLY I GOT OUT AND LOOKED TO SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH AIR IN THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE WHICH WAS NOT PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK IT IN, AND I DROVE BACK TO STORE LOCATED AT 4561 ELVIS PRESLEY IN MEMPHIS, TN AND TOLD THEM MY PROBLEM. THE CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE AND ASKED ME TO PULL AROUND SO THEY CAN PUT SOME AIR IN IT. I DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME AND APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS LATER THE SAME TIRE BURST. I CALLED STORE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NO REPLACEMENT FOR ME AT THAT TIME. I AM STUCK WITH NO VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAD TO PUT MY SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT LEFT ME WITHOUT A SPARE TIRE. I HAVE TO BOMB A RIDE TO GET PLACES BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I DO NOT HAVE A SPARE SHOULD ANOTHER TIRE BURST. I HAVE BEEN PROMISED DIFFERENT DATES THAT THE TIRES ARE TO COME IN, AND EACH DATE THEY TELL ME THE NEXT WEEK SOM SHOULD BE IN, BUT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED EITHER. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW TO PURCHASE MY TIRES FOR REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE I AM LAID-OFF AND THIS IS HENDERING ME FROM SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235-75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728623August 21, 2000
TIRES
ON 3-17-00, WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-476, BETWEEN LANSDALE & QUAKERTOWN, IN PENNSYLVANIA, AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, MY LEFT REAT TIRE ESSENTIALLY DISINTIGRATED. I WAS USING MY VEHICLE TO MOVE FURNITURE AND IT WAS FAIRLY LOADED. AAA CHANGED MY TIRE, AND I SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER FIRESTONE TIRE. TODAY I LEARNED THAT THE REMAINING TIRES ON MY FORD ARE THE TIRES BEING RECALLED BY FIRESTONE. I HAVE RECEIPT FOR REPLACED TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P27575R17 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868182August 21, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RELEASE/RETRACT TO BE USED. ALSO, WILL NOT RETRACT IF ABLE TO RELEASE THEM. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC INDICATED PROBLEM WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868188August 21, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL,WOULD HEAR A RUBBING NOISE, LIKE METAL AGAINST METAL. EVERY TIME A BUMP IS HIT, WOULD HAVE SAME NOISE PROBLEM. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC INDICATED IT WAS THE LOWER BALL JOINTS THAT WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM & THEY WERE BAD. WILL BE ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868243August 21, 2000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
ALL 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P255/70R16 ARE CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALLS, CRACKS BEGIN WHERE THE TREAD STARTS, DOT W2CU. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728493August 20, 2000
TIRES
AN UNUSUAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER STATED THAT ALL FOUR FIRESTONE TIRES WERE SEPARATING FROM THE RIM AT THE BEAD!!!! THEY ALSO STATED THAT I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT HAVE HAD A CATISTROPHIC FAILURE AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON MY 360 MILE TRIP BACK TO MY HOME. THE FORD DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BEFORE. FIRESTONE WILL ALSO BE NOTIFIED OF THESE FAILURES.( DOT NUMBER: VNHLIPM276 TIRE SIZE: 235R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728508August 20, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STOPPED. NEVER STARTED AGAIN. PLASTIC "CASSETTE GUIDE" FAILURE IN ENGINE?? SAID DEALER. TIMING / VALVES ALL WENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728332August 18, 2000
TIRES
TIRE TREAD PARTIALLY SEPARATED AT SPEED (NOT ALL THE WAY ACROSS--A STRIP ABOUT 1/3 THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE AND ABOUT 3 INCHES WIDE CAME OFF). TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 85 DEGREES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY346 TIRE SIZE: P23575SR15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728397August 18, 2000
TIRES
THE TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE AND HIT THE WHEEL WELL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AND NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURED. THE TIRE WAS ON THE REAR AND FIRESTONE WOULD NOT EVEN PRORATE THE TREAD WEAR ON THE TIRE AND CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THE TIRE WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE.( DOT NUMBER: VD______ TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728214August 17, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I TOOK MY CAR FOR INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD MY TIRES DIDN'T QUALIFY. I POINTED OUT TO THE FIRESTONE MANAGER MY LEFT REAR TIRE. THE TREAD IS SEPARATING AND THERE ARE CRACKS AROUND THE TIRE AND THE OTHERS. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD COVER MY TIRES UNDER THE RECALL. I AM 400TH IN LINE. I HAVE HAD TO SWITCH LABOR DAY TRAVEL PLANS TO TRAIN TRAVEL. I DO NOT HAVE THE WHOLE DOT CODE FOR MY TIRES BUT IT DID INCLUDE W2. I WANTED TO NOTIFY YOU OF THIS FAILURE AS IT IS A DIFFERENT DOT# THEN THE CURRENT RECALLED TIRES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#728243August 17, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CRACKING AT TREAD LAYER VERY APPARENT. FIRESTONE LETTER SAYS "THE FIRST INDICATION THAT [SEPARATION IN THE TREAD AREA] IS OCCURRING COULD BE A BULGE IN THE TREAD AREA AND/OR A THUMPING NOISE." THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS OCCURRING IN THE RIGHT-FRONT TIRE. THE TIRES LIVES SHOULD NOT BE OVER, THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY277 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728255August 17, 2000
TIRES
TIRE NOISE AND VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED, REPLACED TIRES BEFORE FAILURE OCCURED.( DOT NUMBER: WZUU1PO446 TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728276August 17, 2000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
PLEASE ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P235/75R15) DOT SERIES "VNHL". I HAVE A SERIES OF SPLIT SIDEWALL CRACKS THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 1/2-INCH DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE SIDEWALL THAT RUN THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFRANCE OF THE TIRE ON BOTH THE "INSIDE" AND "OUTSIDE" ON ALL FOUR (4) TIRE'S. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE OFF-ROAD OR ABOVE 70-75MPH. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AT 32PSI COLD AND HAVE 28,000 MILES. THE TIRE TREAD IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE AND STILL HAS OVER 10/32" (5/16") OF TREAD REMAINING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY FORD AS A LEASED VEHICLE AND IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. THIS IS NOT A DAILY DRIVER AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 450 MILES ONE WAY, OR FOR MORE THAN 5-HOURS AT ANYONE TIME. THE SERIES OF CRACKS WERE NOT PRESENT WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HAS OCCURED OVER THE LAST YEAR. I FIRST NOTICED THESE CRACKS AFTER RETURNING FROM A TRIP TO COLUMBUS, OHIO LAST JUNE. THEY APPEAR TO HAVE LENGTHENED AND HAVE OPENNED UP SLIGHTLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER. I HAD 32PSI IN THE TIRES PRIOR TO THIS TRIP. AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE DOT SERIES NUMBER IS "VNHL" AND THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. I URGE "ALL" CONCERNED TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THESE TIRES ARE NOT FROM THE DECANTUR, ILLINOIS PLANT, BUT FROM CANADA. THE CHANCE OF ONE INJURY OR FATALITY PER MILLION IS ONE TOO MANY AND THIS TIRE PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN USING AN AWL TO PUNCTURE THE AIR BUBBLES OR JUST THE ILLINIOS PLANT. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT SOMEWHERE IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND "ALL" FIRESTONE TIRES REGARLESS OF THE DOT SERIES NEEDS TO BE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED AND THAT INCLUDES ALL CURRENT OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH FIRESTONE TIRES. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO THIS VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. FAMILIES ARE AT RISK HERE, NOT JUST A TIRE MANUFACTURE, BUT ACTUAL LIVES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728297August 17, 2000
TIRES
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A GRAVELED ROAD IN A REMOTE LOCATION IN NORTHWESTERN COLORADO THE LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY WENT FLAT . SOME PICTURES OF THE TIRE BEING CHANGED WERE TAKEN BUT MAY NOT SHOW THE DAMAGED TIRE. I MANAGE A FLEET OF GOVERNMENT VEHICLES AND THOUGHT THE TIRES LOOKED AS IF THERE WAS A BREAK DOWN OF THE MATERIALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THE TIRE GOING FLAT, IT JUST BLEW AND ALMOST CAME OFF THE RIM IN A DISTANCE OF LESS THAN 10 FEET.( DOT NUMBER: VD TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868044August 17, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020 SHE HAD A BLOW OUT THE FRONT TIRE. THEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE AND ATTENDANT FROM THE FIRESTONE TOLD HIM THAT THE OTHER THREE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE TIRE HAD STRETCH MARK ALL AROUND THE INNER SIDE WALL OF THE TIRES. THE TIRE OF FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT P25570R 16 THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70/R16 *MW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868014August 17, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997 FORD, EXPLORER, SIZE 15 235. CONSUMER HAD TIRES ROTATED AT 21951 MILES. WENT ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 60MPH AND VEHICLE FISHTAILED ABOUT 3 TIMES. ALSO, BACK SEAT BROKE. CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE DRIVING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RIGHT AFTER INCIDENT. DIDN'T THINK TO LOOK AT TIRES AT THE TIME, BUT BELIEVED IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE TIRES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#728066August 16, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I HAVE THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WITH THE CODE VN MADE IN CANADA. I TOOK THE CAR TO FIRESTONE AND THEY SAID THE TIRES ARE SAFE, BUT, THERE IS A HAIR LINE CRACK ALL AROUBD THE TIRES (ALL FOUR) ON THE SIDE NEAR THE TOP OF THE TREAD AREA. THIS LOOKS LIKE ALL THE PICTURES OF THE TIRE SEPERATION THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND TV. FIRESTONE SAID THEY ARE SAFE, BUT THE CRACK DOES NOT LOOK SAFE TO ME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VN TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728082August 16, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING APROX, 20 MPH MY LEFT REAR TIRE ALL OF A SUDDEN BLEW OUT. I DID NOT OR HAD NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. I THINK THE RECALL ON THE WILDERNESS AT TIRE SOULD INCLUDE ALL TIRE OF THE MAKE NOT JUST THOSE OUT OF THE DECATUR, IL PLANT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AND IT SEEMS THAT KNOW ONE REALY CARES UNLESS YOU HAVE THE TIRE WITH HAVE THE VD DOT # ON THEM. THE MOST REPORTS HAVE COME FORM THAT PLANT BUT IT IS THE SAME TIRE WETHER IT CAME FORM IL,OR GA OR WHERE EVER THAT TIRE IS MADE. I AM SURE IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED BY ALL WHO OWN THESE TIRE IF U MADE IT A TOTAL RECALL REGARDLESS OF THE PLANT THE TIRE CAME FROM. I HAVE 5 CO-WORKERS WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WE ALL JUST PURCHASED NEW CARS WHICH HAVE THESE TIRES AND WE ARE ALL VERY CONCEREND AND UPSET BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET OUR TIRES CHANGED.( DOT NUMBER: VNHLIPY097 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728175August 16, 2000
TIRES
I LOST PART OF THE TREAD WITH ANOTHER PART PEELED BACK ALONG WITH STEEL BELT WHILE TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY NEAR MIAMI. I HEARD POPPING SOUND AND THEN A NOISE WITH EACH TIRE ROTATION. I DISCOVERED DAMAGE AFTER PULLING OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE LOST TREAD MEASURES ABOUT 12" LONG BY 3" WIDE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR LOSS OF CONTROL..JUST SEVERAL ANXIOUS HOURS RIDING TO AND FROM OUR VACATION WITH NO SPARE AND 3 OTHER POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHI IPY TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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