Ford Explorer Complaints (1997)

1,773 consumer complaints on file.

#727447August 10, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH WHEN HEARD SLIGHT THUMPING NOISE, FOLLOWED BY HUGE NOISE, WHEN I REALIZED MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE FORD EXPLORER REMAINED VERY STRAIGHT AND I PULLED OVER. THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED INTO PIECES. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS A STRANGE BLOW OUT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SEEM INSTANTANOUS. I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE IN GOOD SHAPE. ALWAYS ROTATED, ETC.. SINCE THE TIRES HAD 42,000 MILES I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE SAME BRAND!! IT WASN'T UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE TIRES ON THE NEWS THAT I REALIZED WHY IT HAPPENED. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHERS THERE ARE THAT NEVER EVEN REPORTED A PROBLEM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235-75/15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727453August 10, 2000
TIRES
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727495August 10, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE REAR LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE I WAS TRAVELLING AT 60 MPH ON I-95 BETWEEN BALTIMORE AND WASINGTON D.C. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND ONLY HIT THE GUARDRAIL INSTEAD OF OTHER VEHICLES. THE TIRE COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND WRAPPED AROUND MY AXEL. IT WAS NOT DUE TO A PUNCTURE. I HAD TO GET THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE OF MY TRUCK REPLACED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727513August 10, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WE WERE DRIVING BACK TO AZ FROM PA ON I-40 IN AR WHEN OUR FRONT LEFT TIRE DISINTEGRATED. THERE WAS NO NOISE JUST THE SUDDEN VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE, FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND GET IT TO THE MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN WE GOT OUT THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS THE TWO SIDE WALLS OF THE TIRE. WE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING A FEW HOURS THAT DAY AND IT WASN'T THAT HOT OF A DAY, IT HAD BEEN RAINING AND WAS GETTING READY TO RAIN AGAIN. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS OK JUST 1 WEEK PRIOR. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL OF THIS TYPE OF TIRE AND AM CONCERNED THAT EVEN THOUGH MY TIRES WERE NOT MADE IN THE EFFECTED ILLINOIS PLANT THEY ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. MY TIRES SAY THEY WERE MADE IN CANADA. *AK( DOT NUMBER: NOT LISTED TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727524August 10, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED VEHICLE ROLL OVER. THIS WAS SECOND OCCURRENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION, THE FIRST NOT CAUSING ROLL OVER ALTHOUGH SPEED WAS ABOUT 70MPH (SAME BRAND TIRE) (RIGHT REAR TIRE, DAMAGE OF $883 TO REPAIR RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL, 11/10/99) HAVING NO PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH THE SECOND FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT AND RISK MY LIFE LIKE A DUMB FOOL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727541August 10, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THESE TIRES DO NOT HAVE A DOT NUMBER BEGINNING WITH A "VD" RATHER BM. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION- THERE ARE FINE CRACKS AROUND THE COMPLETE CIRCUMFRANCE OF THE TIRE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE APPROXIMATELY 1/2-INCH DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: BM 07459-3 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727542August 10, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
VEHICLE HAD BRAND NEW TIRES ON IT WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT IN APRIL, SO TIRES HAD LESS THAN 6000 MILES WHEN TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED.THE THREE REMAINING TIRES NOW HAVE ALITTLE LESS THAN 10,000 MILESAND THEY ALL SHOW SIGNS OF SEPERATION. THE TIRE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE 64 EAST, JUST WEST OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. THE ROAD CONDITIONS AND WEATHER WERE IDEAL EXCEPT FOR THE HEAT.WE HAD GONE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AFTER A LENGTHY STOP FOR FOOD AND GAS WHEN THE TIRE FAILED, WITH NO WARNING. WE SWERVED TO THE LEFT ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND LUCKILY THERE WAS ENOUGH SHOULDER TO "CATCH" THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE TIRE , IT BEAT UP THE FENDER AND THE FRONT BUMPER AND THEN KICKED OUT TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE IT TORE THE MOULDINGS OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.WE NOW HAVE A CLAIM FILED WITH FIRESTONE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUR INSUANCE DEDUCTIBLE AND COST OF A NEW TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VD TIRES TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867352August 10, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH REAR RIGHT TIRE SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL, WANDERING SIDE TO SIDE. OTHER EXPERIENCE WITH FIRESTONE TIRES WILDERNESS AT WAS THAT REAR LEFT TIRE WAS PEELING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867415August 10, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE IN A PARKING LOT SPACE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING, LOST CONTROL AND STROKE A BULDING. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867353August 10, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SEPARATING/CRACKING AROUND TREAD LINE. TIRE SIZE WAS P25570R16, ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE TIRES. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TIRES. *AK ALL FOUR TIRES THAT CRACKED ALONG TREAD LINE WERE REPLACED BY THE CUSTOMER. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#784786August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE ATX TIRE (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DO A 360 DEGREE TURN ON THE INTERSTATE, VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#553612August 9, 2000
TIRES
THE TIRES (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT) ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND CUPPING, VEHICLE ALSO PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT AND APPEARED TO BE VERY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727140August 9, 2000
TIRES
TIRE SEPARATED WITH STEEL BELTING CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO QUARTER PANEL. DRIVER IS MILITARY AND IS TRAINED TO INSPECT TIRES BEFORE DRIVING VEHICLE AS HE DRIVES ON U.S. AIR FORCE RUNWAYS ON A REGULAR BASIS. HE HAD INSPECTED TIRES APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PRIOR TO INCIDENT. DRIVER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE THUS PREVENTING WORSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND BODILY INJURY TO HIMSELF AND PASSENGER. THIRTEEN DAYS PRIOR, TO INCIDENT, CAR WAS SERVICED WITH NO VERBAL MENTION OF TIRE PROBLEM. SERVICE REPORT READS LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TIRES EACH HAD 7/32 TIRE TREAD AND WEAR PATTERN GOOD. TIRES PRESSURE AT 26 PSI. IN REVIEWING PURCHASE CONTRACT DETERMINED STANDARD EQUIPMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN P225/7OR155L BSW A/S TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY436 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727144August 9, 2000
TIRES
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DOING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN MY BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. I COULD HAVE BEEN GOING A LITTLE OVER 80 HOWEVER. I DO NOT RECALL HITTING ANYTHING BUT JUST HEARING THE LOUD EXPLOSION AND SUDDENLY TRYING TO STEER ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AS I SLOWED DOWN. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPLACED. THEY SAID THE TIRE LOOKED TORN APART WITH A HOLE AROUND 9 INCHES OR SO. I DID NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT IT AT THE TIME OTHER THAN HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE IT. I DID NOT INQUIRE ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE OR IF IT SEEMED STRANGE. I WAS JUST GLAD TO HAVE NOT WRECKED AND JUST QUICKLY REPLACED IT. I SIMPLY WANTED TO REPORT THAT I DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS TIRE EVEN THOUGH I DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW IF THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE MADE BY FIRESTONE. AS I SAID, I JUST WANTED TO GO ON RECORD SAYING I DID HAVE AN INCIDENT WITH IT.( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727150August 9, 2000
TIRES
I WAS DRIVING FROM L.A. TO PHOENIX ON 6/13/98. PRIOR TO MY DEPARTURE FROM L.A., ALL OF THE TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR THE DRIVE. THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION. AT 9:30AM I WAS DRIVING EAST ON I-10 @ 75MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE ROAD BECAME BUMPY AND I SWITCHED LANES. MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LUNGED TO THE LEFT AND I REALIZED THAT MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN, AND THE RIM HAD CAUGHT THE PAVEMENT. I WRESTLED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT WHILE HEADING FOR AN OFF-RAMP TO AVOID TRAFFIC & AN UPCOMING OVERPASS. IT FISH-TAILED BACK AND FORTH UNTIL AND BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. IT SLID THROUGH A ROAD SIGN AND THEN ROLLED OVER ENDING UPSIDE DOWN BESIDE THE ROAD, FACING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND I SUFFERED MANY CUTS TO MY HEAD (ALONG WITH MANY STRAINED MUSCLES.) I WAS LUCKY. THE CHP REPORT HELD ME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRASH. I CONTENDED AT THE TIME THAT THE BLOW-OUT WAS MORE ABRUPT AND SEVER THAN ANY I HAD EVER EXPERIENCED, AND THAT CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WITH SUCH AN ABRUPT BLOW AT THAT SPEED WAS IMPOSSIBLE. I DISPUTED THE REPORT. I ALSO COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, THE DMV AND THE INSURANCE AGENCY. ALL HELD ME RESPONSIBLE AND THE DEALER OFFERED THAT I COULD TRY AND SUE THE TIRE COMPANY. I DIDN'T. AS A RESULT, I LOST A NEW CAR, AND SPENT MANY WEEKS RECUPERATING. MY INSURANCE RATES ALSO INCREASED AS WELL AS RECEIVING A POINT ON MY DRIVERS LICENSE. I DID MANAGE TO HAVE SOME PICTURES TAKEN OF THE FORD & THE BLOWN TIRE FOLLOWING THE CRASH. THE POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN BY CHP OFFICER L. QUATTLEBAUM #12917, REPORT # 98060056. (THE REPORT MISTAKENLY LISTS THE TIRES AS GOODYEAR, BUT THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL WILDERNESS AT'S AS MY PICTURES SHOW.) THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRE SIZE: 225/70R15S )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#727155August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS DRIVING 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD THE ENTIRE OUTER TREAD SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE HAD ABOUT 45,000 MILES OF USE. I THEN PAID TO REPLACE THE REMAINING TIRES AT BIG O TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727188August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I'VE HAD THREE WILDERNESS AT TIRE FAILURES. ONE RESULTED IN BLOWOUT AT INTERSTATE SPEED. THE LAST TWO WERE CAUGHT IN THE TREAD BUBBLE UP STAGE BY ME BEFORE A BLOWOUT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235X15 R75 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727208August 9, 2000
TIRES
MY 18 YEAR SON IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND WILL BE LEAVING FOR COLLEGE TEN DAYS. HIS SAFETY IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN AND AFTER SEEING THE AWFUL ACCIDENTS/DEATHS REPORTED IN RECENT WEEKS I WISH TO RECEIVED MORE INFORMATION. ALL THE INFORMATION I CAN GET FROM FIRESTONE IS THAT THE TIRES ARE SAFE. THIS IS EASY FOR THEM TO TELL ME AS THE CONSUMER. WE ARE PLAYING WITH THE LIVES OF MANY HUMAN BEINGS, MY SON INCLUDED. YES, I NEED A MORE INFORMED, CARING ANSWER THAN THE TIRES ARE SAFE. I HAVE DOCUMENTED EACH AND EVERY CONVERSATION I HAVE HAD WITH EITHER FIRESTONE OR FORD MOTOR COMPANY. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ? )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727244August 9, 2000
TIRES
TIRE DELAMINATED COMPLETELY BUT BLADDER DID NOT DEFLATE. NO CRASH, BUT LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY TREAD AS IT LEFT VEHICLE. TIRE WAS SUBMITTED TO FIRESTONE UNDER CLAIM NUMBER 019721. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AND PAID INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE BUT DID NOT ADVISE AS TO CAUSE OF FAILURE. THEY SENT ME A CHECK FOR $397.76 WITH A LETTER DATED DECEMBER 10,1999. THE REMAINDER OF THE CLAIM WAS PAID BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA.( DOT NUMBER: UDHC1PY516 TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727249August 9, 2000
TIRES
WE WENT OFF THE ROAD AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE TREAD BREAKING LOOSE FROM THE TIRE. A DOUBLE TRAILER TRUCK BEHIND US ALMOST HIT US AS A RESULT OF OUR VEHICLE VIBRATING AND SLOWING DOWN. LUCKILY WE COULD PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE FRONT FENDER WAS DANGLING, AND THE WHEEL COVER WAS TORN AND BENT, RUBBING ON THE TIRE THAT REMAINED WITHOUT THE TREAD. A SCARY SITUATION. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS FAULTY. THEY ARE NOW TAKING LEGAL ACTION TO RECOVER THEIR COST OF REPAIR FROM FIRESTONE. MY HUSBAND HAD SEVERAL TREATMENT TO HIS SHOULDER, AND AN ORTHOSCOPIC OPERATION TO THE SHOULDER AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. I AM STILL FRIGHTENED EACH TIME I DRIVE THE EXPLORER, WORRYING ABOUT THE REMAINING TIRES FOR FEAR THE SAME THING MAY HAPPEN. FIRESTONE HAS NOT BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE. THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY. WE DID NOT KNOW TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO NTSA UNTIL THE RECENT NEWS THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS SIMILAR TO OURS. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HAVE OUR TIRES RECALLED, AND TO GET COMPENSATION FROM BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 OWL )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Explorer