Ford Explorer Complaints (1998)

2,085 consumer complaints on file.

#727248August 9, 2000
TIRES
TIRE FAILURE AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED OF 35MPHS.NO INJURIES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727251August 9, 2000
TIRES
TIRE TREAD SEPERATED FROM SIDEWALL RIGHT REAR TIRE
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
6
Deaths:
1
#727261August 9, 2000
TIRES
I RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT FIRESTONE'S RECALL NOTICE. MY DAUGHTER AND NIECE WERE DRIVING MY 1998 EXPLORER ON HIGHWAY 85 IN GASTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, LAST OCTOBER. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE BACK TIRE BLEW OUT/CAME OFF THE RIM AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE EXPLORER FLIPPED OVER TWICE AND SLID ON ITS SIDE ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, MY DAUGHTER AND NIECE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES (WHIPLASH, CUTS, ABRASIONS, AND BRUISES). THEY HAD FOLLOW UP VISITS TO THE DOCTOR FOR PAIN AND STIFFNESS AND WERE PUT ON MEDICATION. THE EXPLORER WAS TOTALED. THEREFORE, I LOST THE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN PAID ON THE VEHICLE, PLUS MEDICAL BILLS, HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND MY INSURANCE RATES WERE RAISED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DID NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER EXPLORER. ALSO, ONE OF MY BROTHERS ALSO HAD AN ACCIDENT IN HIS EXPLORER. THE TIRE CAME OFF WHEN HE WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE, AND THE EXPLORER FLIPPED OVER AND WAS TOTALED. MY BROTHER WAS INJURED, BUT FORTUNATELY NOT KILLED. SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MY VEHICLE I NO LONGER HAVE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BY NATIONWIDE INSURANCE.( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#727269August 9, 2000
TIRES
THE FRONT LEFT TIRE EXPLODED WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65 - 70 MPH. JUST PRIOR TO THE BLOW-OUT I HAD NOTICED A SLIGHT PULL TO THE LEFT. WHEN THE TIRE BLEW I GRADUALLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE IN SLOWING THE VEHICLE. NOT 60% INEFFECTIVE, TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE. IT WAS NOT AFTER I SWITCHED OFF THE IGNITION, ABOUT 3 SECONDS AFTER THE BLOW-OUT, THAT THE BRAKES RESUMED NORMAL EFFECTIVNESS. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER. THEY DID A CHECK OF THE BRAKES AND SAID EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OK. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BREAKING SYSTEM HAD SOMEHOW LOCKED OUT ALL BRAKES WHEN THE LEFT FRONT BLEW OUT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727278August 9, 2000
TIRES
I WAS DRIVING DOWN 495 SOUTH BOUND IN THE FAR LEFT LANE GOING 65 MPH WHEN MY RIGHT REAR TIRE LOST IT'S TREAD. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE SAFELY OFF THE ROAD HOWEVER THE TIRE COMPLETELY FELL APART AND I WAS RIDDING ON THE RIM. WHEN I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FIRESTONE ON JULY 10TH THEY DENIED IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM AND MADE ME PAY TO REPLACE THE SAME TIRE AND PAY TO HAVE IT MOUNTED. AS OF TODAY 08/09/2000 THEY STILL DENY MY TIRE HAD ANY MANUFACTURE DEFECT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727289August 9, 2000
TIRES
THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE SEPERATED AT 70MPH. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CROSS OVER 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC. NO OTHER ACCIDENT OCCURED. MAJOR DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE SIDE AND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. MY 2 INFANT SONS AND MY WIFE AND BROTHER-IN-LAW WERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN CA.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727304August 9, 2000
TIRES
TIRE RECALL CONCERNS OF SAFETY AND TO CHANGE NEW TIRES ONES BY WEEKEND( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727323August 9, 2000
TIRES
HAD A BLOW-OUT ONE NIGHT AFTER CLASS AROUND 9:00 PM. THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT TRAVELING VERY FAST. THEN WITHIN THE NEXT 5-6 WEEKS, I HAD 2 FLAT TIRES. ALL THIS IN APROX. 6 WEEKS IS TOO MANY. AT THE TIME OF THE BLOW-OUT , MY EXPLORER WAS UNDER 20,000 MILES. WE COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR THE BLOW-OUT OR COULD WE FIND ANY THING IN THE ROAD OR TIRE. IT'S BEEN 3-4 MONTHS NOW BUT I AM AFRAID SOMETHING TERRIBLE STILL COULD HAPPEN. THESE TIRES ARE NOT GOOD. TODAY ON CNN THEY ARE RECALLING THESE TIRES . ARE THEY RECALLING MY TIRES TOO? HOPEFULLY SO AND ASAP I HAVE A FAMILY WITH 2 CHILDREN THAT I DON'T WANT HURT OR KILLED. MY WORK (304)291-9320 ASK FOR CHARLOTTE ORNDOFF, AFTER 8-23-00( DOT NUMBER: W2HI TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727382August 9, 2000
TIRES
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT MY TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIRESTONE RECALL. I BOUGHT MY EXPORER NEW IN '98 AND AS I REPORTED IN THIS FORM I HAVE HAD TWO BLOW OUTS WITHIN 6 MONTHS. FORTUNATLY NEITHER ONE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT BOTH TIMES THE TIRES WERE UNREPAIRABLE. I'M ALSO VERY CONSCIOUS ABOUT VEHICLE MAINTAINENCE AND FOLLOW ALL THE MANUFACTURES RECOMMENDATIONS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN PROVIDE ANY MORE INFORMATION AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THE SAFETY OF ALL WILDERNESS AT TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: HYUU TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727429August 9, 2000
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW APART. THE VEHICLE SWERVED IN TRAFFIC AND I HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING IT IN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. INITIALLY I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER. THE OUTER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE AND WAS MOSTLY IN TACT. THE REST OF THE TIRE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. AFTER HAVING THE TIRE CHANGED I TOOK THE TIRE TO THE FIRESTONE STORE IN ARLINGTON, TX (LITTLE ROAD) AND THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AT NO CHARGE. THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL RIM. IF FIRESTONE IS GOING TO REPLACE THESE TIRES THEY SHOULD NOT FORGET TO CHANGE OUT THE SPARE WHICH IS THE SAME TIRE ON THE FORD EXPLORER.( DOT NUMBER: ???? TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867268August 9, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING A VEHICLE IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED, FORCING CONSUMER TO STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. BUT, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867309August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING 73 MPH TREAD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE CAME OFF. THIS CAUSED EXPLORER TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND FLIP OVER. DRIVER WAS ALONE IN THE EXPLORER, AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HEAD,/BACK AND KNEE. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, ATX, NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. TIRES WERE PLACED ON VEHICLE BY FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP. EXPLORER WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE LIST TIRE SIZE AND DOT #.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#867314August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH REAR LEFT TIRE BLEWOUT. TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT WAS CAUSED BY A TREAD SEPARATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867319August 9, 2000
TIRES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SLIDE AFTER STEPPING ON BRAKES. CURRENTLY, TIRES ARE CRACKING AND OPENING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867323August 9, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020; CONSUMER NOTICED THAT PEELING WAS AROUND INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF TIRES. TIRES WERE DRY/ROTTEN, AND THERE WAS A CIRCLE RING AROUND THEM. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, AND MECHANIC INSPECTED TIRES. FIRESTONE TOLD CONSUMER THAT TIRES WOULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE DOT VD NUMBER WASN'T ENCLOSED ON THE TIRES. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE ATX, SIZE NUMBER P235/7515/R15, BUT THE DOT NUMBER WAS W2 .THIS WAS NORTH CAROLINA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726974August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
VEHICLE ROLLED AFTER GOING OUT OF CONTROL - TURNS OUT THERE WASN'T GRAVEL ON THE ROAD. IT WAS UNEXPLAINABLE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WITHOUT TREAD AFTER THE ACCIDENT, BUT THE DETAILS ARE SIMILAR TO THE INCIDENTS I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT WITH THE BRIGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES. PLEASE MAKE THEM RECALL THESE TIRES! *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#726986August 8, 2000
TIRES
ON 06/01/00 WHILE HEADING TO A FAMILY REUNION WE "HYDROPLANED" ON THE INTERSTATE JUST OUTSIDE OF LAS VEGAS, NM. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO "FISHTAIL" FROM THE BACK TIRES (APPROX 5-6 TIMES), THEN IT SWERVED SIDEWAYS OFF THE ROAD (RIGHT SIDE LANE) AND ONTO THE MEDIAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME UP ONTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC SIDE IT "POPPED UP" ONTO TWO WHEELS, CAME BACK DOWN, AND THEN POPPED UP AGAIN AND ROLLED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (ONCOMING TRAFFICE SIDE DITCH). *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#727015August 8, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
HAD A TIRE FAILURE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECENT (8/00) NEWS REPORTS - TREAD SEPARATED FROM OTHERWISE WELL-MAINTAINED TIRE GOING 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY - WAS ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE TO A STOP. IT WAS A FIRESTONE ATX WILDERNESS TIRE, STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER WITH NO SUCCESS SINCE NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED - WENT TO BRIDGESTONE VENDOR AND HAD INSPECTION DONE - CRACKING AT THE TREAD LINE WAS FOUND IN ALL THREE OTHER TIRES (EXCLUDING THE ONE REPLACED 7/19/00). I USE THE VEHICLE FOR MANY LONG DISTANCE TRIPS ACROSS THE DESERT, WITH MY 4YR OLD - FELT FORCED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES FOR SAFETY SAKE AT MY OWN EXPENSE, AS THE DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING SINCE NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. PLEASE NOTIFY ME AT THE ADDRESS HEREIN IF THE NHTSA DETERMINES A RECALL ON THESE TIRES IS WARRANTED, AS I'D LIKE TO TRY TO RECOUP SOME OF MY EXPENDITURE REPLACING THESE TIRES PRE-RECALL. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES ARE SERIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH HEAT CONDITIONS SUCH AS THE SOUTHWEST. THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THIS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, NOT THE CONSUMER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. (I DIDN'T PROVIDE VIN OR TIRE NUMBER INFORMATION AS IT IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE; IF NECESSARY I WILL DO SO.. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: STANDARD )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727035August 8, 2000
TIRES
I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS ON A TRIP STARTING IN FLORIDA ON MY WAY TO MICHIGAN. IN KENTUCKY I RAN OVER A 2X4 PEICE OF WOOD ABOUT 6" LONG. THE FRONT TIRE WENT OVER OK, BUT THE REAR TIRE BLOW IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS NO TREAD SEPARATION JUST A BIG HOLE TOWARD ONE SIDE OF THE TREAD (NOT IN THE SIDEWALL). I WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY EVEN WITH A 500 LB LOAD IN THE REAR SECTION OF THE TRUCK. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/60R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727045August 8, 2000
TIRES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TURN SIGNALS AND HIGH BEAM INDICATOR LAMP FAILED SUDDENLY. FUSES ARE GOOD. REAR WIPER HAS NEVER WORK RIGHT. HAS NOT WORK AT ALL FOR SOME TIME. ALWAYS HAD LOW RUMBLE WHEN MOVING. APPEARS TO COME FROM FRONT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 70R15 100S )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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