This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
: the contact stated that all four of the tire sidewalls are splitting. The tires are the original tires that the vehicle was purchased with. The tires pressure has been kept at the recommended levels. The tires were regularly serviced, rotated and had the pressure checked on them. There has been no vibration while driving and no abnormal bulging. The contact has pictures of side wall splitting available upon request. A representative of the Firestone company contacted the consumer and informed him that the problem was usually caused by under inflated or over loaded tires. The representative also stated that Ford recommend psi was 35. The consumer stated he has always kept 65 psi in the tires as stamped on the sidewall of the tires. It was also stated that the vehicle should have load E range tires instead of D load range. Updated 07/07/06.
Consumer received a recall on the Firestone steeltex tire. The tires were replaced by the consumer. Contact was made with the manufacturer, and it was acknowledged that the reimbursement would be made upon receipt of the special forms which were never received by the consumer.
Consumer replaced the tires when there was a recall on the Firestone tire. Currently, there is a recall for the tires that were replaced, and manufacturer offers no reimbursement. No recall found for this tire.
- Mexico, MO, USA
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Bridestone dueler A/T D693 LT285/75R16 tlowlps D, article number 298581. Tires purchased 9/18/03. Failure occurred at 6 months, 10,000 miles after purchase. 2000 Ford Excursion 4WD, diesel. Catastrophic blowout on front left drivers side while driving on I-30 in grapevine, Texas at 2:00 pm, good conditions, dry, speed 65 mph. No warning, loud explosion, truck whipped left immediately and slammed into cement highway dividers. Literally on two wheels on top of dividers before coming to a stop over 100 yds away. Children in car. No injuries as were all belted. Entire left side truck damaged, left rear tire damaged. Frame damage. Truck still being repaired. Repairs exceeding $6,000 so far. This is the second blowout on these tires I have experienced. The first occurred at 6 or 7 months as well as it happened in July or August and tire was purchased 1/4/02. Tire was replaced as dealer stated it was a defective tire. Is anyone looking into this yet?
Consumer stated that Firestone tires separated and flapped before consumer had to purchase another tire. Since the tire was replaced before March, 2003 Firestone will not honor consumer's request for a replacement.
Firestone steeltex A/T removed from service as Firestone technician did not like the appearance of the sidewall. This is second of 3 failures in two month period.
While on a driving vacation with my family, I found all 4 Firestone steeltex 265-75 a\T tires on our 2000 Ford Excursion to be experiencing sidewall failure.2 of the tires were near immediate failure and the other two were starting to fail.I make it a habit to check my tires and vehicle closely whenever I fuel my vehicles up, and this was the only thing preventing what could have been a very serious accident ( I was towing a 24 ft boat at the time).
Firestone steeltex R45 tires which were original equipment on a 2000 Ford Excursion. The tires have 30,000 miles with minimal tread wear, however, the sidewalls on all 4 tires are splitting to the cord. Contact with Firestone resulted in a verbal explanation that they would recognize this as a 'road hazard' situation and pro-rate 50% of the cost of replacement with Firestone/Bridgestone tires. The Firestone Consumer Affairs/retail operations representative further advised that the ntsb has completed an investigation of these tires and found no reason for a recall.
On sat. (08/10/02) my family and I decided to take a leisurely drive into the hill country just outside of austin, Texas. I was driving my 2000 Ford Excursion on hwy 71, westward at an approx speed of 65 when the front right tire completely separated from its tread. This occurred unexpectedy for there was no debris on the road and no object was hit or struck. The seperated tread tumbled over and over in the wheel well area causing extensive damage to vehicle. I narrowly escaped hitting oncoming traffic and managed to limp the vehicle over to the shoulder. The tire remained inflated - no blow out, tread simply came apart! after recovering tread from roadway, the tire was changed with spare and further limped back to austin to original dealership. Dealer service manger reviewed damage as well as drew my attention to opposite front left tire which appeared to have a "bubble" on its tread. The Excursion, under factory warranty and the Firestone steeltex A/T lt 265/75R16 tires original tires purchased with vehicle - I assumed Ford would pay to replace tires and fix damage to vehicle. I am not pleased to report Ford is pointing finger at Firestone and informs me any damage claims must be directed to Firestone hq. I filed incident report #818333 with Firestone and was required to ship both tire & tread to their hq. After only 1/2 day investigation - Firestone mailed form letter in return stateing "..tire failure did not result from defect in either materials or workmanship".but rather "insufficient air pressure". this is not true. I am meticulous in the care and maintence to this vehicle including its tires. Pressure was checked just prior to our outing that same day. I would never put my family at risk due to negligence on my part. Its sad to see neither Firestone nor Ford take any responsiblity for these defective tires.
All four original equipment tires showed severe cracking in the sidewalls and were replced by Firestone on a prorated basis. No accident was caused, problem noticed in driveway and remidied immediately.
While traveling 70-75mph on highway, heard a noise and saw smoke from rear mirrior. Consumer was able to pull over to the shoulder. Right rear tire sidewall blewout. Firestone, LT265.75R16,119/steeltex. Consumer checked the remaining tires and found they too were defective. They had stress cracks in the rubber around the raised white lettering. You could lift the rubber as though it were hinged and some lifted as far to see the cord beneath. Consumer replaced the remaining tires at own expense. Consumer is asking to be reimbursed for monies paid.
Firestone tire exhibited sidewall tears in the area where the white letters were placed, consumer has been told that the tires are unsafe and replaced all four tires. Consumer is asking that he be reimbursed for the replacement of the tires. (state of Minnesota office of the attorney general sent in this complaint on behalf of consumer file#rjm/2002/253329/C).
Replacement equipment with 3000 miles on a 2000 Ford Excursion. Passenger rear tire had a blowout at 73 mph. Consumer states that he was slightly injured while changing the tire, Firestone tire, no other tire information given.
Tread of tire detached from sidewall at speed. No damage to tread or sidewall prior to blowout. This problem sounds extremely similar to earlier "tread separation" issues. I can send a digital picture if desired.
Noticed split in sidewalls on all 4 tires at approx. 21300, we changed the worst out to the spare. Went to a Firestone dealer, who did a courtesy check and told us all 4 tires were bad this included the spare that had less than 300 miles on it. He said it was "road hazard" not a factory defect and that we needed to purchase new tires. When I said I was going to pusue this farther he told us we may not make it home on the back tire (43 miles) and that we needed to change it I ask to what we had already taken the worst one off the truck. I then called the dealership I purchased the truck from and they understood but said they could do nothing and recommended I call Ford to open a folder, I called Ford they recorded the complaint and said they could do nothing. They gave me the Firestone # I then called Firestone they had me go get two opinions from non-Firestone dealers both said tire failure, and were to contact the Firestone dealer. We have not heard back from Firestone. (tiresize: 265 75 R16)
While driving 75mph had heard a thump, tire had blown, maintained control and pulled off road. Checked tires, and noticed left front had a hole on inside of sidewall, which was outward. Outside of the sidewall was peeled away from tread which had remained intact on tire. Firestone, steel tex, P265/75R16, original equipment.
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- Metamora, IL, USA