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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
47 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
121 / 24
Average Mileage:
2,600 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

1996 Ford Explorer wheels / hubs problems

wheels / hubs problem

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1996 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 5 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #180

Dec 301999

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Firestone Wilderness AT tires P255 70 R16 experienced splitting.

- Oakland Park, FL, USA

problem #179

Jul 021999

Explorer

  • miles
Tire tread separated causing the vehicle to skid then spin then roll 4 times. Driver suffered a head injury requiring hospital care. Front passenger was not injured. Back seat passenger was ejected from the vehicle and suffered a fractured L2 vertebrae. (dot number: Unknown tiresize: P235/75R15)

- Columbus, MS, USA

problem #178

Jul 122000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
I am sending you a complete description I mailed Firestone for reimbursement. Please call me as I have a vehicle that suffered the drivers side rear wheel blowout and I almost crashed into the freeway barrier. (tiresize: ?)( dot number: Tire size: ? )

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #177

Jul 151998

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Travelling on the fl turnpike on a very hot day at appx 70 mph the right rear tire casing blew off the tire. The inside tire stayed invlated. I drove off the expressway to the nearest Firestone. They did not tellme this was a product defect and they should fix the damages to my vehicle. The tail light was smashed, the cowling around the wheel well was damaged. I paid to replace all 4 tires. I also had a tire blowout on the highway but no damage was done to the vehicle on that occasion.these tires are not included in the recall but maybe they should be. (tiresize: 25570R16)( dot number: Tire size: 25570R16 )

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

problem #176

Mar 151997

Explorer

  • miles
I have had three Firestone tire failures since purchasing this car - one definitely due to a separated tread - I have had to replace all the tires on my Explorer. (tiresize: P235/75R15)( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Orange Beach, AL, USA

problem #175

Oct 042000

Explorer

  • miles
Tires have cracks on and about shoulder area, dry rot. These tires were replaced and inspected by sears personnel. Firestone personnel refused to acknowledge any problem with these tires; did not inspect. I have retained all 5 tires. (dot number: W2uu1mx295 tiresize: P225/70R15)

- Homestead, FL, USA

problem #174

Dec 011999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased my 96 Ford Explorer in Nov. 95 and have had a vehicle shudder problem that becomes a safety problem when tires are inflated beyond the recommended tire pressure of 26psi. Ford have now recommended tire pressures of 30psi, which I cannot do without risking a vehicle loss of control situation.the first time tis happened, it absolutely scared the living daylights out of me, to put it politely! I had just picked up the truck from the mission valley Ford after some brake work. I took the truck up to freeway speed and while traveling over some rough freeway surface the truck almost went out of control. I returned to the dealer where failure analysis was performed. The only issue the service engineer identified as abnormal was they had set the tire pressure to 30psi(all tires). Resetting the tires back to 26psi eliminated the problem.this problem resurfaced twice more since and resetting the tires to 26psi corrected the lack of control problem. The shudder I normally feel appeared to extend into the steering wheel and it became very difficult for me to control the truck when I traveled over a rough patch in the surface of a freeway. Emergency braking brought the truck back under control. I no longer allow my wife to drive the Explorer.IM familiar with steering wheel shudder as a result of poor wheeling balancing, but this is different. The whole vehicle shudders, not the steering wheel, at cruising speeds of 60 mph and above, and is particularly obvious on long journeys. This was identified to your service dept., who suggested that the tracking and/or the tires may be at fault. Tracking has been checked and new tires purchased, but neither corrected the problemt shudder problem has been verified by the service dept of the dealer where I purchased my Explorer. See attached service records dated 6/12/97 and 12/1/98 for this problem.please review the above information and attached service records. I eagerly await your response.

- Cupertino, CA, USA

problem #173

Sep 292000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Tire blowout on highway. Separation on side. Dealer (Firestone) would not cover because it was not a recalled tire yet even though obvious defect. (dot number: 8X?? tiresize: P235/75R15)

- Poland, OH, USA

problem #172

Aug 012000

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Firestone wilderness tire failed while driving (P255-70R16). Nlm

- Madera, CA, USA

problem #171

Jul 302000

Explorer

  • miles
Driving 70mph when steering wheel began to shake. Heard thumping noises at the same time. Vehicle also started to vibrate. Was slowing down & pulled into walmart. Had a salesperson in the tire section look at tires. The left front had tread on it, but completely uneven. The tread still on tires barely. Pulled all four tires off vehicle. Firestone at P275/75R15 with 42,000 miles.

- Sugarland, TX, USA

problem #170

Jul 202000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Purchased vehicle on 3/10/2000 mileage on vehicle 37,410. On May 21, 2000 while driving on highway 99 at approximately 67-70 mph at approximately 1:30 in the afternoon my front tire shred. This resulted in approx 1,700 worth of damage to my vehicle. On July 20 while traveling on highway 152 at approximately 65-67 mph the rear tire shred, resulting in loss of control of the vehicle and ultimately our vehicle rolling over. Both of these tires were Firestone FR480's. my lawyer is retaining the vehicle at this time and it still has two of these defective tires on it. Please reconsider your recall list, as I do not think it is complete.( dot number: Tire size: 225/70R15 )

- Chowchilla, CA, USA

problem #169

Jun 012000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Right rear tire shedded, driver almost lost control, grandchilden and wife of driver were really emotionally upset..( dot number: Tire size: P225/70R15 )

- Granada Hills, CA, USA

problem #168

Sep 162000

Explorer

  • miles
Damage was done to the front right bumper, front right side panel, and front right door, inside floorboard near running board. I have exhausted all avenues in attempting to find a resolution to the problem. I do have a phone log stating all the frustrating phone calls I have made with no results other than "we will send you the forms". meanwhile, I am stuck without a car, unable to get to work; I've had to compromise my lifestyle. I am expected to pay out of my pocket for repairs to my car. I am terrified to drive my car (it has been stored since the incident 9/16/00) having still, three defective "human killing" tires" putting my life, as well as the lives of others in jeopardy. One would think a large company would leap to the opportunity to prevent further tragedy.( dot number: W2cu1px475 tire size: P255/70R16 )

- West Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #167

Sep 212000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Had tire blowout 1 mile from home on country road due to sidewall failure. Needed replacement tire. After learning about defects, had all 4 tires replaced.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75/15 )

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #166

Jun 272000

Explorer

  • miles
Tires were replaced on 6/27/2000 and Firestone rebate form was mailed in. Firestone's reponse was since the tires were purchased prior to Jan 1, 2000 they were declining the claim. Since when is June 27, 2000 prior to Jan 1, 2000"?" Firestone is not complying with their recall terms. Original receipt is clearly dated 6/27/2000. This company needs to be examined very closely by federal authorities at placing lives in danger and then shirking their own recall conditions.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #165

Jun 222000

Explorer

  • miles
Florida highway patrol case number 00-40-23433-03( dot number: Tire size: P235 15 in )

- Apollo Beach, FL, USA

problem #164

Sep 161998

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Towing expl. Behind motorhome on interstate 580. Left rear tire blew. We paid $500 deductable. August 1999 while driving in Alaska the right rear tire blew. These tires are not on the recall list but we wanted you to know that other Firestone tires are having the same problems.( dot number: W2uu tire size: P225/70R15 )

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #163

Sep 212000

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
In September of 1998, we were traveling from atlanta when our front right tire blow out, we had just put on new tires in August.( dot number: )

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #162

Apr 012000

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The Firestone Wilderness AT 225/70/R16 tires are defective, however not included in the recall.

- Hamden, CT, USA

problem #161

Jul 281999

Explorer

  • miles
One tire was constantly low from time of purchase. Complained to 2 Ford dealerships and tire company but no one could find a problem with tire. I put air in the tire weekly for 3 years and had tires rotated every 3.000 miles. Tires were in good condition except for slow leak in the one in question. Tire pressure was kept at approx. 30lbs or higher never below. While driving on I-80 over Sierra from reno to sacramento the car began to shake.vibrate.intensely so lowered speed fom 60mph to 40mph for 2 hours until finding surbuban Ford in sac. The service manager drove the car and said it was too dangerous to continue driving but he could not find the problem. Finally on the lift he said there was problem with tire so he changed it. Next day at Firestone service center I was told by manage that the tire separated. He replaced the tire with same make and charged me $37. In January 2000 another tire separated and I again bought a new tire for $67. It also separated. I'm advising of this info to help others regarding the issue of tire inflation. Firestone continues to blame the consumer but we inflated our tires to at least 30. There is an obvious defect in the tires. All this info is documented should someone require it regarding a serious injury. I was very very lucky so I hope this helps someone who was not as fortunate.( dot number: Tire size: 23575R15 )

- Vacaville, CA, USA

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