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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
34 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
84 / 21
Average Mileage:
2,054 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.

1997 Ford Explorer wheels / hubs problems

wheels / hubs problem

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1997 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 6 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #232

Nov 032000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles

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

Tires have cracks in the rubber near the lugs. Been to 3 Firestone dealers to have them checked for safety. First dealer said "dry rot". second dealer said "ozone cracking". third said "all tires with large lugs on SUV's get that cracking". these all sound like B.S. to me! shouldn't these tires be replaced by Firestone also before one comes a part and causes damage/injury? I lease this vehicle and I don't believe I should be responsible for this! please advise. (tiresize: P255/70R16)( dot number: Tire size: P255/70R16 )

- Willoughby, OH, USA

problem #231

Jul 182000

Explorer

  • miles
Firestone experienced steel belt protruding through, consumer requests dealer reimburse for replacement tires.

- Middleboro, MA, USA

problem #230

Sep 011999

Explorer

  • miles
Firestone Wilderness AT tire experienced blowout, a replacement tire was put on and it was noisy.

- West Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #229

Oct 032000

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles

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

Consumers tires are not included in the recall 00T-005 because the serial number does not start with vd, consumer believes the should be covered and request reimbursement. Nlm

- Newton, MA, USA

problem #228

Oct 022000

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
Firestone Wilderness AT tire experienced blowout, consumer requests reimbursement.

- Farmington, CT, USA

problem #227

Oct 202000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Firestone Wilderness AT tires P235 75 R15 experience noise and vibration.

- Oconomowoc, WI, USA

problem #226

Apr 012000

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

The left rear Firestone Wilderness AT tire experienced blowout resulting in vehicle rollover accident, two injuries due to failure.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #225

Aug 012000

Explorer

  • miles
PE00-020 ;consumer had found cracks on the tires after seen the recall information on it. Consumer had contacted Firestone dealer. Ford, Explorer, 1997, P235/75R15. Dot#vnhl1py077.

- Oxford, NJ, USA

problem #224

Oct 302000

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
Was washing vehicle & noticed cracks on all four of the tires. Original equipment. Cracks are located where tread meets the sidewall. Took to dealer & indication was that tires which were not affected due to being manufactured in Canada. Firestone, Wilderness AT, P235/75R15 with 39,000 miles.

- Champaign, IL, USA

problem #223

Oct 212000

Explorer

  • miles
I have the Wilderness AT Firestone tires. They seem to not be the recall tires but the dot # is W2hl. My husband and I were on a road trip and going 70 mph and the tread just ripped off the rear right tire. Our Explorer Sport just swerved hard to the right tilting upwards and then coming down, then swerving to the left tilting upwards and then coming down, another swerve to the right and then to the left before we stopped. This was on the interstate and everyone behind us began slamming on their brakes to avoid us. That scared me very much but we are being told that no one can help us. There was damage to my truck and I had to buy two new tires at my cost. We had a mechanic look at another tire and we could almost move the tread it was getting that bad. It was ready to blow he said. So we bought two. I am unhappy with Firestone right now and I don't want these tires on my truck. All the tires have the same dot #. I need to get three more tires and get my truck fixed and I don't know who is going to pay for it. (dot number: W2hl tiresize: P235/75R15)

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #222

Oct 242000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles

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

My mechanic, while doing an oil change, noticed the severe cut at separated tread on my right rear tire.also checking out the other tires, the rear left is badly cracked and starting to peel.they both have uneven tread wear.the right rear had to be changed immediatly.the left is in need of immediat repair also.I have a typed statement from the mechanic. (dot number: W2hl1py496 tiresize: P235/75ri5)

- Cape May Court House, NJ, USA

problem #221

Oct 102000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
All four tires have a hairline crack that goes 360 degrees around the tire on both the outside and inside. This crack appears to be where the cap attaches to the tire. I you look at the sidewall you can see where the cap is attached. (dot number: Vn tiresize: P235/75R15)

- Shingletown, CA, USA

problem #220

Oct 112000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
On October 4th, 2000 I had my Ford Explorer tires checked for the Firestone tire recall. I was told by the Ford service department, and given a service report, that all 5 of my tires passed inspection and were not on the Firestone recall. Then on October 11th, 2000 my wife was driving 35 miles an hour in the city when a tire blew out! upon my inspection I found out that all of my tires have cracks on the side walls where the tread is attached. The tire that blew out has the side wall rubber missing in this area around the whole tire. The cords are showing around the side wall! if a qualified Ford service center can't identify a tire problem when they see it, then a lot of people will get killed until the tire problem is solved. My tires should be on recall! (dot number: W2hl1py386 tiresize: P235/75R15)

- Abingdon, VA, USA

problem #219

Oct 212000

Explorer

  • miles
PE00 020; consumer was traveling about 70mph on highway and vehicle started swerving left and right on the highway. There were no injuries.tire was a Firestone P23575R15 #dot W2hl.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #218

Oct 152000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
No tire failure as yet, but notice hairline cracks in area of tire separation on other wilderness tires (dot number: Vn tiresize: P235/75R15)

- Marshall, MO, USA

problem #217

Sep 012000

Explorer

  • miles
4 tires are splitting where tread joins to body. These are not the recalled tires but appear to be having the same problem. If this is a trend with non-Decatur mfg'd tires it should be looked into. Firestone dealer would only offer to replace with like tires. I have lost faith in Firestone and replaced these tires with Michelin. Old tires still had at least 75% of the tread left. I'm a retired sears auto center salesman so I know of what I speak. (dot number: Vl tiresize: P235 75 15)

- Winona, TX, USA

problem #216

Oct 012000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
All four tires have cracks at the point where the tread and sidewall meet.the tires were inspected by a Firestone representative at a Firestone service center. The inspector indicated that there was a defect in the tires and that they would replace them on a pro-rated basis.I would have to pay 36% of the cost of new tires since there was still 64% of usable tread remaining on the tires.he inspector further suggested that the tires should be replaced since and that driving with tires in this condition could be dangerous. (tiresize: 255/70/R16)( dot number: Tire size: 255/70/R16 )

- Perryville, MD, USA

problem #215

Oct 072000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
*** alert *** I have four (4) Firestone Wilderness AT tires that were not manufactured at the Decatur, il plant. Each of these tires exhibit a continuous fissure around the perimeter of the tire where the tread meets the sidewall. I replaced these tires immediately and have retained them here at my home so that I may bring them to the NHTSA facility here in northern Virginia. I believe these tires were in immediate danger of catastrophic failure in a fashion similar to the recalled tires. I would like the NHTSA to extend the recall of the Wilderness AT tires to include all tires manufactured in all plants and am willing to provide the proof needed to justify this recall. Please contact me at my home phone immediately. Thank you( dot number: Vnhlipy336 tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Vienna, VA, USA

problem #214

Oct 152000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
No tire failure as yet, but notice hairline cracks in area of tire separation on other wilderness tires( dot number: Vn tire size: P235/75R15 )

- Marshall, MO, USA

problem #213

Oct 072000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
*** alert *** I have four (4) Firestone Wilderness AT tires that were not manufactured at the Decatur, il plant. Each of these tires exhibit a continuous fissure around the perimeter of the tire where the tread meets the sidewall. I replaced these tires immediately and have retained them here at my home so that I may bring them to the NHTSA facility here in northern Virginia. I believe these tires were in immediate danger of catastrophic failure in a fashion similar to the recalled tires. I would like the NHTSA to extend the recall of the Wilderness AT tires to include all tires manufactured in all plants and am willing to provide the proof needed to justify this recall. Please contact me at my home phone immediately. Thank you (dot number: Vnhlipy336 tiresize: P235/75R15)

- Vienna, VA, USA

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