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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 1
Average Mileage:
4,676 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 F-150 wheels / hubs problems

wheels / hubs problem

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1997 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 5 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #58

Aug 212000

F-150

  • miles

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

Driving at 50 mph, tire tread began to rip off the tire. Tire is distroyed. No accident because I didn't put on my brakes. If I had, I would have rolled over. Tried to have the tires replaced. Ford dealer sent me to a Firestone store where they refused to replace the tire.( dot number: W208 tire size: P235/70R16 )

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #57

Sep 132000

F-150 4WD

  • miles
Line of cracks all the way around rim of tire where tread meets sidewall. Unsafe to drive.( dot number: Vn08ipu126 tire size: P235 70R16 )

- Miamisburg, OH, USA

problem #56

Sep 202000

(reported on)

F-150

  • miles
Tread separated from tire and caused damage to underside of pickup. I do not have the exact date of the accident but I believe it was in 1997 or 1998. All the original tires have now been replaced.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #55

Sep 011998

F-150

  • miles

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

I purchased a new F-150 XL in August 1997 with factory Firestone wilderness ht tires. The original set lasted 1 year until I had a blow out on the rear, driver-side tire. There was a complete tire separation down to the rim within seconds (10). I brought the tire to discount tire in lake charles, la to have it replaced with the matching tire. The new tire was placed in the same location and because the three other tires still only had ~15,000 miles, no rotation was performed. Aprroximately 1 month later, with only 3000 miles of tread wear, I had a remarkably similar blow-out and tread separation at 65 mph, just driving down the interstate in a careful, straight direction. I returned to discount tire and explained that I had just recently purchased the tires and that I believed the tires must be defective because this was my second complete tire separation on the same location of my vehicle under non-extreme driving conditions. I inquired as to whether it could be a defect in the tire or the vehicle. He reassured me that this was an impossibility. My second blow-out within 1 month was only a coincidence. I had to pay the nominal tread-wear fee and the mounting fee. Less than about 6000 miles later, I had a blowout at the exact same tire well (right rear). The manager once again convinced me that I must be running over debris on the interstate, even though I was always in the slow lane and not veering with my right tire onto either shoulder. The manager once again convinced me that the likelihood of three defective tires was next to impossible (although, this time, he replace and mounted my tire for free). To shorten my story, after many futile attempts and about ten hours of waiting at this incompetent store, over three visits, they replaced my tire for free with a Wilderness AT on the right rear tire location and I left it at that. The Wilderness AT never blew out from 30,000 to 45,000 miles while I still owned my truck.

- River Ridge, LA, USA

problem #54

Mar 152000

F-150

  • miles
Tread came off tire. I was able to pull over to the side without damage. I have sent three E-mails to Ford, three E-mails to Firestone and two E-mails to the dealer with only one form letter reply from Ford. I still have two of these tires on my truck. Thank you.( dot number: Tire size: P255/70R16 )

- Paige, TX, USA

problem #53

Aug 082000

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The Firestone Wilderness AT tire on the vehicle experienced tread separation.

- Brownstown, MI, USA

problem #52

Sep 182000

(reported on)

F-150

  • miles

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

The tread seems to be seperating from the rest of the tire. There is a small wire mesh between the two.( dot number: W208 tire size: P23570R16 )

- Towson, MD, USA

problem #51

Jul 181998

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving about 75 mph tread pulled away from body of the tire on the rear passenger's side. Driver was able to maintain control of the truck. Original tire equipment on a 97, Ford, F150. Tire mileage between 15,000 - 17,000 miles. Owner replaced all four tires with another brand. Please list tire size and dot # if possbile. When the other tires were replaced, they descovered that the others were in the process of separation.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #50

May 012000

F-150

  • miles
Back in may we had a Firestone, wilderness ht developed a spot on the tread and quickly the steel belts could be seen coming through. It had sort of a lump to begin with. A couple of days ago, we noticed the other back tire doing the same thing. It has about 44000 miles on it.( dot number: Unk tire size: P235/70R16 )

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #49

Sep 202000

F-150

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
PE00-020; original equipment on Ford, F150, 1997 tire size P235/70R16 with 29,000 miles. Right front tire had its steel belt separated, and on right rear experieneced a blowout. Consumer replaced all 4 tires at a owners expense. After steel belt separation on front tires, the customer replaced all four tires.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #48

Sep 092000

F-150

  • miles

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

Tire became noisy and began to vibrate, inspected tires and found a 6" strip totally separated with much larger separation under the tread. Removed tire and took to Firestone, they indicated this was an "ordinary" separation and subject only to their standard prorated warranty. I declined thier offer and will look elsewhere for tires. I am certainly concerned about this failure along with the potential failure of the other 3 Firestone tires, I'm still riding on. Sincerely, bob mann.( dot number: W208 tire size: P23570R16 )

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #47

Sep 142000

(reported on)

F-150

  • miles
I was driving on the expressway doing 65mph and all of a sudden my truck started out of control I pulled off the side of the road and checked everything and couldnt see any problems.I resumed speed up to 65 and it started jumping all over the road again.I reduced the speed to 45mph and acme home.the following Monday I heard about the tire problems that Firestone was having so I took the truck to a service station and was told that all 4 tires tread was seperating and I needed new tires, I trier calling Ford and Firestone to no avail, all lines stayed busy.I finally E mailed them and their reply was that they were not recalling 16 inch tires at all.I took the truck to the Firestone store and they focumented that the tires were seperating and they would exchange them for new Firestone tires for $495.I have gone to a Michelin tire store and bought new tires.my old tires had plenty of tread left because I drive verry safe, I am 71 years old and was afraid to put firestones back on the truck.I kept the tires and all the documentation from everyone.people cant afford to spend their social security check on tires instead of food.these tires should be recalled at least on a case by case basis until this problem is solved and people get their money back from having to replace defective tires.I am one of the lucky ones that lived to tell about it.please let me know what can be done, sincerely, tommy wages( dot number: W208 tire size: P235/70R16 )

- Valley, AL, USA

problem #46

Sep 112000

F-150

  • miles
Found nail entered tire, turned sideways and lodged in a "pocket" under tread. I was able to dislodge the nail easily without tools. Looks, to me, like start of tread separation. This tire found on consumer advisory for another size.( dot number: W2081pt466 tire size: P235/70R16 )

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #45

Jul 202000

F-150

  • miles
On 7/20/00 both rear tires were replaced (adjusted at 50%) by Firestone for belt/tread seperations. These are 16 inch tires failing in the same mode as the 15 inch now being recalled. Both remaining original tires have cracks around the side/edges where the belt is bonded to the tire body. Firestone dealer said this is "normal".( dot number: W2081pt316 tire size: 235/70R16 )

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #44

Feb 122000

F-150 4WD

  • miles
A part of the tread came off of the tire while driving on the highway in Tennessee. I can put my hand between the tread and the inner tire.( dot number: Vn08ipu046 tire size: P235/70 16 )

- Mt. Vernon, IN, USA

problem #43

May 082000

F-150

  • miles
Tire had a large bubble come up on the middle of the tread. The steel belts could be seen coming through. The area was very soft to the touch( dot number: Tire size: P23570R16 )

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #42

Jul 202000

F-150

  • miles
On 7/20/00 both rear tires were replaced (adjusted at 50%) by Firestone for belt/tread seperations. These are 16 inch tires failing in the same mode as the 15 inch now being recalled. Both remaining original tires have cracks around the side/edges where the belt is bonded to the tire body. Firestone dealer said this is "normal".( dot number: W2081pt316 tire size: 235/70R16 )

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #41

Feb 122000

F-150 4WD

  • miles
A part of the tread came off of the tire while driving on the highway in Tennessee. I can put my hand between the tread and the inner tire.( dot number: Vn08ipu046 tire size: P235/70 16 )

- Mt. Vernon, IN, USA

problem #40

May 082000

F-150

  • miles
Tire had a large bubble come up on the middle of the tread. The steel belts could be seen coming through. The area was very soft to the touch( dot number: Tire size: P23570R16 )

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #39

Sep 082000

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
PE 00 020/tire tread separation: Vehicle experienced a warping sound from front. Taken to Firestone for inspection, and informed consumer that all tires were showing tread separation on a 1997, Ford F150, original equipment, P235/70R16, dot# W2081pt237. Also, informed consumer that tires were not covered under recall, and only could provide a prorate charges for replacement.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

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