1992 Ford Explorer

MY 16-YEAR-OLD SON, FROM THE HIGHWAY PATROL'S INVESTIGATION, WAS EITHER DISTRACTED OR FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND GENTLY EDGED OFF THE ROAD; HE DIDN'T SWERVE. TIRE TRACKS SHOW THAT AS HE CAME BACK ONTO THE ROAD, HE LOST CONTROL, THE CAR FLIPPED, AND HE WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE AND DIED AS A RESULT OF SEVERE HEAD INJURIES. HE WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT SUV'S TEND TO FLIP WHEN CONTROL IS LOST. I SAW THE REPORT ON STUDYING LATER MODELS FOR FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINKS AND THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK FURTHER BACK TO 1992.

I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE DEATH OF MY SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND IN A FORD EXPLORER, SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT INVOLVING BLOWOUT OF THE FIRSESTONE TIRE WERE INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE SAFETY ISSUE. THEIR NAMES WERE JONATHAN RILEY AND KACEY CROWE. THEY WERE KILLED WHEN THE FORD EXPLORER WITH FIRESTONE ATX TIRES FLIPPED AFTER THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON NOVEMBER 1, 1996. THE FORD EXPLORER HAD APPROX. 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE ATX TIRES HAD RECENTLY BEEN REPLACED WITH NEW FIRESTONE ATX TIRES A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THE INVESTIGATION.( DOT NUMBER: )

ON 21 JANUARY 2001, WHILE IDLING, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING CABON MONOXIDE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, KILLING MY SON. THE FIRE THEN ENTERED AND SLIGHTLY BURNED HIS BODY BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE AND FORD MOTOR CO. SUPPOSEDLY INVESTIGATED BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPORT FROM EITHER AGENCY.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER TWICE. ONE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. A NHTSA RECALL LETTER #00T005000 REGARDING TIRES: TREAD/BELT WAS RECEIVED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT IF THE LETTER WAS RECEIVED EARLIER, THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS FIRESTONE, MODEL: WILDERNESS AT, SIZE: P235/75R15.

FUTURA TOURING SE PURCHASED OMFR PEPBOYS IN FRESNO, CA. DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO APPARENT REASON CAUSED EXPLOSIVE CONCUSSION THAT CAUSED THE COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE TREAD , CAUSING THE CAR TO SPIN 360 DEGREES IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC.- CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION WITH LARGE VISIBLE POINT OF OUTWARD FORCE- TREAD DETACHMENT WAS COMPLETE WITH MOST OF SIDEWALLS INTACT EXCEPT AT FORCE POINT WHERE SIDE WALL COMPLETELY SHEARED TO BEAD. FORCE OF TIRE FAILURE CAUSED SPIN AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH CATASTROPHIC CONTROL FAILURE, CAUSED VEHICLE CONTROL LOSS AND ACCIDENT WITH SPIN OFF-ROAD VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS WITH MODERATE INJURY TO DRIVER. *NM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION,VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER.*AK VEHICLE WAS ALREADY AT A STAND STILL WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *TT

CONSUMERS CHILD GOT HOLD OF KEY AND TURNED IT HALF WAY TO THE ON POSITION, PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND HIT A TREE. CHILD WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TRAUMA. CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE THAT VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE A SAFETY DEVICE. CONSUMER WAS CURRENTLY CHECKING THINGS WITH THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE ADD THE VIN# TO COMPLAINT FORM.*AK

ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 29, 2001, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO COLLISION ON ICY STREETS. DURING THIS COLLISION, MY SEAT BACK FAILED, ENDING UP NEARLY FLUSH WITH THE FLOOR DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I ENDED UP IN THE BACK SEAT, STILL STRAPPED INTO M

WE HAVE A POLICE REPORT AND AN ENGINEER'S REPORT DETAILING THE FAILURE OF THE TIRE. THE FAILURE CAUSED A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT RESULTING IN A SPINAL FUSION FOR THE OTHER OCCUPANT, BRAD WEST, WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MYSELF AS PASSENGER. FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED AND A LENGTHY ARBITRATION PROCESS RESULTED IN THEM SETTLING WITH US OUT OF COURT. THEY CONTENDED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS AN ISOLATED ONE. AS WE SEE NOW, THAT IS NOT THE TRUTH. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO FORWARD THE REPORTS IN THIS CASE TO HELP IN ANY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: 1PB 355 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

IN JUNE OF 1999 I WAS TRAVELING DOWN I15 WHEN I HEARD MY EXPLORER MAKING FUNNY THUMPING NOISES. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND PARKED MY CAR. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS SO I LET THE CAR SIT FOR A WHILE IN CASE IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE, I ALSO GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE TIRES. THIS SAME NOISE HAD HAPPENED TO US LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN AUG. OF 1998 WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. I DID NOT SEE ANY BULGE ON ANY OF THE TIRES SO I DECIDED TO PROCEED DOWN THE ROAD AND IF THE NOISE PERSISTED I WAS GOING TO PULL OFF AGAIN AND CALL MY FATHER TO COME AND GET ME. I WAS NOT ON THE ROAD FOR A MILE WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW AND I "FISH-TAILED" FOR A WHILE UNTILL THE TIRE WRAPPED AROUND THE AXEL WHICH TOOK ME INTO THE MEDIAN WHERE I ROLLED TWICE. THE POLICE DID COME TO THE SITE AND I WAS NOT CITED FOR THE INCIDENT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY TO AVOID THE INCIDENT. WE NOTIFIED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SENT OUT WHAT THEY CALLED A "TIRE EXPERT". THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD US THAT THIS TIRE EXPERT INFORMED THEM THAT THERE WAS NO REASON THE TIRE SHOULD HAVE BLOWN. THIS CAR WAS TOTALED BEYOND REPAIR, SO WE HAD TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR OVER A YEAR. LUCKILY WE DO HAVE ANOTHER CAR WHICH WE USE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. WE ALSO DO HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT HAVE THE VIN # ON ME BUT PROBABLY COULD FIND IT IF I NEED IT. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED OF ANY UPDATED NEWS OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CALL ME. THANK YOU -KRISTIE HEATON( DOT NUMBER: )

VEHICLE NORTHBOUND ON I-17 WHEN RIGHT REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD INTO THE MEDIAN ENBANKMENT. THIS IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, EJECTING THE DRIVER.THE PASSENGER WAS ALSO PARTIALLY EJECTED. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE PASSENGER IS STILL DISABLED AND UNABLE TO WORK DUE TO THE INJURIES SUSTAINED, MOST SIGNIFICANTLY A CLOSED HEAD INJURY. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEDICAL RECORDS CAN BE PROVIDED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TREAD FAILURE REUSLTED IN LOSE OF CONTROL AND CAR FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES AND CRASHED. FURTHER DETAILS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA IN THE FORD EXPLORER. AFTER THE CAR ACCIDENT, IN WHICH MY LEG WAS BROKEN AND ME AND MY HUSBAND SUFFERED CONCUSSIONS. SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE HAD TWO MISCARRIAGES AND SUFFERED SEVERE BACK PAIN. I HAVE BEEN IN THE CARE OF A CHIROPRACTOR SINCE THE ACCIDENT. MY LEG WILL NEVER BE THE SAME- THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. I HAVE PICTURES TO SUPPORT MY CLAIMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW TO SCAN MY PICTURES.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING WITH CRUISE CONTROL @ 72MPH, RIGHT REAR TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM TIRE WHICH CASED MY EXPLORER TO TURN 180 DEGREES FOLLOWING WHICH I HIT THE GRASS MEDIAN AND ROLLED 21/2 TIMES. THESE WERE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED AND I WAS SENT TO THE ER. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED OF THE PROCEEDINGS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

REAR LEFT FIRESTONE ATX TIRE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, CAUSING A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

WHEN VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT A STAND STILL WHILE MERGING IN TRAFFIC, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED. CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER'S HEAD/ BACK/NECK AND KNEES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, ENGINE ACCELERATED, LURCHED BACKWARD, HIT A POLE, ENGINE KEPT RACING, WHEELS KEPT SPINNING, VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF POLE REPEATEDLY, SHIFTED TO DRIVE, VEHICLE TOOK OFF, HIT A BUILDING, THEN STOPPED, NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK

CAME TO STOP, DRIVING AT SPEED 35 MPH, APPLIED BRAKE, LOSS OF ALL EFFECTIVENESS, IMPACT 1:00 POSITION, (ABS) *AK AFTER THE ACCIDENT CONSUMER TOOL VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE BRAKE BOOSTER.MASTER CYLINDER FIXED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE UNDER HER EXTENEDED WARRANTY.*JB

ABS: REAR ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCKS UP; VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD; ABS LIGHTS COMES ON; BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR CAUSING ACCIDENT; REARENDED ANOTHER; 3 CAR COLLISION.