1998 Ford Ranger

CONSUMER'S SON WAS KILLED WHEN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS GOING 45 MPH AND HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. ALSO, FIRE BROKE OUT, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

ON JULY 10, 2003 MY COUSIN'S 1998 FORD RANGERS LEFT REAR TIRE PEELED APART, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO FLIP AND BLOW-UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING, WHAT-SO-EVER. MY COUSIN AND A PASSENGER WERE BOTH KILLED. THE REAR TIRES WERE COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES. A TIRE EXPERT LATER DETERMINED THAT THIS TIRE HAD BOTH A MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN DEFECT. THE FAMILY ATTEMPTED TO MITIGATED THIS TRAGIC EVENT BY CONTACTING COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY DIRECTLY. COOPER TIRE COMPANY OFFERED NO DEFENSE, NOTHING. WE ARE NOW IN LITIGATION. I PERSONALLY ASKED COOPERS' ATTORNEYS ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THEIR TIRES RUBBER. I WAS TOLD, "COOPER GETS THEIR RUBBER FROM VARIOUS SOURCES." WE REQUEST THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE COOPER TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY'S MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW IF THIS COMPANY USES UNSAFE RUBBER MADE IN CHINA IN THE MANUFACTURER OF ITS H/T DISCOVERER TIRE. WE ALSO REQUEST THE NHTSA DISCUSS WITH COOPER ITS MISLEADING USE OF THE LETTERS " H/T" WHICH SUGGEST THE TIRE IS SAFE FOR BOTH HIGHWAY AND TERRAIN (OFF ROAD) USE. THIS IS AN UNSAFE TIRE. *TR

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED ON JULY 10, 2003 THERE WAS A FATAL ROLL OVER. THE TIRES SEPARATED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND BLEW OUT. ACCORDING TO CONSUMER'S INVESTIGATION THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE WAS A 1998, FORD, RANGER. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME TO THE SCENE AND ISSUED A REPORT. IT WAS CONSUMER'S COUSIN VEHICLE. THE TREAD CAME OFF FROM REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. CONSUMER THOUGHT THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THERE WAS TWO OCCUPANTS, AND BOTH WERE KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE EXACT MILEAGE WAS NOT KNOWN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO 100MPH, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW AND WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A POLICE OFFICER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE SAFETY BELT BEING SEPARATED. THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION WAS CAUSED BY THE SEAT HINGE FAILING, WHICH CUT THE SAFETY BELT. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,500. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/25/09. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER PASSED OUT AND VEHICLE RAN OFF ROAD. ALSO, NOTICED FUMES INSIDE CAB. DRIVER BELIEVES THAT CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WERE COMING INTO THE VEHICLE, CAUSING HIM TO PASS OUT. *AK *ML

YOURE SUPPOSED TO TELL ME OF ANY PAST INCIDENTS , ACCIDENTS , FAILURES, & RECALLS. REMEMBER? THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE POINT OF THIS WEBSITE. IS IT NOT?

ANY ANY??YOU TELL ME REMEMBER?

1998 FORD RANGER FIVE SPEED FOUR SHE'LL DRIVE, WAS PARKED ON LEVEL SURFACE PARKING BREAK ENGAGED TRANSITION IN GEAR IGNITION OFF AND LOCKED KEY REMOVED, VEHICLE BEGAN GAINING SPEED ROLLING AWAY BACKWARD IN FIRST GEAR I TRIED TO JUMP IN TO STOP VEHICLE USING BREAKS, AT WHICH TIME VEHICLE GAINED SPEED AND FLUNG ME UNDER TIRE. I RECEIVED FIVE STITCHES ROAD BURN AS WELL AS A SOFT CAST AND SPLINT.

WHILE ON FREEWAY LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CENTER DIVIDER. VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS. THE TIRE FAILURE APPEARS AS TREAD SEPARATION. *TR

THE FORD RANGER LOST TRACTION AND SLID ON THE ICE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK ON IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CHILD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER HEAD. THIS IS THE SECOND ACCIDENT IN OUR 1998 FORD RANGER THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. *JB

XLT, PASSENGER AIR BAG SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, LIGHT WAS ON SHOWING IT WAS OFF. CONSUMER HIT A DEER AT 55 MPH, PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. 9 MONTH OLD CHILD WAS IN SAFETY SEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE. SAFETY SEAT BROKE IN HALF AT IMPACT, CHILD'S INJURIES UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AS WELL. TS

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING S/B IN THE CARPOOL LANE ON THE 605 FREEWAY AT 65/70 MPH WHEN WE HEARD A FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THINKING WE HAD A FLAT, WE STARTED TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT AND EXIT THE FREEWAY. AT AROUND LANE 3 I COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT FISH-TAILED TWICE AND THEN FLIPPED OVER AND SLID INTO THE ICEPLANT ALONG THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE TRUCK THEN RIGHTED ITSELF AND WE ENDED UP FACING N/B ON THE SHOULDER. WE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED!!! MY WIFE SUSTAINED SOME BUMPS AND BRUISES BUT IS OTHERWISE OK. I WALKED AWAY WITHOUT A SCRATCH. ON INSPECTING THE TIRE (WHICH WE NOW HAVE IN OUR POSSESION) WE NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALL HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE!! MY WIFE AND I ARE CONVINCED THAT THESE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES ARE UNSAFE!!! WE HAVE PHOTOS OF THE TRUCK AND WE SAVED THE TIRE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS - PLEASE CALL US ANYTIME. THANKS - WALLACE (DOT NUMBER: W2UU TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)

CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY ON ICY ROADS AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HIM. FORCING HIM INTO A MERIDIAN BARACADE ENBANKMENT. CAUSING HIM TO ROLL THREE TIMES, THERE WERE SOME MINOR INJURIES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE IN MY LANE. I CORRECTED MY VEHICLE TO COME BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY AND WHEN I TURNED BACK TO THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT FRON TIRE BLEW AND THE WEIGHT SHIFTEN FROM THE WEAK SPRINGS IN THE REAR, ROLLING MY VEHICLE FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL WAS ON AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, THEY WERE OVERSIZED (16 INCH, OFF-ROAD PACKAGE) AND UNSAFE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE 16 INCH TIRES ARE NO LONGER BEING PUT ONTO RANGERS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VD TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

GENTLEMEN,MY 1998 MODEL YEAR, 4X4 XLT, V-6 4.0L ENGINE, FORD RANGER (VIN# [XXX]) AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 31ST OF 1999, WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM AN OUT-OF-STATE JOB THAT I WAS WORKING IN YORK, PA BACK TO AVONDALE, AZ. I BELIEVED THEN AND I BELIEVE NOW THAT SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG OR "DEFECTIVE" WITH MY TRUCK AT THE TIME (AND AFTER) OF THE ACCIDENT. I EVEN HAVE WRITTEN STATEMENT(S) ON PUBLIC RECORD, THAT STATE, THAT I FELT SOMETHING WAS QUITE AMISS THAT DAY, THAT ALSO PRE-DATE THE TIRE RECALL FROM FIRESTONE THIS LAST AUGUST, 2000. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 3,692 (APPROX.) ACTUAL MILES ON IT AND I HADN'T EVEN MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT TO FORD CREDIT YET! NOR HAD I EVEN HAD THE CHANCE TO GET IT PROPERLY REGISTERED IN MY HOME TOWN OF AVONDALE, AZ. THE TRUCK NEVER ACTUALLY MADE IT HOME TO AZ, AS IT'S STILL IN TULSA, OK AREA. NOT ONLY DID I LOSE ALOT OF TIME OFF FROM WORK, I ALSO LOST A VERY SPECIAL VEHICLE TO THIS PARTICULAR ACCIDENT, ONE THAT I HAD DREAMED OF FOR YEARS AND ONE THAT I HAD WAITED A VERY LONG TIME TO FIND (JUST THE EXACT ONE!) AND THEN FINALLY PURCHASE! ALSO, I MUST SAY THE TIME AND EFFORT IT HAS TAKEN ME AND MY FAMILY, INVOLVED IN JUST WORKING THROUGH THE AFTERMATH, HAS BEEN UNREAL! INVOLVED IN JUST WORKING THROUGH THE AFTERMATH, HAS BEEN UNREAL! IT TOOK ME OVER A YEAR TO JUST GET MY FINAL PAYMENT FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY RELATED TO THE PERSONAL PROPERTY LOSS ALONE! I AM STILL WORKING FOR ANOTHER 3 MONTHS ON THE FOLLOW-UP PAPERWORK, ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPLACEMENT COVERAGE ASPECT... I/WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT SOME OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH, AS I WAS VERY "BLESSED" THAT I WASN'T SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT ITSELF! FORTUNATELY, I SAVED TWO (2) OF THE FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES THAT WERE ON THE TRUCK AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, IE; THE LEFT REAR, WHICH "SNAPPED-OFF" AT THE AXLE JUST BEFORE ROLLING OVER AND THE "SPARE" TIRE THAT WAS MOUNTED UNDERNEATH THE BED OF THE TRUCK. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI

ON 08-13-99 I WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TWICE WHILE ON RTE 24 IN RANDOLPH, MA - THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE BROKE DOWN AND THE TRUCK WENT OUT OF CONTROL ENDING UP OFF OF THE ROAD - THIS TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE DEALER AND IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS FOR THE DEALER TO LOCATE AN EXACT MATCH AS I WAS INFORMED THAT FIRESTONE WAS NOT PRODUCTION OF THIS TIRE AT THE TIME. ALTHOUGH THE START OF THE TROUBLE WAS IN FACT THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE OTHER DRIVER - THE FACT THAT THE TIRE BROKE DOWN RENDERED MY ABILITY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: 02 7474 TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. FRONTAL IMPACT - MY SON WAS DRIVING. *AK