1993 Ford Explorer: tire blowout or tread separation

Filed May 23, 2013 · Tires · 68,940 miles · CA

Michelin ltx m/s xl p235/75r-15 on 93 explorer xl. Tires are 5 yrs old with less than 5000 miles. Series of sidewall cracks about 8" long appeared in front right tire, approx 5/8" from rim, with the longest crack about 4" long and 0.11" deep. No failure yet, and the americas tire dealer says the cracks are not a problem, but the number of complaints of sidewall cracking and blowouts in michelin tires concerns us.

Filed Nov 30, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · DC

Multiple failures, continually brake problems. The vehicle also overheated, thermostat replaced several times. A/c compressor malfunction, etc. *bf a blowout ripped the running board assembly, the ABS light was intermittent and the mechanic could not figure out why, the brakes locked up on the vehicle and violently skidded to a stop, the exhaust was replaced twice, there was a noise that lingered on in the front end and a loud creaking sound.

Filed Jul 17, 2004 · Tires · 91,000 miles · CA · crash

Dunlop light truck tires lt 235-75r15 radial rover at first problem was a tire blister that caused an uneven tire wear problem. I brought the tire back to the tire store, where I purchased said tires, and was told that it was a road hazard that caused the failure. No warranty coverage on the tire, even though I had put less than 50% wear on tire. On june 13, 2004, while returning frim a trip down to long beach, heading north bound on interstate 5 in california I experienced a complete tire failure of the left rear tire. The tire detreaded or blew its tread off and this caused me to loose control of my ford explorer ( bubbles, was the cars name since she was champagne colored ). I slid between the lanes of the highway trying to regain control of my car. I didn't regain controll but ended up rolling it down the shoulder and after bouncing around landed upright on my tires facing the wrong direction. Some how I didn't get hurt but I did destroy my 1993 explorer. The truck I loved and since I didn't get hurt in the roll over I have zero complaints about my ford in fact I think I will tell them about the roll over and thank them for building a car that I rolled and still didn't get hurt. My dunlops tires on the other hand I have many complaints, one complete tire failure that directly lead to me wrecking my car and one blister that may or may not have been a road hazard. I would like to report this to you to see if anyone else has had similar problems with these tires and if you need to research into this. I know I am lucky to not have been injured but feel like you should know about this problem. Thank you for listening to me. *ak,

Filed Jun 30, 2003 · Tires · FL

Consumer states that his wife was driving at approx imately60 MPH, and driver's side rear tire separated from the sidewall , causing her to have a blowout. She did not have an accident because she was able to get in a safe place to stop. Consumer states that his wife was driving a 1993 ,ford, explorer. Consumer states that the tires were purchased approximately one and a half years ago, and had about 3000 miles.

Filed Jan 4, 2003 · Tires · 111,897 miles · NC

I recently purchased ( nov 2002) four (4) brand new yks radial a/t lt235/75r15 tires. On jan 02,2003 at approx. 1515 hrs- interstate 40, asheville, nc. I was going east at approx. 65-70 MPH when the left rear tire blow out, causing my 1993 ford explorer to quick turn to the right side of the road nearly missing other cars in the lane. I did not apply the brakes or try to control the truck,but let it move the way it wanted. If I had tied to control the truck, I feel that I would have rolled the truck. After getting the truck stopped, I was surprised to see the tire damage. The tire had seperated (ripped) from the top seam of the tread.

Filed Sep 17, 2002 · Tires · CA · 2 injuries

Atlas, silvertrac, p23575r15 dot uuthlajv331. Replacement tires on a ford explorer, 1993. While traveling at 70 MPH driver heard a loud pop. Consumer lost control of vehicle, vihicle rolled over, and landed in a ditch. Rear driver's side tire separated. *ak

Filed Jul 29, 2002 · Tires · GA

While driving and with no warning there was tire tread separation. Tire size 235r15. Please provide the dot#. Dealer notified.

Filed May 1, 2002 · Suspension, Tires · FL

I have had 3 blowouts at 60-70 MPH all on the right rear, 2 with firestone and 1 with goodyear, also premature right rear wheel bearing failure that I feel have been caused by vibration at hiway speeds. Ford has a tsb 96-04-16 that repairs this vibration at a cost of $1600. With the explorer these failures are a serious safety concern and should be made a safety recall made available to all 90-94 explorer owners at no cost . Thank you.

Filed Mar 8, 2002 · Visibility · FL · fire

The aluminum finned heat exchanger unit under the hood has a plastic shroud around it the ducts fresh air into the air conditioning and heater blower ducting. This shroud became full of leaves which eventually caught fire , filling the entire interior of the vehicle with dense smoke. I had to pull the duct work under the hood apart and blow out the remaining ash and leaves to alleviate any future fire source. Ford has a defect in the way they designed the fresh air intake ducting which allows leaves and other debris to drift directly into the blower housing shrouding which becomes a major fire hazard. I now have to cover the lower half of the windshield and the upper half of the hood including the fresh air intake ducts with fiberglass window screen when the vehicle is parked outside to assure leaves do not fill the ducting system again causing another fire. I have also found 2 other incidents of this blower housing fires in other the federal safety agency incidents on this site as referenced by this :

Filed Feb 19, 2002 · Tires · PA

Consumer received a letter from manufacturer regarding tire replacement as a precautionary measure because of possible tire failures in the future, consumer went to the local ford dealer and was informed there were no tires in stock but to keep checking back, after several months of checking consumer decided to go somewhere else, the local dealer told consumer to go ahead and purchase acceptable replacement tires from another dealer and bring the receipt and dot codes for the tires back to them and they would process and submit the refund for request, after not hearing anything from the local dealer for more than 10 weeks consumer contacted the dealer and were told that the information was never submitted and the consumer needed to contact a firestone dealer, consumer then contacted firestone and was informed that it was too late and that the deadline for reimbursement was august 29, 2001, consumer feels he should not be penalized because of the miscommunication with the local ford dealer, consumer is requesting reimbursement for the replacement cost of the 3 wilderness atx tires, consumer stated previously, tire experienced a blowout which caused the vehicle to leave the roadway which resulted in several thousand dollars of damage, firestone wilderness radial atx tires, p23575r15 m/s, campaign 00t005.

Filed Aug 14, 2001 · Tires · CA

Firestone tires were replaced with dunlop tires. Dunlop rear passenger tire exploded on highway at about 60 MPH. Consumer temporarily lost control of vehicle, but managed to make it to the side of the road. Tread came completely off, and sidewalls exploded. Please provide any further infomation.

Filed Apr 28, 2001 · Tires · CA

While driving home from sandiego, my vehicle seemed very unstable. Three days earlier I had just had my 4 month old tires rotated, balanced and aliegned. Immediatly returned to dealer to be told I was lucky not to have a blow out, that the passenger side rear tire had a 10" bulge on the inside wall. They replaced the tire. 30 days latter, I notice a similar unstable ride, went back to the dealer to be told it was now the front passenger side tire with a similar defect. They offered to replace, I opted to upgrade to a michellin tire. 2 weeks latter, I notice I am missing a lug nut on the drivers side rear tire. The big "o" tire dealer tells me the bolt is stripped and forgot to tell me.