I thought my front end was shaking for about two weeks. I was on the highway travelling about 40mph because I was concerned about the tire. My children and I heard a loud bang at the side of the car. My husband was following in his car and saw the tire fall off. It also knocked off part of the side panel of the car. The car swerved violently but I got it under control to pull to the side of the raod. The entire tread had separated from the tire and come off. The tread blew off the entire side panel of the car. Insurance estimate will be about $1500.00 not counting the cost of tire replacement. I have already replaced the entire set with michelins. We could all have been killed or injured. We were lucky! *ak( dot number: tire size: unknown )
1996 Ford Explorer tires complaints
Page 17 of 20: complaints 461 to 490 of 570, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have the additional information at home ie. Dot number. Firestone paid for the damages to our vehicle but did not replace the tires. We replaced all five tires at our own expense. These tires are very dangerous and something needs to be done about them. We were just lucky we weren't killed. We still have one of the defective tires at home, it has a bulge on it like it is getting ready to loose it's tread. Please call if you would like the tire. *ak( dot number: tire size: 75r15 )
While traveling down interstate, vehicle began bouncing and swerving violently. I stopped at a auto center and was told that the tire had separated. I had to replace the tire.*ak( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
Filded incedent report with firstone in may. They readily paid for new tire nad repairs to vehicle. Our 20 year old son was traveling hoem from college on i75 in middle land when tread separated . Threw him to left emergency land. Luckily he controlled vehicle and came to stop. Tire did not lose pressure andluckily the shreding tore up teh rear fender etc and did not go into axel. Tore up whel well, qtr panel, rear, r. Bumper,a dn liftgate. *ak( dot number: vdhl1pm096 tire size: 23575sr/55 )
On oct 12, 1999, while driving at highway speed on a 2-lane state highway near mojave, ca on a hot, autumn day, my right rear tire lost tread/delaminated causing a total loss of control. I swerved several times trying to regain control, but was unsuccessful. The SUV rolled completely to the right, landing upright facing the right shoulder of the road. Fortunately, there was no oncoming or trailing traffic, so no other vehicles/persons were involved. I was wearing my seatbelt & was very fortunate to sustain only very minor injuries & was able to exit the SUV w/ some assistance from people who stopped to help. As I complained of neck pain, I was ambulanced to the antelope valley hospital, but was released w/ only minor bruises, cuts & sore muscles. My insurance company (20th century) declared the vehicle a total loss (pictures available) and paid me $24,072.70, plus covered my ambulance & emergency room bills. Prior to this accident I had always maintained my SUV in excellent condition. Tire pressure was routinely checked in conjunction w/ regular oil changes every 3000 miles. All tires had plenty of remaining tread & had been recently rotated & balanced. I contend that this accident was due to the defective design of the firestone at tires. I have since purchased a 2000 eddie bauer explorer w/ the insurance proceeds plus another approximate $11,000 out of my own pocket. Additionally, I immediately traded in the standard firestone wilderness at tires for more trustworthy ( & more expensive) bf goodrich at tires. I will never use firestone tires on any of my cars again. If a class action suit should be filed against firestone for these numerous accidents involving their all terrain tires w/ ford explorers, I would like to be included in the suit. Thank you for your investigation into these dangerous tires.*ak( dot number: tire size: p235 owl )
Just left the on ramp to the highway speed approced 45 MPH when I heard a loud noise and the stering wheel began to pull to the right. Almost lost control, and thought it was going to roll over. Proceded to the side of the higway and inspected the right front tire. The tread had separated from the tire and damged the right front fender/quarter panel. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
Spontaneous tread separation. Our experts determined no injury to tire: defective product. Have filed suit in federal court, 10th circuit, civil no. 00-1144-bb (10th circuit). Contact us our offices if you wish more information.( dot number: tire size: 235/75r15 )
Right rear tire separated without warning while driving at 25 MPH. Ford was contacted. *ak firestone atx ii tires wzhl1nm405.
Pe02000; tire tread separation: while driving at 70 MPH, tread on the rear passenger's side tire came off. Driver lost control of vehicle. Explorer flipped over three times. Two other passenger's were in the explorer. Driver was taken to the hospital. The other two passengers were treated at the scene. Tire was a firestone atx, original equipment. The explorer was totalled.
The wilderness atx ii model tire exploded while traveling at 75 MPH, rapped around the rear axle, and caused vehicle to roll over. Manufacturer never contacted.
Pe00-020, firestone atx tires (p23575r15) which came with 1996 explorer, passenger's front developed a crack on the tires which was coming off the belt. *ak dot#w2hl1pm385.
Pe00200 tire tread separation: while driving at 70 MPH, tread on the rear passenger's side tire came off. Driver was able to control vehicle. Driver was the only person in the explorer and was not hurt. The tire was a firestone , atx ii, p23575r15, dot vdhl1pm226, not original equipment. Tire mileage was about 7,000. Firestone has been contacted. *ak the customer shipped the damaged tire to firestone on request but not refunded neither for the shipment of the tire nor for damage claim to the vehicle.
Pe00-020 tires on a 1996 ford explorer; when driving 60-70 MPH rear driver's side tread separated from tire which caused loss of vehicle control, causing the vehicle to flip and roll over several times. Tire size not available, dot number not available. *ak the passenger sustained minor injuries due to vehicle rollover.
Tire partially separated from body. Vehical was stopped before total separation. Tire was replaced with same type tire.*ak( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
While travelling on the interstate at a speed of 70 MPH the left rear tire treads separated from the tire causing an immediate and catastrophic blowout of that tire. Control of the vehicle was lost causing the vehicle to swerve off the road onto the right side embankment. The vehicle overturned at least once and all three passengers were injured. A georgia state motor vehicle accident report, post-accident pictures and video are available upon request. Unfortunately, my insurance company, usaa, has to date, been ineffective at recovering the failed tire. *ak( dot number: unknown tire size: p235/75rx1 )
Tire exploded while driving on highway. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235/75-15 )
Firestone atx tire had tread separation, causing rollover accident, injuries and fatality. *ak( dot number: vdhl 1 pm tire size: p235/75r15 )
12/30/1999 - driver side, rear tire separated and blew out on I-40 near morganton, nc traveling west at 65 MPH. My wife was fortunate to slow the vehicle down and get it onto the right hand shoulder before any further damage occurred. Tire was replaced at martin family ford in morganton, nc on 12/30/1999. 07/10/2000 - the passenger side, rear tire showed a noticeable tread separation for about 1 1/2 inches along the outside tire wall at tread depth. The tire was taken immediately to the firestone service center at 510 w. Market street in greensboro, nc and replaced. *ak( dot number: unknown tire size: 25570r16 )
Just wanted to add our name to your list of incidents reported about tread separtion on these firestone tires. We feel very fortunate that no damage was done and no one was injured when the tread separated on both our rear tires on two separated occasions this summer while we were on vacation. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
Tire tread delaminated./vehicle rolled multiple times. *ak( dot number: vdhl1pm116 tire size: p235/75r15 )
I noticed in spring of 2000 that my explorer would shake while driving. My husband took it in to have the tires balanced. Mechanic, as well as my husband were surprised to see that a hunk (aprox. 5"/5") was gone from the tire! Instead of a normal balancing, we had to replace the tire. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the recent firestone problems, but it looks like that part of the tire just came off. The rest of the tire is still in very good shape. I pride myself on being a good driver, especially with a 1 yr old, so I don't think I have driven the car excessively hard. We still have the tire, if that helps, or if you need to see it. Though no accident occurred, I dread to think of what could have happened, with maybe just a few more miles driven.( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
Tire tread separated from tire casing( dot number: tire size: 23575r15 )
The tread peeled off the tire while we were traveling from charleston, sc to savannah, ga on interstate 95 doing 70 MPH. What saved our lives was that the tire stayed inflated through out the whole ordeal. There is no dot from the tire but pictures are available. *ak( dot number: n/a tire size: 235/75r15 )
Tire side wall blew apart. Looked like a donut. Contacted nearest firestone dealership who wouldn't replace according to tire road hazard warranty. Contacted elk grove ford (nearest dealership) who collected tire and sent to firestone who as of aug. 4, 2000 has not replaced deflect tires nor refund money spent on due to repairs as a result of deflective tire according to big-o employee adam. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235-75-15 )
Pe0 020; consumer was traveling about 70mph on highway and she heard vibration, and then vehicle went out of control. Driver right rear tread separated from tire, but tire was still inflated. *ak firestone atx p235/75/r15
While driving at 70 MPH rear right tire lost all of the tread, causing a loss of control and hitting o a bridge. Dealer has been contacted. *ak both driver side tires were also ruined when the vehicle went out of control and hit the concrete bridge walkway.
Wilderness firestone tires on the vehicle are showing wear. Two front tires steel belts are showing. Firestone has been contacted.
Pe00020; tire tread separation: while driving at 70 MPH tread on the left rear tire came off, causing driver to lose control. Explorer flipped over about 3 or 4 times. There were two people in the vehicle and both were injured. Tire was a firestone atx (235/75r15). Owner is not sure if the tire was purchased with the vehicle. Two vehicles were totalled. Dealer was notified about the crash, and claimed no responsibility. *ak
While driving, firestone radial atx left rear tire p235/75r15 experienced a tread separation, causing a thumping noise, tire failure also caused damage to the left rear quarter panel, tire was still inflated.
While driving at 70 MPH wilderness/atx tire on the rear passenger's side blewout,causing a loss of control and accident, four injuries. Vehicle was declared a total loss. Dealer has not been contacted. *ak
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1996 Ford Explorer?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history