On april 2,2000 while traveling on interstate 10 at 70 MPH I experienced a tire separation and blowout. At the time I had all five original tires on my mountaineer. After the separation I put the spare in service and the next morning I purchased three new firestone wilderness at tires and placed them in service which gave me five tires with zero miles on them.after hearing of the firstone recall after returning to minnesota I had my firestone dealer check my tires. I was informed that my tires did not meet the requirements for recall because they had the dot#w2hl instead of the dot#vdhl.all of my ties have the w2hl number and yet I was one of the persone that experienced a tire separation and blowout just as thet-v report stated was the reason for the recall. I have no trust in these tires. I would like a suggestionor instruction as to what to do. M. L. Geiszler, bemidji,minn.estone recall( dot number: w2hl tire size: p235/75r15 )
1998 Mercury Mountaineer tires complaints
Page 4 of 4: complaints 71 to 95 of 95, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Firestone wilderness tire(p235 75 r15) experienced tread separation, all tires except 1 were included in recall 00t0050, consumer requests reimbursement for the tire that is not included in recall.
The firestone wilderness at (p235/75r15) tire experienced a split on the sidewall area.
I has had 3 of the original 5 tires fail. One failed at 7000 miles; the other two at 30,000 miles. I was told that the damage was internal. The tires began to buldge on the exterior wall. One of the tires flattened at 75 MPH on the freeway beyond repair; in fact, this tire is in my garage. The local dealer made the problem my fault--improper inflation. However, the dot number on my tires did not match those from the recall. I was prompted to write because I do have evidence that these particular tires as well have manufacturer defects. My problem was identified to me as belt slippage. However, the dealer also stated that these were the "best" tires firestone makes. Fortunately, I have decided not to replace my firestone tires with another set of "defective" tires. Nevertheless, others are putting these same type tires on the vechicles as replacements for the defects. I am stating for the record that these will also warrant investigation. Isn't it odd that I have replaced three of five tires with less than 30,000 miles for belt slippage. What are the statistical odds of that happening? Knowing a bit about statistics, this number is significant, not a random occurrence.( dot number: tire size: 16 )
Pe00-020; 26,540 miles wilderness at original equipment with mercury mountaineer, 1998, p235/75r15 and dot #w8jn. Consumer took vehicle to a ford dealer to check to see if had a recall on tires. Dealer told consumer that vehicle did not have a recall , but the left rear has weather cracks and had to be replaced. Ford or firestone would not replace tires, but ford would prorate tires. Firestone claimed there was no defective tire. *ak firestone wilderness at p235/75/r15
Wife of owner was driving vehicle on level asphalt pavement under normal conditions at speed limit. Tire "exploded" and came apart so violently that chrome steel rim was bent on impact with pavement. Driver was able to maintain control of vehicle and pull off onto shoulder. Vehicle was towed for service. All tires and one rim were replaced. Infant child was a passenger at time of incident.( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
While driving about 50 MPH right rear tire was making noise. Consumer believed there was a flat tire. But when stopped, could see that it was tread separation. Firestone wilderness p235/75r15 05smf. *ak
My family was on vacation and traveling on interstate 85 south. About 1/2 hour before stopping the vehicle started to sway. I thought it was a cross wind or air pocket created as we passed or was passed by traitor trailers on the road. The family decided to stop for lunch and exited off i85 south at 12b. We proceeded to golden corral - 807 e. Atlantic street - south hill, virginia. Upon exiting the vehicle I noticed the left rear tire going flat. I inspected it and notice two slashes about two inches in length on both sides if tire about two feet apart. The cut was on the side of tire where the tread began and was separating. At this time a customer leaving the golden corral approached me and inspected the tire and told me this is the same tire that was reported on the 6pm news one day earlier as being defective. I contacted aaa to change my flat tire. Later that afternoon we stopped in raleigh, nc and purchased one new firestone wilderness at tire. One used tire became the spare and two new tires were on the rear(the original spare and the new tire just purchased). We continued safely on our trip to eufala, al. On august 23, 2000 I contacted my dealership in reference to the tires beging exchanged. The person answering the phone indicated they had nothing to do with the replacement but a firestone dealer in emerson, nj was involved. Late in the morning of 8/23/00 I went to the emerson, nj firestone dealership and the tires were inspected and was told one tire was ok(I supposed the one purchased on 8/3/00). However, I was placed on a waiting list and told the backlog was about one month. I proceeded to my dealership and explained to them what had happened during vacation and I wanted my tires replaced. Dean griffen was helpful but did not have any tires nor did two other locations that were called. I on my own purchased 5 tires from goodyear in bergenfield, nj.( dot number: tire size: p23575r15s )
While traveling at 70 MPH, the left front firestone wilderness at tire (p23575r15) experienced tread separated. Please provide further information.*ak
Both the front firestone tires experienced severe cracks, consumer replaced tires with goodyear ones.
I had two tires experience sidewall failure (large bulge on outside of tire). Tires were replaced by firstone. The tires on my vehicle are not subject to current recall due to the place of manufacture.( dot number: w2hl1py308 tire size: p235/75r15 )
Pe00 020; consumer was traveling about 45mph on the highway and heard a noise. Then, started losing control, car slid, and went down a hill/ rolled several times. Passenger's rear tire tread separated. Tires were firestone wilderness #at, size p23575 r15. Consumer has contacted firestone. Vehicle was totaled. Consumer sustained minor injuries. *ak
Been told my tires have stress cracks inside and out. Not safe but not yet on recall. Taken to ford, smith tire barn, hunting tire, and firestone tire in jackson tn.( dot number: tire size: p235-75-r1 )
My tires have dot starting with vh, they have a crack on the inside and outside of the tire all the way around just below the tread line. No tire shop will replace these because they are not on the recall list. They appear to be unsafe and I do not want my family injured due to manufacturing neligence. I am unable to confirm where these tires were made. I am told the crack is caused by driving on dirt and paved roads but these are all-terrain tires and should hold up to different road types. Please help me get these tires off my car before the tread comes off. There is still plenty of miles left on these tires but I am afraid to drive with these tires cracked!*ak( dot number: vh tire size: p235/75r15 )
A crack just below the tread all around the tire was detected by my car dealer while in for regular service.this tire not part of recall in that it was manufactured at quebec factory. *ak( dot number: tire size: 235/75-15 )
Consumer had changed the four set of tires because of cracks on the tire sidewalls. Firestone p235/75r15 wilderness dot w2hlipy457. *ak the firestone representative had inspected the tires and found no problem. Apparently the problem could not be seen until the tires are removed from the rim.
There was no crash involved. The problem was noticed when we heard about the recall on the firestone tires (wilderness at) manufactured in decatur, il. Upon examining our tires, to see if they were the ones manufactured in decatur, it was observed that all the tires were splitting, on both inboard and outboard sides, where the sidewalls meet the tread. The splits went around the entire tire. It is my belief that there is a fault in the tire design itself, and not in just the tires manufactured at the decatur, illinois plant. *ak( dot number: vnhl1py367 tire size: p235/75r15 )
I inspected my tires and discovered a distinct line of cracks on the sidewall where the tread meets the sidewall. This line of cracks encompasses an even radius around the circumference of the sidewall and does not change direction as it penetrates each block of tread. I have a "vn" identifier which I know is not recalled, however the pattern I see in my tires is suspect. I am concerned that these tires may need to be considered for recall also( dot number: tire size: 235r7515 )
While driving about 65 MPH right rear tire was making a noise because tread had separated, but tire still had air. Firestone wilderness at, size p235/75r15.
On friday jan 7, 2000 upon leaving my office, I noticed upon approaching the 1998 mountaineer a shiny object in the left rear tire. I thought it was a nail, but upon closer inspection the left rear tire had developed an indentation the size of a quarter on the tread side of the tire, on the tread closest to the outside of the tire. Through that indentation, you could clearly see what appeared to be a steel belt. Drove home (only 1 mile) slowly. Saturday morning I checked the air in the tire- it was 29 lbs. Then I headed early for martin tire which is 8 miles away. When I arrived at martin tire the size of the indentation had grown to about 3 inches and the steel belt was clearly visible for most of the three inches. Frank martin diagnosed the problem as tread/belt separation. During the trip to martin tire there was no indication of tire failure. No vibrations were noted, and no additional noise (they are noisy tires to begin with) was noted. Not wanting to take a chance with my life, I replaced the tires with a non-firestone brand immediately. Had I been on the highway on the way to my daughter in college, and had this happened it might be my estate who could be writing this report. *ak( dot number: unknown tire size: p235/75r15 )
While driving on route 34, near tidewater, oregon, rear tire disintegrated and we were able to guide the vehicle to the side of the road. Luckily no-one was coming in the opposite direction at the time. We were able to secure assistance from a nearby resident who called tow truck from waldport, oregon. Tire was in shreds, and smoking when we stopped.( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
Complete tread separation of 1 rear tire at freeway speeds.( dot number: tire size: 23575r15 )
The tire thread began to fall apart. *ak( dot number: tire size: 235/75r15 )
The tires are an "all terrain" design, however they perform very very poorly in snow/slush/very wet conditionswhen combined with the vehicles that have all wheel drive. I've talked to three experts who have all concluded that the problem is with the rubber band on the outer edge of the tread on both sides (this band has no lugs in it, resulting in poor traction in turns.) essentially, the all wheel drive tries to pull the car forward and is supposed to adjust power away from the wheels with poor traction. When it does so, the car has a major tendency to lose control at all wheels. Since I have owned the car I have seen or heard of two other identical vehicles getting into similar accidents with the same options/tires as my vehicle, so I asume it is a re-occuring problem. This incidence of traction loss has resulted in three major incidents of spinout, two of those caused major accidents, one only involving my car, and one involving mine and another. My driving record has been impeccable before these accidents, also note that other front wheel drive cars and four 4wd trucks were on the roads doing fine in the conditions, and in both cases I was going considerably under the speed limit (30 in a 50mph & 15 in a 25mph). Also, in both cases, brakes were not applied, so that rules out a cause for the skid.( dot number: tire size: 235/75 r15 )
Spare tire mounts failed therefore did not hold tire securely allowing the sidewall of the tire to rub against the frame wearing the tire.
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