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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
27 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
73 / 14
Average Mileage:
655 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Ford Explorer wheels / hubs problems

wheels / hubs problem

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1997 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 14 of 20)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #136

Sep 142000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

PE00-020, original equipment Ford Explorer 1996 tire size P25570R16109S with 55,000 miles.consumer took vehicle to merchant tires to have brakes looked at when manager of store stated that rear left tire steel belt on the side of tire was visible and cracking around the cross sites. At the time, consumer took vehicle to Firestone, and was told that all 4 tires were experiencing defect. Firestone Wilderness AT P255/70/R16

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #135

Oct 241999

Explorer

  • miles
Tread separation at 25mph on unpaved road.( dot number: W2hl tire size: P235/75R )

- Prescott, AZ, USA

problem #134

Jun 162000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
This tire broke down on the inside. I am now using 4 of the same tires and am very woried that the same thing will happen to them. I understand there is no recall for this tire. Will the company stand behind this product?.( dot number: Tire size: 225/75/R15 )

- Nags Head, NC, USA

problem #133

Aug 042000

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I felt a wobble while driving. Stopped at gas station and found that a chunk of tread was missing from the tire on the outside edge of the tread. It was a patch about 4" in diameter, and left two steel belts exposed. I took tire to Firestone on 8/5/00, where I was told that there was no problem with Wilderness AT tires- just bad press. They tried to charge me $100+ for replacement, as a road hazard incident, and when I complained they reduced the charge. I did not install the new tire, but left my old spare in place, which was also date code W2. That tire had complete tread separation on 8/31/2000 which I have separately reported on another voq. The other tire was also of same date code with exactly same dot number. When I made the other report I mentioned the 8/5/00 incident, and incorrectly reported it to be a vd date code. I just found Firestone receipt which shows the first failure like the second was with dotw2hl1py416 tire. When I contacted Firestone about damage to my car caused by the tire failure, they asked me to ship the defective tire and all the pieces I collected off the street to them. Should I do so?( dot number: W2hl1py416 tire size: P235-75R15 )

- Chappell Hill, TX, USA

problem #132

Aug 012000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Belt seperation at sidewall has exposed steel cords, tire has more than 8/32 in. Of tread on tire, tire has been determined to be unsafe by dealer but due to the wrong dot number refused to replace under current recall status. Dealer also advised that he was owed more than $30,000 in tire replacment from Firestone.( dot number: W2hl tire size: 235 75 R15 )

- Madison, IN, USA

problem #131

Sep 072000

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Firestone Wilderness AT tire (P235/75R15) dot W2hl caused vehicle to pull to the right at all speeds, consumer states vehicle rode rough, left front tire experienced steel belt separation, visual inspection of tires showed no problems.

- Leesburg, FL, USA

problem #130

Aug 091999

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Peoo 020; consumer was traveling about 65mph on highway and felt a shaking vibration. Right front tire tread separated. Firestone, wilderness#at, P23575R15, #dot W2hl. There were no injuries. Consumer states there were no nails, etx detected when tire was replaced.

- Caldwell, ID, USA

problem #129

Sep 122000

(reported on)

Explorer

  • miles
While driving tires would would wear out excessively & would fail to maintain air in tires. Would be driving on the steel belt in tires. Front tires were the problem. Two rear tires could not maintain air, but were not wearing excessively. Tires were not recalled. Firestone, Wilderness AT, P235/75R15 with 15,000 miles.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #128

Sep 112000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving, consumer feels vibration which is also felt in the dash, consumer has contacted dealer.

- Audubon, IA, USA

problem #127

Sep 112000

(reported on)

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While traveling at 15- 25 mph without any indication tire blewout. Tire size P235/70R16.

- Tucker, GA, USA

problem #126

Sep 181999

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Right rear Firestone radial ATX tire tread failed while driving(P235/75/15) the debris from the tire jammed the left rear brake caliper causing it to lock up and begin smoking. Nlm

- Saugus, CA, USA

problem #125

Oct 041999

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Tread separation. Had to replace all 4 tires!( dot number: Tire size: P225/70R15 )

- Coos Bay, OR, USA

problem #124

Jun 022000

Explorer

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Consumer experienced vibration while driving, took vehicle to dealer for inspection and found that the left front tire interior side had experienced tread separation, tires are Firestone ATX P235/75R15 dot W2hl19M296.

- Little Rock, CA, USA

problem #123

Jul 201999

Explorer

  • miles
Firestone Wilderness AT right rear tire P235/75R15 dot vnhl experienced tread separation while driving in 100 degree weather.

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #122

Aug 152000

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
PE00020, original equipment 0N 1997, Explorer, P23575R15 dot W2-hl-ipy, all the tires are having spider like cracks on the side of the tread and on the bottom of the tire.

- Manning, SC, USA

problem #121

Sep 082000

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer has 1997 Ford, Explorer. All 4 tires have a cracks on the originaltires. Tire size P235/75R15 dot#vnhl, and approximate mileage 50,000. Firestone center recommended they call hot line. Firestone Wilderness AT P235/75/R15

- Vernon, CT, USA

problem #120

Feb 012000

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving about 70 left rear tire had a tread separation. Driver could not control vehicle, changing lane because of the separation. Firestone, Wilderness AT P235/75 R15 dot W2hl027477.

- Laredo, TX, USA

problem #119

Sep 062000

(reported on)

Explorer

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Tread is separating from all four tires, and none of them are on recall. Steel belts are showing through the tires.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #118

Sep 062000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
PE00-020; tires size P23575R15, and dot vnhl, original equipment on 1997, Ford Explorer with 37,000 miles, all 4 tires developed visible cracks on the tread and where it met sidewall. Firestone Wilderness AT P235/75/R15

- Jenoa, OH, USA

problem #117

Mar 011998

Explorer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
PE00-020; P25570R16 with 6,000 miles, original equipment on Ford Explorer, 1997. While driving at approximately 70 mph driver's rear tire blewout, and noticed outer edge of tread was completely gone. Driver was able to control vehicle and pulled over. Consumer contacted Firestone, did not assist dealer, and charged consumer for replacement. Firestone Wilderness AT P225/70/R16

- Westland, MI, USA

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