FORD FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL
PROBLEM
FIRESTONE, FORD, MERCURY
& MAZDA ANNOUCE RECALL OF DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE TIRES
DUE TO ROLLOVER PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORER, MERCURY MOUNTAINEER,
MAZDA NAVAJO & FORD B-SERIES PICK UP TRUCKS
GENERAL INFORMATION
At 11:00 am on Wednesday,
August 9, 2000, Bridgestone/Firestone (Firestone) and Ford announced jointly
that Firestone will recall approximately 14.4 million tires that contain
a safety-related defect. (Most of the tires in question were original
equipment on Ford vehicles, primarily the Ford Explorer, although a small
number were used as original equipment on other manufacturers' vehicles,
and they have been used as replacement tires on a wide variety of models.)
The recall will
cover all P235/75 R15 Firestone ATX and ATX II tires (from 1991 to the
present) and all P235/75R15 Wilderness AT tires (from 1996 to the present)
manufactured at Firestone's Decatur, IL plant. Firestone does not plan
to recall the approximately 5.6 million Wilderness AT tires manufactured
at its other plants (Joliet, Canada and Wilson, NC) or other models of
Wilderness tires. Firestone estimates that approximately 6.5 million of
the tires covered by the recall (which include original equipment, replacement,
and full-size, non-temporary spare tires) are still on the road.
The remedy will
be to replace the defective tires with new Wilderness AT tires from the
Joliette and Wilson plants, other Bridgestone/Firestone tires models,
and competitors' tires. All owners will be able to obtain the replacement
tires at Firestone /tire & Service Centers, and participating Bridgestone/Firestone
retail stores. Ford, Mercury, and Mazda owners will be able to obtain
them at participating Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Mazda dealerships. Owners
who wish to purchase competitors' tires will be reimbursed up to $100
per tire, including mounting and balancing charges and taxes. Owners should
pick up a refund form and obtain additional information from a Bridgestone/Firestone
authorized retail location.
Bridgestone/Firestone
began mailing notification letters to owners on August 26, 2000 and will
complete that process by October 14, 2000.
NHTSA will continue
its investigation to ascertain whether the scope of the recall is appropriate
(e.g., whether the tires from Firestone's other plants should have been
recalled also, and whether other sizes of these brands should have been
covered). We will also monitor the recall to assure that it is performed
expeditiously and that the remedy is adequate.
Answers to
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What tires are being
recalled?
-
All Firestone ATX and
ATX II tires in the P235/75R15 size. All Firestone Wilderness AT tires
in the P235/75R15 size that were built at the Decatur, Illinois tire
plant.
-
- 2. What vehicles are these
tires on? Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Ranger pick
up trucks, and the Mazda Navajo and B-series pick up trucks
These tires were original
equipment on certain. These tires were also sold in the aftermarket
and may be on any light truck or SUV that takes the P235/75R15 tire
size.
-
-
Firestone Tires included in
the Recall were installed as Original Equipment on these vehicles
*†
Manufacturer |
Model |
Model
Years |
Ford |
Explorer |
1991-2000 |
Mercury |
Mountaineer |
1996-2000 |
Ford |
Ranger (pick up truck) |
1991-2000 |
Ford |
F-series Light Trucks |
1991-1994 |
Ford |
Bronco |
1991-1994 |
Mazda |
B-series (pick up truck) |
1994-1996 |
Mazda |
Navajo |
1991-1994 |
- *Note: Please note that not all tires on these vehicles are included in the
recall. See the response to question number 3 below to determine if
your tires are included.
*Note: Tires are being recalled regardless of the vehicle they are mounted
on. Please go to question 3 below to determine if your tires are included.
-
- 3. How do I know if my
tires are included?
If you have
an ATX or ATX II tire:
-
You need to find your tire
size on the tire. The tire size is located on both sides of the
tire. It is in raised black letters and it is in slightly smaller
print than the words, "Firestone ATX". The size will read
as follows:
P235/75 R15
31X10.50R15
LT215/75R15
etc.
Only tire size P235/75R15
is included in Firestone's recall.
If you have a Wilderness
tire:
- First you need to read
the model name off of the sidewall of your tire. There are several
models of Wilderness tires. There are Wilderness AT, Wilderness
HT, and Wilderness LE tires. Only certain Wilderness AT tires are
involved in the recall.
If you have a Wilderness
tire other than one that says Wilderness AT on the sidewall, your
tire is not included.
- If you have a Wilderness
AT tire, you need to check the tire size. The tire size is located
on both sides of the tire. It is in raised black letters and it
is in slightly smaller print than the words, "Firestone Wilderness".
It is located between the words Firestone and Wilderness, slightly
above these words. The size may read as follows:
P235/75R15
P245/75R16
P255/70R16
P215/75R15
etc.
Only tire size P235/75R15
is included in Firestone's recall.
- Next you need to locate
the DOT code to determine where your tire was built. The DOT number
is located on the blackwall side of the tire, under the F in Firestone,
and it is 10 characters long, and it starts with DOT. Since this
code is on the blackwall side of the tire, and not on the outlined
white letter side of the tire, you may need to crawl underneath
your vehicle with a flashlight to find the code. There may be spaces
in between some of the numbers, but be sure to count all 10 characters
to ensure you have found the proper code. Examples include:
DOT VDHL1PM046
DOT W2HL1M0470
DOT VDHLA16089
The first two letters of
the DOT code are the DOT plant code. If the first two letters
of the DOT code are VD, your tires were built in the Decatur,
Illinois plant and are being recalled. If they are not VD they
are not included. For information
VD is Decatur, Illinois
VN is Joliete, in Quebec Canada
HY is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
W1 is Lavergne, Tennessee
W2 is Wilson, North Carolina
8X is Aiken, SC
NOTE:
If you are unable
to find your DOT number, if you are unable to determine whether
your tire is included in the recall, or if you would rather not
crawl under your vehicle, Firestone is offering to inspect all
tires. You may take your vehicle to a Firestone store and ask
them to check your DOT number. Firestone will inspect the tire
and let you know whether it is included in the recall. Participating
Ford dealers will conduct similar inspections for Ford vehicles.
- 4. I recently got my tires
replaced, can I get reimbursed?
There is nothing in the
law requiring reimbursement for consumers that have had their tires
replaced before a recall was announced. However, manufacturers will
often reimburse consumers for customer satisfaction. In this case,
Firestone has said that customers who exchanged recall tires between
January 1, 2000 and August 8, 2000 at a company-owned Firestone Tire
& Service Center or authorized Bridgestone/Firestone retailer
and paid a prorated fee for those tires may receive reimbursement
by completing a reimbursement form available from an authorized Bridgestone/Firestone
dealer.
-
For recalled tires that were replaced by a
non-authorized dealer between August 9 and August 16, 2000, reimbursements
will be limited to $100 per tire including mounting balancing, and
taxes. Call Firestone for more information at 1-800-465-1904.
- 5. What brand/model of
tires will Firestone be replacing my tires with?
The tires being recalled
will be replaced with Firestone Wilderness AT tires built at tire
plants other than the Decatur, Illinois plant, other Bridgestone/Firestone
models, and competitors' tires.
-
- 6. I have a Ford Explorer,
but I don't have P235/75R15 tires?
Your tires are not involved
in the recall. Some Ford Explorers also come equipped with P225/70R15
or P255/70R16 and possibly other tire sizes. Only the P235/75R15 tires
are included in the recall.
-
- 7. When will I get a notice
in the mail?
Firestone began mailing
notices on August 26, 2000 and will complete that process by October
14, 2000. Ford owners will receive an additional letter from Ford
Motor Company explaining the recall process.
-
- 8. What should I do now,
while I wait to have my tires changed?
In the meantime, check
your tires. Be sure your tires are properly inflated to the vehicle
manufacturer's specifications. Do not drive over the speed limit.
Do not overload your vehicle. Wear your seatbelt. If you do need to
have a repair performed on your tire, have it professionally repaired
by a tire dealer or vehicle dealer. Be sure to check the air pressure
in your spare tire. If you must use your spare tire, make sure it
is properly inflated. Information about the manufacturer's recommended
cold tire inflation pressure and vehicle weight rating can be found
in both the owners manual and on an identification sticker in the
vehicle, most commonly found on the hinge pillar of the driver's side
door. Be aware that while these precautions are good general guidelines
to tire safety, if your tread has already started to separate from
your tire, these guidelines may not prevent a tire failure. Also,
be advised that visual inspection of the tires may not be sufficient
to detect potential tread separation.
-
NOTE:If you
have a Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, or Mazda Navajo equipped
with tires in the P235 tire size (see question 2 above to determine
what size you have on your vehicle), Firestone recommends that you
increase the air pressure in the tires to 30 psi cold and maintain
it at that level. Ford, as noted on the identification sticker mentioned
above, recommends 26 psi for the Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, and
the Mazda Navajo with the P235 tire size. Ford now approves that a
range of 26-30 psi as appropriate for these vehicles. Consumers who
own Explorers with other tire sizes, such as the P255 or P225, should
follow the recommendations of the manufacturer on the identification
sticker in the vehicle.
- 9. How much will the recall
cost me?
Replacement tires will
be provided at no cost to the consumer. Consumers who wish to purchase
competitors' tires will be limited to $100 per tire, including mounting,
balancing, and taxes.
-
- 10. Where do I go to get
my tires replaced?
If you have a Ford vehicle,
you can go to either a participating Ford Lincoln or Mercury dealer
or Firestone tire store. If you have a Mazda, you can go to a participating
Mazda dealer for a free tire inspection, but their dealers are not
currently equipped with tires for replacement. If you don't have a
Ford vehicle, you must go to a Firestone store. Please be aware that
dealers may not have the inventory to furnish tires immediately. Call
your dealer or store to schedule an appointment. To identify a convenient
and participating retailer, call toll-free 1800-465-1904 or 1-888-276-2120
in Puerto Rico. Independent participating dealers include:
-
Costco: Replacement with
Wilderness AT or competitor's tires and handling reimbursements. Free
mounting and installation.
Midas: www.midas.com
Sears: Handling Sears
customers who originally purchased Firestone tires at Sears. This
is done under Sears 100% satisfaction policy. Replacement tire cost
is limited to original purchase price. If replacement tire costs more,
then customer pays the difference. Tire installation and mounting
is free. For everyone else, Sears will replace tires at cost to the
consumer who can then request reimbursement from Firestone.
Sunoco Ultra Service Centers (800) 786-6261
Wards: Replacement with
competitor's tires at no cost and with free mounting and installation.
- 11. What is NHTSA doing
with the investigation?
NHTSA is keeping the investigation
open until we determine whether the scope of Firestone's recall is
appropriate. We are reviewing all of the data that is sent in to determine
if the scope of the recall is justified, or if other tire sizes, additional
tires built at other plants, or other tire models should be included.
-
- 12. What is the difference
between tires built at the Decatur, Illinois plant that are involved
in the recall and the other tires that are built at other Firestone
plants?
An internal engineering
review within the Decatur plant is underway. Currently, Firestone
believes that the scope of the recall is appropriate based on data
they have analyzed and shared with NHTSA. Our investigation will remain
open until we verify that the scope of Firestone's recall is appropriate.
We are reviewing all of the data that is sent in to determine if the
scope of the recall is justified, or if other tire sizes, additional
tires built at other plants, or other tire models should be included.
-
- 13. Will my spare tire
be replaced?
Yes, if your spare tire
is one of the tire models included in the recall, Firestone will replace
the spare tire at no charge also.
-
- 14. To Whom do I report
a tire failure?
NHTSA's investigation
will remain open until we determine whether the scope of Firestone's
recall is appropriate. So, if you have experienced any tire failure,
we encourage you to report it to us by calling our toll-free Auto
Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236) or by completing
an electronic complaint form on this website, http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
To report a tire failure, you may also contact Firestone at 1-800-465-1904,
Ford at 1-800-392-3673, or whomever is appropriate for your particular
tire and/or vehicle if the tire that failed was original equipment.
-
-
When reporting a tire failure,
it would be helpful if you are able to provide us with the following
information:
- Your Name, Address,
and Day and Evening Phone Number(s)
- Describe what happened,
you were driving down the road and.... How did you know you had
a tire problem?
- How many people were
in the vehicle?
Was anybody hurt?
-
- Do you know what
kind of tires were on the vehicle?
(example: Firestone,
Goodyear, Cooper, General, etc.)
- Do you know what
model of tires were on the vehicle?
(example: Firestone ATX, Firestone Wilderness,
Goodyear Wrangler,
etc.)
-
- What vehicle were
you driving? Make, Model, and Model Year.
(example: 1997 Ford
Explorer, 1995 Chevrolet Blazer, etc.)
- If you have your
vehicle identification number (VIN), it is helpful. The VIN
is located at the base of the driver's side of the front windshield
and is 17 characters long. It is also located on a sticker in
the vehicle, usually in the driver's door jam. You may also
find your VIN on your car insurance card, insurance paperwork,
and/or your state motor vehicle title.
- Were the tires Original
Equipment (sold on the vehicle when it was new) or aftermarket?
When did the tire failure
occur? Date of incident:
About how many miles were
on your vehicle? Approximate vehicle mileage:
About how many miles were
on your tire? Approximate tire mileage:
How fast were you going?
Approximate speed at the time:
- Can you get the DOT
# off of the tire that failed. [On tires involved in the recall,
the DOT number is located on the blackwall side of the tire, under
the F in Firestone, and it is 10 characters long, and it starts
with DOT...., on other tires it is located on at least one sidewall
of the tire (please note if your tire is still on the vehicle, it
may be on the inner sidewall) and it always begins with the letters
DOT]
(example: DOT#: VDHL1PM046)
Note: Beginning
in the year 2000, tires have an 11 digit DOT number.
(example: DOT#VDHL1PM0400)
- Can we get your tire
size?
(examples: P235/75R15, LT
255/75R16, P255/70R16, 31X10.50R15LT, etc.)
- Location of tire on
the vehicle: Which tire was it?
(example: driver's side
rear tire)
- Do you still have the
tire and/or the tread (if the tread separated)?
- Have you contacted
your dealer (e.g., Ford, Toyota, etc.) or the tire store (i.e.,
Firestone, Goodyear, Michelin, etc.) or your insurance company?
What did they say?
- Do you have a police
report, photographs, or any other evidence of what happened? Is
it possible to get a copy?

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