1997 Ford E-Series Tires & wheels Problems

WE PURCHASED A 1997 FORD E150 RAISED ROOF CONVERSION VAN FROM JIM O'NEAL FORD IN SELLERSBURG, INDIANA JUST ACROSS THE BORDER FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. THE CONVERSION WAS BY SUPERIOR IN LOUISVILLE. WE PURCHASED THAT PARTICULAR VAN BECAUSE IT WAS HIGHLY RATED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AS A CONVERSION COMPANY. WE DROVE THE VAN FOR SIX YEARS AND JUST RECENTLY TRADED IT IN. IT HAS 97,000 MILES ON IT. THE MAJOR PROBLEM WE HAD WITH THE VAN WAS WITH THE FRONT END. BOTH FORD AND OUR LOCAL TIRE DEALER HAVE TOLD US THAT BECAUSE THE VAN IS RAISED ROOF AND HEAVIER THAN NORMAL, WE SHOULD EXPECT EXCESSIVE TIRE AND BRAKE WEAR. HOWEVER, WE OFTEN WOULD HAVE TO PUT BRAKES ON THE VAN MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR AND REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES YEARLY. THE FRONT TIRES WOULD GET ABNORMAL WEAR (CUPPING) WHICH WOULD DESTROY ALL FOUR TIRES EVENTUALLY WITH NORMAL ROTATION. AT 60,000 MILES, A FORD REPAIR SHOP IN JOPLIN, MO TOLD US THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY FELT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG. ONLY 30,000 MILES LATER, WE WERE ONCE AGAIN TOLD THE BALL JOINTS WERE DESTROYED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ANY TIME WE ASK IF THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, WE WERE TOLD (WITH A SHOULDER SHRUG) THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE RAISED ROOF. I THINK FORD SHOULD WARN POTENTIAL BUYERS OF THEIR CONVERSION VANS THAT THEY WILL EXPERIENCE ABNORMAL BRAKE, TIRE AND FRONT END WEAR AND SHOULD EXPECT TO HAVE $6-800 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS YEARLY. IF THEY CANNOT MANUFACTURE A FRONT END CAPABLE OF HANDLING A HEAVIER LOAD FROM THE RAISED ROOF, THEY SHOULD NOT BE SELLING RAISED ROOF VANS.

NHTSA ID

10070333

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

AT 70 M.P.H. ON FLAT , DRY ROAD THE TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE INFLATED FIRESTONE TIRE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MOTORHOME.

NHTSA ID

10050984

Incident

Aug 17, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR DRIVER'S OUTER TIRE BLEW OUT, WHICH RESULTED IN TREAD SEPARATION, FIRESTONE, MODEL LT225/75R16E DOT: UNKNOWN. FORD AND FIRESTONE WERE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10051819

Incident

Dec 19, 2003

A TIRE BLEW OUT AND DAMAGED THE MOTOR HOME. FIRESTONE LT 225/75/16. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.

NHTSA ID

10021919

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE REAR PASSENGER OUTER TIRE BLEWOUT, WHICH RESULTED IN TREAD SEPARATION, WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE INNER TIRE ALSO BLEWOUT. FIRESTONE HAD BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

8011999

Incident

Jun 11, 2002

Mileage

25,315 mi

FIRESTONE STEEL EX RADIAL LT225/75R16 DOT #VN1L1XA436 - INSIDE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE LEFT OUTSIDE TIRE BLEWOUT AT 50 MPH, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *TT

NHTSA ID

8005449

Incident

Feb 6, 2002

FIRESTONE STEEL EX RADIAL LT225/75R16 DOT #VN1L1XA436 - INSIDE RIGHT DUAL TIRE SEPARATED WHILE GOING 50MPH. NO WARNING SIGNS, JUST A LOUD BANG AND RUBBER SEEN FLAPPING IN REAR VIEW MIRROR. FIRESTONE CONTACTED. *AK *TT

NHTSA ID

8004827

Incident

Feb 6, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, FIRESTONE LT 225/75R16, CLAIM #13-7061-497. NLM

NHTSA ID

6901073

Incident

Sep 4, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOWOUT AND DAMAGE TO FENDER WELL AND NUT GUARD. DEALER CAN NOT MAKE A DETERMINATION ON RUINED TIRE.*AK TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL, SIZE P225/75R16, DOT NUMBER VD7LXA196, CONSUMER STATES THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OTHER FRONT TIRE, CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR ALL SEVEN TIRES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

893543

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

THIS FIRESTONE TIRES LT225/75R16 DOT:VD1L1XD227. TIRE WAS ON A MOTORHOME WHEN TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. TREAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE MOTORHOME ITSELF. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK 3 OTHER TIRES HAD BULGES ON THEM. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED, NOTHING HAPPENS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

874311

Incident

Sep 24, 2000

WHILE PUTTING AIR IN TIRE NOTICED TIRE WAS UNEVEN ON TOP OF TREAD. TIRES ARE NOT PART OF RECALL.*AK DOT # VD1L1XA456. *SLC

NHTSA ID

872074

PE00020; THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH TREAD ON THE OUTSIDE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS A 1997, FORD, F350. TIRE SIZE P22575R16, DOT # VD1L406. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. TIRE MILEAGE 21 685. *AK VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROPERTY DAMAGE, ON THE SECOND TREAD SEPARATION, THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED ON VEHICLE, AT THIS TIME TIRES HAD 195000 MILES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

870751

Incident

Sep 17, 2000