2001 Ford Escape Tires & wheels Problems

I WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON THE 215 FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70 TO 75 MPH IN THE #1 LANE WHEN I HEARD NOISES I RECOGNIZED FROM MY PAST AS TIRE TREAD COMING LOSE FROM THE TIRE IT SELF. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO MANEUVER MY VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. AS GOD WOULD HAVE THERE WAS A BREAK IN TRAFFIC THAT ALLOWED ME TO DO SO. AFTER THE ROADSIDE SERVICE (AAA) ARRIVED TO CHANGE THE DAMAGED TIRE WITH THE SPARE I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THE DAMAGED TIRE WAS DAMAGED ONLY TO THE OUTSIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE JUST COME LOSE. I AM THANKFUL THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT CAUSED BUT I DO WANT TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197570

Incident

Jul 23, 2007

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION ON ALL FOUR TIRES. *TS EACH TIRE WAS REPLACED. CONTINENTAL REJECTED THE CONSUMERS CLAIM STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A REPAIRED PUNCTURE IN THE TIRE. *SC

NHTSA ID

10141007

Incident

Aug 29, 2005

Mileage

29,849 mi

NEW FIRESTONE TIRE IN REGULAR PASSENGER VEHICLE USAGE. FOUR DESTINATION LE TIRES P23570R16 PURCHASED AS REPLACEMENTS OF OEM TIRES. WITHIN 10,000 MILES THE SIDEWALL BUBBLES FORMING TWO LARGE BLISTERS ON ONE TIRE. NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE CAUSED THIS CONDITION. FIRESTONE REPLACED THE TIRE. DEFECT WAS LEFT AT THE FIRESTONE OUTLET.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118049

Incident

Apr 15, 2005

Mileage

10,000 mi

I HAVE HAD THREE DIFFERENT TIRES EXCHANGED ON MY VEHICLE SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE OF FEB. 7 2001. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN EVERY 5000 MILES FOR SERVICE AND EVERYTIME I HAVE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR PULLS IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE GONE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP EVEYTIME AND VOICED MY COMPLAINT. AT 15000 MILES THE TIRE MANAGER EXPLAINED IT WAS MY TIRES AND HAD ME PURCHASE A SET OF 4. AT 35000 MILES THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIRES AGAIN THIS TIME AT NO CHARGE. I AM NOW AT 64000 AND THIRD SET OF TIRES. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING APPROX 55 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE TREAD FELL OFF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE AND WILL BE VISITING THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE EXACT NUMBER OF THE TIRES IS BUT IT IS THE GRABBER TIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10088789

Incident

Aug 28, 2004

Mileage

64,200 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON I-75 NEAR GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA LAST WEEK. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE WHEN I HEARD AND FELT THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD BEATING ON MY CAR. IT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST, I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER SAFELY. MY CAR BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT UNCONTROLLABLY, CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL AT OVER 60 MPH, BOUNCED OFF AND SENT ME SLIDING SIDEWAYS FOR ABOUT 100 FEET. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF WERE NOT PHYSICALLY INJURED. THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND $6,000.00. THE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES ON MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE AND HAVE ONLY 26,000 MILES ON THEM. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE BUT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE MANUFACTURERS ARE AWARE OF THE TREAD SEPARATION BUT CHOOSE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I AM WONDERING IF YOU CAN ADVISE ME TO WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING TO OTHER UNSUSPECTING MOTORISTS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD ONLY CAR DAMAGE, I FEAR OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO FORTUNATE AND THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082838

Incident

Jul 23, 2004

Mileage

26,000 mi

REPLACEMENT OF ORIGINAL TIRES AT 23000 MILES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10063789

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

Mileage

23,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED DRIVER HEARD A THUMPING NOISE. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TWO WEEKS LATER, FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER FELT TIRES SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 20, 000 MILES. GENERAL, GRABBERS AW, 225/70R15. *AK CONSUMER ALSO FELT SEVERE VIBRATION ON STEERING WHEEL WHEN TREAD SEPARATED FROM STEEL CORD. ALSO, IT WAS MEASURE BY A TIRE DEALER THAT OTHER TIRES WERE WORN AS WELL AND HAS A 400 TREAD WEAR RATING STAMPED ON THEM. *LA

NHTSA ID

10059231

Mileage

20,000 mi

FORD MAY HAVE ANOTHER SUCH PROBLEM, BUT THEY REFUSE TO CHECK TO SEE IF THEY DO. I OWN A FORD 2001 ESCAPE. SORT OF A SMALL EXPLORER. ITS OEM TIRES ARE GENERAL GRABBER AW. MINE ARE SIZED P225/70/15. ONE JUNE 21, WITH LESS THAN 16000 MILES, FOR NO APPARENT REASON IT BLEW OUT. LUCKILY I WAS ON LOCAL STREETS AT ~20 MPH. HAD I BEEN ON LOOP 610 AT ~55 MPH POSSIBLY THE VEHICLE (AS SUVS ARE WONT TO DO) WOULD HAVE FLIPPED AND INJURED OR KILLED MY WIFE AND I. I DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT TO CHANGE THE TIRE AND DISCOVERED THE FORD SUPPLIED JACK AT ITS MAXIMUM TRAVEL DID NOT RAISE THE CAR HIGH ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE TIRE. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME TO GO GET A PUMP JACK THAT ALLOWED ME TO INSTALL THE SPARE TIRE. AS IT WAS PAST NOON ON A SATURDAY I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHICH HAS STONEWALLED ME AND REFUSED TO HELP. THE MOST I HAVE HEARD IS WE'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE JACK, MAYBE YOU'RE NOT USING IT CORRECTLY, HOWEVER A LOCAL MICHELIN DEALER TELLS ME YEAH WE HEAR THAT PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. FORD REFUSES TO ESCALATE AND NOW IGNORES MY EMAIL. AS FOR THE TIRE I'M TOLD: IT MAY BE COVERED UNDER YOUR 36000, 3 YEAR WARRANTY, CHECK WITH GENERAL TIRE. I CHECK WITH GENERAL TIRE, AND FIND OUT A LARGER SIZE OF THAT MODEL TIRE ON FORD EXPEDITIONS IS ALREADY BEING RECALLED, BUT GENERAL DENIES EVER HAVING ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT ESCAPES, AND TELLS ME TO CALL FORD. I CALL CHAMPION FORD (FORMERLY CHARLIE THOMAS FORD) ON THE GULF FREEWAY WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND AGAIN ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL MANAGER I'M THE FIRST ONE WITH SUCH PROBLEM(S). I SHOULD LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER. I DO THAT BUT AM NEVER CALLED BACK. THE DEALER TELLS ME THERE IS NO ONE HIGHER AT FORD TO CALL ANYMORE. SOUNDS LIKE FORD IS ACTIVELY KEEPING ITS HEAD IN THE SAND. VIN NUMBER: [XXX] MILEAGE: 15491 NAME: [XXX] LAST NAME:[XXX] ADDRESS:[XXX] CITY: [XXX] STATE: TX ZIP:[XXX] EMAIL ADDRESS: [XXX]TELEPHONE NUMBER: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10070559

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

15,491 mi

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WOULD PERFORM ERRATICALLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HAD NOTICED SOME TREAD SEPARATING ON THE TIRES. *AK ALL FOUR TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR AT OR AROUND 14,000 MILES. TWO SHOWED THE STEEL TREAD, AS A RESULT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS ROUTINELY SERVICED WITH ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. *PH

NHTSA ID

10044257

Mileage

17,000 mi

THE TIRES FELT AS IF THEY HAD A "FLAT SPOT" WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HANDLE VERY ROUGH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10015085

Incident

Apr 3, 2003

SINCE PURCHASE, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE TIRES TRACTION ISN'T RELIABLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE FIELD ENGINEER BOTH AGREE THAT THIS IS MERELY A "HANDLING CHARACTERISTIC". *JG

NHTSA ID

10002569

MY 2001 FORD EXCAPE HAS 27,600 MILES ON IT. MY TIRES HAVE WORN OUT FROM THE OUTSIDE IN. I CARRIED IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. MY DEALER SAID I HAD RECEIVED A CHECK BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. I DID NOT. I DROVE IT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. NOW I HAVE TO BUY OVER $400 WORTH OF TIRES AND HAVE AN ALIGNMENT. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE HAD A PRETTY GOOD LICK FOR IT TO HAVE ALL 4 OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I DO NOT HOTDOG THIS CAR. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT

NHTSA ID

10000226

Incident

Dec 5, 2002

ROTATED ALL 4 TIRES AT 5,000 / 10,000 MILES. FRONT TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. BOTH TIRES HAD TREAD WEAR OF 2-1/2 INCH WIDE. DEALERSHIP STATED WAS DUE TO LOW TIRE PRESSURE AND WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. DOT# AEUU44W3900. TS *TT

NHTSA ID

8023246

Incident

Nov 9, 2002

Mileage

16,000 mi

CONTITRAC SUV M+S P235/80R16 104T--TIRES DO NOT GRIP ROAD WELL WHEN STARTING OUT ON WET ROADS AN IN SNOW---FORD CONSUMER SERVICE--THEY SAY TIRE SLIPPAGE WHEN STARTING IS A TYPICAL HANDLING CHARACTERTIC OF THIS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR

NHTSA ID

9006728

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND NO WARNING TIRE SIDEWALL STARTED TO SEPARATE, CAUSING A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR TIRE, CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, SIZE P23570R16. DOT# W208 ITC1601.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED, FORD AND FIRESTONE REFUSED TO GIVE A PRORATE WARRANTY.*JB

NHTSA ID

8017026

Incident

Aug 14, 2002

ENTIRE OUTER SIDEWALL SEPERATED FROM TIRE. TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED, ROTATED PER MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS. VEHICLE NEVER USED OFF-ROAD, NEVER CARRIED A HEAVY LOAD, NOR EVER USED FOR TOWING.*AK

NHTSA ID

765914

Incident

Aug 19, 2002

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES FAILED (P235/70R16AS, P235/70R16 1047). NLM

NHTSA ID

566652

CONSUMER STATED ALL FOR WHEELS WERE CHANGED TO P225/70R16, BUT NOT THE SPARE TIRE WHICH REMAINS A 15 INCH, TIRE AND WHEEL ARE ABOUT 1 INCH LESS DIAMETER THAN THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE, IN ADDITION THE SPARE WHEEL STAMPED IN THE BODY METAL IS SIZED FOR THE SMALLER 15 INCH WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

566020

HEARD A NOISE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS BEGINING TO SEPARATE, ORIGINAL TIRE. *AK FIRESTONE TIRES.*JB

NHTSA ID

8012852

Incident

Jun 14, 2002

FRONT AND REAR TIRES ARE WEARING. CAUSE KNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE#235R16 DOT UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

8011256

Incident

May 19, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR CONTINENTAL TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING TIRES TO GO FLAT. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 12000 MILES, MOUNTED ON A FORD, ESCAPE, 2001. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8009415

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

LEFT FRONT TIRE WEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

761221

Incident

Apr 25, 2002

WHILE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER GENERAL TIRE ,SIZE#P22575R15, SUDDENLY BLEWOUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, DEALER REPLACED TIRE AT NO COST. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID

8005779

Incident

Mar 15, 2002

FRONT TIRES WEAR IS EXCESSIVE CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. TIRES ARE DOWN TO 5/32 OF INCH AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY ONE OWNER. I HAVE DONE ALL OF THE TIRE ROTATIONS AS DIRECTED BY THE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R15)

NHTSA ID

758977

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON HIGHWAY HEARD A POPPING NOISE TEN MINUTES BEFORE INCIDENT. THEN HE FELT VIBRATION, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ROUGH. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAS IN CONTROL. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT RIGHT/REAR TIRE WAS BLOWN OUT, AND TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

899275

Incident

Nov 9, 2001