1997 Ford Expedition Tires & wheels Problems

GENERAL AMERI-TRAC 255/70/R16 HAD A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION FROM MAIN TIRE. IT BEGAN WHEN I NOTICED SUDDEN AND VIOLENT VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY 82 IN MONTANA. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN, PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRE TO FIND CHUNKS OF RUBBER FALLING OUT AND TREAD BULGING & WARPED. THIS TIRE (PROPER MOUNTED & BALANCED) HAS APPX 75% TREAD. I SLOWLY DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS GOING TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SPARE. WHEN I WENT OUT THE NEXT MORNING THE TIRE HAD COMPLETELY GONE FLAT. A CLOSER LOOK REVEALED OVER NIGHT THE TIRE HAD EXPLODED WITH THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE AROUND 1/5 OF ITS CIRCUMFERENCE. THE STEEL BELTS STILL ATTACHED TO THE LIFTED PART OF THE TREAD. I WAS LUCKY THIS DIDN'T EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.. AS GOING 60MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY (ONE LANE EACH WAY) THAT IS HEAVILY USED BY LOGGING TRUCKS GOING 70+MPH COULD HAVE LEAD TO A DEVASTATING AND TRAGIC ACCIDENT. AN INCIDENT OF THIS NATURE ON ICY ROADS IN WINTER WOULD HAVE ONLY INCREASED THE LIKELY-HOOD OF A FATALITY. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS TIRE IS AN ISOLATED DEFECTIVE ITEM OR IF ALL THE 255/70 R16 AMERI-TRAC TIRES ARE BAD, BUT I CERTAINLY WANT THIS DEFECTIVE TIRE REPLACED BY GENERAL AS NO TIRE OF THIS POOR OF QUALITY SHOULD LEGALLY BE ON THE ROAD. IT WOULD BE LIKE ALLOWING BRAKE MANUFACTURERS TO SELL BRAKES SYSTEMS THAT ARE KNOWN TO FAIL OR ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL MANUFACTURERS TO SELL STEERING WHEELS THAT ARE KNOWN TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. IF HEAVY PENALTIES AND FINES WERE GIVEN TO THESE COMPANIES (THAT HAVE WEAK INSPECTION PROCEDURES) FOR EACH DEFECTIVE INCIDENT, MAYBE THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE TIRES TO BE SOLD... JUST BECAUSE THEY WISH TO CUT COSTS ON QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES AND HELP THEIR BOTTOM LINE PROFITS. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND ESPECIALLY FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER, SAFER AND HIGHER STANDARDS IN THIS INDUSTRY.

NHTSA ID

10747925

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

WHILE TRAVELING S/B AT APPROX 70 MPH ON I5 IN ORANGE COUNTY CA, RR TIRE OF 97 FORD EXPEDITION SUFFERED 360 DEGREE TREAD SEPARATION. LOSS OF CONTROL, ROLL. FRONT PASSENGER DIED. DRIVER LOST THREE FINGERS. DEFINITY DAKOTA H/T, DOT UPCU PA7 1508 (COOPER, FINDLEY PLANT). DOA 9/5/13. *TR

NHTSA ID

10572890

Incident

Sep 5, 2013

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY A NORMAL SPEED THE SPARE TIRE ON MY EXPEDITION FELL OFF WHEN THE CABLE HOLDING THE TIRE UP SEEMED TO HAVE BROKE. MY VEHICLE RAN OVER THE TIRE AND I COULD SEE THE SPARE BOUNCING WILDLY DOWN THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER CARS HIT THE TIRE BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE SINCE A CAR JUST PASSED FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY THEY COULD HAVE MISSED THE BOUNCING TIRE IN THE ONCOMING LANE. FORD DOES NOT KNOW HOW CLOSE THEY CAME TO KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE. THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH WITHOUT BUMPS, THE TIRE JUST FELL OFF. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVE NEVER USED THE SPARE TIRE ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399202

Incident

May 2, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WITH FOUR DAYTON TIMBERLINE HT 265/75/16 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON ALL FOUR TIRES THE SIDEWALL IS SEPARATING FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10356977

Incident

May 18, 2010

JUNE 4, 2010 [XXX] WMC TV 5 MEMPHIS, TN 38104 DEAR MR. WISE AND CONSUMER INVESTIGATORS: WALMART IS SELLING RECALLED TIRES OUTLAWED BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THIS SERIES WAS ONCE SOLD BY FIRESTONE. THIS TIRE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 26,000 DEATHS AND $1M IN DAMAGES ETC. GOODYEAR BOUGHT THE TRADEMARKED SERIES MENTIONED IN THE SUBJECT LINE AND IS SELLING THEM ONLY AT WALMART. THIS IS THE SAME PRODUCT BUT DIFFERENT COMPANY. THE TIRES SPECIFICS ARE P25570R16. I AM PREPARING TO TAKE THIS STEP FURTHER TO GET THIS SERIES REMOVED FROM THE SHELVES. IT IS THE TIRES TREAD, DEPTH, SIZE, HEIGHT, ETC. THAT DID NOT CONFORM TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S REGULATIONS AN SPECIFICITIES. CONTACT ME TO FURTHER DISCUSS THIS ISSUE VIA EMAIL AT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED IVOQ 10/22/10

NHTSA ID

10334659

Incident

Jun 3, 2010

Mileage

223,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN AT 3 MPH, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY HEARD A NOISE. UPON STOPPING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE HAD FALLEN OFF BECAUSE OF A BROKEN CABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INSPECT OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,525. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,215.

NHTSA ID

10326850

Incident

Mar 21, 2010

Mileage

78,215 mi

OUR SPARE TIRE THAT WAS MOUNTED UNDERNEATH THE CAR, -FELL OFF- WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CABLE "BROKE" THAT WAS HOLDING IT IN PLACE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THANK GOODNESS WE WERE NOT ON THE FREEWAY. IT WILL COST $100. TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319219

Incident

Apr 12, 2009

Mileage

136,000 mi

DT: ON JUNE 27, 2005 WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. AND UPON STOPPING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF. NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS REPORTED. THE CABLE BROKE COMPLETELY OFF, AND THE TIRE WAS GONE. OWNER CALLED FORD, AND THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED.*AK THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10126789

Incident

Jun 27, 2005

Mileage

165,000 mi

THE SPARE TIRE OF MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION (TRUCK) IS NORMALLY THREADED WITH A WIRE ROPE AND WINCHED UP INTO PLACE BENEATH THE BACK OF THE EXPEDITION. IT WORKS WELL AND IS EASIER TO USE THAN THE TRADITIONAL BOLT/PLATE. HOWEVER, IN JANUARY 2005,MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON GRANT ROAD A MAJOR STREET IN TUCSON ARIZONA AND THE WIRE ROPE BROKE AND THE TIRE FLEW OFF FROM BENEATH OUR EXPEDITION AND BOUNCED WILDLY DOWN THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY NOTHING AND NO ONE HIT THE TIRE; BUT THERE WAS POTENTIAL FOR A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT HAD BEEN HIT BY ONE OR MORE CARS. TRAFFIC STOPPED AND MY WIFE WENT BACK AND RETRIEVED THE ERRANT TIRE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THREE LANES. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE CABLE WAS CORRODED; BUT LIVING IN A DRY CLIMATE OF THE ARIZONA DESERT I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS THE CASE. THERE WAS NO RUST OF ANY KIND I COULD SEE. I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD NOTIFY TRUCK OWNERS TO INSPECT THE CABLE FOR DEFECTS. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT A LOT OF DAMAGE WASN'T DONE TO OTHER VEHICLES OR HUMANS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10112205

Incident

Jan 15, 2005

Mileage

102,300 mi

THE SPARE TIRE RETENTION CABLE FAILED, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THIS HAPPENED UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS ON A BUSY SECTION OF ROAD. THERE FORTUNATELY WERE NO VEHICLES FOLLOWING AT THE TIME OR THERE MOST ASSUREDLY WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082719

Incident

Jul 16, 2004

Mileage

170 mi

SPARE TIRE FELL OFF OF 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD. THE SPARE IS SUSPENDED BY A CABLE UNDER THE REAR SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS EVENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEED. HOWEVER, THE CAR FOLLOWING BEHIND MY VEHICLE COULD NOT AVOID THE FALLEN TIRE AND DROVE OVER THE TOP. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE SUSPENSION CABLE WAS REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE, BY A LOCAL DEALER. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10051123

Incident

Dec 20, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 4-WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040520

Incident

Sep 7, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT SPARE TIRE CABLE SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CONSUMER SAW THE TIRE ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10029438

Mileage

76,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING SPARE TIRE FELL OFF FROM BACK OF VEHICLE. *AK *TT

NHTSA ID

10004649

Incident

Jan 20, 2003

Mileage

150,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP ON FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, WHICH RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE NOT DRIVING AT FASTER THEN 10-15 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER

NHTSA ID

8020997

Incident

Sep 30, 2002

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE EXPEDITION SINCE WE STARTED LEASING IT ON 3/30/00. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK IN NUMEROUS TIMES LETTNG THEM KNOW THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. I EITHER WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS FOUND. WELL, EVENTUALLY THINGS STARTED TO GO WRONG WITH IT. BALL JOINT, BLOW OUT TIRE AND EXT. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK IN TO CANDY FORD OVER THIS ISSUE OVER 6 TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I RECENTLY TOOK IT IN TO GOODYEAR TO CHECK THE TIRES ON IT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ITH AND THEY SAID THE RIGHT REAR AXLE WAS BENT. SO I HAVE CONTACTED CANDY FORD AGAIN AND THEY HAVE THE TRUCK KNOW LOOKING AT IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THESE DEALERS CAN SELL YOU OR LEASE YOU SOMETHING WITH IT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WITHOUT INFORMING YOU OF THIS BEFORE SALE IS COMPLETE. I FELL THIS DEALER SHIP HAS PUT MY FAMILY IN SEVER DANGER BY ALLOWING ME AND MY FAMILY TO DRIVE AROUND IN THIS VECHILE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I'M SAFE DRIVING THIS VECHILE NO MATTER THE WORK THEY MIGHT DO TO IT. THERE HAVE BEEN TO MANY THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH IT AND STILL GOING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

754243

Incident

Apr 3, 2000

THEY HAVE NOT FIX MY TRUCK AND I'M HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS CONTACT THEM I'M IN THE MILITARY AND DUE TO TRANSFER TO JAX, FL AND MY TRUCK STILL IS NOT FIX, THEY WANT ME TO HAVE A EXPERT LOOK AT THE TIRE AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR AND EXPERT SO THEY TOLD ME I HAVE 45 DAYS BEFORE THE DROP MY FILE. HELP. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2CU10X278 TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)

NHTSA ID

750059

Incident

Jun 14, 2001

TIRE FAILURE, CAUSING IMMEDIATE DEFLATION WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TIRES ROTATED AND SERVICED 3 DAYS BEFORE FAILURE. SUSPECT POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH TIRES. ALL FOUR TIRES SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED AND STILL IN POSSESSION, IF NEEDED. *AK (TIRESIZE: P265/70R17)

NHTSA ID

747486

Incident

Jun 21, 2001

THE LEFT REAR AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P265/70R17). NLM

NHTSA ID

785012

Incident

Sep 16, 2000

CABLE THAT BINDS UP SPARE TIRE FAILS TO RELEASE SPARE TIRE FOR USE. DESIGN WAS VERY FLAWED.*AK CONSUMER STATES HE BOUGHT DESIGN FLAW TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD, THEY PULLED THE PART FROM THE PARTS BIN FOR THE 2001 EXPEDITION AND IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS CONSUMER'S VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID

888793

Incident

May 6, 2001

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ALL 4 TIRES' TREAD WAS CRACKING, AND STEEL WIRES WERE SHOWING. FIRESTONE PRORATED WITH SAME TYPE WILDERNESS AT. 3 OF THE TIRES HAD 8 30 SECONDS, AND 1 HAD 4 30 SECONDS. TIRES SIZE 255/70R16 ON 1997, FORD, EXPEDITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

887254

Incident

Apr 27, 2001

TREAD SEPARATED. CAP CAME COMPLETELY OFF FROM THE SIDEWALLS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

NHTSA ID

741268

Incident

Feb 20, 2001

CONSUMER NOTICED 2 FOUR INCH LONG CREVICES IN THE TREAD OF THE TIRE, 1 SIXTEEN INCH LONG CREVICES ACROSS AND ALONG THE TIRE TREAD (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P225/70R16). NLM

NHTSA ID

559456

Incident

Jan 19, 2001

TIRE WAS ONLY ON THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE "BLOWOUT". TIRE HAD LESS THAN 2,000 MILES IN SERVICE. TIRE DISINTIGRATED WITH NO WARNING. NO HAZARDS OBSERVED IN ROAD. BELIEVE IT WAS A CLASSIC TREAD SEPARATION. DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. GOOD NEWS WAS THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/70R17 )

NHTSA ID

737169

Incident

Aug 26, 2000

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN INQUIRY CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED TIRES. ON 11/03/00 I HAD PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE (OIL CHANGE/TIRE ROTATION). THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED ME THAT MY TIRES WERE BECOMING "CHOPPY". HE SHOWED ME BY RUNNING MY HAND OVER THE SURFACE OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NOT SMOOTH, BUT IN CERTAIN AREAS IT APPEARED THAT THE TIRE WAS RAISED. I FELT THAT THIS CONDITION WAS ODD SINCE I WOULD BELIEVE THAT THE TREAD WOULD WEAR SMOOTHLY DURING CONTINUED OPERATION. UNDERSTANDING THE CONCERN ABOUT TREAD SEPERATION, AND NOT BEING AN EXPERT, I SUSPECTED THAT THIS MAY BE OCCURRING. I SENT A MESAGE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SECTION OF GOODYEAR AND WAS ADVISED THAT 39,000 WAS THE LIFE EXPECTIANCY OF THOSE TIRES. I DISAGREE AND FELT THEIR EXPLANTATION WAS UNACCEPTABLE. I ADVISED GOODYEAR THAT IT WAS INTENT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION. MY CONCERN IS FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THAT OF THE OTHER MOTORIST. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. JOHN WILLIAMS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: LOAD E TIRE SIZE: P265/70R17 )

NHTSA ID

737135

Incident

Nov 3, 2000