1997 Ford Explorer Tires & wheels Problems

ON 7/29/2013 WE PURCHASED A SET OF 4 KUMHO SOLUS KR21 TIRES. THE CAR IS USED PRIMARILY FOR HIGHWAY TRAVEL ? ONCE WEEKLY WORK COMMUTE AND FOR VACATION ROAD TRIPS. WE HAD NOT YET DRIVEN IT OFF PAVEMENT WITH THE NEW TIRES. ON 4/16/2014 I STARTED THE CAR TO GO TO WORK. I HEARD AN ODD NOISE FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE, ALMOST LIKE A RHYTHMIC POPPING SOUND, BUT IT STOPPED, AND SINCE IT WASN'T IDENTIFIABLE I PROCEEDED TO LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY. ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY, I HEARD THE NOISE AGAIN, BUT AGAIN IT STOPPED. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS HANDLING FINE. AS SOON AS I GOT ON THE FREEWAY (APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM MY HOUSE), I NOTICED I WAS HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING TO SPEED (65MPH). I ALSO BEGAN TO HEAR A RHYTHMIC BUMPING NOISE, SO BEGAN TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. BY THE TIME I GOT OVER, I COULD FEEL THE BUMPING AND KNEW I HAD A FLAT. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HAD SUFFERED A COMPLETE SIDEWALL SEPARATION (SEE PHOTO). THE TIRES ONLY HAD 6,624 MILES ON THEM ? ALL PAVED ROAD, NO DIRT. THEY WERE SUPPOSEDLY WARRANTIED TO 85,000 MILES. IN RETROSPECT, I BELIEVE THE SOUNDS I HEARD IN MY DRIVEWAY WERE THE INITIAL SIDEWALL SEPARATION. THE SEPARATION DID NOT CAUSE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE OR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY; THAT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE I GOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND STARTED DRIVING AT 60MPH. THERE WAS NO EXPLOSIVE NOISE LIKE A BLOWOUT. IN SUBSEQUENTLY RESEARCHING KUMHO TIRES, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS BRAND HAS A LONG HISTORY WITH SUDDEN SIDEWALL SEPARATION AND/OR BLOWOUTS ? ALL AT LOW MILEAGES. THIS OCCURS ACROSS SEVERAL TIRE MODELS AND YEARS. THE COMPLAINTS WERE SO CONSISTENT THAT I WENT BACK TO THE TIRE DEALER AND REQUESTED A DIFFERENT BRAND. THEY REPLACED THEM AND I NOTIFIED THEM OF MY RESEARCH RESULTS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT KUMHO IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE SELLING TIRES WITH SUCH A SAFETY RISK. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL AND THAT TRAFFIC AT THAT MOMENT WAS LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584693

Incident

Apr 16, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER WITH WINSTON WIN WINNER AT TIRES, SIZE: 255/70R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE WALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS LEAKING AND THE OTHER THREE TIRES HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND TIRES WAS 170,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10546433

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

Mileage

170,000 mi

SPARE TIRE HOIST CABLE FAILED ON 1997 FORD EXPLORER XLT, RESULTING IN SPARE TIRE BREAKING FREE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348009

Incident

Aug 8, 2010

Mileage

115,871 mi

1997 FORD EXPLORER, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *BF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER PULLER OVER AND NOTICED THE TIRE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AND EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0298-89.

NHTSA ID

10321952

Incident

Feb 13, 2009

I JUST DISCOVERED THE TIRES I HAVE ON MY CAR HAVE HAD THE DATE CODE BUFFED OFF. IT'S A GOOD JOB, BARELY NOTICEABLE UNLESS VIEWED WITH A SLANTING LIGHT SOURCE, BUT ALL FOUR ARE THE SAME. IS THIS A VIOLATION OF SOME FEDERAL LAW PERTAINING TO TIRES? *TR

NHTSA ID

10274179

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

Mileage

1 mi

THE FRONT SUSPENSION BAR LINKS ARE BROKEN, THE FOG LIGHTS OF THE EXTERIOR DOES NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227083

Incident

Apr 15, 1997

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TRAILCAT ALL SEASON TIRES (235/75R15). WHILE REPLACING THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SIDEWALL SEPARATION ON ALL FOUR TIRES. HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS DOT NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01T014000 (TIRES:SIDEWALL). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,731 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,700.

NHTSA ID

10224613

Incident

Apr 2, 2008

Mileage

75,700 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND THE 4X4 ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

NHTSA ID

10217244

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

Mileage

56,000 mi

ON NOVEMBER 10TH I REPLACED THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE ON MY 97 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE SPARE TIRE THAT WAS UNDER THE TRUCK. ON DECEMBER 18TH ON MY WAY TO WORK TRAVELING SOUTH ON 95 AT APPROX. 5:40AM I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE, IT WAS LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. A SECOND AFTER THE NOISE MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND FLIPPING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. MY TRUCK WAS TOTALED, BUT I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE THROUGH THIS ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, WHICH I HAVE FOUND OUT HAD A RECALL ON IT BECAUSE OVER TIME WOULD FALL APART AND THE TREAD WOULD COME OFF THE TIRE CAUSING ACCIDENTS THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY'S OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212425

Incident

Dec 18, 2007

Mileage

130,000 mi

BRIDGESTONE TIRES. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THEY HAVE LIVED WITH THE SQUISHING INTO THE PAVEMENT SINCE 11/06 AND WAS REIMBURSED BUT STILL IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE NEW TIRES THAT WERE PUT ON THE CAR**CC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS HAD TO LIVE WITH AN UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING OR ACCELERATING. IT WAS THE CONSUMERS OPINION THAT THE TIRE WERE BEING BROKEN AT THE SIDEWALLS BEFORE INSTALLATION AND OVERPRESSURIZED ON THE RED TIRE MACHINE TO STRETCH THEM AND THEN FILLED WITH A GAS THAT CAUSES THEM TO AGE PREMATURELY, SO THEY LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE BEE DRIVEN 40, 000 WHEN THEY ARE BRAND NEW. A MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER, THE TIRES WERE BEING FILLED WITH NITROGEN INSTEAD OF AIR. *JB UPDATED 04/09/07. *JB THE CONSUMER HAS HAD 8 SETS OF TIRES PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIDEWALL WERE WEAK WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO BLOW OUT. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB CONSUMER STATED ON APRIL 7, 2007 SHE HAS RECEIVED A FULL REFUND FROM DISCOUNT TIRES IN THE AMOUNT OF $374.10 AND RETURNED THE FOUR TIRES TO TIRE COMPANY. UPDATED 4/18/07 *TR THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED COMPENSATION FOR HER TIME. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BUSINESS MERELY BOUGHT THEIR TIRES BACK. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10186876

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM IN TALLAHASSEE GETTING TIRES THAT ARE NOT BROKEN, INTENTIONALLY PREINSTALLATION AT THE SIDEWALLS / AND THEN OVERPRESSURIZED ON A BIG RED TIRE MACHINE, SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT AGAINST TIRES PLUS, CONFIRMATION NO. 10181407. I REPLACED 4 BRIDEGSTONE DUELER ALENZAS ON 3/22/2007 WITH PATHFINDERS TRAIL A/P AT DISCOUNT TIRES IN TALLAHASSEE FL. THE ASSISTANT MANAGER, CHRIS CERGE, SAW THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE BRIDGESTONES BEFORE I BOUGHT THE PATHFINDERS FROM HIM. I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT MY NEW TIRES NOT BE MOUNTED VIA THE RED TIRE MACHINE, THAT HIS MECHANICS USED THE 1950'S METHOD OF MOUNTING THE NEW TIRES WITH A SCREWDRIVER. TECHNICIAN IGNORED MY REQUEST, AND MY NEW PATHFINDERS ARE BROKEN AT THE SIDEWALLS, WHICH CAUSES THEM TO DRIVE AND RIDE LIKE THEY HAVE 15,000 MILES ON THEM WHEN THEY ARE BRAND NEW. I WOULD LIKE A REPLACEMENT SET OF TIRES WHICH ARE NOT MOUNTED VIA THE RED TIRE MACHINE. NO TIRE, NO MATTER THE QUALITY, CAN WITHSTAND THE DAMAGE THAT THESE LOCALS ARE DOING TO THEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10186057

Incident

Mar 22, 2007

ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSFER CASE. FIRST NOTICED WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE MADE GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD NOT DECELERATE HAD TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP. WHEN DECELERATING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT WOULD ALSO MAKE GRINDING NOISE ALMOST SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS NOT DOWN SHIFTING. FEW WEEKS LATER WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE IT WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. DID NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. ENDING UP HAVING TO HAVE A MECHANIC REBUILD TRANSFER CASE, COST ALMOST $1000.00. NOW FIVE MONTHS LATER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMING ON. REPLACED SENSORS AND SPARK PLUG ON #4 CYLINDER TWICE. THIS WILL BE REPLACEMENT NUMBER 3 FOR SPARK PLUG IN FOUR MONTH PERIOD. MECHANICS CANNOT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184970

Incident

Nov 22, 2006

I BOUGHT 4 NEW DUELER ALENZAS FROM TIRES PLUS ON APALACHAEE PARKWAY ON OR ABOUT 11-2-2006 WHICH ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE, SUBSTANDARD AND/OR RECALLED TIRES, AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM OR SWAP OUT FOR A BETTER TIRE. FOUR (4) OTHER BRIDGESTONE DEALERS IN TALLAHASSEE ALSO WILL NOT HONOR THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY: SEARS-0% TRADE-IN VALUE, DISCOUNT TIRES-35% TRADE IN VALUE, TIRES PLUS ON CAPITAL CIRCLE-OBVIOUSLY WERE DEFECTIVE; FIRESTONE ON APALACHEE PARKWAY-OBVIOUSLY ARE DEFECTIVE. THE FORD/CHEVY DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT GIVE ME A DIME ON A TRADE-IN, 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE TIRES HAVE BULGED AT THE BOTTOM AFTER 1 WEEK, IT FEELS LIKE I AM DRIVING ON MUSH, MY FORD SHIMMIES AND ROLLS TO THE LEFT IF I GET OVER 50 MPH. I HAVE RETURNED TO TIRES PLUS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DROVE MY EXPLORER AFTER GETTING THE NEW DUELERS SINCE 11-2-06, AND ON 1-29-07 TIRES PLUS FINALLY REPLACED THE LEFT REAR TIRE AT NO COST TO ME ($163 VALUE), WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE WHEN IT WAS PUT ON. BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/L ALENZAS P225170R15 100T, DOT QUALITY GRADE 044-090, EH-3JR-BL-5L7, SKU #92971-15416-5. I REPORTED TIRES PLUS'S FAILURE TO HONOR THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY TO THE TALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN JAN 2007, TO WHICH THE INTAKE OFFICER REPLIED "THAT IS A CIVIL ISSUE". THESE TIRES ARE SO UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THAT ALL MECHANICS AND DEALERS CAN TAKE ONE LOOK AT THEM AND KNOW IT, YET ALL THAT I HAVE CONTACTED DELIBERATELY IGNORE MY COMPLAINTS. I HAVE PHOTOS. *NM UPDATED 02/15/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10181407

Incident

Nov 2, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT OF THE MOUNT WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD AT 20 MPH. THE CABLE FAILED NEXT TO THE TIRE. THE SPARE HAD NOT BEEN USED SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS THE AFFECTED PARTS. THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10170916

Incident

Oct 10, 2006

Mileage

74,000 mi

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE TIRES. CONSUMER HAS A TIRE BLOWOUT PRIOR TO RECEIVING THIS RECALL. *TS THE CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALERTED ABOUT THE FAULTY TIRES LONG BEFORE NOW. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172214

Incident

Oct 1, 2006

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SPARE TIRE BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10171203

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. THE SIDEWALL DRYROTTED ACCORDING TO THE TIRE DEALER. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 50000 MILES OF USE ON THEM BEFORE THE BLOWOUT. THE TIRES WERE RECOMMENDED AT 50 PSI AND WERE REGULARLY CHECKED FOR AIR PRESSURE. THE TIRES HAD BEEN REGULARLY ROTATED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING HOWEVER A BULGE WAS NOTICED ON IT MINUTES BEFORE IT POPPED. THE TIRE WAS A MICHELIN, SIZE LT23575R15.

NHTSA ID

10169621

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

78,000 mi

TIRE TREAD CAME OFF OF A MICHELIN LTX M/S P235/75R15, LEFT REAR ON A 1997 FORD EXPLORER, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSS CONTROL ON INTERSTATE, COMING TO REST IN THE TRAVEL LANES AND WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162543

Incident

Jul 12, 2006

1997 FORD EXPLORER REAR WHEEL BOUNCED AND TIRE TREAD CAME OFF. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10146434

Incident

May 1, 2005

DT: 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONSUMER STATES THE FOUR WHEEL/ TWO WHEEL LIGHTS ARE FLASHING ON AND OFF. THIS WILL HAPPEN UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGES INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. THE ONLY WAY ONE CAN TELL THIS HAS HAPPENED IS FROM THE POPPING AND CRACKING NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CUMBERLAND FALLS FORD TWICE. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE SWITCH. THE TRANSFER SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SLOWS DOWN WHEN IT GOES INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10135848

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

SPARE TIRE IS STORED UNDERNEATH REAR OF CAR SECURED BY A WINCH AND CABLE WHICH RUSTED AND BROKE, DROPPING SPARE TIRE TO GROUND, CREATING A HIGH SPEED HAZARD FOR TRAFFIC FOLLOWING ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093181

Incident

Sep 26, 2004

Mileage

121,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A GULLY FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSUMER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE TREAD PEELED COMPLETELY OFF OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081566

Incident

Jun 19, 2004

Mileage

67,500 mi

ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING IN THE SNOW, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SKIDDING AND HITTING A GUARD RAIL, A MAIL BOX AND ROCKS. *AK WHEN THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID. *JB

NHTSA ID

10065067

Mileage

25,000 mi

PATHFINDER LUXURY SUV P235/75R15 105S TIRES PURCHASED IN 6/03. THREE OF FOUR TIRES HAVE FAILED. THE FIRST FAILED IN 8/03 WHILE DRIVING 70MPH. THE SECOND WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE DURING TIRE ROTATION IN 12/03. THE THIRD FAILED ON 3/12/04 WHILE DRIVING 70MPH. NO APPARENT ROAD HAZARD. OUTER SIDEWALL WAS COMPLETELY SPLIT BELOW THE TIRE SHOULDER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10062040

Incident

Mar 12, 2004

Mileage

187,584 mi

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AT 55-60 MPH A TIRE FELL OFF. CONSUMER SAW THE TIRE ROLL DOWN THE FREEWAY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT, CALLED AAA, AND HAD TIRE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061401

Incident

Mar 4, 2004