1997 Ford F-250 Tires & wheels Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 LD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VIBRATION OF THE SPARE TIRE RUBS AGAINST AND CREATES A HOLE IN THE REAR FUEL TANK. THE SPARE TIRE IS SECURELY MOUNTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED TO SEND ANYONE OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,300. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10246641

Incident

Oct 21, 2008

Mileage

57,300 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250 LD. THE VEHICLE HAS MILESTONE 1000R20, SIZE 265-75/16 TIRES. THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED FROM THE SIDES OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRES. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE TIRE BECAUSE THEY WERE DANGEROUS. THE DEALER WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES OF THE VEHICLE WERE 219,330. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10197887

Incident

Jul 10, 2007

Mileage

219,330 mi

ALL FOUR MICHELIN BRAND TIRES HAD SIDEWALL CRACKS. 2.5 YEARS OLD WITH @ 30,000 MILES ON THEM. THESE CRACKS DEVELOPED IN A MATTER OF TWO TO THREE WEEKS. HAD TO HAVE ALL FOUR REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157766

Incident

May 17, 2006

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE BED BROKE, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10122543

Incident

May 29, 2005

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SHREDDED AND CAME APART WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. THE TIRE STARTED BOUNCING. THIS ALMOST CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND STEER IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. FIRESTONE WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST.*AK

NHTSA ID

10099931

Incident

Nov 12, 2004

Mileage

49,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WHILE STILL INFLATED. ON A 1997 FORD F250, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE LT235/85R16, DOT# VD0CIX1J337. FIRESTONE NOTIFIED. TIRES ARE STEEL TEX R4S. *MR *JG

NHTSA ID

8019681

Incident

Apr 28, 2001

CONSUMER STATED THE REAR HUB CAPS HAD COME OFF OF WHEELS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018698

Incident

Dec 1, 1998

TREAD SEPARATION OVER APPROXIMATELY 25% OF TIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

764303

Incident

Jul 14, 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 97V187000 NOTIFICATION CONCERNING TIRES. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT FIRESTONE AT 800-457-6281 NUMBER AS STATED ON NOTICE, BUT THERE WAS NO ANSWER AT THAT NUMBER. FIRESTONE DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT PERFORM WORK UNTIL THEY RECEIVE AUTHORIZATION FROM MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

899923

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

NOTED THAT FRONT TIRES HAVE SPOTTY WEAR ON OUTER EDGES, OF TWO OR SO INCHES ABOUT EVERY FEW INCHES. WEAR MORE PREDOMINANT ON OUTER EDGES THAN INEER EDGES. IS THIS A FREQUENTLY REPORTED PROBLEM? WHAT IS CAUSE? MY SERVICE PROVIDER SAYS VEHICLE HAS "TIGHT" FRONT END, AND STEERS AND HANDLES WELL.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT2357516)

NHTSA ID

753901

Incident

Oct 29, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE REAR BACK TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

893764

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

PE00 020; FIRESTONE TIRE TREAD STARTED SEPARATING . FIRESTONE, STEELTEX AT, LT23585R16MS, DOT VN0R1XK. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES SIDEWALLS HAVE SHOWN EXCESSIVE WEAR OVER THE PAST 15000 MILES, A MASTER MECHANIC STATED THE TIRES WERE OKAY TO DRIVE ON, HOWEVER WHEN SPEAKING WITH SERVICE REPS FROM FORD, THEY STATE THE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AS THEY WOULD NOT DRIVE WITH THEM ON. *SLC

NHTSA ID

892368

Incident

Mar 10, 2001

ALL FOUR OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES ON 1997, FORD, F250HD ARE SHOWING EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR. THESE TIRES ARE NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT THAT CAME WITH VEHICLE, AND CURRENTLY HAVE 29,000 MILES ON THEM. SIZE OF THE TIRES L235/85R16. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

888723

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

ORIGINAL AND AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD, F250, LT235/85R16 SIZE. TREAD ON ONE TIRE SEPARATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND TWO OF TIRES HAD BLOWNOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. FIRESTONE HAS REPLACED TWO OUT OF THREE TIRES.*AK FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES, DOT NUMBER VN0R1XK317. *SLC

NHTSA ID

885944

Incident

May 26, 2000

TREAD SEPARATION AT 30000 MILES AND 50000 MILES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235X185R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235X185R15 )

NHTSA ID

743224

CAN'T GET DOT NUMBER, NOTHING LEFT OF THAT PART OF TIRE BUT ROPES AND FIBERS. NO WARNING, NO NOISE TO INDICATE A BLOWOUT, JUST SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL AS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL APART. TREAD AND BELTS ALL COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER, SIDEWALLS SHREDDED. LOOKS LIKE THE TIRE PERFORATED AROUND ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE AT THE "BEADING". NOTHING LEFT OF SIDEWALLS EXCEPT "ROPES" CONNECTING INNER RIM TO TREAD SURFACE, CAN SEE ALL INDIVIDUAL LAYERS OF TREAD, BELTS AND FIBER SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER. FATHER STATES IT TOOK EVERY BIT OF STRENGTH (AND PAST RACING EXPERIENCE OF SEVERAL DECADES AGO) TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND KEEP IT FROM ROLLING. I AM KEEPING THIS TIRE IN CASE ANYONE WANTS TO INSPECT IT, IT LOOKS STRIKINGLY SIMILAR TO THE ONES INVOLVED IN RECALL WHEN THEY FAILED. FATHER HAS NEVER FELT ANYTHING LIKE THIS WHEN IT WENT, INCLUDING WHEN RACING. HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIRE LOOK LIKE THIS AFTER A BLOWOUT. THE TREAD AND BELTS HAVE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER, ALL THE WAY AROUND! IT LOOKS LIKE IT JUST FELL APART. THIS IS A DANGEROUS TIRE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: SHREDDED TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)

NHTSA ID

741862

Incident

Mar 3, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235R16 )

NHTSA ID

738984

Incident

Aug 6, 2000

I HEARD A LOUD VIBRATING OR THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED AT A FIRESTONE IN SANTA FE, WHERE THEY SHOWED ME THAT LAYERS OF THREE OF THE TIRES WERE PEELING OFF FROM THE INSIDE. I BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES ON THE SPOT -- AT JUST 26,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. (TIRESIZE: LT245/75R)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/75R )

NHTSA ID

734446

Incident

Apr 10, 2000

NO SUMMARY (TIRESIZE: 245 85RL6)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245 85RL6 )

NHTSA ID

734374

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

PE 00 040/TIRE FAILURE: WHILE REPAIRING A TIRE AT A SERVICE STATION, NOTICED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH CRACKS AROUND THE SIDEWALLS MOUNTED. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, LT 235/85R16, FIRESTONE NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

872718

Incident

Sep 6, 1999

SIDE WALLS BULGING FROM BEAD TO THE TREAD AND CIRCUMFERENCE MIDWAY ON THE SIDEWALLS (TIRESIZE: LT 235/85)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT 235/85 )

NHTSA ID

733893

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A LETTER THAT I SENT TO FIRESTONE ON 8-10-2000. ALL THAT THEY DID WAS SEND ME FORM LETTER THAT DIDN'T EVEN APPLY TO MY TIRE. CAN YOU ASSIST IN OBTAINING COMPENSATION?: IN 1997, I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 FORD F-250 EXTENDED CAB LWB DIESEL TRUCK (FROM VALLEY FORD IN ONEONTA, AL). IT CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE "STEELTEX RADIAL A/T LT 235 85 R16 M/S" TIRES.I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE AND STAY WELL UNDER THE RATED CARRYING CAPACITY AT ALL TIMES FOR SAFETY REASONS. ON 3-24-2000, APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AFTER I HAD (COINCIDENTALLY, I SUPPOSE) CHECKED FOR THE PROPER PRESSURES AND CAREFULLY INSPECTED ALL THE TIRES, WHILE LOADED AT OVER 1 TON LESS THAN THE BED CARRYING CAPACITY, TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 50 MPH AFTER DARK IN A MOSTLY RURAL AREA, THE LEFT REAR TIRE LITERALLY EXPLODED. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL, BUT I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL ONTO A CONCRETE DRIVE AND CHANGE THE TIRE. THE WHEEL HUB WAS SERIOUSLY ABRADED/SCRATCHED. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE LEFT OF THE TIRE. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HITTING ANYTHING AFTER THE ABOVE DESCRIBED TIRE INSPECTION.EVEN THOUGH I HAD AT LEAST 40% TREAD LEFT ON ALL TIRES, THIS SCARED ME SO MUCH THAT I WENT AND BOUGHT A NEW SET OF FOUR TIRES THE VERY NEXT DAY.I HAD NOT GIVEN IT ANY MORE THOUGHT UNTIL THE RECENT PUBLICITY OVER FAILURES OF FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRES COMING AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS DURING THIS PERIOD. SO, IN MY OPINION, A VERY CAREFULLY MAINTAINED TIRE (AS MINE WAS), WELL "UNDERLOADED" INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, PROPERLY INFLATED, WORN ONLY 60%, AND SUBJECTED TO NO "INJURY" SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A DRAMATIC/DANGEROUS FASHION, AND THEREFORE MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE WHEN SOLD.I AM ASKING FOR COMPENSATION FOR AT LEAST PART OF THE COST OF MY NEW SET OF TIRES ($767.99NTBHOOVER, AL).R CRAIG BRADLEY 8-10-2000 (TIRESIZE: 235 85 R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 85 R16 )

NHTSA ID

733672

Incident

Mar 24, 2000

RE: TWO ORIGINAL TIRES SOLD WITH TRUCK - ONE SPLIT AND ONE SEPARATED AT 14,000 MILES. TIRES REPLACED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES ON 7/7/99. FORTUNATELY, THEY FAILED IN TOWN AND NOT ON THE ROAD PULLING SOMETHING. I HEARD ON TV LAST WEEK (10/2/00), THAT FORD OR FIRESTONE WERE INVESTIGATING FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIALS TIRES ON FORD F250 SERIES ANOTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE TWO OTHER ORIGINAL TIRES SPLITTING AT 19,860 MILES. MY CONCERN IS THE TRUCK PULLS A 5TH WHEEL 4-6 TIMES A YEAR FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES EACH WAY. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY RECALL ON THESE TIRES OR IF FIRESTONE WILL REPLACE THE TIRES?

NHTSA ID

733643

Incident

Jul 7, 1999

4 TIRES HAVE BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALLS, INDICATING SEPARATION OF TREAD FROM BELTS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNOR 1XK TIRESIZE: 235/85SR16) (DOT NUMBER: VNOR 1XK TIRESIZE: 235/85SR16)

NHTSA ID

733620

WHILE DRIVING A 1997, FORD, F250 CARGO VAN WITH A REPLACEMENT FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX RADIAL FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, 22575R16. TIRE SUDDENLY SEPARATED. THERE WERE THREE TIRES LEFT ON THIS VAN. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CUSTOMER FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING WITH FIRESTONE TIRES. *YH

NHTSA ID

872336

Incident

Sep 11, 2000