1997 Ford Ranger Tires & wheels Problems

I HAD FIVE (5) BF GOODRICH RADIAL ALL TERRAIN TA TIRES FAIL WHILE DRIVING THE SAME VEHICLE OVER ABOUT A TEN YEAR PERIOD. EACH FAILURE IS THE SAME. THE STEEL BELT OF THE TIRE PARTIALLY SEPARATES WHILE ROLLING. THE FIRST OCCURRED ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE PULLING A SMALL FLATBED TRAILER. STEEL BELT THEN WHIPS AROUND INSIDE WHEEL WELL DAMAGING WHATEVER IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH. BF GOODRICH RADIAL ALL TERRAIN TA TIRES WERE ON THIS TRUCK WHEN PURCHASED USED. SECOND TIRE FAILED APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO THE SAME WAY AT LESS THAN 30 MPH. REPLACED ALL WITH USED SET OF FOUR TIRES WITH 50 % TREAD LEFT. LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER, THIRD TIRE FAILED ON INTERSTATE ONCE AGAIN IN THE SAME WAY. STEEL BELT CUT THE FIBERGLASS REAR OUTER FENDER IN HALF, RIPPED OUT THE REAR WIRING HARNESS, DESTROYED THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT, AND EVEN DAMAGED THE GASOLINE FILL TUBE AND DESTROYED ITS LOCKING GAS CAP FROM THE FORCE OF THE BELT WHIPPING ROUND AND ROUND THE WHEEL, PARTIALLY ATTACHED AND PARTIALLY OFF. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BUT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. ALL TIRES FAILED WHILE IN DRIVER'S REAR WHEEL POSITION. THEN LAST MONTH AGAIN, THE LEFT REAR BF GOODRICH RADIAL ALL TERRAIN TA TIRE STEEL BELT CAME PARTIALLY OFF AT ABOUT 30 MPH. EACH TIME A USED TIRE REPLACED THE FAILED TIRE. THEN TWO DAYS LATER, A FIFTH BF GOODRICH RADIAL ALL TERRAIN TA BEGAN TO FAIL WITH STEEL BELT COMING APART. THIS TIME RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOCATION. NOTICED THE FAILURE BEFORE STEEL BELT CAME COMPLETELY OFF AND ANY DAMAGE WAS DONE. REPLACED WITH BF GOODRICH MUD TERRAIN TA THAT WERE ALSO USED BUT HAVE NOT FAILED.

NHTSA ID

11000343

Incident

May 10, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER AT TIRES, LINE SIZE 225/70/R14 . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, HE BEGAN TO HEAR A THUMPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS PEELING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ID

10421283

Incident

Aug 24, 2011

Mileage

131,000 mi

I OWN A 1997 FORD RANGER XLT 4X4 4.0LTR.MANY SHOPS HAVE WORK ON THE FRONT AXEL WHEEL BEARINGS AND SEALS AND RETAINER NUT THIS NUT TAKES A SOCKET 2.3/8 R-6 MOST SHOPS DON'T HAVE IT SO THEY USE WHAT EVER THEY HAVE,CHISELL,LOCKING PLYERS ECT...CREATING FRONT END DAMAGE TO WHEEL BEARINGS,SEALS, BRAKES,CALIPERS,BRAKE DRUMS, MOST OF AL THE TIRES..I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT USE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB ALSO DID NOT REMOVE LCKING PIN FROM SPINDEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10326662

Incident

Jun 9, 2006

Mileage

1,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED NEW GOODYEAR MOHAVE R/S (NA), SIZE P215/70R/14 TIRES IN OCTOBER OF 2005. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR MAINTENANCE IN MAY OF 2007, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING AND THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT OFFERED HER REPLACEMENT TIRES, IF THEY QUALIFIED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS RARELY DRIVEN AND THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE TIRES SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,697.

NHTSA ID

10211581

Incident

May 16, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE DUELER APT III P225/70R14 DOT# Y7FCPT40207. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE AND PULL OFF THE ROAD. HE REPLACED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 109,170 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,130. THE CONSUMER STATED A BRAND NEW TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. UPDATED 08/24/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10195220

Incident

Jul 2, 2007

Mileage

109,130 mi

LTR FM EDWARD KURRELL (PA) RE FAULTY PARTS & POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP OF FORD VEHICLES, THE MOTOR IN HIS 1997 FORD RANGER BLEW UP DUE TO A FAULTY THERMOSTAT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEEDED NEW TIRES AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT WORK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10148690

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

45,000 mi

MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2004 IN HIS 1997 FORD RANGER PICK-UP. HE WAS HEADED EAST ON I-240 WHEN HIS TRUCK SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL. HE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO BRING HIS VEHICLE TO A STOP SAFELY, WITHOUT A COLLISION. AFTER GETTING OUT TO INSPECT HIS VEHICLE HE FOUND THAT HIS RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS THE CAUSE. THE TIRE, A FIRESTONE 14" WITH PLENTY OF TREAD, HAD SEPARATED (IE. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE). THE TIRE WAS STILL COMPLETELY FULL OF AIR EVEN AFTER THIS SEPARATION. THE SEPARATION OF THE TREAD CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK (APPROX. $1700.00). THERE WAS NO COLLISION AND THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT, THE TREAD JUST PEELED OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

NHTSA ID

10093403

Incident

Sep 26, 2004

NORMAL DRIVING, FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, SYSTEM NOT YET REPLACED BECUASE OF LOW FUNDS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10074702

Incident

May 11, 2004

Mileage

147,869 mi

AT 50,379 MILES, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE DELAMINATED (IE, THE ENTIRE TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE IN ONE PIECE) WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES. IT, AND THE OTHER THREE, ARE OE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P265/75R15 112S M+S TIRES WHICH WERE MOUNTED ON THE TRUCK WHEN PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 1997. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047372

Incident

Nov 12, 2003

Mileage

50,379 mi

AT THE SPEED OF 25MPH SUDDENLY HEARD A NOISE AND LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL. MANAGED TO MERGE SUDDENLY TO RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD. BATTERY, ENGINE, AND POWER STEERING LIGHT WENT ON. WHILE LOOKING AT VEHICLE NOTICED THAT BELT BROKE AND DOLLEY FELL OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

9005085

Incident

Oct 2, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, THE TIRE CASING SEPARATED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD BACKING AND THERE WAS DRY ROT NOTICED BETWEEN THE TREAD LINES, THE OTHER 3 TIRE SHOWED SIGNS OF DRY ROT BETWEEN THE TREAD LINES AS WELL (MARSHAL 791 TOURING A/S, P205/75R14, 95S M&S). NLM

NHTSA ID

564732

Incident

Feb 19, 2002

BLOWOUT-FEEL FORTUNATE / FIRESTONE SAID IT WASN'T THEIR TIRE, BUT I LOOKED IT UP ON THE WEB AND THERE IS A STORY ABOUT THIS TIRE BEING SUBJECT TO INVESTIGATION. THEY ONLY AUTHORIZED AN INSPECTION. I WILL NOT LET THEM HAVE THE TIRE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: HYHYT71187 TIRESIZE: P215/75R15)

NHTSA ID

760114

Incident

Apr 2, 2002

THE LEFT FRONT TIRE THREW TREAD & WENT FLAT THIS TIRE HAD 5/32 TREAD. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPERATION ON EXAMINATION. WHEN INSTALLING TWO TIRES ON THE FRONT AND SPARE THAT WERE REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK AT ABOUT 25000 MILES TO PUT ON SNOW TIRES ONE OF THESE TIRES WAS FOUND TO HAVE A TREAD SEPARATION. HE TRUCK AT AB. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNFC1PR366 TIRESIZE: P225/70R14)

NHTSA ID

752959

Incident

Sep 12, 2001

CONSUMER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, P235/75R15, DOT NUMBER VNHL1PY087, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS BEGINNING TO CRACK AND SEPARATE, CONSUMER VERIFIED THAT ALL TIRES WERE COVERED UNDER RECALL 00T005, HOWEVER WAS CHARGED 30 DOLLARS FOR A LABOR FEE AND DOES NOT FEEL SHE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. *SLC

NHTSA ID

563505

Incident

Sep 7, 2000

FIRESTONE, RADIAL, P225/70R14, DOT UNKNOWN, REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD RANGER WITH 40000 MILES. MILEAGE OF TIRE UNKNOWN. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. NO ACCIDENT, NO INJURIES. PLEASE VERIFY MODEL OF TIRE AND ADD DOT CODE.*AK THE DOT # VNFC80A.*JB

NHTSA ID

895058

Incident

Aug 22, 2001

TRAVELING ALONG I95 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC, HEARD A BUMPING NOISE, PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD SAW THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. JUST PURCHASE FOUR SET OF TIRES FROM CELLA FORD IN OCT OF 2000. UPON RETURNING HOME WENT TO CELLA FORD SPOKE WITH SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO INFORMED ME THEY WERE NOT A TIRE DEALER TAKE IT TO BUFFALO TIRES WHO WOULD CHECK THE TIRE AND TELL WHAT WAS WRONG. WENT THERE TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG HAD NO IDEA WHY IT WENT OUT. HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRE BECAUSE RIM RUBBED AGAINST THE TIRE INSIDE CAUSING OUTSIDE TO SEPARATE. CONTACTED CELLA FORD SERVICE DEPATMENT TOLD HIM WHAT WAS SAID AND HE INSISTED THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE WRONG WITH THE TIRE, THAT IT JUST DIDNT GO OUT BY ITSELF. I EXPLAINE THE GENTLEMEN INSIST THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. WITH LACK OF CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY I FIND IT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE REMAINING TIRES. WILL NEVER PURCHASE FIRESTONE AGAIN.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XFC80M389 TIRESIZE: P225/70R14)

NHTSA ID

749274

Incident

Jul 11, 2001

BF GOODRICH REPLACEMENT TIRE ON A 1997, FORD, RANGER WITH 47000 MILES.WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH LEFT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT DUE TO A SPLIT AROUND SIDEWALL NEAR TREAD. NO ACCIDENT, NO INJURIES. *AK P225/70R14 DOT: BEFCNX71479 *SLC

NHTSA ID

890596

Incident

Jun 13, 2001

TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED, FIRESTONE WOULD NOT COVER THIS TIRE UNDER RECALL. I'VER RETAINED POSSESION OF TIRE AND HAVE PHOTOS TO DOCUMENT THE CONDITION.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY386 TIRESIZE: P23575R15)

NHTSA ID

745820

Incident

Nov 20, 2000

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CLEAR SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION AT ONLY 20,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

886714

PE00 020, CONSUMER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF A GAS STATION AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO LEFT. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT LEFT TIRE WAS FLAT. CONSUMER TOOK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE. TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS#AT, P26575R15. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK DOT W29V1PK207. *SLC

NHTSA ID

882426

Incident

Mar 3, 2001

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CORE OF THE TIRE. REPLACED 4 OF 5 TIRES.I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE TIRE. NO FIRESTONE STORE IN WINNWMUCCA. WENT TO FORD & THEY SENT ME TO LES SCHWAB. TIRE NOT ON RECALL LIST. (DOT NUMBER: W2HFIPJ077 TIRESIZE: P215/75R15)

NHTSA ID

741644

Incident

Oct 22, 2000

CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES UNDER RECALL (OOT-005), ALL 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE REPLACED AFTER RECALL NOTICE WITH COMPETITORS TIRES. CJ

NHTSA ID

559289

LEFT FRONT WILDERNESS AT P23575R15 TIRE REPLACED BECAUSE OF TREAD SEPARATION, OWNER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT UNDER RECALL (OOT-005). CJ

NHTSA ID

559227

Incident

Mar 26, 2000

DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 75MPH, LEFT REAR TIRE LOST TREAD. INCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 9PM ON WEST-BOUND INTERSTATE 76 IN COLORADO, NEAR THE BRIGHTON EXIT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W29V 1PK TIRESIZE: 265/75X15)

NHTSA ID

738599

Incident

Dec 30, 2000

THESE WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES AND, AFTER ABOUT 30000 MILES, I NOTICED THE TRUCK LURCHED UPON TAKE-OFF FROM EITHER A STOP OR SLOW SPEED, AS WELL AS A WORMING MOTION GOING AROUND CORNERS. THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME THIS ALL WAS NORMAL. I GOT A FLAT (THE FRONT LEFT) WHILE HUNTING AND, UPON TAKING IT TO LES SCHWAB FOR PROPER REPAIR, WAS TOLD THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. THE PLUG WAS STATED TO HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION. I THEN PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES. SINCE THESE TIRES HAVE BEEN ON MY TRUCK, THE "NORMAL" LURCH IS GONE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHERS THAT TREAD SEPARATION CAN CAUSE A LURCH THE SAME AS WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING. THESE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I DO NOT HAVE THE DOT NUMBERS OF THE TIRES, THOUGH I AM SURE THE DEALERSHIP OR FORD WOULD HAVE THEM ON RECORD. I DO NOT KNOW IF LES SCHWAB WOULD STILL HAVE THE TIRES THAT I HAD REPLACED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/75R15 )

NHTSA ID

737389

Incident

Oct 14, 2000