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Problems with 2001 Ford Escape TIRES

On average, the 2001 Ford Escape starts to “feel” problems with the TIRES and its various aspects after 29 673 miles.

Components Affected by TIRES Issues

We have classified the 23 complaints from 2001 Ford Escape about TIRES into the following categories.

TREAD/BELT 9 SIDEWALL 6

Recently reported TIRES problems on 2001 Ford Escape

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

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

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

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

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

Replacement of original tires at 23000 miles. *nm

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

The tires felt as if they had a "flat spot" which caused the vehicle to handle very rough. *jb

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

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

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

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

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

Front and rear tires are wearing. cause known. dealer notified. size#235r16 dot unknown. dealer notified.*ak firestone wilderness ht tires. *slc

Left front tire wear. *ak

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

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)

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

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

Was driving vehicle and heard a loud noise, drove home and parked, noticed a large bulge on inside of left rear tire, next to rim, tread was coming loose, took vehicle to dealership, and checked on tire. mechanic put two plugs in tire because of a hole on outside of tire. firestone, wilderness ht, b235/70r16. *ak

Briefly, the transmission fails to shift upon acceleration above 50 mph, this has caused 2 near collisions on i-95, tire split open & roof rack blew off while driving*ak (dot number: a3083jj390 tiresize: a3083jj390)

Belts separated internally causing sidewalls to fail. inspection by tire dealer showed no visible signs of damage or puncture. *ak (dot number: w208dk8711 tiresize: p235/70r16)

Tire thumping was noticed after 6k mile servicing. dealership acknowledged thumping and has ordered tire replacement. surface defect noticed on tread. the vehicle was not involved in any accident or driven in abnormal or on rough road surfaces. no other complaints on these tires. dealership mentioned they will rebalance remaining 3 tires when replacement tire arrives for vehicle. as of this writing, faulty tire is on left (driverside) rear. thank you for your time, sincerely robert e. smith. *ak (dot number: w208 tiresize: p235/70r16)

Left front tire - slight bulge in sidewall (dealer replaced with new), right and left rear tires - causing vibration and determined to be out-of-round (dealer replaced with new). *ak (dot number: ??? tiresize: p235/70r16)

Tire on front drivers side replaced. tire splitting passenager rear tire, this tire has not been replaced.

Tires make a humming noise. consumer feels that they may be leaving ground like hydroplaning, and at 65 mph vehicle wobbles, vehicle is not stable at high speeds with window down. *ak the vehicle hesitates when a/c unit is in operation and a/c make a loud cyclic clicking sound. transmission makes sound. the vehicle was unstable at 65 mph with a slight wind and front end makes tumbling sounds on rough roads. the alternator light comes on intermittently. the cruise control turns off automaticaly by itself. the front brake has excessive dust. the vehicle had numerous interior system failures and malfunctioning. *yh

Ford shipped vehicle with firestone wilderness tires. neither ford nor firestone have admitted responsibility or cause of failure of these tires on ford explorer. i am unwilling to accept a potentially unsafe tire on a new vehicle. the tires are not only potentially unsafe, but have lower the value of my vehicle. i replaced the firestone tires with another brand and requested ford to pay for this replacement. they refused. *ak (dot number: unknown tiresize: p235/70r16)

Tires had less than 3,000 miles on them and tread already 1/2 gone. (tiresize: 16 inch)( dot number: tire size: 16 inch )

Other 2001 Ford Escape Problem Categories