Problems with 2000 Ford Excursion TIRES

Firestone steel tex p265/75r16, original equipment on a 2000 ford excursion with 20000 miles. sidewalls of all 4 tires are splitting. *ak *jb

September 18, at approximately 4:30 pm my wife experienced a bona-fide blow-out of the left rear firestone steeltex on our 2000 excursion. i had checked air pressure sunday afternoon at 55 psi in each tire. lisa was proceeding east bound on the sam houston parkway on clear roads, in the middle lane, at 65 to 70 mph, when this catastrophic failure occurred. their were no road hazards noted, and no tread damage other than a complete tread separationthis morning i replaced all of the firestones with michelins for $884.65 at discount tire company on fm 1960. i do not want to further endanger my family with these tires.*ak (tiresize: 265/75/16)

Pe00 020; consumer was traveling about 65mph on highway and vehicle was steering to right while consumer was pulling it to left for a split second. then, he removed his foot from acellerator, and right front tire blewout. he was able to pull over to the shoulders. firestone, steel tex tires. *ak

Had a tread separation while towing a 5000lb boat. tire pressure was 65lbs. ambient temp = 95 degrees. tire blew without warning at crest of 5% grade. almost lost control of vehicle as my steering was severely impacted. tire was the rear passenger side. tongue weight 400 lbs. two adults, 5 children ages 11 - 12. *ak (tiresize: 265/75/r16)

The tread came off the tire causing me to lose control. the vehicle ran off the road into a glassy field/ditch. this occured about the 45 mile marker of i-10 w/b in la.

Going 25 mph, we heard a swish noise and it was the sidewall of the rear driver side tire. there was a 3" long tear in the sidewall that goes into the tread area. this is the second time this has happened. last time we were going 60 mph and the tire shredded before we could come safely to a stop. both times it's been the same location, rear driver side. both times it's been a side wall failure. we are replacing all tires including the spare as i do not trust them. my tires are not under the recall and ford/firestone said it is a road hazard problem and/or tire inflation. they were at 65 psi and the max rating is 80 psi. i've been driving for 15 years now and this is the first vehicle to have the sidewall go out and for it to happen twice in one year is too coincidental.*ak

Sidewall of tire coming apart. *ak (tiresize: lt26575r16)

Towing 30' travel trailer, rear axle wt. of 5000 lbs, rear tires inflated to 55 psi, average speed 65mph

While freeway driving tire separated from sidewall of rim. when i took to dealer the assistant service manager refused to help us. said it was not a recall so he would not warrenty. damaged rim also.*ak (tiresize: /75r16)

Driving on 270 e outerbelt. with 3 other people in the car at 65mph, rear passenger tire smoked then went flat, i observed a separation of the tire tread from the belts of the rubber, and a melted fibers around the belts. *ak (dot number: vnw810379 tiresize: lt265/75r1)

While driving 65 mph on freeway passing a truck right front tire exploded. tire size lt26575r16, dot# vnws1x02600. *ak firestone steeltex. *slc

Consumer replaced the tires when there was a recall on the firestone tire. currently, there is a recall for the tires that were replaced , and manufacturer offers no reimbursement. *ak no recall found for this tire. *tc

While travelling on the interstate at approximately 75 mph, we experienced a blowout on the right rear of the vehicle. upon completing our trip home, i made numerous phone calls regarding the tires and eventually was referred to a local firestone tire dealer. after visiting the dealer and having my tire inspected, firestone claims i had valve stem failure. (tiresize: lt26575r16)

Firestone, steel tex tires, lt265/75r16, dot vnw, original equipment on a 2000, ford, excursion with 9600 miles on tires. while driving 30 mph right rear tire had tread separation. no accident.*ak tread separation caused some damage to the wheel. *slc

Fortunately for my family and i, we were traveling along a straight section of turnpike just south of tulsa, ok at approximately 65-70mph. without warning, the right rear tire blew out. the sidewall is completely detached from the tread. the tread on the tire is fine and there were no punctures or other defects in the tire. it took the tire to two separate tire dealers (not firestone) for their opinions. both indiciated that the tire suffered from a total sidewall failure on the outside of the tire. both dealers examined the tire for punctures, etc. there were none. i took the vehicle and tire to the dealership for assistance. so far, they've been incredibly reluctant to assist. they have agreed to replace the one tire. however, i live in fear of placing my family of five in my practically new $40,000 vehicle. i have zero confidence in these tires and have ordered replacement tires (non-firestone of course). the primary reason i purchased this vehicle was safety on the road with my family, now i don't have that peace of mind with these tires. i've researched similar information on the internet after this occurrence and found at least 6 photos and reports of the exact same type of tire failure of this tire. i'd hate to imagine what would have happened if this had been on a curved section of highway at approximately the same speed if the blowout had been on the front outside tire. my family and i probably wouldn't be around to report this to you. i'm very concerned and upset with ford, firestone, and the nhtsa for not pursuing this with more vigor to date. ford has indicated to me, these tire failures are within acceptable industry standards and they don't want to set a precedent by replacing my tires. how many people have to die before these tire failures fall outside "acceptable industry standards". please help. please respond so that i know what you are doing on my family's behalf. (dot number: vnw81x0260 tiresize: lt26575r16)

Firestone steel tex radial r4s, lt265/75r16, original equipment on a 2000, ford, excursion with 36000 miles. while driving 60 mph right rear tire suddenly went flat. firestone dealer examined tire, found no visible damage, but refused to replace tire.*ak dot number vnw81xy389. *slc

Consumer was driving about 65 to 70 mph when right rear tire, size lt26575rx16 came off with sidewall separating around tire. contacted dealer. *ak

Raised white letters on sidewall had started to crack down through rubber. tread was peeling away from left front passenger tire. left front had lost a large chunk of tread. had contacted dealership, and was informed by mechanic that tire needed to be inspected before replacing it. contacted a local mechanic who had ordered replacement tires for vehicle.*ak

We had been traveling for about an hour in the desert in approx 100+ degree heat on i-40 about 30 miles west of needles, california. the truck starting to shake badly and then we heard a pop. we looked in the rear view mirror and saw the entire tread from the tire flying back on the road. we were unable to get the tread due to the traffic. we called the number in ford's owner's manual for their road side service. they sent action tow out of needles, california, (760-326-4068) to change our tire. the tow driver, israel, said he had changed five firestone tires on excursions in the past three days! he said one of the excursions only had 7,000 miles on it. we had three adults and three children, including a baby, in the vehicle and all were extremely upset. luckilly my husband was able to get the car over to the shoulder and no one was hurt. we had just called ford the week before this trip because we were concerned about the firestones on our long trip. they told us there were no problems with this tire and they weren't being recalled. we went to the ford dealer when we got home. they told us they wouldn't cover the tires or damage to our vehicle under warranty. they referred us to firestone. we called firestone and they sent us a claim package. they said they won't honor any claim without shipping them the damaged tire. *ak (dot number: vnw81x0379 tiresize: lt26575r16)

Pe00 020, consumer was traveling about 75mph on highway and heard a noise. he was able to pull over to shoulders. driver's rear tire tread separated from rim. firestone, steeltex, 265/75r16.*ak

Consumers daughter had stopped for gas when the attendant called attention to the fact that the tire was coming apart. the tire was replaced and the daughter has the defective tire and paper work. *jg

All four orginal equipment firestone, steel tex tires, size rt265r7516, dot#n/a with 25,000 miles are splitting 8 to 10 places on each tire. dealer has been made aware of problem. *ak consumer states sidewalls are literally coming apart and the inner cores bulge out the sides through the splits, tires were manufactured in canada. *jb

Consumer noticed while returning from a road trip that sidewalls of all 4 tires have razor blade like markings.t firestone will replace them at $75 a tire. ford dealer will replace tires if consumer agreed to split the cost. consumer has a 2000, ford, excursion with orginal tires, size lt26575r16 with 30,000 miles.*ak consumer states that cracks in tires go all the way around the tire and are very deep in the sidewall, dot numbers vnw8, firestone steeltex r4s. *slc

Firestone, steeltex at tires, lt265/75r16, dot vnw8tx0279, load range d, original equipment on a 2000, ford, excursion with 25000 miles. consumer noticed tread separation on one of the tires.*ak *slc

When applying brakes at any speed there is vibration on right front of vehicle. vehicle taken to dealer 4 times, rotors were grounded on two visits, but did not remedy problem.*ak also the right front tire blew out, causing damage to rim.*slc

While driving and without prior warning left front tire had a blowout due to a tread separation.*ak

Pe00 020 ; all four tires' tread separated from vehicle. tire was firestone lt, 26575r16, steeltex, r4s #dot vnw81xy150. there were no injuries. sidewall was deeply cracked all around tire that finger tip could penetrate tire. *ak

While driving down road at approximately 65-70 mph driver's side front tire blewout, tearing up fender on truck. when consumer got out and looked at tire, noticed that tread had separated .*ak

3 small "punctures" appeared starting at sidewall, radiating out toward tread. no evidence of exterior damage is visible, nor was there any road debris encountered during travel at time punctures happened and air began leaking out of tire. *ak (dot number: vnw81xy tiresize: lt26575r16)

Valve stem of spare tire exploded and caused tire to go flat, 2 young children in back of vehicle were screaming, father of the children whipped his head around and has had pain in his neck and shoulders ever since. *slc

These oem tires are extremely dangerous, i have had 2 sidewalls blowouts with no warning in my first 6 months of ownership. these tires must be recalled before there are more injuries and/or fatalities. i replaced the tires and have the oem tires in my garage to return to firestone. they have refused to help me as they have not been recalled yet. firestone continues to blame the consumer for these failures and that is not the case, these tires are very dangerous and can fail at any time.*ak (tiresize: p265/75r16)

Tire suddenly failed loosing tred and blowing out on return trip from dallas tx on inerstate i-40 in west memphis, ark the tires had less than 4500 miles on them . both ford and dealer said "not my problem" at blow out control of the vehicle was very difficult and if there had been heavy traffic a collision would have occured as the vehicle swerved from one lane to another while stopping it. the tire was made at the canada plant and was the standard issue 265x16r (dot number: vnw8 ixy tiresize: 16)

Original tire on a ford excursion. passenger rear tire blewout at a low speed, tire popped and blew apart.*ak consumer states the firestone steeltex tire, lt265/75r15, experienced tread separation while traveling on a dirt road. *slc

We ran across some minor road debris which caused extensive damage to the side walls of both front tires. both tires disinflated very rapidly making it difficult to steer the vehicle to safety. we had seven (7) children and two (2) adults in the vehicle at the time of the incident. we fear for the safety of our children but cannot afford to buy four (4) new tires at this time. (tiresize: 16)( dot number: tire size: 16 )

Vehicle has rough ride, handling,loss of control on bad-rough roads[cross bronx]. *ak (dot number: 119/116r tiresize: lt26575r16)

There are two to four (1" - 3") splits in the sidewall of all four tires. *ak (dot number: lt265 tiresize: 75r16)

Tire blew/tread separation while passing. also did damage to wheel well (dot number: vnw81xy tiresize: lt265/75r1)

No evidence of puncture, just kind of disintegration. *ak (dot number: ? tiresize: lt265/75r1)

Pe-00020; original equipment on a 2000, ford excursion, tire size 26575r1. while driving sidewall blew out. *ak the customer replaced all four tires. *yh

Blowout on left rear tire,good thing blowout on rear, blowout on frout tire would have been a disaster. *ak( dot number: )

Pe00020, original equipment 0n 2000, ford, excursion, 26575r16, dot vnw81x0369. while driving there was a thumping noise due to front driver tire tread peeling off which may have caused a crash. ford was not willing to help. however, firestone was replacing the tire. *ak

Firestone tires experienced tread separation while driving (attorney for client). nlm

Original equipment on a 2000, ford, excursion. tread on the right rear tire separated at 60mph from the sidewall.*ak the rear tire exploded. *yh

While traveling 65 mph and without any indication, firesone steeltex at tires experienced a blowout. *ak

Pe 00 040/tire failure: left front tire experienced a blowout while traveling 15-20 mph at a 95-100 degree, with driver only in a 2000 ford, excursion, original equipment, r4s, tire size lt265/75r16, and dot# vnw81xy359. dealer notified, and replaced the tire. but, refused to let consumer keep the tire. *ak *slc

While driving on i-15 north bound south of las vegas at app. 9:30 pm i hit some thing that was on the road that caused both tires on the passenger side of the car to blow out. i do not know what the object was. i steered off the road and created considerable damage to the under carriage of the vehicle. i notifed my issurance agent leon heaton, farmers insurance 702-363-0026. they created claim # 78120742. i had the car towed to firestone on rancho blvd in las vegas, and had the car repaired at friendly ford of las vegas 702-877-7600. *ak (dot number: unk tiresize: lt26575r16)

While driving about 75 mph right front firestone tire p265/75r16 experienced a blowout, the side of the tire had separated without a prior warning. *ak *slc

Right front tire blew out on on our 2000 ford excursion traveling on interstate at approximately 75 mph. the tires started making a noise for a minute or so, then the blow-out. rubber was bouncing off the windshield. the vehicle dropped down on the right side instantaneously, but handled well and was maneuvered to the roadside. the tire looked like someone had taken a knife and cut out the inside side wall of the right front tire all the way around it. it litterally blewout the inside wall of the tire. went to ford dealership & firestone dealer, neither would replace or do anything. *ak (dot number: vdw8 1x050 tiresize: lt265/7516)

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak (dot number: bm20119-1 tiresize: lt265/75r1)

Vehicle continues to exhibit tire induced severe steering wheel shaking despite repeated balancing and adjustments. we are now worried that at highway speed an internal defect may the root cause.*ak (dot number: can't tell tiresize: 265 75 16)