May 6, 2008 5:21 pm US/Eastern
Ford Q&A Responses Regarding Tires
What is your response to these lawsuits alleging 2 people died in a recently purchased, pre-owned 1999 Ford Explorer after a 1999 Wilderness AT tire on it reportedly suffered a tread separation? We don't know enough about the specific accidents mentioned at this time. Our sympathy goes out to the families involved.
Also, what might Ford and Firestone do for its' customers who may have older products to check for any possible safety concerns? Customers with questions or concerns about their tires should contact Firestone. Ford recommends replacing tires after six years in service based on extensive testing and evaluation of older tires.
Why doesn't the the tire replacement program show up on your website when you enter a VIN? To encourage customers to respond as soon as possible, the program was closed about a year after it began so it longer is active on our website. However, customers with questions or concerns about their tires should contact Firestone.
What's the total population of Bridgestone-Firestone tires on Ford Explorers either recalled or targeted for replacement during the series of Nhtsa supervised actions beginning in 2001? Ford replaced more than 11 million tires. Firestone can provide replacement numbers for their recalls.
How many tires within the identified population were not replaced or remain un-accounted? We don't know how many of the Firestone tires were still in service at the time of Firestone's two recalls or Ford's tire replacement program, so it is impossible to know how many people did not respond to the recall notices. This was the most publicized product recall in history and Ford took extraordinary measures to notify every Ford vehicle owner about it.
Did Ford-Firestone agree to replace all the tires on the vehicles, including the spares, without any time limitations? Ford originally offered to replace spare tires without limitation. However, to encourage customers to respond as soon as possible, the program was closed about a year after it began. Please contact Firestone about any expiration related to their safety recall.
What else might Ford-Firestone do as far as a Customer Outreach program, to further advise customers these tires may still be in use today as spares? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reviewed this issue on several occasions and has not found any additional notification to be necessary. Firestone has sent several reminders over the years to affected tire owners. The measures that Ford and Firestone have taken to inform customers about tire safety are unprecedented.
What additional advice does Ford-Firestone have for owners on how to identify these tires and know for certain if they should be replaced? Customers with questions or concerns about their tires should contact Firestone. Ford recommends replacing tires after six years in service based on extensive testing and evaluation of older tires.
If a vehicles' owner still has one of these tires, will they be replaced for free? Customers should contact Firestone.
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