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MIAMI (CBS4) ― It was the largest recall in United States history. The result of thousands of complaints and hundreds of deaths. Now 8 years after that recall, CBS4 Consumer Investigator Al Sunshine discovered those same tires are still claiming lives. Denise Sosa remembers the last time she saw her son, Steven Tarafa, before leaving  for a short business trip to North Florida in February.

Sosa fought back tears as she remembered how, "He hugged me and he kissed me and he said I'll see you next week and that was it. I never got to see him again."

Two Miami families are now united by the tragic loss of their sons, Jason Crespin and Steven Tarafa.They died on February 18th, according to the Florida Highway Patrol,  after Jason's 1999 Ford explorer suddenly swerved out of control and slammed into a tree. 

The cause, according to the state's accident report?


The old SUV's Firestone Wilderness-AT tire on Jason's 1999 Ford Explorer came apart while they were driving from Tallhassee to Jacksonville.

The accident report includes the notation "Vehicle Defect: The left rear tire of vehicle 1's tread (cap) separated from the main body of the tire"

When Al Sunshine checked out the crushed SUV he said it was hard not to be shocked what the impact of this accident did. The whole right side was caved in where it wrapped around a tree, crushing in the fender, crushing in the roof. Looking at all the destruction inside the passenger compartment, Al said he could tell this was an absolutely horrific accident.

Attorney Mike Eidson represents the Crispin Family and said, "He never had a chance. He and his friend never had a chance."

Both families are now suing Ford, Firestone and the Miami used car dealer that sold Jason the old explorer just 3 weeks before the accident.

According to the lawsuits, the 9 year Firestone Wilderness-AT tire is believed to be the original spare that came on the the old Explorer.

But while Ford recalled it back in 2001 ...as part of the biggest tire recall in U-S  history...Firestone never recalled it.

According to Firestone, it was made after the cutoff date of its original recall.  


But Miami Attorney Mike Eidson says this tire failed exactly the same way the earlier recalled Firestones' did. The entire top tread came off in one big piece.

Eidson said, "They all look like this. They all end up with this little shoulder piece and then the treads gone" showing how all that was left of the tire was the so-called steel belted casing and the two sidewalls.

Both families say they don't understand why state and federal auto safety agencies are not doing more to warn consumers that old, recalled tires could still be on pre-owned Ford Explorers.

Under Florida law there's no formal requirement used-car dealers have to make sure the vehicles they sell don't have recalled tires on them.     

Attorney Eidson predicts, "You're going to see more and more people die every year as these tires get older as they remain on these cars That's what's going to happen. Each one has the potential to be a ticking time bomb, like this one They're dangerous."

And that's why grieving mom Denise Sosa wants everyone to check the tires on their cars and trucks to make sure they not may not be riding on "Treacherous Treads".

She wants everybody to know about her loss. " So that no one else has to go thru what I've been going through. So no other family has to have the terrible news and have to live thru these memories. So there's not a another mother who will never see their son again or have grandchildren. He never even got married, "  said Sosa.

The Feds tell CBS4 they believe more than 90% of Firestones' recalled tires are now off the market.


But critics say that means hundreds of thousands more could still be in old Ford Explorers as spare tires their new owners may not know about.

Ford recommends replacing tires after 6 years  and offers its sympathy to the families.  


Firestone says its campaign pulled 95% of the recalled tires off the market and was one of the most effectively administered product safety campaigns in history.

Both companies declined to comment on the pending lawsuits. They recommend if any customers have questions about the safety of the tires on their vehicles. they should go to their nearest Ford or Firestone dealer for a free safety check.

And as I've been reporting for 8 years now, SUV owners especially need to check your tire pressure at least once a month, don't overload your vehicle beyond it's posted weight limits and maintain the proper speed limit.

As we approach the summer driving season with our crowded, hot highways, tire Safety should be an even more important concern for all of us and our families. 

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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