2001 Ford Expedition Tires

THIS IS A MODIFIED COPY OF A LETTER SENT TO CONTINENTAL TIRE OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. AND TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE REASON FOR INFORMING THE NHTSA OF THIS IS THE HOPE THAT THESE COMPANIES WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY SELL THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. I DRIVE IS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION, WHICH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT HAD 26,000 MILES ON IT AND CAME STOCKED WITH GENERAL GRABBER AW TIRES DOT# ADT044T4900 SIZE 275/60/17. THE REASON FOR THIS LETTER IS NOT ONLY TO INFORM YOU OF MY DISGUST, BUT ALSO TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS TIRE CAUSED CLOSE TO $3,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND ALSO PUT MY FAMILY AND I IN DANGER ON THAT DAY AND EVERY OTHER DAY WE DROVE ON GENERAL TIRES. I ALSO WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL TIRE DISTRIBUTORSHIPS, THE TIRES WERE POORLY MADE AND IN ORDER FOR FORD TO MAKE A BUCK AND CONTINENTAL TIRE CO TO INCREASE THEIR PROFIT MARGIN EQUIPPED THOUSANDS OF FORD VEHICLES WITH AN INFERIOR PRODUCT. I DONT EXPECT POOR QUALITY ON ANY PART OF A VEHICLE THAT COSTS MORE THEN $40,000, WHICH IS WHY I AM FORWARDING THIS LETTER TO FORD MOTOR CO. AS A RESULT, I HAVE LOST ALL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR ABILITY TO PRODUCE A TIRE THAT IS SUITABLE FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, AS WELL AS FORD TO PRODUCE A SUPERIOR PRODUCT FOR ITS CUSTOMERS. THIS IS WHY I AM ASKING FOR TOTAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL COSTS, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF ALL TIRES TO ANOTHER BRAND AND COST OF A RENTAL VEHICLE WHILE MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED. (ALL RECEIPTS ARE INCLUDED, BUT THIS IS AN ESTIMATE AND NOT A FINAL TOTAL.) IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT I DID HURT MY BACK DURING THIS INCIDENT, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. I PUT THIS IN THE CLAIM INFORMATION REPORT SO IF ANYTHING ARISES YOU CAN BE INFORMED. THE TIRE IN QUESTION WILL BE SENT OUT OF GAINESVILLE TX THIS WEEK. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER IS APPRECIATED. CORDIALLY, BILL COURY. *AK

THE TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE PEELED AWAY FROM THE SIDEWAYY. I HAVE OTHER TIRES SEPERATE, BUT THIS BY FAR WAS THE CLEANES SEPERATION THAT I HAVE SEEN. I WAS ON VACATION AND HAD ALL OTHER TIRES REPLACED AND MY COST. I NEVER HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL IN 2002 AND I AM VERY AGITATED WITH THIS, BECUASE I WOULD NEVER PUT MY FAMILY ON UNSAFE TIRES. THE TREAD HIT THE BACK TAILGATE AND QUARTER PANNEL AND COST A TOTAL OF $1,650 IN DAMAGE. NOW MY INSURACE COMPANY WILL DEAL WITH THIS "COMPANY".*AK

WE WERE ON VACATION AND WERE NEAR PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA TRAVELLING ON THE I-10 W/B WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL. IF THE SEPARATED TREAD HADN'T HIT THE TAILPIPE AND QUARTER PANEL, THEN THE TIRE MAY HAVE COME UP AND HIT THE REAR PASSENGER. THE TREAD ACTUALLY PUSHED UP THE CARPETING AND INDENTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE. WE KEPT THE SEPARATED TIRE.TOOK PICTURES.WE BOUGHT NEW TIRES. WE JUST FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES AS OF 7-6-03. I THINK THEY EXPECTED US TO DRIVE ON THE THREE OTHER TIRES UNTIL OUR VACATION WAS OVER. WHEN I TOLD THEM I REPLACED THE OTHER TIRES THEY SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO, EXCEPT EXAMINE THE BAD TIRE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY(S) BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? CONTINENTAL TIRES SAID MY TIRES { GENERAL GRABBERS AW 275/60/R17 } WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. ACCORDING TO MY DOT #. I HOPE THEY WILL AT LEAST REPLACE MY ONE TIRE AND REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO MY 2001 EXPEDITION. WELL AT LEAST THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY DEATHS/INJURIES. BUT I REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO FORD HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRES, IT TOOK LAWSUITS AND DEATHS TO RECALL THOSE TIRES. I CAN SEE THAT FORD IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TIRES AGAIN. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS. OR WARN OTHER OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES.*AK

AS WE WERE DRIVING WE HAD A TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. LUCKLY, WE DID NOT FLIP OVER IN OUR 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE WHEN WE GOT HOME WE CHECKED THE TIRES NUMBER AND IT WAS A RECALLED GENERAL- GRABBER AW.FORTUNATELY, WE ALL SURVIVED BUT OUR CAR HAS MAJOR DAMAGE. THE RECALL ON THE TIRES ENDED APRIL 1ST, 2003 AND WE PURCHASED THE SUV THE SAME MONTH.NOW THE TIRE MANUFACTURE DOESNOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING, FORD COMPANY SAYS-THEY WONT DO ANYTHING- THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE PURCHASED THE SUV FROM SAYS THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE HOW DOES THE DEALERSHIP NOT KNOW ABOUT THE GRENADE THEY SOLD ME? I THOUGHT THAT THE PURPOSE OF A RECALL WAS TO SAVE LIVES... I ALMOST LOST MY FAMILY AND MY LIFE- IF WE DID DIE OR ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS- WOULD SOMEONE FINALLY LISTEN? WELL, THAT'S THE IMPRESSION I'M GETTING.WHEN WILL THE RULES CHANGE? NTSB-SHOULD HELP ME BECAUSE THAT'S WHY YOU ALL DO THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE -THE DAMAGED TIRE THAT IS-WHAT DO I DO?*AK

THE TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. SIZE#P27560R17 DOT#44T3400. *JB THREE OF THE TIRES SEPARATED WHILE TRAVELING WITH PASSENGERS (1 CHILD & 3 ADULTS) THE TIRE CAUSED A TERRIBLE VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE, ROCKED BACK AND FORTH, AND FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH AND WITH NO WARNING THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEWOUT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

TIRE RECALL FROM CONTINENTAL TIRES. *MR. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD A BUMPY RIDE, WHEN HE CHECKED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS DAMAGED, THE RUBBER HAD PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM 3 MONTHS LATER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL, BUT IT HAD ALREADY ENDED. *JB

VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT CAUSE.

THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR A RECALL ISSUED RELATED TO TREAD SEPARATION OF CONTINENTAL TIRES. *NLM

IN 07/01 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE. THE REPLACEMENT TIRE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY WHILE DRIVING. TIRE DEALER STATED THE TIRE COULD NOT BE BALANCED, BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS COMING APART ON THE INSIDE. TIRE INFO: CONTINENTAL GENERAL AW GRABBERS P275/60R17 ORIGINAL 1ST FAILURE-100 MILES ON TIRE 2ND FAILURE- 29K MILES ON TIRE DOT# 1ST TIRE- ADT044T5100 DOT# REPLACEMENT TIRE- ADT0441701 *JB MANUFACTURER DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *SCC

CONSUMER LEARNED OF 17" CONTI TRAC AND GRABBER AW TIRE VOLUNTARY RECALL PROGRAM, HOWEVER THE FILING PERIOD HAD EXPIRED, REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED. *TT *JB

CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR FAILED TIRES. *AK *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE'S TIRES. THE RECALL REQUEST WAS DENIED BY THE MANUFACTURER/CONTINENTAL TIRE, DUE TO THE RECEIPT THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED FELL OUTSIDE THE DATES OF PURCHASE WHICH WOULD QUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT. SCC *JB

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON 10/25/02 FROM CONTINENTAL WHICH STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CONTINENTAL TIRES GENERAL GRABBER AW P275/60R17. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED REPLACEMENT TIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER. RECALL #02T012000. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD MANUFACTURER ON TIRE GENERAL GRABBER AW, SIZE P275/60R17. FORD MOTOR STATED THEY DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. CONTINENTAL AGREED TO REPLACE THE FOUR TIRES WITH SMALL SIZE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

GENERAL TIRES RECALL ON 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JB

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *JB

CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES PRIOR TO RECALL DUE TO TO UNUSUAL TREAD WEAR AND NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT 64 MILES PER HOUR, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM CONTINENTAL TIRES.*JB

TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED COMPLETELY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO TAKE EVASIVE MANUVERS GOING IN A CLOCKWISE MOVEMENT AND ROLLING OVER (FLORIDA TRAFFIC REPORT). (GENERAL TIRES GRABBER AW) LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CLIENT.*SCC *JB

LEFT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT IN DRIVE WAY DUE TO ROAD HAZARD, WHEN TIRE WAS CHANGED NOTICED 3" CRACK IN SIDEWALL. WENT TO GENERAL REPRESENTATIVE, WHERE THEY FOUND ALL OTHER TIRES HAD CRACK IN SIDEWALL ALL OF WHICH WERE AT LEAST 1" WIDE. GENERAL REP., STATES THEY ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON. TIRE MANUF. UNCOOPERATIVE. DT

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING OVER ONCE. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. GENERAL TIRE GRABBER AW (LAWYER HARVEY FRIEDMAN ON BEHALF OF CLIENT) *JB *SCC

PRIOR TO LEAVING MY HOUSE FOR A TRIP TO NAPA VALLEY WITH MY FAMILY, I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURES ON ALL FOUR TIRES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF. I HAVE 6 RELATIVELY SMALL-SIZED ADULT AND A CHILD AS PASSENGERS. 25 MILES INTO THE TRIP, TRAVELLING ON THE SLOW LANE OF INTERSTATE 880, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. A FEW SECONDS LATER, I CAN SEE SMOKE FROM BEHIND THROUGH MY SIDE MIRROR AND A SHUDDER. REALIZING I HAD A FLAT TIRE, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE OUTER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED ITSELF FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. AN OFFICER OF THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL BY THE NAME OF OFFICER ESPIRITU ASSISTED US IN GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED TIRE THEN BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERN BUT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES OF IT AS SOON AS I GOT HOME. THE AAA TOW TRUCK DRIVER/MECHANIC WHO HELPED US EVEN COMMENTED THAT THE TIRE IS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE. THE TIME AND DATE OF THE INCIDENT WAS BETWEEN 9:15 - 9:45 AM OF AUGUST 25.*AK

WHILE ON TRIP ON HIGHWAY TIRE BEGAN RIDING ROUGH, CALLED FORD NATIONAL CUSTOMER HOTLINE, WHILE TALKING TO FORD TIRE DELAMINATED CAUSING OUT OF CONTROL CONDITION, FORD SAYS TIRES PUT ON VOLENTARY RECALL TWO DAYS EARLIER, $1,290 DAMAGE TO CAR, FORD DENIES RESPONSIBILITY, FORD UNABLE TO REPLACE TIRES WHILE ON TRIP, NO FORD DEALER BETWEEN ATLANTA AND MIAMI ABLE TO SUPPLY TIRES THUS REQUIRING DRIVING FROM ATLANTA WITHOUT SPARE AND ON 4 RECALLED TIRES. CONTINENTAL WILL ONLY REPLACE WITHOUT CHARGE THROUGH FORD DEALER, OTHERWISE REQUIRING CUSTOMER TO PAY FOR REPLACMENT AND THEN "SUBMIT FOR REIMBURSMENT" FROM CONTINENTAL. ARMSTRONG FORD, HOMESTEAD, FL, SERVICE MGR, FRED OLIVERA SAYS THAT CONTINENTAL WILL NOT PAY FOR DAMMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. THE TREAD STAYED INTACT WITH APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES OF SIDEWALL EXTENDING FROM THE ACTUAL TREAD SURFACE. THE SEPARATION WAS CLEAN ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, NOT TORN APART. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AT 70 MPH, ALMOST CAUSING A ROLL OVER. THE AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECKED (BY ME PERSONALLY) THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND. ALL 4 TIRES WERE AT 35 PSI, AND NONE OF THE TIRES HAD EVER REQUIRED ADDING OF ANY AIR PRESSURE. THE TIRES HAD 4,600 MILES ON THEM AT THE TIME OF THE TREAD SEPARATION. THE DEALER WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND REPLACED THE TIRE AND WHEEL WITHOUT QUESTION. THE EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO I DEALT WITH SAID THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND HE SEES IT ALL THE TIME. I TOLD HIM THAT IN 22 YEARS OF DRIVING THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD A TIRE SEPARATION EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE TO THIS. EVERY DAY WHEN I DRIVE TO WORK (12 MILES EACH WAY) I SEE AT LEAST 2 NEW TIRE TREADS ALONG THE FREEWAY THAT LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE TREAD SEPARATION THAT WE EXPERIENCED. WE HAVE 6 PHOTOS OF THE TIRE, THE SEPARATED TREAD AND WHEEL, TAKEN ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, IF NEEDED.*AK

GENERAL TIRES SHREDED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, IT WAS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 24000 MILES, THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, 275/60R17. *AK