1994 Ford Explorer Tires
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
APRIL, 1996 I, MY EX WIFE, AND MY DAUGHTER WERE COMING BACK FROM PALMDALE, LA COUNTY, TRAVELING EAST ON 138 HIGHWAY BACK TO ONTARIO, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, WHERE I USED TO RESIDE. WHILE I WAS PASSING SLOW TRUCK IN TWO HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES EXPLODED I LOST CONTROL OF THE 1994 FORD EXPLORER GOT ON THE DIRT THE CAR WAS AIRBORNE LANDED TURN GOD KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES AND LANDED ON THE SIDE. *TR
RECALLED FIRESTONE ATX AND WILDERNESS TIRES. **NAR** *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC TREAD BELT SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY ROLLED WHICH CAUSED A FATAL HEAD INJURY TO A RESTRAINED 12 YEAR OLD OCCUPANT. IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRES WERE ALSO DEFECTIVE AND THEY TOO SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM VEHICLES. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD COMPLETE TREAD-SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE, AND FLATTENING THE REAR LEFT TIRE. ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION, IT REMAINS INFLATED. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE, AS WELL AS ALL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE, HAD PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT, PASSING BOTH THE PENNY AND QUARTER TEST, WERE PROPERLY INFLATED, AND SHOW NO CRACKING OR WEARING. ALL THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME AND ARE TOYO RADIAL OPEN COUNTRY P235/75R15. A STEVENS COUNTY POLICE OFFICER WITNESSED THE TREAD SEPARATION AND STOPPED TO HELP. *TR
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICA TIRE ABOUT A NOTICE REGARDING THE SAFETY OF TIRES. THE 1994 FORD EXPLORER ORIGINALLY CAME WITH P235/75R 15 RADIAL ATX. TODAY I TRIED TO RETURN THE TIRE, ORIGINAL SPARE, FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT AS STATED IN THE LETTER. HOWEVER I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE DEALER AT HAYWOOD MALL GREENVILLE SC THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN TERMINATED. THE LETTER FROM BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICA DID NOT INDICATE AN END DATE. IN FACT THIS LETTER INDICATED THE COMPANY WAS TRYING TO ROOT OUT THE LAST REMAINING TIRE SPARES. THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. AK
1994 FORD EXPLORER BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE TIRES DEFECT, TIRES RECALLED, CONSUMER HAD TIRES REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE AND WOULD LIKE TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FROM MANUFACTURER. *MC *JB
TL* - THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR FIRESTONE TIRES ON HIS 1994 FORD EXPLORER. THE LETTER STATED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES FREE OF CHARGE. HE CALLED THE NUMBER ON THE LETTER TO FIND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. AFTER CONTACTING THE AUTHORIZED DEALER HE WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES. THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY FOR THE TIRES AND THE DEALER KEPT THE TWO TIRES HE REPLACED. THE TIRES ARE RADIAL ATX 235S.
1994 EXPLORER TIRE TREAD HAS CRACKS ON ALL FOUR TIRES. *TS *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED RECALL LETTER # 01X001000 FOR THE TIRES: TREAD/BELT WAS RECEIVED FROM BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE FOR THE TIRES ON THE 1994 FORD EXPLORER. THE PAPERWORK WAS RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE REFUND, BUT THE REFUND WAS DENIED.
WHEN I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER USED IN 1997 WITH 39,000 MILES ON IT THE TIRES WERE BLOATED OUT OF SHAPE AND THE VEHICAL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 35 MPH. I REPLACED THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THEN THE TIRES WERE RE-CALLED. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TIRES BECAUSE I DID NOT SAVE THEM AFTER THEY WERE REMOVED AND I COULD NOT PROVE I EVER HAD THEM. NOW I HAVE A RECALL FOR THE SPARE TIRE (WHICH IS THE ORIGIONAL FIRESTONE ATX DEFECTIVE TIRE. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE BY EMAIL WITH THIS FACT AND FIRESTONE IS IGNORING ME. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO NOW THAT I HAVE THE PROOF THAT FIRESTONE DEMANDED THAT THEY SOLD ME DEFECTIVE TIRES. THANKS, JOHN ULRICH. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TWO FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND EMBANKED INTO A DITCH. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER WHO PROVIDED USED TIRES TO MAKE THE VEHICLE OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES TO THE FRONT END, WHICH THE TIRE DEALER DID NOT RECOGNIZE AS CONSEQUENCE OF THE TIRE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECENTLY, RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER # 00T005000, WHICH WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE DEALER. THE RECALL LETTER WAS NOT HONORED FOR THE TIRES REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ALLOWED TO KEEP THE USED TIRES PROVIDED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE TIRES WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT I, SIZE: 23575R/15.
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING THE BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN TIRE RECALL IN 2000 AND 2001**CC THE CONSUMER DIDN'T RECEIVE THE RECALL INFORMATION UNTIL AFTER HE HAD ALREADY REPLACED HIS FAULTY TIRES (1993 AND 1994 FORD EXPLORER XL 4X4). THE RECALL INDICATED THAT THE CONSUMER COULD TAKE HIS RECEIPT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO BE REIMBURSED. THE LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO HANDLE THE PROCESSING OF THE PAPERWORK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO GRACIOUSLY PROCESSED THE PAPERWORK, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER STILL WASN'T REIMBURSED FOR THE TIRES. *NM
I EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPLAINABLE VIBRATION IN MY VEHICLE 2 DAYS PRIOR TO MY TIRE ( UNIROYAL RADIAL TRAIL KING A/T 31-10.50/R15) HAVING A TREAD SEPARATION/BLOWOUT ON MY TRUCK. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SEARCH FOR WHERE I COULD OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT , I FOUND A RECALL ( NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 91T001000) FOR THESE TIRES. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER UNIROYAL WHO INSTRUCTED ME TO GO TO SEARS & ROEBUCK AUTOMOTIVE. I WAS THEN INFORMED BY SEARS THAT THEY DO NOT DEAL IN UNIROYAL TIRES AND COULD NOT HELP ME. I THEN RE-CONTACTED UNIROYAL AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THIS RECALL EVEN THOUGH I COULD SUPPLY THEM WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT IT WAS IRRELEVANT BECAUSE MY TIRES ARE OVER 6 YRS OLD ANYWAY ( * THESE TIRES WERE STORED IN LIKE "NEW" CONDITION, DEW TO MY DEPLOYMENT IN THE MILITARY). I EXPERIENCED THIS BLOWOUT WITHIN ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES AFTER REMOUNTING THEM ( THIS CAN BE TOLD BY THE EXTREME AMOUNT OF TREAD THAT IS ON THE TIRES , REGARDLESS OF THERE MANUFACTURE DATE. THIS VEHICLE STILL HAS THREE MORE OF THESE TIRES ON IT AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS WAS NOT A SIMPLE FLAT TIRE, THIS TIRE EXPLODED AND TREAD SEPARATED SIMILAR TO HOW A TRACTOR TRAILER TIRE VIOLENTLY BLOWS. THESE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME ON THIS TRUCK , MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST UNIROYAL NOT THE CAR MANUFACTURER. *JB
1994 FORD EXPLORER - SPARE TIRE DROPPED ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. TIRE BOUNCED IN AIR 3 - 4 FEET IN FRONT ON VEHICLE FOLLOWING, WHICH SWERVED TO AVOID. CABLE SUPPORTING SPARE TIRE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. TYPICAL UNDER VEHICLE SUPPORT SYSTEM ON PICKUPS AND SUVS.
1994 FORD EXPLORER. CABLE HOLDING SPARE TIRE BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND DROPPED THE SPARE TIRE ON TO THE ROAD SURFACE. *AK
THE OWNER'S VEHICLE HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE CHASSIS AND IS HELD IN PLACE BY A CABLE. THE CABLE SNAPPED RELEASING THE SPARE TIRE INTO TRAFFIC. OWNER WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE THE TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
THE SPARE TIRE WAS HELD UNDER THE VEHICLE BY A CABLE. THE CABLE CORRODED, AND THE SPARE TIRE MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED WITH THE FIRESTONE RECALL OF TIRES FOR BLOW OUTS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT, RIPPING ACROSS THE MIDDLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL WITHOUT ANY COLLISIONS THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL, SERIES GENERAL AT, /P2357515. *AK
MY DRIVER-SIDE, REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. (SEMPERIT BRAND P235/75R15 (THIS BRAND IS NOT ON YOUR DROP DOWN MENU!)) ON MY 1994 FORD EXPLORER CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY CAR (NAMELY THE REAR QUARTER PANEL.) I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND THUS NOT HIT ANYTHING ELSE. THE TIRES HAD 24,000 MILES ON THEM. THIS HAPPENED DURING THE FORD/FIRESTONE NEWS. FORD WOULD NOT PAY TO REPLACE THE TIRES AND THE COMPANY SEMPERIT IN NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN THE US. *AK
CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE TO GET FORD/ FIRESTONE TIRE, AND RUBBER MANUFACTURER'S TO ISSUE REIMBURSEMENTS TO CONSUMERS WHO HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACED TIRES. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR NHTSA RECALL # 00T005000. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SHREDDED. DEALER NOTIFIED SIZE#23575R15 PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT NUMBER. CRAVEN TIRES SAID THERE WAS A SLOW LEAK CAUSED BY A CUT IN THE TREAD. COOPER TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW TIRES BY FIRESTONE. *AK *CB *JB
I WAS DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE. I GOT OFF AT FORT WASHINGTON EXIT. I PROCEEDED TO FT. WASHINGTON EXPO CENTER. I PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE AND I HEARD A LOUD POP. I GOT OUT TO FIND MY REAR-PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DEFLATING RAPIDLY. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE GROUND AROUND THE TIRE. IT JUST POPPED. *JB
THE DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR RECALLED TIRES, HOWEVER ONE OF THE NEW TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE, BUT REFUSED TO CHANGE THE OTHER THREE TIRES. *JB
I HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR A ROUTINE PA STATE INSPECTION ON FRIDAY. THE SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE, PERFORATED SIDEWALL, ON ONE OF THE TIRES. THERE IS A SEPARATION AROUND THE ENTIRE INTERIOR SIDEWALL, THE SHOP DOING THE WORK (A TIRE DEALER) TIPPED ME OFF BY SAYING. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FIRESTONE, WHICH WERE GENERALLY OKAY, WITH A TIRE KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. A LITTLE WEB RESEARCH YIELDED THE FOLLOWING REPORT: HTTP://WWW.STRATEGICSAFETY.COM/LIBRARY/SI004.HTM MY 17 YEAR OLD SON DRIVES THIS CAR. I'M SHOCKED AND LOOKING FOR RE-COURSE. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED BY A TIRE KNOWN TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUES? *JB I NEED SOME RECOURSE HERE!
SPARE TIRE WAS STORED UNDER THE BODY IN THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. CONSUMER WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE LEFT REAR FLAT TIRE AND NOTICED THE SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING. THE CABLE FROM WHICH THE TIRE WAS SUPPORTED, WAS DANGLING FREELY WITH NO TIRE. MY SPARE TIRE MUST HAVE FELL OFF THE TRUCK WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT MY NOTICING IT. I LOOKED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND THERE IS NO MENTION OF MAINTAINING THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER. *TT
DUE TO TIRE SEPARATION FIRESTONE DID NOT EXCHANGE ALL THE TIRES OUT.*AK *JG (FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15)
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Quick Summary
The 1994 Ford Explorer has 315 Tires complaints on file. 43 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.