Firestone begins RECALL program

[Rick]

From CNN online:

Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. announced this
morning a nationwide recall of 6.5 million tires
for light trucks and sport utility vehicles that
have been implicated in more than 45 deaths.

The recall involves:
• All Firestone radial ATX and radial ATXII tires
produced in North America, including Mexico.
• All Wilderness AT tires produced at the
company's plant in Decatur, Illinois.

Firestone said the tires will be replaced at no
charge, no matter how old they are. However,
due to the limited supply of replacement tires,
the recall will be carried out in three phases,
beginning with states in warmer climates:

Phase One -- Arizona, Florida, California, Texas

Phase Two -- Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee

Phase Three -- All other states

Consumer information about the recall is
available on a toll-free line, 1-800-465-1904, and
on the company's Web site,
http://www.bridgestone-firestone.com.

 

[kilroy]

Damn, I have to wait till phase 3?!!!:fire:

 

[AZgambler]

Finally got thru to the Firestone 800#. They "have no knowledge" of any pending action on 16" Wilderness ATs. Unable to get thru on Ford's #. Emailed Ford that I felt oh so much safer that my 16s weren't mentioned, NOT. Ford's announcement:

Ford Motor Company Responds to the Firestone Tire Recall Statement
The following statement in response to Bridgestone/Firestone's announcement of a recall of Firestone P235-75R15 ATX, ATX II and certain Wilderness AT tires is attributed to Helen Petrauskas, Ford vice president, Environmental and Safety Engineering.

Ford Motor Company has worked closely with Firestone to thoroughly investigate tire tread separation concerns. As we have repeatedly stated, we are absolutely committed to doing the right thing to protect our customers and to maintain their trust.

Related Items:


Bridgestone/Firestone Announces Voluntary Tire Recall
Questions and Answers from the Ford Call Center for Firestone Inquiries
For more information, contact: Firestone (800) 465-1904 or Ford (800) 660-4719 or send a note to tireinquiry@ford.com for information on the recall and tire safety.

An analysis of field data by both companies and reviewed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that tires being recalled today account for the overwhelming majority of tread separation failures reported on Firestone tires.

After extensive review of the data, we are satisfied that Firestone has isolated the affected population of tires that should be recalled. We believe that the Wilderness AT produced since 1996 at Firestone's Aiken, S.C.; Joliette, Que.; Oklahoma City, O.K.; and Wilson, N.C. plants have an outstanding safety record. We have confidence in Wilderness AT tires produced at these plants.

NHTSA has not closed its investigation. But in the interest of customer safety, Firestone is not waiting to act and should be commended for its comprehensive and decisive action. We have been working with Firestone and NHTSA, and we strongly support Firestone in its voluntary recall and customer satisfaction actions. Firestone has long been, and continues to be, a valued supplier to Ford.

Ford Motor Company and its dealers will work with Firestone and its service centers to replace tires on our vehicles as quickly as possible. The safety campaign will concentrate first on customers in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas where more than 80 percent of the reported Firestone tread separations have occurred.

Maintaining tires at the appropriate air pressure is necessary to protect tires. Underinflated tires deteriorate more rapidly than tires that are properly maintained and are at an increased risk of tread separation, blowout or other failure.

At the request of Firestone, Ford has evaluated the performance of these tires at 30 psi and has determined that the vehicle maintains good performance characteristics at this higher pressure. Ford recommends that Explorer and Mountaineer customers with 15" Firestone tires maintain their tire pressure in the range of 26-30 psi.

Customers with other vehicles should check the door plate on their vehicle for recommended tire pressure and make sure that tire pressure does not fall below the recommended level. If customers have any questions about tire pressure or safe operation, they should contact their vehicle dealer or Firestone service center.

If customers have any questions about tire pressure or safe operation, they should contact a Firestone service center or their vehicle dealer. Firestone has established a toll-free number – (800) 465-1904 – for concerned customers. Ford Motor Company customers can call (800) 660-4719 or send a note to tireinquiry@ford.com for information on the recall and tire safety.

 

[KodeBlu]

Taken from http://www.safetyforum.com/

Wednesday, August 9, 2000

Attorneys representing families affected by tire failures are expressing concern that Firestone might not be able to provide immediate safe replacement tires for the defective ATX and Wilderness AT tires. "We urge car dealers and tire retailers to provide safe and appropriate replacement tires-regardless of brand-- immediately" said consumer attorneys Tab Turner of Little Rock, Arkansas and Taras Kick of Los Angeles.

The majority of the tire failures have been reported on 1991 through current model year Ford Explorers. The Explorer is designed with severe tire restrictions due to the increased tendency of the vehicle to roll over in ordinary turning maneuvers. Any modification of the tires may make the vehicle even more prone to rolling over under these driving conditions. Consumers need to be fully informed about the implications of any modification in the tire type, including tread pattern. Both attorneys are "Attorney of Record" for tires on Safetyforum.com.

They pointed out that Firestone's offer of a visual inspection does nothing but lull owners into a false sense of safety and security. "These structural failures are internal to the tire and can not be detected or predicted by visual inspection," they said.

It is unreasonable to expect consumers and their families to ride on defective tires while Firestone produces an adequate number of replacements. It is also unreasonable for Firestone to expect their customers to buy replacement tires, paying twice for Firestone=s mistake. Firestone and retail tire dealers should provide adequate replacement tires immediately at no charge to their customers.

"Although the free inspections that Firestone is offering may be productive in locating cosmetic problems with a tire, a visual inspection is worthless insofar as problems inside of the tire are concerned. Firestone's offer of a free inspection does nothing but create a false sense of action, safety and security. The consumer should have the right to demand a full and immediate remedy, not a cosmetic assurance that the tire looks okay," the attorneys said.

In an effort to help consumers with Firestone dealers, Safetyforum.com is posting a form and letter to assist in getting their tires replaced. The forms and letters ensure that Firestone, tire retailers, vehicle manufacturers and their dealers have notice that they will be held accountable for injuries occurring if the problem is not remedied by dealers. Consumers should make sure their Firestone dealer completes and signs the form following the free inspection. A copy of the form and the accompanying letter should be sent to Firestone, Ford and other manufacturers who use Firestone ATX and Wilderness AT tires.

Turner and Kick are Safetyforum.com "Attorneys of Record" for tires. "We became Safetyforum.com 'Attorney's of Record' because we've seen how tire failures can cause crashes and tear families apart. Our goal is to help educate the public about these hazards and put pressure on manufacturers to do a better job. Participating in Safetyforum.com is an important part of doing that." Turner and Kick said.

The attorneys have drafted model letters and forms to assist consumers with Firestone, Ford and other tire retailers who have sold these tires.

Consumers should:

1. Print out letters and forms available at Safetyforum.com.

2. Take their car, truck or SUV to where ever they bought the tires and request an immediate replacement at no charge.

3. If the dealer or retailer refuses to replace the tires immediately, insist that they fill out and sign the Safetyforum.com forms. Send a copy of the form to Firestone and to the vehicle manufacturer, if the tires were on the vehicle when it was purchased new.

4. Immediately contact Ford Motor Company to determine what tire is safe and appropriate for the Explorer as a replacement for the defective tires to ensure that the vehicle's rollover resistance is not further impaired by the application of incorrect or unsafe tire sizes and types.


Contact:
C. Tab Turner, Turner & Associates, P.A.
501-791-2277
4702 West Commercial Drive, Suite B3, Little Rock, AR 72116

Taras Kick, The Kick Law Firm
213-624-1588
660 S. Figueroa St., #1800, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Ralph Hoar, Safetyforum.com
703-469-3700
P.O. Box 470, Arlington, VA 22210

MODEL LETTERS AND FORMS TO ASSIST CONSUMERS WITH FIRESTONE, FORD AND TIRE RETAILERS WHO HAVE SOLD FIRESTONE ATX, ATX II AND WILDERNESS AT TIRES

http://www.safetyforum.com/tires/formletters.html