Carmakers strive to ensure their vehicles are problem-free before releasing them. Sometimes they have to rely on the parts manufacturers to provide a reliable product. That may fail, though, as it did with the Ford Firestone tires, which led to a recall being issued.
Are there any Firestone tire recalls issued on Ford vehicles?
Yes, Ford recalled Firestone tires on numerous Ford Explorer vehicles in May of 2000.
These recalls include:
- Ford firestone wilderness AT tires
- Firestone tread separation
To provide some insight into the recalls related to Ford vehicles for Firestone tires, we’ll outline the two major recalls. Note these are older recalls but still may be a factor in those with older vehicles.
Firestone Tread Separation
NHTSA Recall ID: 00T005000
In August of 2000, Ford released a recall related to the Firestone tires installed on numerous vehicles. This recall related to all Firestone Wilderness AT tires sized P235/7R15.
These tires were all produced by Firestone at the Decatur, Illinois tire plant. The recall also included all Firestone Radial ATX and Radial ATX II Tires in sixes P235/75R15. Most of the recalls affected Ford Explorer vehicles.
If drivers operate these tires with low inflation pressures (below the recommended amount) and operate the tires at high speeds in hot weather, this can lead to the tread’s separation from the tire. This can create a dangerous situation in which the tire may fail, resulting in an accident.
The tire recall for this particular set of tires affected 14.4 million tires overall. The replacement program began right away and continued through August 29, 2001.
Ford Firestone Wilderness AT Tires
NHTSA Recall ID: 01X001000
In May of 2001, 13 million tires were recalled by Ford and Firestone. This was done through a Safety Improvement Campaign by Ford. Ford replaced all Firestone Wilderness AT 15, 16, and 17-inch tires.
These were mounted on Ford trucks and SUVs for numerous model years. This recall followed the previous recall. It was necessary due to multiple plants having failures, rather than just one location, as noted in the previous recall.
This recall impacted the following vehicles:
- 1991 through 2002 Ford Explorer Vehicles
- 2001 through 2002 Ford Explorer Sport and Ford Explorer Sport Trac Vehicles
- 1997 through 2002 Ford Mercury Mountaineer Vehicles
- 1991 through 2001 Ford Ranger Vehicles
- 1999 through 2001 Ford Expedition Vehicles
- 1991 through 1994 as well as 1997 Model Year Ford F-Series Vehicles
- 1991 through 1994 Ford Bronco Vehicles
Ford reported that in these vehicles, tread separation can occur. This is the result of a problem with the tires’ sensitivity from the design due to stress and factors related to early aging. Some manufacturing differences from one plant to the next led to numerous complaints and concerns about the tires.
As a result, Ford replaced these tires across all vehicles. The goal was to do so to prevent any premature tire failure from resulting. This helped to minimize the risk of car accidents due to the bursting of the tires during operation.
The vehicles affected originally were issued the specific Firestone tires, but they may have been replaced since then. Some may also have been installed in a previous recall. The tire recall process began in March of 2002.
What to Do if There’s an Open Recall on Your Ford Vehicle
For those who have an open recall or are unsure if there are any on the vehicle they plan to buy, it may be easy to find this info out. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. There, you can enter in the information you have to learn about applicable recalls.
Whenever possible, use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for the vehicle. This will provide a specific list of recalls related to that car.
This information will include any pending recalls that still need to be repaired. If there are any pending recalls, contact Ford’s customer service office at 1-877-917-3673. They will tell you how to get the vehicle repaired or if any recalls are applicable.
If you are considering buying an older Ford and you want to learn about potential Firestone recalls, look up the make, model, and year on the NHTSA website for that car. This will provide information about applicable recalls and more information.
Photos: Ford
