2003 Ford Explorer Tires Problems
20 owner-reported tires complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (20)
CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC P235/70R16 DOT A308 46KW 311 NOTICED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING, TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATING; INSTALLED SPARE. HAD VIBRATION AGAIN A MONTH LATER. BOTH TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. INSTALLED IN 2013; APPROX 20K MILES. REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES; HAVE OLD TIRES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRES, SIZE: P235/70/R16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE AND VEHICLE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 2/24/15*CN UPDATED 03/02/15*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRES, SIZE: 235 R70/16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT, IT CAUSED HIM TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD . THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. UPDATED 03/03/15
MY CAR IS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS. OVERALL THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION. WHEN WASHING THE CAR THERE IS SOME CHROME PEELING FROM THE WHEEL AT THE HUB EXTENDING OUT TO THE LUG NUTS. I REMOVED THE WHEEL AFTER SOME EFFORT DUE TO THE CORROSION OF THE ALUMINUM. I CLEANED HE CORROSION FROM THE ALUMINUM AT THE HUB AND FOUND INTERNAL PITTING BETWEEN 1/8" AND 1/4" DEEP WHEN PROBING. I AM A ARCHITECT WITH A ENGINEERING BACKGROUND AND IN MY OPINION THE LOSS OF ALUMINUM STRUCTURE IS SIGNIFICANT AND THE WHEEL NO LONGER SAFE. THE OTHER WHEELS HAVE SOME CHROME PEELING AS WELL AND WILL ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE DEPTH OF THE PITTING OR REMOVED THE WHEELS. AS FORD HAS THE EXPLORER HAS HAD ISSUES WITH WHEEL FAILURE IN THE PAST AND THIS IS A ISSUE THAT WAS NOT OBSERVABLE WHEN I CHANGED THE BRAKES ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO VERY SIGNIFICANT NOW IT MAY BE WORTH LOOKING INTO. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE ALUMINUM IF YOU LIKE AND WILL RETAIN THE RIM WHEN I GET A NEW ONE. THE OTHER THREE WHEELS HAVE NOT BEEN REMOVED IF YOU WISH TO SEE THESE IN THE NEAR FUTURE UNDISTURBED PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT. THE THREADED PORTION OF THE AXLE IS CORRODED WITH NO THREADS VISIBLE AND 10% OF THE DIAMETER LOST. THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL BEHIND THE PLASTIC CAP WAS 20% FILLED WITH CORROSION RESIDUE WHEN I REMOVED IT. THE OTHER SIDE HAS NOT BEEN OPENED UP YET. I HAVE HAD OTHER CARS OVER THE YEARS INCLUDING FORDS AND NEVER HAVE SEEN AN ISSUE LIKE THIS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE WERE SLICK. THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES, BUT CURRENTLY THE REAR TIRES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE LINE AND SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS BF GOODRICH TIRES, SIZE P245/65R17, RUGGED TRAIL T/A. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE KEEPS LOSING AIR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE STEM, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE TIRE IS FINE FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEN NEEDS TO BE INFLATED AGAIN. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,300.
TIRE VALVE PROBLEM - 3 BLOWN TIRES IN 60 DAYS ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED 1/31/2007 - CAR MILEAGE 75,857 AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE 1ST INCIDENT - APRIL 12, 2008 - CAR MILEAGE 91,400 (RIGHT FRONT TIRE) BLOWN TIRE ON INTERSTATE 81 IN VIRGINIA (TIRE REPLACED W/NEW VALVE) NO PROBLEM DETERMINATION DONE RELATIVE TO THE VALVE 2ND INCIDENT - APRIL 26, 2008 - CAR MILEAGE 92,300 (LEFT FRONT TIRE) BLOWN TIRE ON INTERSTATE 85 IN NORTH CAROLINA (TIRE REPLACED W/NEW VALVE) NO PROBLEM DETERMINATION DONE RELATIVE TO THE VALVE 3RD INCIDENT - JUNE 18, 2008 - CAR MILEAGE 93,100 (LEFT REAR TIRE) BLOWN TIRE ONE INTERSTATE 285 IN GEORGIA (TIRE REPLACED W/NEW VALVE) PROBLEM DETERMINATION DONE REVEALED VALVE SEEMED TO BE ROTTED 4TH TIRE (RIGHT REAR) WAS CHECK DURING THE 3RD TIRE REPLACEMENT - VALVE WAS "WIGGLED" AND THE TIRE STARTED TO LEAK - 4TH TIRE PRO-RATED AND NEW TIRE AND VALVE WAS PUT ON THE CAR AS A RESULT OF THE ANALYSIS DONE DURING THE 3RD TIRE REPLACEMENT - IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VALVES WERE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURES TIRES WERE MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN SUV ORWL P235/7R-16 VALVE NUMBERS WERE NOT DETERMINED THE ONLY REASON WE INVESTIGATED THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECALL ON THE VALVES WAS BASED ON THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE TIRE SERVICE ATTENDANT THAT THEY HAD SEEN A FEW OF THESE AND THEY WERE GETTING REIMBURSED DUE TO A FAULTY VALVE. THE PURCHASE PLACE OF THE TIRES WITH THE VALVES IN QUESTION WAS DISCOUNT TIRE IN KENNESAW GEORGIA - JANUARY 2007 CONSEQUENTLY, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 TIRES (WHICH WERE COVERED UNDER MY ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE WITH DISCOUNT TIRE) AND A NEW ALIGNMENT... TOTAL COST, INCLUDING EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT $150 (THANKS TO THE ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE). *TR
I HAVE A SET OF WILD COUNTRY XTX TIRES THAT HAS SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURE DEFAULT. THEY ARE CHOPPING SOMETHING TERRIBLE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 6 MONTHS AND I WENT INTO HAVE THEM ROTATED AND THEY WOULDN'T ROTATE THEM BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE TIRES LOOK. THE TIRE SIZE THAT I HAVE IS LT 235/70 R16 ..I DON'T KNOW IF U NEED ANYMORE INFO ON THEM. BUT THEY LOOK LIKE THEY COULD BE GETTING VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON. AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ELSE I COULD DO BOUT THIS PROBLEM . THEY DIDN'T LOOK THIS WAY WHEN I BOUGHT THE SUV. OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE HAD THE CAR COMPANY PUT NEW TIRES ON THE SUV WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I TRIED LOOKING UP THE COMPANY WHO MADE THE WILD COUNTRY TIRES BUT DIDN'T HAVE ANY LUCK. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD LET U KNOW BOUT IT. *TR
WHILE PULLING OUT OF LOCAL WAL-MART PARKING LOT IN REVERSE AN EXPLOSION THAT ROCKED MY EXPLORER CROSS UTILITY VEHICLE CREATED SOME PANIC FOR MY WIFE AND MYSELF. UPON CHECKING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD EXPLODED FROM ONE SIDE OF THE RIM TO THE OTHER RENDERING THE TIRE TO BE COMPLETELY RUIN. THE RIM WAS INTACT. *TR
COMPAINT IS ABOUT B.F. GOODRICH TIRES (LT 265/75R16) TIRES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED PERFECTLY, ROTATED EVERY 7500 MILES. TOTAL TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 61,XXX. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED. I HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE COSTING OVER $2800.00, PLUS REPLACEMENT OF ALL TIRES DUE TO LACK O FAITH IN THE BF GOODRICH TIRES. THE BODY WORK/REPAIRS WILL BEGIN THIS WEEK. *TR
MY MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRE BLEW OUT AT THE SIDEWALL. IT WAS A CLEAR SUNNY DAY, 30 MPH, ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY. I CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE REGULARLY SO I KNOW THE TIRE WAS PROPERLY INFLATED. I CONTACTED MICHELIN AND THEY REFERRED ME TO MELODY LAKES TIRE AND AUTO. MY WIFE CALLED AND THE RECEPTIONIST TOLD HER IT WOULDN'T DO ANY GOOD TO COME IN BUT SHE COULD. THE RECEPTIONIST TOLD MY WIFE THE PROBLEM WAS "HEAT INFRACTION?" AND IT WAS NOT COVERED. IT IS INCREDIBLE TO ME A RECEPTIONIST, OVER THE PHONE, CAN DIAGNOSE TIRE PROBLEMS. MICHELIN, NOR THE DEALER HAD ANY INTENTIONS TO DETERMINE WHY A BLOWOUT OCCURRED, LET ALONE TRY TO FIX IT. I WILL FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEM. I HAVE 4 MORE OF THOSE DEFECTIVE TIRES WHICH I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL BLOW!! UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB
GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S TIRES HAVE 1 TO 3 INCH SPLITS APPROX. 1 INCH FROM THE RIM, I HAVE THIS ON ALL 4 TIRES. THEY ARE ON A FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC 2003. *NM
DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE ENTIRE SIDE OF THE TIRE CAME APART WHERE IT WAS GLUED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DRIVER HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT. DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK
THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THE RIGHT SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE SERIAL AND DOT NUMBER. *JB
THE DEALERSHIP HAS ACCUSED ME OF RUNNING OVER SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. IT WAS THE LEFT REAR TIRE THAT BLEW. WHY WAS IT NOT THE FRONT TIRE IF I RAN OVER SOMETHING? HAVE RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALERSHIP, CROSSROAD FORD IN CARY, NC.*AK I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE WHICH I DO NOT THINK IS RIGHT.THIS IS MY 3 FORD VEHICLE BUT IT WILL BE MY LAST IF THEY CANNOT HELP THE CONSUMER BETTER THAN THIS.
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. CONSUMER CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT OF MICHELIN TIRE. *AK
TIRE ALIGNMENT FAILURE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING, THE DRIVER TO PULL OF THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONSUMER LOOKED OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THE TIRE WAS ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *NLM