2002 Ford Focus Tires Problems

ON 05/09/2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 1750 HOURS I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 95 ADJACENT TO MILE MARKER 99 LOCATED NEAR STUART, FLORIDA WHEN I SUDDENLY FELT A VERY STRONG VIBRATION AND LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT AXLE, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING ME TO LOOSE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A FULL STOP AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION ON THE SHOULDER IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE TO INCLUDE FRONT RIGHT FENDER DENTS, BRAKING AC REFRIGERANT LINES, FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, SIDE MARKER AND THE PLASTIC COVER THAT GOES UNDERNEATH THE WHEEL WELL. THE TIRE IS DESCRIBED AS A FIRESTONE FR380, 185/65R14 86S WITH DOT E26L 38B 3110 A30. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PEP BOYS SHOP IN JUPITER, FL AND THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE PLUS STORE LOCATED IN JUPITER, FL TO BE EXCHANGED. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED AND INSTALLED AT TIRES PLUS ON OCTOBER, 2010 AT 77,600 MILES AND OVERALL THE TIRE HAD LESS THAN 20,000 ROAD MILES WHEN THE ENTIRE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. PICTURES OF THE TIRE ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, THANK YOU. *TR

ON 05/09/2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 1750 HOURS I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 95 ADJACENT TO MILE MARKER 99 LOCATED NEAR STUART, FLORIDA WHEN I SUDDENLY FELT A VERY STRONG VIBRATION AND LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT AXLE, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING ME TO LOOSE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A FULL STOP AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION ON THE SHOULDER IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE TO INCLUDE FRONT RIGHT FENDER DENTS, BRAKING AC REFRIGERANT LINES, FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, SIDE MARKER AND THE PLASTIC COVER THAT GOES UNDERNEATH THE WHEEL WELL. THE TIRE IS DESCRIBED AS A FIRESTONE FR380, 185/65R14 86S WITH DOT E26L 38B 3110 A30. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PEP BOYS SHOP IN JUPITER, FL AND THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE PLUS STORE LOCATED IN JUPITER, FL TO BE EXCHANGED. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED AND INSTALLED AT TIRES PLUS ON OCTOBER, 2010 AT 77,600 MILES AND OVERALL THE TIRE HAD LESS THAN 20,000 ROAD MILES WHEN THE ENTIRE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. PICTURES OF THE TIRE ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, THANK YOU. *TR

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH TIRES MANUFACTURED BY FALCON, SIZE 205-50-R16, TIRE LINE ZIEX, DOT V43V, AND SERIAL NUMBER 4M9R4509. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE INSPECTING THE TIRES THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE SIDE WALLS WERE CRACKED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 19,000. RK

COOPER COBRA RADIAL G/T - TREAD SEPARATION - ON ALL 4 TIRES. HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF 3 YEARS. ONE INCIDENT LEFT US STRANDED FOR 5 HOURS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN MARYLAND. DOT # U9V9 C28 0605 SIZE P195/60R15. *TR

LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES (3 OUT OF 4 SO FAR) DUE TO FAULTY VALVE STEMS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE TIRES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO A ROLLOVER CRASH. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE ON THE TIRE WAS 700. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 75 MPH, THE DRIVER FELT A SHIFT IN THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED, BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATED IN TWO LOCATIONS. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY ROLLED OVER WHILE MAKING THE LEFT TURN. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURED DATE OF THE TIRE WAS TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT AND VERIFIED THAT THE DRIVER WAS NOT SPEEDING AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN, TIRE SIZE, AND TIRE LINE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 92,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED AIR COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, WHICH SHE HAD BEEN AWARE OF SINCE FIRST PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN SIX TIMES, REGARDLESS IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WOULD EITHER HAVE TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER OR SERVICE PERSONNEL WOULD COME TO HER AND REPLACE THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE DEALER WAS NEVER ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED ONCE IN JANUARY OF 2008, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT SENT LETTERS AND EMAILS TO THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,686 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,815.

1. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE HOLDING AIR. IT HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ALL THROUGH WARRANTY. I'VE BEEN PUTTING AIR IN IT WHICH HAS COST ME A SURMOUNTABLE AMT OF MONEY RANGING FROM 25 CENTS TO WHATEVER THE MARKET CHARGED COST OF PUTTING AIR IN IT TO THE CURRENT DATE. IT RUINED A GOOD TIRE AFTER 12,000 MILES OF USE; IT WAS ROTATED ALL THE NECESSARY TIMES; ONLY THE RIGHT PASSENGER FRONT SIDE TIRE NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES IT WAS ROTATED; THE SAME SIDE IS FAULTY; AUGUST 2008, A SERVICE CENTER DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM TO EXAMINE THAT PARTICULAR WHEEL AND SEE IF THEY COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT PROBLEM EXISTS. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE WHEEL IS BENT IN 4 DIFFERENT PLACES. I'VE HAD TO BE TOWED FROM MY WORKPLACE; MY AUTO CLUB HAS HAD TO SEND A SERVICE SHOPOUT TO CHANGE THE TIRE OR PUMP IT UP. SOMETIMES THIS WOULD HAPPEN IN MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER WARRANTY IT BECOMES THE OWNER'S PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE MFR AND DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. AN OWNER OF A 2004, NEW AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, ALSO HAS A CRACKED WHEEL. UNLESS THIS PROBLEM IS CORRECTED, IT WILL CONTINUE TO COST PURCHASERS MORE MONIES AND ACCIDENTS IF DRIVEN OVER 30-40 MILES PER HR. THIS IS A MFR'S DEFECT. A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON LONG TRIPS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, SUCH AS ON THE EXPRESSWAYS AND INTERSTATES. IT IS DANGEROUS REGARDLESS OF SPEED. ONCE AIR IS PUT BACK INTO THE TIRE, WITHIN A DAY'S TIME, DRIVEN OR NOT DRIVEN, IT STARTS GOING DOWN. BASICALLY, JUST BEING PARKED, IT WILL GO DOWN ANYWAY. WITH THE ETHICS OF THE DEALERSHIP IN THIS AREA, THEY PROBABLY DID THE SAME THING AS I'VE BEEN DOING., ADDING AIR TO THE TIRE AND RETURNING IT BACK TO ME. THANK YOU. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, DESTROYING THE FRONT CONTROL PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE INDICATED THE RECOMMENDED PSI AS 34 AND IT HAS BEEN KEPT TO THAT STANDARD. THE TIRE WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR OLD WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL BULGING AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO VIBRATION. THERE WAS ALSO NO MORE THAN 15000 MILES ON THE TIRE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLE BRACKET THAT HOLDS UP THE SPARE TIRE FRACTURED AND COMPLETELY DETACHED. THE SPARE TIRE DROPPED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURE WAS ALERTED BUT THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM.*AK

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA P205/50R16, FRONT LEFT TIRE HAS BUBBLE ON SIDEWALL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE FIRST ONE. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS AND THE FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES HAD PROBLEMS STARTING WITH THE 2ND TIRE ROTATION AT 12,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT A FIRESTONE DEALER AND THE 18,000 MILE ROTATION THE MANAGER RECOMMENDED THAT THE TIRE WEAR WAS SO BAD THAT ROTATING THE TIRES WOULD CAUSE EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE AND TO LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY WERE AT. I COMPLAINED TO THE FORD MOTOR DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID NOTHING, EVEN FORD MOTOR'S CUSTOMER CARE TOLL FREE SERVICE SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. THE CAR HAS ONLY 21,000 TODAY AND THE TIRES SOUND LIKE I AM RIDING ON WOODEN TIRES. *NM

2002 FORD FOCUS - FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES. BUBBLES IN TIRES, EVENTUALLY BLOW (2) OR NEED TO BE REPLACED. HAVE PURCHASED 5 TIRES. NO PROBLEMS. ALSO RIMS ARE DENTED. NO POT HOLES ENCOUNTERED TO CAUSE THIS. NO ACCIDENTS TO CAUSE THIS. FIRST BUBBLE IN REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AT 6,000 MILES. REPLACED TIRE WITH ANOTHER FIRESTONE. TIRE BLEW AT 18,000 MILES. REPLACED TIRE AGAIN WITH NON FIRESTONES (2). BUBBLE IN TWO REMAINING FIRESTONES OCCURRED. REPLACED AGAIN WITH NON-FIRESTONES. NO PROBLEM. FORD DENIES PROBLEM. FIRESTONE DENIES PROBLEM. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BOTH. AM PURCHASING 2006 MONTE CARLO IN SEPTEMBER, BA BYE.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER SAW THE SEPARATION OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SIDEWALL TIRE. CONSUMER HAD THE TIRE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK *NM

MY FORD FOCUS ZTX HAS 4 FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA 02 P205/50R15 M+S 86H TIRES ON IT AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 20,119 MILES ON IT. I ROTATED THE TIRES EVERY 6,000 MILES AS RECOMMENDED AND ON TH ELAST OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATIN APPOINTMENT, THE FIRESTONE DEALER ADIVSED ME NOT TO ROTATE THE TIRES BECAUSE THEIR ARE DEFECTS IN THE TIRES AND THE REAR TIRES ROTATED TO THE FRONT WOULD CAUSE MORE ROAD NOISE. THE AUTO IS UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THE TIRES BECAUSE THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY DO NOT CARRY FIRESTONE TIRES ANYMORE EVEN THOUGH THESE WERE THE BRAND INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE FACTORY. *A

ON JANUARY 14, 2005 I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO PAUL HARVEY FORD FOR MAINTANENCE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, MOST WAS COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE SERVICE TECH. GARY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED ALL NEW TIRES, AND FURTHER SAID HE COULD NOT WARRANT ANY WORK DONE UNLESS I REPLACED THEM. SO I GAVE HIM PREMISSION TO DO SO. FEBURARY 7TH, 2005 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I WAS INFORMED BY A PASSERBY THAT MY TIRE WAS EXTREMELY LOW ON THE BACK DRIVER SIDE. I CONTACT GARY AT PAUL HARVEY FORD REGARDING THE FLAT AND HE ASK IF THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO COULD FIX IT. I REMINDED HIM THAT I JUST PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES FROM PAUL HARVEY FORD AND THAT I PLANNED TO BRING THE CAR AND TIRE IN. I TOOK IT IN THE NEXT MORNING WITH MY HUSBAND WHO SPOKE WITH GARY REGARDING THE TIRE. GARY SAID HE WOULD HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT IT WHILE WE WAITED. GARY RETURNED AND SAID THAT THE TIRE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE HOLE WAS ON THE INSIDE AREA OF THE TIRE AND THAT IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW TO REPAIR, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PRUCHASE ANOTHER. I REFUSED TO DO SO AND I'M STILL SEEKING REMENDY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE LUG NUT AND BOLTS OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

ON MY 2002 FOCUS SE MY PASSANGER FRONT TIRE HAD A BUBBLE- MY CAR ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I FOUND IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRES ARE SEPERATE AND HAD TO BE PRORATED FOR WEAR. THE COST OF THE SAME TIRE PLUS THE COST OF THE LABOR WAS ALMOST A HUNDRED DOLLARS. I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM FIXING SOMETING I DIDN'T CAUSE. FORD WON. I BOUGHT A NEW TIRE BUT FROM A DIFFERENT COMPANY.

THE FRONT TIRES WORE OUT. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FIRESTONE, P205/50R16. *AK

BOTH FRONT TIRES AND RIMS BLEW OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A SMALL POT HOLE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. THE TIRES WRE LOW PROFILE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

REAR TIRES TRACTION FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET, THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THREE OF THE SIX TIMES THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, HOWEVER THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME WITH MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 APPEAR TO HAVE A FLAW. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY FOCUS, I NOTICED A "BUBBLE" ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE'S SIDEWALL. THE OTHER THREE TIRES HAVE BEEN FINE OVER THE PAST ENSUING 21 MONTHS SO I HAVE TO BE BELIEVE THAT THIS ONE TIRE WAS FLAWED COMING OUT OF THE FACTORY. MY FORD DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT CHARGING A FULL PRICE SINCE THERE IS NO KNOWN RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR TIRE. YET, I SEE NOW THROUGH THE NHTSA THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL "SIDEWALL BUBBLE" COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS TIRE MODEL. PLEASE ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE LIST, SINCE I HAVE DRIVEN A LOT OF CARS OVER THE YEARS, AND NEVER SAW A "BUBBLE" POP UP LIKE THIS ....SEEMINGLY OUT OF NOWHERE! TOM. *AK

EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST 2002 FORD FOCUS (VIN#: FAFP383X2W110369). HAVE REPLACED 3 TIRES ALL UNDER 20,000MI. (FIRESTONE). ONE REPLACEMENT TIRE (FIRESTONE) FAILED AFTER ROUGHLY 5000MI. FAILINGS HAPPEN ON FLAT SMOOTH HIGHWAY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN FRONT TIRES FAIL (TREAD IS GOOD, NO WEAR, NO PUNCTURES, PRESSURE GOOD). POSSIBLY TIRE IS SEPARATED FROM RIM??? VEHICLE BOUGHT FROM LITHIA FORD (OMAHA, NE). *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON AND THE TIRES WEAR OUT TOO FAST I HAVE 45000 MILES AND TWO SETS OF TIRES. THEY SHIMMY BAD. ITS A VEHICLE PROBLEM WITH THE REAR WHEELS. FORD WON,T FIX THE PROBLEM VIN [XXX]. *AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE TREAD ON THE TIRES HAS ALREADY WORN DOWN AND THE METAL IS VISIABLE ON BOTH REAR TIRES. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY AND RETURNED HOME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER SAYING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST THE TIRES, THERE IS NO KNOWN CAUSE TO CAUSE WEAR.

FORD FOCUS 2002 ZX5 WITH 16" ALLOY WHEELS AND FIRESTONE TIRES SEEMS TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE MORE THAN OTHER CARS I HAVE HAD. ONE BUBBLED TIRE, AND ANOTHER PUNCTURED TIRE WITHIN WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. THE FOCUS ALLOY WHEELS ARE THE WORSE PROBLEMS. AT LEAST TWO HAVE BEEN BENT TO THE POINT OF CAUSING STEERING AND VIBRATION PROBLEMS ON CAR. ONE WHEEL HAS TWO VISIBLE BUMPS, AND ONE WHEEL HAS A MASSIVE BUMP FROM SOME SURPRISE ROAD HOLES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HAD SUCH WEAK RIMS. I AM NOT REPLACING THE WHEELS UNTIL I TALK TO EITHER FORD OR A LAWYER.

ALL FOUR STUDS ON THE RIGHT FRONT BROKE OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BRAKES, FRONT BUMPER, ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER THINGS. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I HAD A MECHANIC BESIDES THEM CHANGE THE BRAKES ON IT. I HAD MY 2 MONTH BABY NIECE IN THE BACK ALONG WITH 3 OTHER PEOPLE. THE OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE SEAL ON THE WINDSHIELD IS COMING OUT NEAR THE ROOF.

16 INCH DIAMETER FRONT ALLOY WHEEL WITH 205-50/R16 TIRE ON 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS WAS DAMAGED AND CAUSED RAPID TIRE DEFLATION DUE TO LOW SPEED , 35 MPH, IMPACT WITH POTHOLE. 50 SERIES TIRE IS TOO THIN FOR STREET USE ON THE FORD FOCUS!*AK

REAR END SHAKE TRACED TO BELT SEPARATION OF FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA02 TIRES FITTED TO 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 FROM NEW. *LA

THE TIRES AND WHEELS ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ARE VERY POOR IN QUALITY. THE RIMS BEND AND TIRES DEFLATE UPON HITING A CHUG HOLE IN THE ROAD WAY CAUSING LOSS OF CAR CONTROL. WHILE ALWAYS AVOIDING HOLES WHEN POSSIBLE, THIS IS A FACT ON MAY ROADS AND HIWAYS. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN ON ANY OTHER CAR. THE CAR IS EQUIPED WITH 205-50-16 FIRESTONE TIRES AND ALUM. WHEELS. THE CAR HANDLES POORLY AND HAS BEEN ALIGNED TWO TIMES IN PAST YEAR. I FEEL CARS EQUIPED LIKE THIS FROM THE FACTORY ARE AN ACIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

RIGHT REAR BUBBLE INSIDE NEAR RIM, RT. FRONT BUBBLE, WENT FLAT AND INSIDE OF TIRE WALL SHREDDED APPEARANCE. *JB

TIRE SIDEWALL TOO SOFT TO PROTECT WHEEL RIM AT RECOMMENDED MFG. PRESSURE. RIM BENT JUST DRIVING OVER COMMON DRIVE WAY CURBS. HAD TO REPLACE ALLOY WHEEL .*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE THE TIRE ON THE RIGHT CAME APART FROM THE WHEEL. AFTER CAREFULL INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND ALL OF THE WHEELS ON VEHICLE WERE BENT. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING PASSENGER'S RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. FIRESTONE, FIRELAWN, P20550/R16. *AK

ON 25 JULY 2002, I TOOK MY FOCUS TO A TIRE CENTER BEING REFERRED BY FORD DEALERSHIP UPON MY 30,000 MI. SERVICE. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON THE SE LOW PROFILE TIRE/ RIM PACKAGE. I ASKED THE TIRE MANAGER TO CHECK THE TIRE AND BEFORE I TOLD HIM WHICH TIRE IT WAS HE WAS ABLE TO TELL ME WHICH TIRE IT WAS: LEFT REAR TIRE. HE STATED THAT IT WAS HIS 3RD FOCUS WITH THE PROBLEM. HE RAISED THE CAR AND SHOWED ME A LARGE CHUNK MISSING AND INCONSISTENT WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRE. OTHER THREE TIRES ARE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. NO ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN AREA DESCRIBED. MANAGER STATED HE THINKS IT IS BEING CAUSED BY A MISSING OR SHEARED PIN. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE#P20550R16. PLEASE PROVIDED THE DOT#.*AK

FORD FOCUS IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD AND FRONT LEFT RIM IS STARTING TO BEND, WHICH IS CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUBBLE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT WORK WITH US WHAT SO EVER. I BELIEVE THE RIM AND THE TIRE IS A DEFECT. VERY FRUSTRATED!!!*AK

TWO OF THE FOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 25K MILES DUE TO SEPARATION IN THE TREAD. (AT THE SAME TIME, BOTH REAR TIRES) *JB *SCC *JB

ON 5/27/03 DURING REG OIL/FILTER/TIRE ROTATION AT FIRESTONE,5417 MCCARDLE,CORPUS CHRISTI,TX I WAS TOLD ONE TIRE HAD A COMPRESSION BUBBLE"IMPACT BREAK ON SIDEWALL".I REPLACED IT.ON 5/29/03 ANOTHER TIRE SELF DESTRUCTED WITH NO APPARENT REASON.I REPLACED IT (50% DISCOUNTTIRES WERE FIREHAWK GTA-02(I DO NOT HAVE TIRES AND DO NOT SEE A DOT# ON THE REMAINING TWO.I CALLED FIRESTONE WARRANTY,SPOKE TO CHUCK AND REQUESTED 2 NEW TIRES AT NO COST AS I DO NOT BELIEVE IN COINCEDENCES AND THE SAFETY ISSUE. I SAID I PAID FOR TWO AND FIRESTONE SHOULD PAY FOR TWO.HE SAID HE WOULD CALL FIRESTONE CC. I CALLED TODAY 6/6/03 .HE SAID HE NEVER CALLED AND HAD NO MEMORY OF PROMISING TO MAKE SUCH A CALL. HE ENDED BY SAYING THAT FIRESTONE WOULD NOT GIVE ME TWO TIRES HE APPARENTLY DOES NOT HAVE A SCREEN FOR INCOMING AS I HAD TO RETELL MY TALE.HIS INITIAL RESPONSE WAS WHEN FIRESTONE HAD COMPLAINTS ON THE 99-2000 HAWKEYE,THEY VOLUNTALILY RECALLED AND REPLACED- YEA SURE; VOLUNTARY VS. ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND THANK YOU ARTHUR BERMAN. *AK

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES AND TRIMS ON THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT MORE THEN 40 MPH THE TIRES WOULD EXPLODE AND THE RIMS WOULD BEND. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS MADE.*AK

WE OWN A 2002 FOCUS AND HAVE FIRESTONE TIRES ON IT. 205/50/16 I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT A VERY SIMILAR TIRE 205/55/16 HAS BEEN RECALLED.WE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE TIRE THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THEY WHERE STILL SELLING FIRESTONE TIRES AFTER THEY QUIT DUEING BUSINESS WITH THEM. THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD ARE GIVING US THE SAME RUNAROUND AS THEY DID WITH THE OTHER TIRE PROBLEM. DOES ANY ONE KNOW OF ANY BODY THAT HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES ON THE FORD FOCUS. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT. DONALD J. REED ANSBACHER@SBCGLOBAL.NET THANKS. HERE IS THE INFO. MAKE: FIRESTONE MODEL: P20555R16 BUILD DATES: JUL 16, 1999 - NOV 01, 2000 RECALL NUMBER: 01T006000 SUMMARY: TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 , SIZE P205/55R16 89H, PRODUCED AT THE WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA PLANT FROM JULY 16, 1999, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2000. THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 AND 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA SE PASSENGER CARS. THE RECALLED TIRES ARE IDENTIFIED BY DOT SERIAL #W2 T2 VF3 XXX OR W2 T2 VF3 XXXX; WHERE XXX MAY BE 289, 299, 309, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359, 369, 379, 389, 399, 409, 419, 429, 439, 449, 459, 469, 479, 489, 499, 509, 519, 529, 010, 020, 030, 040, 050, 060, 070, 080, 090, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 170, AND WHERE XXXX MAY BE 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, AND 4500. WITH INCREASING MILEAGE, THE TIRES MAY DEVELOP SHOULDER AREA CRACKING. CONTINUED USE OF A TIRE WITH THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO EXPOSURE OF THE BELT EDGE. CONSEQUENCE: UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, A BELT EDGE SEPARATION IS POSIBLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE.

THE TIRE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE. *JB

I'VE HAD 2 SIDEWALL BLOW OUTS ON MY CONTINENTAL-SPORT CONTACT. THEY ARE OEM ON MY SVT FOCUS. I OWN TWO OF THEM, AND BASICALLY THEY ROUGHLY HAVE BLOWN OUT THE SAME TIME AROUND 6,000 AND 7, 000 (APPROXIMATELY). I'VE BEEN DRIVING 18 YEARS WITH OUT A FLAT OR A BLOW OUT AND HAVE 2 ALONE WITH THIS CAR. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TIRES AS WELL AS HARD TIRE TO FIND.*JB

POSSIBLE DEFECT IN CONTINENTAL'S CONTISPORT CONTACT OEM TIRES (SIZE 215/45ZR17) THAT CAME WITH MY NEW FORD FOCUS SVT. I RECENTLY HAD A SEVERE BLOW OUT ON A HIGHWAY I-90. LUCKILY FOR ME, IT DIDN'T RESULT IN ANY DEATH, INJURY OR DESTRUCTION OF THE PROPERTY BUT STILL THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE ULTRA PERFORMANCE TIRE TO FAIL IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (UNDER 6000 MILES.) AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT ONE MORE TIRE DEVELOPED SIDEWALL CRACK AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB

VEHICLE'S LEFT REAR TIRE IS WEARING EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX PROBLEM, CAUSE THE CAMBER CANNOT BE SET PER DEALERSHIP. MR

DAUGHTER DROVE HOME FROM HI SCHOOL. HEARD IT SUDDENLY RELEASE PRESSURE AT LOW SPEED. DROVE HOME ANOTHER HALF MILE. FORD HAD ROAD SERVICE PUT THE DONUT ON. TIRE IS WITH US UNTIL SATURDAY WHEN WE'LL GO GET A NEW ONE. LONG GASH THRU SIDEWALL AS WELL AS DRIVE TREAD. SECOND SMALL CRACK IN SIDEWALL THAT WHY OFF OF MAIN GASH. MR

PREMATURE TREAD SEPARATION AFTER ONLY 11,700 MILES.*AK

FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES AND THE WHEELS, NO SPECIFIC INFORMATION GIVEN. *SLC

REAR PASSENGER TIRE THREAD SEPARATION: DRIVING TO WORK AT 8:40A, ON A 3 LANE FREEWAY PLUS A CARPOOL LANE. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LINE, WHEN THE CAR VIBRATED. I THOUGHT I COULD GET TO WORK TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP. DROVE ANOTHER 1-2 MILES, WHEN THE VIBRATION BECAME VIOLENT. I SWEARVED INTO THE FAST LANE, CRINGING AND WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO HIT ME, SINCE I JUMPED INTO THEIR LANE. I ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR , BUT WAS LOSING CONTROL. I VEERED BACK TO THE 3RD LANE AND THEN FISHTAILED , HEADING FOR THE CENTER DIVIDER. I CROSSED OVER INTO THE FAST LANE AND THE CARPOOL LANE , STAREING AT THE WALL. I MANAGED TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE FRONT OF THE CAR AWAY FROM THE WALL, JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME TO FISHTALE AWAY. MY LEFT REAR BUMPER SIDESWIPED THE WALL AS I HEADED BACK ACROSS OVERALL 4 LANES, TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, WHERE I CAME TO A STOP. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT NO ONE HIT ME WHEN I FIRST WENT OUT OF CONTROL. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT NO ONE SLAMMED INTO SOMEONE ELSE, AS THEY SLOWED DOWN TO LET ME CONTINUE STAY " OUT OF CONTROL" UNTIL I CAME TO HALT. IT WAS THE MOST HORRIFIYING 20 SECONDS OF MY LIFE. MY LIFE WAS SPARED, AND SO WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S, IF THE TIME HAD BEEN DIFFERENT. I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER FIREHAWK TIRE AND FIRESTONE REQUEST THAT I MAIL THEM THE DAMAGE TIRE!!! HOW DO YOU MAIL A TIRE!?!?!?! INSANE.*AK

IF CONSUMER TRAVELS ABOVE 50 MPH VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE. SHE HAS TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THREE TIMES FOR SAMETHING, AND WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEM WERE THE TIRES. CONSUMER DID NOT THINK THIS WAS TRUE BECAUSE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED TWICE WITHIN 2 WEEKS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK