The Firestone Recall • Capsule Summary • Firestone Probe • ATX Recall • Dingell Wants Other Firestone Tires Examined • Rollover Fears Led to Lower Inflation Recommendations • Firestone Tires Had A Heavy Load --- • Other Firestone Tire Problems • Firestone Service Centers

August 4, 2000
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating whether defects in Firestone tires are responsible for 21 traffic deaths. NHTSA says it has received 193 complaints that Firestone tires peel off their casings, often at highway speeds.

Targeted in the investigation are the Firestone ATX, ATX II and Wilderness tires. They come as original equipment on many Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan and Subaru sport utility vehicles and pickups. Most of the accident reports involve the Ford Explorer.

As the reports surfaced, Sears said it was pulling the tires from its 780 Sears Auto Centers and 350 National Tire and Battery stores around the country.

NHTSA says that in some of the reported tread separations, the tire remained inflated even after the vehicle had crashed. In two cases, the tread wrapped itself around the rear axle, locking up the wheels.

Most of the complaints come from the South and Southwest, where warmer temperatures can contribute to tread separation.

Ford has known about the problem for years. The company has already replaced tires for customers in Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Ecuador. And there have been several lawsuits, some as early as 1996, alleging that accidents were caused by the tires.

The ATX problems came to light as Firestone, now part of Bridgestone/Firestone was celebrating its 100th year in the tire business. The company has been the chief supplier of tires to Ford since 1906.