Firestone Tires
Firestone tires were standard equipment on the Ford Explorer, the world's
best-selling sport utility vehicle, and have been linked to at least 174 U.S.
traffic deaths and over 700 injuries.
Ford Motor Co. replaced 10 to 13 million Firestone tires, an amount
that far surpassed the large recall previously ordered by
Bridgestone/Firestone. This extended recall of up to 13 million Firestone tires
cost Ford $3 billion and forced it to idle three plants to free up tires to
use as replacements. Ford said it took the extraordinary step of recalling
the huge number of Wilderness AT tires because it considered them unsafe, and
the manufacturer, Bridgestone-Firestone Inc., refused to recall them.
Ford replaced all 15, 16 and 17-inch Wilderness AT tires on its vehicles
for free at Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers, and reimbursed owners who purchased them elsewhere for up to $130 for the 16 and 17-inch tires. Jacques Nasser, Ford
CEO's, said: "We lack confidence in the performance of any of Firestone's
Wilderness AT tires. There are enough warning signs there, and we wanted to act
in a precautionary sense."
With Ford recalling more Firestone Tires and Bridgestone/Firestone deciding
to no longer sell tires to Ford, it was difficult for accident victims to know
who to blame. This decision brought an end to a 95-year relationship between
Ford and Bridgestone and made it clear that neither party would accept sole
responsibility for the unusually large number of accidents involving Ford
Explorer SUVs with Firestone tires. However, Ford blamed Firestone Tires and
stated that the problem stemmed from the design and manufacture of certain
Firestone tires at Firestone's Decatur, Illinois plant.
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