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Attorneys of Record for
Taras Kick
C. Tab Turner
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What tires are recalled?
On August 9, Bridgestone/Firestone recalled 14.4 million ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires. Approximately, 6.5 million are still on the road. Link to NHTSA's Firestone Recall page.
On September 12, the tiremaker promised to replace an additional 1.4 million tires named in a September 1 consumer advisory issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The advisory included various sizes of the ATX, Firehawk ATX, ATX 23 Degree, Widetrack Radial Baja, Widetrack Radial Baja A/S, Wilderness AT and Wilderness HT lines. Approximately 700,000 of these tires are still on the road. Link to NHTSA's Consumer Advisory page.
The Tire Action Group and Safetyforum.com is seeking the recall of all Wilderness AT tires regardless of size or where they were made. Are my tires part of the recall? Bridgestone/Firestone is recalling its P235/75R15 ATX and ATX II radial tires made in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It is also recalling the P235/75R15 Wilderness AT tires made in Decatur, Illinois. These tires were installed as original equipment on these vehicles. Please note that not all tires on these vehicles are part of the recall.
The size of the tire (P235/75R15) is embossed on either side of the tire in raised black letters. Since only the 15" Wilderness AT tires made in Decatur are being recalled it is important to note the manufacturing plant code. This is a 10-digit code stamped on one or both sides of the tire under the "F" in Firestone. This may require crawling under the vehicle with a flashlight. The first two letters of the code must be "VD."
How can I tell where my Firestone tires are manufactured?
In addition, Bridgestone/Firestone is replacing the following tires:
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Firestone's lists this model as a LTP235/75R15. The Tire Action Group and Safetyforum.com is seeking the recall of all Wilderness AT tires regardless of size or where they were made. What is an appropriate replacement? We recommend the you replace your tires with non-Wilderness tires. We are aware of tread separation problems with other Wilderness tires not included in the recall. Bridgestone/Firestone however, will provide as replacements new Wilderness AT tires from the Joliette and Wilson plants. You should insist on other Bridgestone/Firestone tire models or competitors' tires. Link to Firestone's tire selector page for light trucks and SUV's. This site includes comparable competitors' tires. The Tire Action Group urges Bridgestone/Firestone not to replace defective tires with defective tires. Will I be reimbursed if I replace my tires with competitors' tires? Bridgestone/Firestone will reimburse you up to $100 for each tire if your tires were part of the recall. Bridgestone/Firestone will reimburse you up to $140 for each tire if your tires were part of the replacement program. You should pick up a refund form and obtain additional information from a Bridgestone/Firestone authorized retail location. Link to Bridgestone/Firestone's reimbursement policy. Where should I go for replacement tires? You can get replacement tires from Bridgestone/Firestone tire service centers, Sears, Costco, Sam's Club and Wards. In addition, if you own a Ford or Mazda vehicle, you can go to a participating Ford, Lincoln, Mercury or Mazda dealer. Please note many dealers have waiting lists for replacements. What should I do if I were on the waiting list? The long waiting lists are mostly for folks waiting for Wilderness AT tires. We strongly suggest that you do not replace your tires with Wilderness tires. Replace your tires with non-Wilderness models or competitors' tires. Do this immediately. Save your receipt. We anticipate a shift in Bridgestone/Firestone's reimbursement policy. In the meantime, we recommend that you have your tires checked to make certain that separation has not begun. Be sure tires are properly inflated to 30 psi. Do not drive over the speed limit. Do not overload the vehicle. Use your seat belt. Make sure the spare tire is inflated properly if used. What is the problem with the tires? There are almost 150 deaths linked to the recalled tires and other Wilderness AT tires not included in the recall. Lawsuits dating back to 1991, reports to NHTSA as early as 1980, and property damage claims with insurers have reported deaths and injuries as a result of the outer tire tread separating from the rest of the tire. Reports have been received from motorists experiencing tread separation while traveling 50mph or higher speeds causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. A number of reports involving Ford Explorers involve vehicle rollover. What causes the tread separation? The cause of the tread separation is under investigation by the NHTSA. Separate investigations are also being conducted by Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford Motor Company. Although Bridgestone/Firestone admitted to poor manufacturing practices at its Decatur facility, no definitive cause have been offered by government investigators nor officials from the tiremaker or from Ford. Who should be notified in case of a tire failure? If you have experienced any tire failure, you could participate in our efforts by joining the Tire Action Group. You may contact NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 or by completing their complaint form. You may also contact Firestone at 1-800-465-1904 or Ford at 1-800-392-3673 or your vehicle dealer. Congress held hearings in September 2000 with officials from Bridgestone/Firestone, Ford and the NHTSA. Lawmakers are considering requiring automakers and suppliers to report foreign recalls to U.S. officials and making it a federal crime for corporate executives to intentionally withhold data on defective products. Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford insist that they did not know a problem existed until this year. Key documents have revealed that the companies knew of the defect as early as 1991 and were secretly settling lawsuits since 1993. Firestone and Ford began recalling the tires overseas in August 1999 which extended to 18 countries before either company notified the U.S. government. (Ford began to replace Firestone tires in Saudi Arabia in 1999, in Malaysia and Thailand since February and in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela in May.) Executives from Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford had knowledge of claims data, three years before the tires were recalled in the U.S. The data showed these tires failed more frequently in 1997. A document formerly sealed under protective order shows a pattern of dangerous tread separations beginning in the early 1990's. Both companies maintain the recalls overseas were offered to ease consumer complaints, while the tire failure data they collected was used to determine how the problem would affect profits and not to study tire performance. NHTSA, the federal agency responsible for conducting investigations into potential vehicle defects, say they did not discover deaths related to the tires until a Houston, Texas, television report aired in February 2000. NHTSA opened an investigation in May 2000, although they have received consumer complaints as early as 1980. State Farm Mutual Insurance Company testified to reporting 21 claims to NHTSA related to the Firestone tire failures in 1998. NHTSA officials said that was insufficient evidence to warrant an investigation. NHTSA is seeking more authority and an increase in its budget so that it can act faster and handle more cases. Write your U.S. House Representative.
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