Consumer Advisory: Follow-up Notification on Firestone Tire Recall

Topics:  Firestone

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
July 21, 2006

NHTSA Consumer Advisory
Friday, July 21, 2006
News media contact: Rae Tyson, (202) 366-9550
Consumer contact: (800) 465-1904; (888) 327-4236

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire has launched an additional notification campaign in connection with its 2000 and 2001 recalls. In support of that effort, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today urged consumers to replace all tires that are included in those recall campaigns.

The affected tires – commonly used as standard equipment on certain Ford Explorers, Mercury Mountaineers and Mazda Navajos – include the P235/75R15 Radial ATX and certain P235/75R15 and P255/70R 16 Wilderness AT models manufactured prior to May 1998. Tires manufactured after that date are not affected.

Details on the Firestone campaign can be found at: www.firestone.com.

The vehicles most likely to still have the recalled tires are those that are known to have had four tires replaced in the 2000 and 2001 campaigns but may still have the original spare.

Consumers are urged to have all tires checked, including the spare, to make sure the recalled tires have been replaced. The replacement will be done at no cost to the consumer.

Firestone intends to send letters to all current owners of the most likely affected vehicles, urging them to have tires inspected at a company-owned Firestone Complete Auto Care, ExpertTire, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tire and Wheel Works or any other authorized Firestone dealer.

NHTSA also recommends that all service managers and technicians inspect customers’ tires, especially on 2001 and older sport utility vehicles.

For additional information on the tires affected by the recall, consumers can call Firestone at (800) 465-1904. A list of recalled tires also can be found at: www.firestone.com.