Problems · by component

1999 Ford Explorer tires problems

373 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Explorer cite tires, 25% of all 1,465 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
373
25% of all complaints
Crashes
46
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
63
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the tires

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, SIZE: P235/75/R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2015TiresODI 10734699
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH GOOD YEAR WRANGLER TIRES, TIRE SIZE 235-75-R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ENTERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE WRIST, LOWER BACK, AND NECK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 180,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2013TiresCrash reportedODI 10533746
“1999 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FIRESTONE TIRES (PR.15.75) RECALL ON VEHICLE. *SMD THE WOULD LIKE A LIST OF ALL THE FIRESTONE TIRES THAT WERE RECALLED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE TIRES HE HAD ON HIS VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN 2007, IN WHICH THE SUV ROLLED OVER. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2012TiresCrash reportedODI 10485583
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER WITH WILDERNESS TIRES, SIZE P255/70/R16. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THE TIRE THAT FAILED WAS THE SPARE TIRE INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2009TiresCrash reportedODI 10284533
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH MY HUSBAND NOTICED OUR 1999 FORD EXPLORER NOT DRIVING RIGHT. HE PULLED ONTO A SIDE ROAD TO TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE HOME. HE WAS GOING 50 MPH, WITH OUR 3 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, AND THE SIDEWALL BLEW COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD AND BEAD. THANK GOODNESS IT WAS THE BACK PASSENGER TIRE THAT BLEW OTHERWISE THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. AS IT WAS NOBODY WAS HURT. HE COULD BARELY CONTROL THE SUV AS IT WAS. THE TIRE HAS ONLY BARELY 6000 MILES ON IT. WHEN WE CALLED THE STORE WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH WE PAID FOR THE ROAD HAZARD WE STILL HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW TIRE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2009TiresODI 10260847
“TWO TIRES HAVE COME APART AND HAD A BLOWOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 55 TO 70 MPH. THIS WAS TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS. ONE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND WE ARE DEALING WITH THE OTHER NOW. DAMAGE TO CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2008TiresODI 10243853

Showing 6 of 373 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Tires: tread

Free remedy

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.

TiresReported May 22, 2001NHTSA 01X001000

Tires: tread

Free remedy

TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.

TiresReported Aug 21, 2000NHTSA 00T005000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.