Problems · by component

2000 Ford Explorer tires problems

228 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Ford Explorer cite tires, 21% of all 1,078 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
228
21% of all complaints
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
42
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the tires

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FOR EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH DEFINITY DAKOTA A/T TIRES, SIZE: P235/75 R15 A/T (NA). WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER TIRE BEGAN TO SHRED. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO VISIBLE INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED; HOWEVER, A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,346 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,870. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2016TiresCrash reportedODI 10903362
“THE TREAD ON A TIRE FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE TREAD PEELED OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY BUMPER, AIR CONDITIONER, WASHING FLUID RESVERVOIR, SPARE TIRE AND HEADLIGHT/FOGLIGHTS ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2007TiresODI 10210413
“2000 FORD EXPLORER TURNED OVER FOUR TIMES. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER. HE STATED THAT NO ONE HAS HELPED HIM WITH TRYING TO HAVE ACTION TAKEN AGAINST FORD. *KB INFORMATION TAKEN FROM PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. THE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2007TiresCrash reportedODI 10210585
“2000 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO FROM THE MIDDLE LANE INTO THE LEFT LANE AND HIT A WALL . *MC OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2007TiresCrash reportedODI 10190054
“CONSUMER LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT AND SHREDDED CAUSING CONSUMER TO REPLACE TIRE WITH SPARE. *TS THE TIRE BLEWOUT PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND DOOR AJAR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LEFT SIDE WHEEL BEARING SHOT AND THE RIGHT SIDE WAS GOING BAD. REAR BRAKES SHOT. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2006Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags, Structure, TiresODI 10172230
“I WAS NOT CONTACTED TO THE RECALL ON MY FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER, UNTIL LAST WEEK, AND TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO, AT MY EXPENSE, AND REPLACED SAID TIRES, WITH ANOTHER, MORE TRUSTED AND SAFER BRAND OF TIRE. NOW AFTER 6 YEARS. I RECEIVE A NOTICE FROM FIRESTONE ABOUT MY SPARE, BUT WITH THE CONDITION THAT I DRIVE 30 MILES, AND HAVE THE 1 TIRE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FIRESTONE TIRE. FIRESTONE REFUSED TO REPLACE MY ORIGINAL 4 TIRES, WITH COMPENSATION, AND NOW REFUSES TO REPLACE MY SPARE WITH A TIRE THAT I AM COMFORTABLE WITH........NOT A FIRESTONE! I FEEL THEY SHOULD COMPENSATE ME MY $350, ORIGINAL, AS WELL AS PAY FOR ANY TIRE I CHOOSE AS MY SPARE.....WHICH THEY REFUSE TO DO!!!!*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2006TiresODI 10170275

Showing 6 of 228 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.