Greetings Bodie:
There is quite a bit of information on the Internet regarding the
Bridgestone Firestone tire failure and recall. The original problem
with the tires seemed to be they were named as causing SUV rollover
accidents due to a tread separation defect.
A timeline of the recall is shown at
http://www.prnewswire.com/gh/cnoc/comp/153109.html (read from bottom
of page to top). The PR on the matter began with a statement by
Christine Karbowiak that may be read at
http://www.rolloverlawyer.com/Firestone/StatementBy.htm and concludes
"We are confident that NHTSA will confirm what we have always known:
the public can be reassured that these are safe, high quality tires
that have provided billions of miles of reliable service."
Other links on that site include Recall News & Company Statements,
Reimbursement Policy, Reimbursement Instructions & Forms, and the
Recall Information Sheet. They may be accessed as live links from the
site http://www.rolloverlawyer.com/Firestone/Press_Releases.htm.
Another timeline titled "Timeline of key events in the history of Ford
and Firestone" is available for view at
http://www.sptimes.com/News/webspecials/firestone/timeline.shtml and
includes:
"May 2: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opens
preliminary investigation into Firestone tread separations. The agency
has 90 complaints involving 27 injuries and four deaths.
"Aug. 4: Ford analysis of Bridgestone/Firestone data pinpoints tread
problems on tires, especially those made in Decatur, Ill. Sears stops
selling the suspect tires.
"Aug. 7: The highway agency says at least 46 deaths are possibly
related to the Firestone tread problems. Discount Tire and Montgomery
Ward suspend sales of Firestone tires.
"Aug. 9: Bridgestone/Firestone recalls 6.5-million ATX and AT tires.
"Aug. 21: Ford suspends production at three plants so 70,000 tires can
be used as replacements for recalled tires. Ford CEO Jacques Nasser
begins prime-time TV ads to reassure customers."
**********
A Consumer Reports update at
http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv2.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=21227&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=21135
reads in part "A further expansion of the recall criteria on August
17, 2000 eliminated the restriction that replacement tires must be
alternate Bridgestone or Firestone brands installed at authorized
Bridgestone/Firestone dealers. This allows owners to replace their
recalled tires with competitors' tires from any location, and receive
a full refund (up to $100.00 per tire, including mounting, balancing
and taxes) with the appropriate reimbursement paperwork and return of
the tires to a Bridgestone/Firestone service center or authorized
Bridgestone/Firestone retailer, as required by law. (Previously, this
alternative only applied to tires purchased between August 9 and 16,
2000.)"
**************
An interesting note is that John T. Lampe, Firestone/Bridgestone CEO,
penned a letter to L. Robert Shelton, Acting Administrator of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that stated in part
"Today, I am requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration open an investigation into the safety of a certain
models of Ford Explorers. Testing done by Dr. Dennis Guenther, a
Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The Ohio State University, the
results of which are now in the possession of Bridgestone/Firestone,
Inc., shows that certain of the Explorer models will experience an
"oversteer" condition in most circumstances following a tread
separation on a left rear tire, an event which is clearly
foreseeable." This is located at
http://www.fordexplorerrollover.com/ff_recall/Default.cfm
So, it appears that Bridgestone feels there are other extenuating
circumstances that caused a tread separation. Read additional
committee testimony at
http://www.fordexplorerrollover.com/controversy/Default.cfm by Joan
Claybrook, "President of Public Citizen, a national public interest
organization founded by Ralph Nader in 1971 with 150,000 members
nationwide" and a woman who "served as Administrator of the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U.S. Department of
Transportation from 1977 to 1981."
She testified, in part, "Much has been written and broadcast in the
past month about the lethal combination of Ford Explorers and
Firestone tires. This is a design defect exacerbated by the fact that
Ford required a low inflation pressure of 26 psi to mitigate rollover
problems with these vehicles. Firestone ATX, ATX II and Wilderness
tires on Ford Explorers are overheating with highway use, causing the
tread to separate and the SUVs to experience catastrophic crashes, not
infrequently rolling over and causing fatal injuries. At least 135
people world-wide have died. This tragedy is teaching the public as
well as policy makers a number of lessons. I would like to comment on
five issues and make recommendations for more effective enforcement of
the nation s motor vehicle safety defect laws."
I urge you to read the entire testimony.
***********
Was there anything specific that you did not mention in your original
question that you'd like me to research? Your question was general
and I want to be certain I deliver the information you require.
Should you need clarification of any of the links or information I
have provided (or additional specific searches), please request it and
I will be happy to respond.
SEARCH STRATEGY:
Bridgestone Firestone tire failure
Bridgestone Firestone tire recall
"tread separation" tire recall Bridgestone
Christine Karbowiak recall |
