[Updated 06/24/01]

The New York Times article "SUV Tire Defects were Known in ’96 but Not Reported" inaccurately describes Strategic safety’s work related to the Ford-Firestone tire matter.

First, the article is based on an incorrect premise. It is claimed that federal regulators and Ford were hampered in their efforts to identify Firestone tire problems in the U.S. because lawsuits were not reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Times states, "Ford engineers were falsely reassured in 1999 when they checked the federal complaint database and found it virtually empty—because lawyers had not filed complaints."

This statement contradicts the facts. The database was not virtually empty as the Times claimed. A review of complaints publicly available from NHTSA on June 24, 1999, revealed 36 complaints of tire failures on Ford Explorers and Rangers—nearly all of the incidents we were aware of (certainly more than the two that Ford claims were available). Neither Ford nor anyone else would have been hampered by the lack of lawsuit complaints filed with the agency as Ford was a defendant in most of these publicly filed claims. Additionally, by 1999 Ford had already recalled vehicles overseas to replace defective the tires.

Strategic Safety began investigating the issue in 1996. It was not until 1998 that approximately 30 cases had been identified. These cases consisted of lawsuits and complaints filed with NHTSA—all of which were publicly accessible. As soon as the problem began to emerge as a trend in 1998 the complaints were brought to the attention of the national media.

The Times also makes an unsupported claim that Strategic Safety was attempting to "publicize the problem without drawing in government investigators"—a difficult task considering reporters normally seek NHTSA comment on such stories and frequently ask why the agency isn’t investigating. Publicizing a safety-related matter is an important way to alert consumers of NHTSA and its complaint hotline, which in turn provides the agency with the information needed to initiate investigations.

The claim made by the Times that "regulators made little progress in the Firestone investigation until last summer, when they enlisted another safety consultant, Ralph Hoar, to persuade lawyers to share information about tire failures" is at best uninformed. Not only was Strategic Safety regularly discussing its findings with the agency months before its investigation was opened in May 2000, it was our findings and public disclosure on July 31, 2000, of Ford’s Firestone tire recall in Venezuela that outraged the nation and pushed Ford and Firestone to initiate a similar recall in the U.S. only a week later.

The facts clearly show that Ford and Firestone were very aware of the dangers of these tire defects long before NHTSA, safety researchers, and the American public.

Ford Recall Information

Bridgestone/Firestone Recall Information

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Report a problem to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the government agency who is investigating the Firestone problem.

Report a problem to Strategic Safety Strategic Safety needs know about your experience with Firestone and Ford in order to continue monitoring the problem and the government investigation. We are particularly interested in learning about incidents involving tires excluded from the current recall.

Links to Significant Ford and Firestone Documents produced to NHTSA

05.31.01 Firestone Statement

05.31.01 Firestone Press Release

05.31.01 Firestone Letter to NHTSA

05.31.01 Statement of Dennis Guenther

We are pleased to hear that Ford will offer to replace Firestone Wilderness tires on its vehicles; however, our enthusiasm is tempered because of the number of people who were injured and killed while the company waited to take this action. This situation is akin to the circumstances in the Persian Gulf. Ford and Firestone were aware of the tread separation and rollover incidents for nearly three years before Ford offered replacement tires—and the campaign was only initiated after the situation reached a boiling point.

The boiling point is just around the corner in the U.S. With summer approaching, NHTSA nearing completion of its testing, the Attorney’s General and Congress investigations well underway, and the huge number of lawsuits, Ford’s move was obviously a preemptive strike to stave off negative publicity and appear as good corporate citizens.

Ford’s responsibility for this tragedy is even greater than Firestone’s. After reviewing millions of documents it is abundantly clear that Ford is responsible not only for the performance of the Explorer, which in many instances is extremely difficult or impossible to control during a tire failure at highway speeds, but the company is also responsible in part for the design and specification of the Wilderness tires. Regardless of the tires that are fitted on the Explorer, in the event of a catastrophic tire failure at highway speeds, drivers will continue to experience controllability problems that can lead to devastating rollover accidents.

Data presented to NHTSA last week by Ford and Firestone shed light on the companies' strategies to contain the current scope of the recall and to try and put the tire debacle/Explorer rollover problems behind them. The companies focused on manufacturing problems, particularly a Firestone's Decatur plant as well as on design and specification differences between recalled and nonrecalled tires.

One of the key issues raised allegedly relates to the way the rubber compound is mixed at the Decatur plant. Apparently, the process is different from what occurs at its other manufacturing facilities because a larger amount of lubricant is added to mix. The addition of this lubricant changes the compound and results in tires that have lower peel strength, which allows more frequent belt edge separation.

Ford's computer modeling has concluded that Firestone ATX and Wilderness tires run hotter than competitors tires (this is similar to what was found in the Firestone 500 investigation). Heat is the enemy of tires and higher temperatures accelerate rubber aging. In particular, the shoulder design of the ATX was found to contribute to increased heat and more stress. Another design factor being highlighted is the belt wedge change that came into effect in the late 1990s on the 15-inch tires. This change is said to help prevent tread separation that begins at the belt edge and is purported to slow or stop crack propagation.

Ford and Firestone point to design changes in the 16-inch tires that are not part of the recall that make them more robust. The design factors include a belt wedge that is approximately twice as thick as the design found on the 15-inch tire, a higher load range, and a higher recommended inflation pressure.

What is emerging is an acknowledgement that a number of factors come together to create the belt edge separation that ultimately leads to tread separation. The variables that will effect the fatigue life of these tires include ambient temperature, vehicle loading, inflation pressure, vehicle speed (which not only affects the tire temperature, but the increased centrifugal forces generated at higher speeds are suspected to enhance belt edge crack propagation), place of manufacture, age, tread wear, and shoulder design (i.e., operating temperature). All of this points to a narrow margin of safety on all fronts--manufacturing, design, and specification.

Despite the differences between nonrecalled and recall tires highlighted by the companies, nonrecalled tire can suffer from the same tread separation problem as first evidenced in the overseas recalls. The question becomes whether the fatigue life (i.e., internal carcass) of nonrecalled tires, which were made from the same stock as recalled tires, will exceed their tread life. With mileage projections of 80,000 to 86,000 miles, we suspect that many nonrecalled tires will suffer fatigue failures resulting in catastrophic tread separations prior to the tire being removed from service.

Aging will be a major factor in the failure equation because tires continue to "cure" during use and the rubber compound and its adhesion properties change with age. This change results in less internal adhesion, a problem that will show up over a longer period of time in cooler climates. According to a Ford engineer this is a slow process that may take 5 to 6 years to show up in the U.S. before the tire becomes "unacceptable." If this is true we can expect the P255/70R16 tires that were recalled overseas to begin to show higher failure rates as time passes (as well as other nonrecalled ATX and Wilderness tires). Any statistical analysis of failure rates may be offset by the fact that a significant number of consumers have chosen to replace these tires as a precautionary measure.

TREAD ACT: New Law Brings Changes to NHTSA (Strategic Safety News, Vol. 3, Issue 5)

HEADLINES October 18, 2000

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) updated the number of complaints, injuries, and fatalities reported to the agency related to Firestone ATX/ATXII and Wilderness tires under investigation.

The agency now reports that they have received more than 3,500 incidents, 119 fatalities, and more than 500 injuries. Strategic Safety will analyze the data when the updates are made available to determine the number of incidents involving tires outside of the current recall; however, NHTSA estimates it will take another two weeks before the data becomes available.

HEADLINES October 3, 2000

Strategic Safety has analyzed the 2,226 complaints currently in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. Out of 2,226 complaints, there are 484 injuries and 102 fatalities. From the total 2,226 complaints we found there is enough information from 650 complaints to determine whether they are included in or excluded from the recall.

Of the 650 complaints for which we have enough information to determine whether they are included in or excluded from the recall, 161 complaints are included and 489 are excluded. Many of the complaints excluded from the recall that contain DOT numbers indicate that the tires were made in plants outside of Decatur. While the data is limited, it provides additional support for the need to expand the current recall beyond the P235/75R15 ATX and Wilderness tires made in Decatur, Illinois.

Strategic Safety's analysis also revealed that 95 of the 102 fatalities involve rollovers, 86 of which occurred in Ford Explorers. There are a total of 382 injuries in rollovers, 341 of these occurred in Ford Explorers.

HEADLINES September 13, 2000

Bridgestone/Firestone said it will expand the current U.S. recall to include 1.4 million high-risk tires identified in a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) September 1, 2000 Consumer Advisory.

HEADLINES September 11, 2000

The Senate Commerce Committee holds hearings tomorrow.

See Headline Links below

HEADLINES September 8, 2000

Ford's filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) indicates that the company plans to pay a portion of the cost of the Firestone recall. Why? Maybe this is more than a Firestone problem, as Ford has had its hand in the design and specification for the tires on its vehicles.

HEADLINES September 7, 2000

See headline links from Senate and House hearings below

HEADLINES September 1, 2000

According to an analysis done by Strategic Safety of the 1,453 Firestone tire complaints to NHTSA, there are enough data on 409 incidents to determine whether the tires are included or excluded from the recall.

Of the 409 tires included or excluded, 299 alleged incidents involved tires that fall outside of the current recall.  Of the tires excluded from the recall we have found 78 incidents that involve 16" tire sizes.

A total of 110 complaints of the 409 involve tires that are currently part of the recall. 

According to Sean Kane, a partner in the firm, "our initial review of this limited data suggest that the recall should be expanded to include other tires not covered by the current action."

Government Issues Consumer Advisory

  See Headline Links Below

HEADLINES August 31, 2000

The Venezuelan consumer protection agency (INDECU) will release its report today, which indicates that they have enough evidence to proceed with criminal charges against Ford and Firestone. The report will note that Firestone failed to include a nylon overlay that could have reduced the high-speed tread separations that lead to 100 fatalities and 400 accidents--a staggering number, particularly when compared to the small population of vehicles (approximately 39,800). INDECU is also blaming Ford for the soft suspension on Explorer models, which are said to affect vehicle stability, and for recommending a tire pressure that was too low for the driving conditions.

Ford claims that the problem is entirely due to Firestone tires. According to Ford, only after it initiated its Venezuelan recall on May 30, 2000, and began to examine tires did it find overwhelming evidence of the beginning of tread separations in tires that had not yet failed. The company says that it found a defect trend in the tires at least 500 times worse than the worst tires in the U.S. recall--a problem Firestone said was not due to a defect. The tread separation problem identified by Ford was previously blamed on underinflation and poor tire maintenance according to Firestone.

Based on examination of NHTSA fatality numbers and additional reports we've identified, the number of deaths in the U.S. has reached a total of 70.

In the meantime, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has requested additional information from Ford regarding the reasons for implementing its overseas recalls with the hope of shedding some light on the company's decisions that lead them to these actions.

HEADLINES August 29, 2000

Firestone's submission to the Venezuelan Institute for the Protection and Education of Consumers and Users (INDECU) acknowledged that Wilderness A/T tires built in the Decatur, Illinois plant were not supplied to Ford for its vehicles in Venezuela. However, Ford's May 30, 2000, "Owner Notification Program" (i.e., recall) includes Wilderness A/T tires (in both 15 and 16 inch sizes), which means not only are larger size tires part of the campaign, but Wilderness tires built at plants other that Decatur are included as well.

According to Firestone documents, they built tires to Ford specifications, which did not include an additional nylon overlay (cap ply). Ford specified changes to the tires in response to tread separation problems in Venezuela and requested Firestone "upgrade" its tires by adding the nylon overlay beginning in 1999. Ford claims that the "upgrade" was done to address the "washboard" road conditions in Venezuela; however, Ford initially argued that its recall in Venezuela was initiated due to the smooth high-speed roadways that allow driving at excessive speeds for long periods of time.

While Ford and Firestone agreed to implement nylon overlays on tires for Venezuela, Firestone failed to incorporate the changes but labeled the tires indicating that the added ply was included. As a result of the Venezuelan government investigation the missing plies were discovered. Venezuelan officials are now considering criminal charges against Ford and Firestone and are investigating nearly 100 deaths that may be related to Firestone tread separation on Ford vehicles in their country. (See August 25, 2000 press release for more detail)

 See HEADLINE Links Below

Ford and Firestone Planned Tire Fix in Venezuela in 1998

HEADLINES August 24, 2000

A portion of Ford's submission to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that the company identified 8,3000 owner reports alleging tire failures in ATX, ATX II and Wilderness tires received from 1991 through May 2000. From this total Ford stated that 718 reports allege some type of blow out without any reference to "road hazards" (i.e., striking something, nail, etc.), 58 reports allege tread separation (with no reference to road hazard), and 70 reports allege "separation" or "slippage" without a reference to road hazards. According to Ford, many of the reports contain "unclear" allegations and allegations not pertinent to the investigation. The lack of detail result in data that is of limited use. More telling will be data from Bridgestone/Firestone.

HEADLINES August 22, 2000

Ford will shut down several plants during August 28 through September 8, 2000 and will divert 70,000 tires to consumers who need tires replaced under the recall. The announcement comes on the heels of reports that sales of Ford's popular SUVs are slowing. Meanwhile, Bridgestone/Firestone says it will airlift tires to the U.S. to speed replacement of the recalled tires. The company has not disclosed the number of tires it intends to ship.

Once again neither Ford nor Bridgestone are offering to replace tires excluded from the U.S. recall, including the 16-inch tires that were recalled overseas (see Headlines below for more information regarding tires excluded from the U.S. recall).

HEADLINES August 21, 2000

Consumers continue to report failures in Firestone tires excluded from the recall, many of which are part of the ATX and Wilderness line including 16-inch and 15-inch sizes. Please continue to report non-recalled tires to Strategic Safety [Vehicle Incident Report Form] and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/hotline/].

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration currently has a total of 779 complaints, that include 62 fatalities, and more than 100 injuries allegedly related to Firestone tire failures. Out of the total 779 complaints there is enough data available from 150 complaints to determine whether the tires are included in the recall. One-half of these 150 complaints involve ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness tires that are excluded from the recall.

See HEADLINE LINKS BELOW

HEADLINES August 19, 2000

Firestone Tire Shreds on Cobb Highway (8/18/00) WXIA - TV Atlanta, GA

Recall came just after fatal crash (8/17/00) Dallas Morning News

HEADLINES August 18, 2000

Court Order Forces Bridegestone/Firestone to Extend Reimbursement Plan: Meanwhile Many Tires Still Excluded From Recall

A temporary restraining order issued on August 16, 2000 by the Jefferson Circuit Court in Louisville, Kentucky forced Bridgestone/Firestone to continue its reimbursement policy that was set to expire that day. In compliance with the court order, Bridgestone/Firestone announced yesterday that it would indefinitely extend its reimbursement policy to facilitate faster replacement of recalled tires. Bridgestone/Firestone's reimbursement policy offers consumers up to $100 per tire reimbursement for the purchase of a competitor's tires. Bridgestone/Firestone is also offering reimbursement to consumers who purchased tires between January 1, 2000 and August 8, 2000 from a Firestone company-owned store. These policies only include reimbursement for tires that are covered by the recall.

Meanwhile, Ford and Firestone continue to exclude 16-inch and some 15-inch tires from the recall despite similar failures. The companies argue that the number of failures of tires outside of the recall are statistically insignificant. (see below)

HEADLINES August 17, 2000

Consumers continue to report failures in Firestone tires excluded from the recall, including 16-inch and 15-inch sizes of the ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness brands. While Ford initiated the recalls overseas, the company is content to allow Firestone to take the heat in the U.S. The Bridgestone/Firestone brands are sustaining serious damage, in the meantime, Ford, whose significant role in the design and specifications of the tires built by Bridgestone/Firestone, is suffering only a minor setback in Explorer sales. (See below for more detail on tires excluded from the recall.)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration currently has a total of 779 complaints, that include 62 fatalities, and more than 100 injuries allegedly related to Firestone tire failures. Out of the total 779 complaints there is enough data available from 150 complaints to determine whether the tires are included in the recall. One-half of these 150 complaints involve ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness tires that are excluded from the recall.

Please continue to report non-recalled tires to Strategic Safety [Vehicle Incident Report Form] and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/hotline/].

HEADLINES August 16, 200

Bridgestone/Firestone is now offering to reimburse customers who had their tires replaced at Firestone dealers before the recall was announced, going back to January 1, 2000 and will reimburse customers up to $100 per tire for customers who had tires replaced at retailers other than Firestone dealers between August 9 and August 16, 2000.

While many 15 inch and all 16 inch tires are excluded from the recall, consumers continue to report failures in these tires (see below). Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone argue that their analysis of claims data show the recall is sufficient despite evidence that the tires are manufactured from the same design and specifications.

Bridgestone/Firestone Reimbursement Policy

See Additional Headlines Below

HEADLINES August 14, 2000

Strategic Safety, a firm specializing in research and investigation of motor vehicle safety, first uncovered Ford's overseas recalls of Firestone tires and on July 31, 2000, urged Ford and Firestone to take immediate action and recall tires in the U.S. Now the firm is calling on Ford and Firestone to complete the job before additional lives are lost and injuries accrue. Ford and Firestone's current recall excludes 16-inch tires and 15-inch Firestone Wilderness tires built in plants other than Decatur, leaving millions of owners at risk.

• Ford's overseas recalls show that the company replaced both 15-inch and 16-inch tires in foreign markets. Ford and Firestone continue to refuse to recall 16-inch tires in the U.S. claiming differences in environmental conditions and usage patterns, the same argument that the companies used when confronted with the foreign recalls. Ford and Firestone have failed to explain why environmental conditions and usage patterns affect one size tire and not the other.
• Ford and Firestone argue that 15-inch Wilderness tires built in the Decatur plant are subject to tread separation at much higher rates. The companies have yet to identify why these rates are higher. However, during the 1990s, the Decatur plant was building as many as 50 different tires concurrently with the tires that are subject to the recall. To the extent that the manufacturer claims this is a Decatur plant problem, it would be expected that the same high failure rate would persist in all tire lines that were being manufactured at the same time and on the same production facilities as the recalled tires. If the rates are the same, all the tire lines built concurrent with the recalled tires should also be recalled. If the rates are different, the problem must be related to the design of the recalled tires, which is the same regardless of where the tire was made.
• Ford and Firestone argue that the 16-inch tires on U.S. models are being excluded from the recall because of the lower number of failures associated with this size. Overall failure numbers are expected to be lower because fewer vehicles and model years are fitted with the 16-inch tires.
• Firestone documents indicate that the Wilderness A/T P235/75R15 tires made at the Decatur plant are produced with no significant differences from those produced at the Joliette and Wilson plants.
• Bridgestone/Firestone workers at the Decatur plant claim that tires built at their plant are made from the same stock and design used by all the plants.
• Ford has an equal or greater responsibility to recall the subject tires, as 45 of the 50 known fatal injuries were to occupants in Ford vehicles, and 253 of the 270 complaints identified by NHTSA involve Ford vehicles. Ford's responsibility is heightened by its involvement in the design and specification of the tires Firestone manufactures for its vehicles.

HEADLINES August 11-12, 2000

Ford has finally stepped up and is now offering replacement tires for its vehicles with the Firestone tires covered by the recall (see below). Ford owners can now go to Ford, Lincoln-Mercury or Mazda dealer and obtain replacement tires, including tires other than the Firestone brand--one year later than overseas customers. However, the company still refuses to recall 16 inch tires that were replaced in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries and Venezuela (see below for more details on 16 inch tires and tire not currently included in the recall).

Ford's information line is 800-660-4719.

Strategic Safety is concerned about tires not included in the recall--specifically 16 inch tires (P255/70R16) and 15 inch Firestone Wilderness Tires built in plants other than Decatur (P235/75R15).

Our research shows that documents from Firestone to Ford claim that the production of the Wilderness A/T P235/75R15 at the Decatur plant "is very much like Joliette's in terms of dimensions and performance." Further, the Wilson plant is an additional source for the tires and is said to produce the same tires. Adding fuel to the debate, Bridgestone/Firestone workers at the Decatur plant are claiming that tires built at their plant are being unfairly singled out and Harland Smith, a 32 year plant veteran stated "All these tires, no matter where they're made, come from the same stock and design used by all the manufacturers." (See Workers, officials defend work done at Decatur plant 8/10/00)

While the U.S. recall is limited to 15 inch tires, Ford's 1999 recall of 1995-1999 Explorer and Mountaineer models with 16-inch Firestone Wilderness tires in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries and Venezuela indicates that the 16 inch tire is part of its recall (P255/70R16) because of tread separation which they claim is due to the unique usage and environmental conditions. Ford argues that the 16-inch tires on U.S. models are being excluded from the recall because of the lower number of failures of this size. However, lower failure numbers are expected because of much fewer vehicles and model years fitted with the 16-inch tires [post-1995 models with Eddie Bauer and other limited option packages]. Venezuelan onwer's are receiving Goodyear Wrangler replacement tires through Ford.

Strategic Safety will continue to research the 16-inch and non-Decatur 15-inch tires not currently included in the recall and report additional findings shortly. Please assist us and report failures of tires outside of the current scope of the Firestone/Ford U.S. recall and let us know whether Firestone/Ford dealers are replacing these tires. [Vehicle Incident Report Form]

HEADLINES August 10, 2000

Bridgestone/Firestone announced yesterday that it would recall all Firestone Radial ATX and ATX II models (size P235/75R15) produced in North America and Firestone Wilderness AT tires produced in its Decatur, Illinois plant (size P235/75R15). The recall will be done in three phases, the first phase beginning with warmer weather states including Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas. The second phase will include Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, followed by the remaining states. Recalls in Canada and Mexico are also expected. The completion of the recall is estimated to take one year according to Firestone.

While Bridgestone/Firestone officials stated at a press conference on Wednesday, August 9, 2000, that the recall was not going to be limited, the company is not including 16 inch versions of the affected tires nor is it including Wilderness models made at plants outside of its Decatur facility. Bridgestone/Firestone officials claim that the phased-in process is necessary due to supply issues and is expected to replace the defective tires with the current Wilderness tire. However, company officials could not state why the tires are failing, what they are doing differently with the current Wilderness to prevent a repeat of the problem, or even what differences there are between the Decatur plant and other manufacturing facilities that lead the company to find an overrepresentation of failures in tires made in Decatur. Further, Bridgestone/Firestone expects many consumers to continue use of the defective tires for up to a year until it can provide replacements.

Strategic Safety is pleased to hear that Firestone will recall defective tires; however, our enthusiasm is tempered by the fact that more than 50 people had to die and a great many more suffered serious injury before the action was initiated. This is particularly egregious because recalls were initiated by Ford one year ago in some overseas countries, yet they failed to offer replacement tires for U.S. consumers or even acknowledge the recalls until Strategic Safety's findings about these programs were issued in a July 31, 2000 press release. In addition, Ford and Firestone have been aware of tread separation problems in the U.S. dating back to the early 1990s as both companies have been defendants in litigation involving tread separation accidents with these tires.

During the press conference Firestone officials stated that the cost of the recall was no object and that they were recalling tires to as quickly as possible. However, it is unreasonable to expect consumers to ride on defective tires for up to a year while the company procures replacements. Strategic Safety is calling on Firestone and Ford to offer vouchers or make other arrangements that will allow consumers to replace their tires immediately at no cost.

Bridgestone/Firestone News Release 8/9/00

Ford Motor Company Statement in Response to Firestone Tire Recall 8/9/00

 Bridgestone Customer Service 800-465-1904

HEADLINES 8/8/00

Ford, Firestone meet with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today. Is a recall announcement forthcoming?

Ford Admits to Recalls of Firestone Tires in Thailand, Malaysia beginning in February 2000, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Basra, Kuwait, and Oman. Recalls in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries were initiated last August--Ford and Firestone still have not announced plans for similar programs in the U.S. Meanwhile Reports of tread separation in the U.S. continue as the number of deaths attributed to the tires reaches at least 50.

Strategic Safety reports 50 fatalities and more than 80 injuries to Ford president and CEO Jac Nasser

Strategic Safety letter to Bridgestone/Firestone vice president of public affairs Christine Karbowiak responding to accusations that Strategic Safety issued misleading news about Firestone tires.

HEADLINE 8/3/00

Ford Admits to Recalls of Firestone Tires in Thailand, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Basra, Kuwait, and Oman. Recalls in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries were initiated nearly one year ago--Ford and Firestone still have not announced plans for similar programs in the U.S. The companies claim they need to investigate the problem further. Meanwhile, consumers continue to report tread separation problems, primarily in warm weather states.

In Firestone's response to Strategic Safety's request for a recall, similar to those initiated in other countries, the company claims that "customer adjustments regarding the Radial ATX and Wilderness tire are extremely low and consistent with other tire lines." The company's release also refers to this data as objective data that clearly reinforces [Firestone's] belief that these are high quality, safe tires. However, reports to Strategic Safety from Ford owners indicate that in some cases Firestone has refused to reimburse consumers for tires that have separated. According to owner reports received by Strategic Safety, failed tires were not "adjusted" through their dealers, thus leaving no trail of the problem and skewing any type of analysis to determine actual failure rates (i.e., adjustment rates).

HEADLINES July 31, 2000

PRESS RELEASE: Strategic Safety Finds Ford Recalled Defective Tires in Venezuela While Deaths and Injuries Continue in U.S. 7/31/00

Complaints of tire tread and belt separation in Firestone's popular ATX/ATX II/Wilderness line have prompted a federal defect investigation into the matter. The tires, which are original equipment on many Ford Explorers and Rangers, have been in production since 1990.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened its investigation on May 2, 2000 in response to an increasing number of allegations of tire failures, nearly all in sun belt states.

[NHTSA investigation Opening Resume]

A significant number of Firestone tire failures have lead to loss of control and rollover collisions, particularly in Explorers. At the time the NHTSA investigation was first opened the agency was aware of 90 incidents, 33 of which resulted in crashes causing 27 injuries and 4 fatalities. Since that time these numbers have increased. While updated NHTSA figures have not yet been released, Strategic Safety has been investigating ATX/Wilderness tire failures for several years and is aware of nearly 100 fatal or serious injury incidents and substantially more complaints. In many cases, the tires simply "detread," that is the outer tread portion of the tire tears away from the tire. In other incidents the tire may "blow out." Explorer drivers who have experienced a tire failure (particularly on the rear) describe the vehicle as very difficult or impossible to control. Vehicle controllability during a tire failure on an SUV can be much more difficult because of the higher center of gravity and relatively narrow track width (compared to a passenger car).

The short answer is that there may be an adhesion or bonding problem between the belts of these tires. If the bonding or adhesion is poor, the belts in the tire begin to separate over time and can cause a complete separation of the components. This type of problem can be caused by manufacturing defects and poor manufacturing practices. Some tire experts allege there are also design problems with the Firestone tires that can lead to tread separation. The Firestone tires, and other tires built for the U.S. market, do not use nylon overlays or caps that can prevent tread separation. Patents held by tire manufacturers dating back more than 30 years describe nylon overlays (and similar designs) as an extra layer of protection to prevent tread separation.

The subject Firestone tires appear to have a long tread life that may exceed its internal design capabilities. As a result, tires that have ample tread depth may have begun to separate internally. This problem is not visible externally, nor is it visible from the inside even when the tire is removed from the wheel. High temperatures in sun-belt states will worsen the problem as heat affects tire bonding. The problem may be exacerbated by the low recommended inflation pressure specified by Ford for the Explorer and Ranger (26 psi).

In response to Houston television station (KHOU) reports on the problem, Firestone's Houston, Texas dealers were replacing ATX and Wilderness tires at no cost for consumers who complained.

KHOU Firestone story

Firestone's response to KHOU

Outside of Houston, dealers have been instructed to replace tires for customers who insist that they do so; however, consumers are being charged on a prorated basis (based on the percentage of tread wear worn). Again, in response to media coverage, this time by Los Angeles TV KCBS, the company issued a memo, that was obtained by Strategic Safety and provided to KCBS, outlining its internal policy regarding tire replacement. The memo states that even if the tires appear acceptable, the dealer should replace them upon request and charge the customer based on the percentage of tread worn--"The customer needs to be satisfied with the change over price"--implying that free tires may be just an argument away! Tire dealers in San Diego and LA are being reimbursed $7.50 commission per tire plus the $1.00 scrap fee for their participation and are asked to drill holes in the sides of the tires they remove and have them scrapped. This action circumvents the government investigation because Firestone is arguing that they have made 12 million tires and statistically the number of failures are small. However, destroying tires that may be problematic without investigating whether they are potentially separating, the company will likely claim that these tires count toward those that haven't failed, further skewing any future statistical evaluation. Meanwhile, Firestone is instructing its dealers to tell customers that they have "full confidence" in their tires' performance.

Firestone's Memo in Response to KCBS

KCBS Firestone story

Contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the government agency that is investigating the problem [http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/hotline/]. Also, please let Strategic Safety know about your experience so that we can continue our monitoring of the problem and the government investigation.

[Note: The U.S. government is required to redact information about who you are from its complaints, thus Strategic Safety and others who monitor government actions, are prohibited from learning additional details about your incident should we need to. This information is often critical to further study the problem, therefore, please assist us by providing information via our Vehicle Incident Report Form]

 Firestone recalls more tires (1/2/01) CNN News

Bridgestone / Firestone Recalls More Tires (1/2/01) The New York Times

Ford To Offer Tire Warranties (1/2/01) The New York Times

Ford Adds Tires to Vehicle Warranty Coverage (1/2/01) The New York Times

Bridgestone/Firestone recalls 8,000 tires used on GM SUVs (1/2/01) Boston Globe

Ford to offer tire warranties as way of tracking defects (1/2/01) Boston Globe

Firestone Orders the Recall of 8,000 Tires Manufactured in Mexico for GM Vehicles (1/2/01) The Wall Street Journal

Firestone Voluntarily Recalls 8,000 Tires Made In Mexico (1/2/01) The Wall Street Journal

WSJ: Ford To Offer Tire Warranty On 2001 Models (1/2/01) The Wall Street Journal

Firestone Under New Fire (1/2/01) CBS News

Ford adds warranty coverage on tires (1/2/01) USA Today

Bridgestone/Firestone recalls 8,000 tires used on GM SUVs (1/2/01) Detroit Free Press

Firestone recalls 8,000 more tires (1/2/01) MSNBC News

Ford To Offer Tire Warranties (1/2/01) Detroit News

Firestone recalls 8,000 tires used on GM SUVs (1/2/01) Chicago Tribune

Yet Another Recall For Firestone (1/2/010 CBS News

Another Tire Recall For Firestone (1/2/01) ABC News

Firestone Recalls 8, 000 Truck Tires (1/2/01) The New York Times

Ford To Offer Tire Warranties (1/2/01) The New York Times

Bridgestone/Firestone to recall more tires (1/3/01) USA Today

Ford, Firestone Act on Tires (1/3/01) The Washington Post

Bridgestone/Firestone recalls 8,000 tires used on GM SUVs (1/3/01) The Boston Globe

Ford to offer tire warranties as way of tracking defects (1/3/01) The Boston Globe

Firestone Recalls 8,000 Faulty Tires Made in Mexico for GM Trucks (1/3/01) The Wall Street Journal

Bridgestone recalls 8,000 tires used on GM trucks (1/3/01) Chicago Sun-Times

Tires Used on GM SUVs Recalled (1/3/01) Detroit News

Public Citizen Report Calls for Wider Recall of Firestone Tires (1/3/01) LA Times

Breaking Tradition, Ford Adds Tires to Vehicle Warranty Coverage (1/3/01) LA Times

Consumer Group Says Ford Ordered Less Weight on Tires (1/5/01) LA Times

Paralyzed Ford Rollover Victim Going To Court (1/5/01) The Chicago Tribune
Coalition Says Ford Asked Firestone for Lighter Tires (1/5/01) The Washington Post

Settlement reached in paralyzed rock climber's lawsuit against Ford (1/8/01) The Boston Globe

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas Ford Motor Co. says settlement reached in... (1/8/01) The Boston Globe

Ford Settles Houston Explorer Rollover Case (1/8/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford apologizes, settles Tire Lawsuit (8/1/01) CBS News

Ford, Bridgestone settle (8/1/01) CNN News

 Settlement reached in lawsuit against Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone (1/8/01) MSNBC News

Ford and Firestone settle tire defect lawsuit (1/8/01) The Detroit News
A Step Toward Control (1/8/01) Chicago Tribune

Tire Suit Settled (1/8/01) ABC News

Tire Maker, Ford Settle Crash Suit With Texan (1/8/01) The Washington Post

Ford, Firestone settle Texas suit (1/8/01) USA Today

Ford and Firestone to Settle Explorer Accident Lawsuit (1/8/01) The New York Times

Ford Visits Tire Settlement Case Victim (1/8/01) The New York Times

Settlement Reached in Ford Lawsuit (1/8/01) The New York Times

Ford, Bridgestone/Firestone settle rollover lawsuit (1/8/01) CNN News

Susan Candiotti: Ford, Bridgestone/Firestone settlement (1/9/01) CNN News

Ford and Firestone Settle Suit Over Explorer Crash (1/9/01) The New York Times

Firestone, Ford Settle Tire Lawsuit (1/9/01) The Washington Post

Ford, Firestone Settle Lawsuit Regarding Explorer Rollover (1/9/01) The Wall Street Journal

Tire Victim: Apology Seemed Sincere (1/9/01) CBS News

Ford, Firestone settle suit (1/9/01) Chicago Sun-Times

Ford settles SUV suit (1/9/01) The Detroit News

Firestone, Ford Settle Injury Case (1/9/01) LA Times

Bridgestone/Firestone agree to open vault o data in tire case (1/9/01) San Francisco Examiner

U.S. Releases Vehicle Rollover Ratings (1/10/01) LA Times
FORD TO ADD TIRE-PRESSURE MONITORS TO ALL SUVS (1/10/01) Chicago Tribune
SUVS FAULTED IN ROLLOVER RATINGS (1/10/01) Chicago Tribune

SUVs Score Poor Grades In Rollover Rating System (1/10/01) The Wall Street Journal

SUVs Land at the Bottom Of First Rollover Ratings (1/10/01) The Washington Post

Bridgestone President To Resign (1/11/01) The New York Times

Bridgestone President Announces Resignation (1/11/01) The New York Times

U.S. Issues Vehicle Ratings on Tendency to Roll Over (1/11/01) The New York Times

Bridgestone president resigns after recall (1/11/01) USA Today

Bridgestone President Plans to Resign In March to Retain Investor Confidence (1/11/01) The Wall Street Journal

Bridgestone Pres Kaizaki To Resign (1/11/01) The Wall Street Journal

Bridgestone President Kaizaki to Resign (1/11/01) ABC News

Bridgestone president resigns after gigantic tire recall (1/11/01) Boston Globe

Bridgestone boss quits (1/11/01) CNN News

Bridgestone CEO resigns (1/11/01) MSNBC News

Test Chronology of events in tire controversy (1/11/01) CNN News

Chief of Bridgestone Says He Will Resign (1/12/01) The New York Times

Bridgestone President To Quit In March (1/12/01) The New York Times

Embattled Bridgestone CEO Resigns; Watanabe Is Set to Overhaul Team (1/12/01) The Wall Street Journal

Bridgestone president quits over tire defects (1/12/01) Chicago Sun-Times

Bridgestone's boss resigns (1/12/01) The Detroit News

Slew of problems hurts Ford (1/12/01) MSNBC News

Bridgestone's Top Man Resigns, a Victim of Firestone Scandal (1/16/01) LA Times
A Nasty Turn For Ford? (1/15/01) TIME

Seeking a Safer SUV (1/22/01) TIME

Avoiding a day in court (1/22/01) US News

Relax About Rollover Resistance Ratings (1/19/01) The Washington Post

Hearings consolidated in Texas tire-tread lawsuits (1/20/01) Detroit News

Firestone leaves an indelible mark (1/20/01) USA Today

Report: San Diego Transit Blowouts Not Firestone's Fault (1/21/01) The Wall Street Journal

Seeking a Safer SUV (1/22/01) Time

Firestone Bus Tires Not at Fault (1/22/01) The New York Times

Firestone Venezuela: Explorers With New Tires Crashing (5/15/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford Explorer accidents continue, Firestone's Venezuela unit says (5/15/01) Detroit Free Press

More Ford Explorer Accidents Cited (5/15/01) The New York Times

Study Says Height Makes S.U.V.'s Dangerous in Collisions (5/16/01) The New York Times

 WSJ:Bridgestone/Firestone CEO 'Outraged' Over Ford Claim (5/18/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford: Hasn't Made Decision On Broader Tire Recall Yet (5/18/01) The Wall Street Journal

Firestone Rejects Broader Tire Recall (5/19/01) LA Times

Ford considers broader tire recall (5/19/01) USA Today

Ford considers broader tire recall (5/19/01) Boston Globe

Bridgestone/Firestone Steps Up Criticism Of Ford Explorer (5/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford Asks U.S. for Wider Tire Recall (5/19/01) The Washington Post

Bridgestone Disputes Need for Bigger Firestone Recall (5/19/01) The New York Times

Firestone Adds Data in Feud With Ford (5/19/01) The New York Times

More recalls for Ford Explorer (5/20/01) MSNBC News

Deadly combination: Ford, Firestone & Florida (5/20/01) St. Petersburg Times

Ford Recalls New Explorers (5/20/01) ABC News

Ford Recalls 50, 000 New Explorers (5/20/01) The New York Times

Ford Recalls 50, 000 Explorers to Fix Tires (5/20/01) The New York Times

Ford Recalls 50,000 New Explorers For Possible Cuts in Tire Treads (5/20/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford Recalls 2002 Explorers With Cut Tire Tread (5/20/01) The Wall Street Journal

'02 Ford Explorers Are Being Recalled (5/21/01) The New York Times

Ford recalls SUVs for possible tire problems (5/21/01) USA Today

Ford Will Recall 47,000 Redesigned SUVs To Replace Tires Damaged During Assembly (5/21/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford to replace up to 13 million tires (5/21/01) MSNBC

Text of letter from Firestone to Ford (5/21/01) USA Today

Firestone Will No Longer Supply Tires to Ford (5/21/01) The New York Times

Handshake Started Ford, Firestone (5/21/01) The New York Times

Ford to Replace Millions of Tires Not in Recall (5/21/01) The New York Times

Firestone to Stop Sales to Ford (5/22/01) The New York Times

Text: Letter to Ford From Bridgestone (5/22/01) The New York Times

Letter From Firestone to Ford (5/22/01) The New York Times

Ford Explorer Recall Another Hit (5/22/01) The New York Times

Bridgestone Blames Ford for End to Pact (5/22/01) The New York Times

Key Dates in Firestone Tire Case (5/22/01) The New York Times

Bridgestone: Ford Loss Won't Hurt (5/22/01) The New York Times

Ford will recall more Firestone tires (5/22/01) USA Today

Firestone severs ties with Ford (5/22/01) USA Today

Bridgestone's Firestone Quits Relationship Of 95 Years as Supplier of Tires to Ford (5/22/01) The Wall Street Journal

Letter From Firestone to Ford, Ending Business Relationship (5/22/01) The Wall Street Journal

Latest Explorer Recall Could Dent Ford's Image (5/22/01) The Wall Street Journal

Bridgestone Sees Minor Earnings Impact From Ford Deal End (5/22/01) The Wall Street Journal

Firestone Cuts Ties To Ford in Recall Fight (5/22/01) The Washington Post

Ford Recalls Tires To Check for Cuts (5/22/01) The Washington Post

Ford Plans to Replace More SUV, Truck Tires (5/22/01) LA Times

Ford-Firestone Feud Festers (5/22/01) CBS News

 Ford Tire Recall Highlights Quality Issues (5/24/01) Business Week

The End of the Road for the Explorer? (5/24/01) MSNBC News

GM, Nissan to stop using some Firestone models, though stick with Bridgestone brand (5/24/01) The Boston Globe

Why Ford acted now (5/2401) Detroit News

GM, Nissan to stop using some Firestone models (5/24/01) The Detroit News

U.S. Rates SUVs for Rollovers (5/24/01) LA Times

Ford, Firestone Escalate Feud (5/24/01) The Washington Post

Bridgestone Gives U.S. Unit Control Over the Tire Crisis (5/24/01) The Wall Street Journal

Tire dealers flooded with calls (5/24/01) USA Today

Venezuela to Seek Ford Explorer Ban (5/24/01) The New York Times

Ford and Firestone Wrangle Over Rollovers and Tires (5/24/01) The New York Times

Widespread Doubts Among Drivers on Firestone's Future (5/24/01) The New York Times

Ford Tire Recall Highlights Quality Issues (5/24/01) The New York Times

Ford's Financial Pain Investors Gain (5/24/01) The New York Times

GM to Stop Using Some Firestones (5/24/01) The New York Times

Cooper to Boost Tire Output on More Demand (5/24/01) The New York Times

Tiremakers Step Up Production (5/24/01) The New York Times

Bridgestone Stock Ends Steep Fall (5/24/01) The New York Times

Venezuela Seeks to Ban Explorers (5/24/01) The New York Times

Firestone's Revival Strategy: Be Contrite and Attack (5/25/01) The New York Times

Venezuelan Watchdog Will Seek A Ban on Sale of Ford Explorers (5/25/01) The Wall Street Journal

Bridgestone Is Test Case In New Market Climate (5/25/01) The Wall Street Journal

Beyond the Tire Mess, Ford Has a Problem With Quality (5/25/01) The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Tire Makers Hasten Production To Profit From Ford, Firestone Split (5/25/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford, Firestone Face Mounting Concerns Over Safety, Accusations From Each Other (5/25/01) The Wall Street Journal

GM to Replace Firestone Tires on Some Cars (5/25/01) The Wall Street Journal

Government releases latest rollover test results (5/24/01) USA Today

Nasser forges ahead as goals rerouted (5/24/01) USA Today

GM Shifts From Firestone Tires on Some of Its Models (5/25/01) LA Times

Congress probes how well tires offset faulty usage (5/25/01) USA Today

GM to Replace Firestone Tires on Some Cars (5/25/01) The Washington Post

Ford's Goal: Replace and Destroy (5/26/01) The Washington Post

Breakup a Case of Irreconcilable Differences? (5/26/01) The Washington Post

Ford, Firestone paying heavily to bypass juries (5/26/01) The Chicago Tribune

Venezuela May Ban Ford (5/28/01) CNN News

Explorer probe unlikely without proof of defect (5/29/01) USA Today

Why Couldn't This Marriage Be Saved? (5/29/01) The Wall Street Journal

Venezuelan Consumer Agency To Seek Ford Explorer Ban (5/29/01) The Wall Street Journal

Inside the Ford/Firestone Fight (5/29/01) Time

Ford v. Firestone (6/4/01) U.S. News

Peeling Apart (5/28/01) Newsweek

 Group asks Venezuelan attorney general to ban Ford Explorer sales (5/29/01) MSNBC News

Parsing Out the Firestone Blame (5/30/01) The Wall Street Journal

America's Love Affair With Sport Utilities Is Cooling Off, and Big Three Try to Adjust (5/30/01) The Wall Street Journal

White House Considers Naming Jeffrey Runge to Head NHTSA (5/30/01) The Wall Street Journal

Sport utility sales cool off (5/30/01) MSNBC News

Wait for tires can be long (5/30/01) The Denver Post

Ford faces tough questions over tire recall (5/30/01) The Cincinnati Enquirer

Venezuelan agency asks Explorer sales ban (5/30/01) The Detroit News

Auto safety panel on autopilot (5/30/01) The Detroit News

Ford, Firestone Locked in a War They Can't Win (5/27/01) LA Times

Protecting Safety of Ford Customers, letter to the editor (5/31/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford, Goodyear Give Replacement Plan (5/30/01) The New York Times

Ford, Goodyear Agree to Work Together To Assist Customers With Tire Recall (5/30/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford, Goodyear Agree On Ways to Speed Tires to Consumers (5/30/01) The Wall Street Journal

Firestone: An Insider's View (5/30/01) CBS News

Ford, Goodyear announce replacement plan (5/30/01) Detroit Free Press

Replacement tires hard to find (5/30/01) Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Ford, Goodyear announce replacement plan (5/30/01) The Boston Globe

Goodyear to replace Firestone tires (5/30/01) MSNBC News

Firm Vows to Rebuild Firestone Brand Name (5/31/01) The Washington Post

 Firestone asks feds to check Explorer safety (5/31/01) CBS Market Watch

Firestone requests government investigation into Explorer (5/31/01) The Boston Globe

Firestone requests government investigation into Explorer (5/31/01) Detroit Free Press

Ford Motor Says Explorer Among Safest Vehicles On Road (5/31/01) The Wall Street Journal

Firestone progeny goes to bat for family name (5/31/01) USA Today

Ford, Goodyear announce replacement plan (5/31/01) USA Today

Firestone requests probe of Explorer (5/31/01) USA Today

Firestone Asks U.S. to Study Ford Explorer (6/1/01) The New York Times

Tiremaker Parent Co. Supports Move (6/1/01) The New York Times

Bridgestone Says Ford Explorers Defective (6/1/01) The New York Times

Ford, Firestone Battle Heats Up (6/1/01) The New York Times

Firestone Asks Federal Agency to Test Safety of Certain Ford Explorer Models (6/1/01) The Wall Street Journal

Bridgestone Pres: Want US Govt Verdict On Tire Problem (6/1/01) The Wall Street Journal

Firestone Wants Probe of Explorer Safety (6/1/01) The Washington Post

Firestone pushes for safety probe (6/1/01) MSNBC News

Firestone asks U.S. to probe Ford SUV (The Washington Times

 Explorer ad blitz touts tires (6/1/01) The Detroit News
Ford May Reshuffle Management in Wake of Tire Problems (6/2/01) The New York Times

Lawyers seek Ford Explorer recall (6/2/01) MSNBC News

Congress focuses on tires (6/3/01) The Detroit News
'In an instant, they were gone': One Explorer-Firestone case (6/2/01) The Detroit News
Explorer sales may hit a few bumps (6/3/01) USA Today

Lawyers Ask Federal Court to Order Recall of Four Million Ford Explorers (5/3/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford Explorer Recall Sought in Lawsuit(6/3/01) The Washington Post

Bridgestone Split From Ford Is Seen as Most Un-Japanese (6/2/01) The New York Times

Recall of 4 Million Explorers Is Sought (6/4/01) The New York Times

Ford's Board Weighs Plans To Shuffle Top Management (6/4/01) The Wall Street Journal

Michelin's U.S. Unit and Ford Reach Accord on Replacing Tires (6/4/01) The Wall Street Journal

Venezuela's Consumer Watchdog Doesn't Seek Ban on Explorer Sales (6/4/01) The Wall Street Journal

 Continental to Supply Ford Recall Tires (6/4/01) Business Week

Lawyers in Tire Death Suits Ask Ford to Recall All Explorers (6/4/01) Fox News

Ford Expands Firestone Tire Recall (6/5/01) The New York Times

Ford Expands Firestone Tire Recall To Europe (6/5/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford expands tire recall to Europe (6/5/01) MSNBC News

Chrysler Chief Discusses Ford Flap (6/5/01) The New York Times

Ford expands Firestone tire recall to Europe (6/5/01) USA Today

Ford Includes Europe in Campaign To Replace Certain Firestone Tires (6/5/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford expands Firestone tire recall to Europe (6/5/01) Detroit Free Press

Ford Recalls European Tires (6/5/01) CBS News

Ford Denies Rumors of Leadership Shift (6/6/01) LA Times

Business Secrets Bill Passes Senate (6/6/01) The New York Times

Ford CEO Scoffs at Reported Changes (6/6/01) The New York Post

Ford Confident In Venezuela Despite Explorer Allegations (6/6/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford Replacing Firestone Tires (6/7/01) The Washington Post

Ford Replacing Firestone Tires (6/7/01) The Detroit News

Ford Japan to replace Firestone tires (6/7/01) Boston Globe

 Ford CEO Denies Management Shake - Up (6/7/01) The New York Times

Ford Replacing Firestone Tires (6/7/01) The New York Times

Ford CEO denies management shake-up (6/7/01) Detroit Free Press

Ford Replacing Firestone Tires in Japan (6/7/01) Fox News

Ford To Give Update On Tire Replacement Wednesday (6/11/01) The Wall Street Journal

Firestone losing PR war (6/11/01) CNN News

Ford: No Basis To Support Separate Explorer Investigation (6/8/01) The Wall Street Journal

Firestone Tire Probe May Be Too Limited -US Congressman (6/8/01) The Wall Street Journal

Tauzin Concerned With Tire Probe (6/8/01) The New York Times

Trauma Doctor Likely to Head NHTSA (6/9/01) The Washington Post

House Committee Chairman Faults Inquiry on Firestone (6/9/01) The New York Times

Firestone uses a defender of car industry against Ford (6/9/01) Detroit Free Press

Broader U.S. Probe of Explorers Sought (6/9/01) The Washington Post

House committee chair asks for broader tire investigation (6/9/01) The Detroit News

Ford under new pressure (6/9/01) Detroit Free Press

Congress takes up tire flap again (6/10/01) The Detroit News
The Corporate Alliance, as a Tightrope Act (6/10/01) The New York Times

Tire decision not just for Ford owners (6/01/01) ST. Petersburg Times

Ford Explorer may face federal investigation (6/11/01) USA Today

Congressman Raises Pressure on Ford Via Letter to Agency About Explorer (6/11/01) The Wall Street Journal

Divorce, corporate-style (6/12/01) The Providence Journal

Ford Study Counters Venezuela Charges (6/13/01) LA Times

Bridgestone, Ford Chiefs Agree to Testify (6/13/01) LA Times

UPDATE 1-Ford and Firestone take battle to Congress (6/12/01) Forbes

Ford Cuts North American Production (6/12/01) The Washington Post

US House Panel Sets June 19 Hearing For Ford, Firestone (6/12/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford: Venezuela Used Faulty Accident List In Safety Probe (6/12/01) The Wall Street Journal

WSJ: Firestone CEO Questions Ford's Tire Research (6/12/01) The Wall Street Journal

Hearings Scheduled for Tire Safety (6/12/01) The New York Times

Ford Challenges Safety Analysis (6/12/01) The New York Times

Ford Accuses Venezuelan Agency Of Using Inaccurate Safety Data (6/13/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford Again Reduces Vehicle Production (6/13/01) The New York Times

Management: Ford Embraces Six Sigma (6/13/01) The New York Times

Ford Counters Safety Claim (6/13/01) The Washington Post

WSJ: Ford, Firestone Spar Over Tire Data (6/14/01) The New York Times

Ford: Other Firestone tires fail, too (6/14/01) USA Today

Ford, Firestone Spar Over Data Ahead of House Panel Meeting (6/14/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford, Firestone data flap (6/14/01) CNN News

Firestone wants Ford to share safety blame (6/14/01) Detroit Free Press

Ford settles tire lawsuits quietly (6/14/01) The Detroit News

Ford chairman backs Nasser (6/14/01) The Detroit News

Ford heaps more blame on Firestone in tire safety dispute (6/15/01) The Detroit News
Recall foes forced to coexist at race (6/15/01) The Detroit News
Ford Steps Up Tire Battle (6/15/01) LA Times

Ford's Nasser, Firestone's Lampe to face new questions (6/16/01) The Detroit News

Concern over tire safety grows (6/16/01) Detroit Free Press

US lawyers seek $1 bln from Firestone (6/17/01) CBS News

Reputations are at risk in tire probe (6/17/01) The Detroit News
The Right Thing: A Blame Game Hurts Both Ford and Firestone (6/17/01) The New York Times

Lawyers seek $1 billion from Firestone for tires (6/18/01) USA Today

Lampe battles to salvage Firestone (6/18/01) The Detroit News

Ford, Firestone Chiefs to Testify (6/18/01) LA Times

WSJ: Firestone CEO: Data Suggest Wilderness Tires Safe (6/18/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford Motor Responds To Bridgestone CEO Statements (6/18/01) The Wall Street Journal

US House Probe Says Ford Replacement Tires May Be Faulty (6/18/01) The Wall Street Journal

Panel Says Replacement Tires May Have Higher Failure Rates (6/19/01) The New York Times

Ford's Replacement Tires Questioned (6/19/01) The New York Times

Ford, Firestone Execs Set to Testify (6/19/01) The New York Times

Death Count Linked to Failures Of Firestone Tires Rises to 203 (6/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

NHTSA May Open Formal Investigation Of Ford Explorer - WP (6/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

Explorer Probe Considered (6/19/01) The Washington Post

Firestone Gets in Gear On Lobbying (6/19/01) The Washington Post

NHTSA Raises Tire-Related Death Toll (6/19/01) The Washington Post

Ford may be replacing Firestones with faultier tires (6/19/01) The Boston Globe

Faulty Tire Replacements? (6/19/01) CNS News

Replacement Problems (6/19/01) ABC News

Tire Squabble Rolls On (6/19/01) CBS News

Nasser Faces a Tough Test in Restoring Ford's Reputation (6/19/01) LA Times

Ford's New Tires May Be Faulty (6/19/01) LA Times

Prepared Written Statement of Jacques Nasser Before Congressional Hearing on Firestone Tire Replacement Action (6/19/01) The Detroit News

Tire victims relive pain (6/19/01) The Detroit News

House knocks tire replacements (6/19/01) The Detroit News
Tire Tussle: Complete Coverage (6/19/01) CBS News

Explorers may face probe (6/19/01) USA Today

Ford's Replacement Tires Questioned at Hearing (6/19/01) Fox News

Ford Comes Under Fire at Tire Hearing (6/19/01) Fox News

Ford Under Pressure at Tire Hearing (6/19/01) Business Week

Ford challenges claim that replacement tires are worse (6/19/01) The Detroit News

UPDATE 6-Ford under scrutiny at congressional tire hearing (6/19/01) Detroit Free Press

Ford calls for release of Congressional analysis at tire safety hearings (6/19/01) Detroit Free Press

Ford, Firestone Congressional Hearing Underway (6/19/01) The Washington Post

Firestone/Ford Tire Saga (6/19/01) The Washington Post

REPEAT:WSJ: Tauzin -2: Calls On NHTSA To Investigate (6/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

WSJ: Tauzin: Ford Replacing Firestones With Unsafe Tires (6/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

News Highlights:Ford's Firestone Replacements Unsafe-Tauzin (6/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford: Used 4-Step Process To Determine Replacement Tires (6/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

WSJ: NHTSA Links 10 Deaths To Recalled Firestone Tires (6/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

Lawmakers Criticize Ford Recall Of 13M Firestone Tires (6/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

Tauzin Ripped For Not Revealing More On Replacement Tires (6/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

Death Count Linked to Failures Of Firestone Tires Rises to 203 (6/19/01) The Wall Street Journal

Ford Under Scrutiny at Tire Hearing (6/19/01) The New York Times

Safety of Ford's Replacement Tires Is Questioned by Federal Officials (6/19/01) The New York Times

House Hearings on Ford and Firestone Clarify Little (6/20/01) The New York Times

Feds Examine Report on Ford Tires (6/20/01) The New York Times

Ford under pressure at U.S. tire hearing (6/20/01) USA Today

U.S. Probe of Firestone to Conclude Soon; Inquiry Into Ford Explorer Could Follow (6/20/01) The Wall Street Journal

Firestone, Ford CEOs Duel at Hearing (6/20/01) The Washington Post

A Corporate Collision (6/20/01) The Washington Post

Feds study claim that Ford's replacements fail more than Firestone (6/20/01) The Boston Globe

Tauzin ripped for not disclosing more about replacement tires (6/20/01) The Boston Globe

Tire-swap scare called irresponsible (6/20/01) Detroit Free Press

Ford, Firestone clash before House panel (6/20/01) Detroit Free Press

Feds launch Explorer inquiry (6/20/01) The Detroit News

Committee members clash over claims of replacement tires' poor safety record (6/20/01) The Detroit News

U.S. to investigate tire data (6/20/01) MSNBC News

Ford's Nasser faces biggest challenge of his automotive life (6/20/01) The Detroit News

U.S. Weighing Inquiry Into Explorer Stability (6/20/01) LA Times

Officials review data on Ford's replacement tires (6/20/01) The Boston Globe

WSJ: Bridgestone/Firestone Trying To Get Claims Data (6/20/01) The Wall Street Journal

Failure rates on replacement tires questioned (6/20/01) USA Today

Officials Review Data on Ford Tires (6/20/01) The New York Times

Some Conflicts Arise at Hearing on Ford Replacement-Tire Issue (6/21/01) The New York Times

Issue of Tire Replacements' Safety Adds Confusion to Investigation (6/21/01) The Wall Street Journal

Probe of Ford Replacement Tires to Take at Least a Month (6/21/01) The Washington Post

Consumer Reports rates Mitsubishi Montero `not acceptable' (6/20/01) The Star Tribune

GM Upset Over Ford Ad Campaign (6/21/01) The New York Times

Ford's Venezuelan Ads Claim SUV Superiority, Upsetting GM (6/21/01) The Wall Street Journal

 WATCH FOR MORE UPDATES. . . .