# 1997 FORD EXPLORER — TIRES:TREAD/BELT
> NHTSA complaint `197994` · 2000-02-17 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** EXPLORER
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** TIRES:TREAD/BELT
- **Speed:** 70 mph
## Narrative
WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH HEARD LOUD NOISE, LEFT REAR WHEEL FROZE. VEHICLE VEERED TO LEFT OVER 2 LANES & THEN RIGHT OVER 2 LANES. SPUN AROUND & WAS FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WENT BACKWARDS & HIT A CULVERT. TOOK OFF & WAS AIR BORNE. LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. UNLOCKED SEAT BELT & CRAWLED OUT. POLICE AND EMERGENCY VEHICLE ARRIVED. INFORMED CONSUMER  THAT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED & WRAPPED AROUND AXLE. VEHICLE TOTALED. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE RADIAL AXT.  *AK   THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE DIDN'T GET ANY KIND OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRES AND NO OFFER OF SETTELEMENT FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY.  *YH
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*