# 1997 FORD EXPLORER — TIRES:TREAD/BELT
> **FATAL** · NHTSA complaint `222729` · 2000-07-26 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 1
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** EXPLORER
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** TIRES:TREAD/BELT
- **Speed:** 40 mph
## Narrative
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF VEHICLE. THEN, SLOWED DOWN AND FOUND OUT THAT RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE (P235 75 R15) TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED.*AK  THE DOT # IS VDHL1PY THE CONSUMER STATED ON THE APPLICATION THAT THERE WAS ONE FATALITY, HOWEVER NO OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED.    *SLC
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*