We emphasize American customers because Ford has begun replacing Firestone tires on vehicles sold in at least 10 foreign countries, even as the automaker and a federal agency conduct separate investigations into tire safety. Motorists report that the tread has a tendency to peel off, especially in warmer climates, causing accidents, injuries and deaths. A spokesman said the sales halt would continue until Sears gets definitive data about the tires' safety. However, Ford quietly began replacing the tires on Explorers in Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. And last Thursday, Ford acknowledged it is replacing Firestones on about 7,000 vehicles in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Basra, Thailand and Malaysia.
American motorists deserve the same precautions to protect their lives and safety.
Problems with radial tires came to the forefront in April when a Chicago Sun-Times investigation found that at least 43 deaths since 1990 had been traced to the rubber tread separating from the steel belts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began its own investigation in May and has reports of 193 crashes involving 21 deaths. Ford also is reviewing complaints about problems with Firestone tires. The full extent of tire-related accidents and deaths is unclear, however, because the federal agency relies on the tire industry to report problems. And in many lawsuits, judges routinely order court records sealed to protect tire manufacturers' trade secrets.