Most were original equipment on Explorers. The treads of the tires separate from the casings, throwing the vehicle out of control. Ford, Firestone and the federal government haven't found a reason why the treads separate.
Rollovers are a small percentage of accidents but are most likely to be fatal.
Ford spokesman Ken Zino says Ford doesn't have Venezuelan government figures to show fatality rates there. Ford filed the complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as part of its inquiry into whether the recall should be expanded. Many could not be cured, even after dealers changed tires, shock absorbers and driveshafts. That's a normal level of vibration complaints for Ford trucks, the analysis shows. But on Explorer, such vibrations might mask the larger danger of tread separation.