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The Firestone Tire Controversy
Introduction Contd...
Around 6.5 mn tires were recalled which included 3.8 mn Radial ATX and ATX II tires, and 2.7 mn Wilderness AT tires.These tires were original equipment on certain Ford Explorer SUVs, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Ranger pick up trucks and Mazda Navajo and B-series pick up trucks. (Refer Table I). The Firestone tire recall was perhaps the biggest auto safety crisis in the US history. NHTSA put the death figure in February 2001 at 174 (Refer Exhibit I) which has risen from 101 deaths reported in September 2000. |
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However, analysts felt that there were as many as 250 deaths and more than 3000 injuries associated with the defective tires. Most of the deaths occurred in accidents involving the Ford Explorer and the victims and their families filed hundreds of lawsuits. (Refer Exhibits II-VI for a history of Firestone /Ford related incidents in the US).In May 2001, Firestone announced that it was severing its ties with Ford and alleged that the problems in the Ford Explorer caused 174 deaths. Firestone alleged that Ford was trying to divert attention from the problems with Explorer. (Refer Exhibit VII for a chronology of events leading to Firestone's decision to stop supplying new tires to Ford.)
