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Firestone case scrutinized
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August 27, 2000: 11:42 p.m. ET
Embattled tire maker prepares to host congressional investigators
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - As they prepared to host congressional investigators Monday, executives at Bridgestone/Firestone said they had replaced at least one million tires by Sunday night. The probe comes as the company faces legal actions in both the U.S. and Venezuela.
Four congressional investigators are expected to arrive in Nashville, Tenn. Monday, going to the tire plant and headquarters. "We intend to cooperate with them; we are prepared to answer any questions they have," spokesman Ken Field said.
The congressional aides are preparing for Capitol Hill hearings next month that will examine the recall of approximately 6.5 million Firestone ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT models. Ford trucks and sport utility vehicles, especially the Explorer, are among the chief users of the tires.
 The recall came after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating reports of 62 fatal accidents connected to the 15-inch tires.
Facing increasing pressure from some advocacy groups and attorneys to broaden the recall, Firestone executives also said they will hire a tire expert to conduct an independent analysis of the types of tires involved in the fatal accidents.
"We appreciate the patience and understanding that so many of our Firestone customers have shown during this major undertaking," said John Lampe, executive vice president of Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. "We're doing everything in our power to replace all recalled tires as quickly as possible."
Bridgestone/Firestone manufacturing plants in the United States have increased tire production by 7,000 tires daily to meet the replacement demand created by the recall.
Firestone executives said that manufacturing plants in Japan are shipping by air thousands of replacements tires as well, and they are using competitors' tires to help meet replacement demand.
Critics maintain that Firestone officials knew about defects in the tires long before they notified customers in the United States, and they charge that a greater number of tires than the ones covered by the voluntary recall pose a risk to drivers.
A class-action lawsuit filed in Florida seeks to broaden the recall effort. The Center for Auto Safety in Washington has also filed a lawsuit seeking to do the same, calling on Firestone and Ford to turn over internal documents related to the recall.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Venezuelan authorities are expected to submit a report Tuesday to the country's attorney general Tuesday that could led to fines and criminal prosecution of Ford and Firestone for their responsibility in numerous traffic accidents.
A Texas judge has also ordered Firestone chief executive officer Masatoshi Ono to testify on September 15 in the case of a couple killed in May last year when their Ford Explorer, equipped with Firestone ATX tires, overturned.
Lawyers representing the children of the victims said the Texas State District Court ordered Ono and other Firestone executives to give a deposition in the lawsuit.
"The testimony of Mr. Ono is extremely significant because he has made statements indicating Firestone was aware of the problems with its tires and was taking steps to address the situation without advising the government or the public," attorneys Robert Patterson and Anthony Constant said in the statement. 
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