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More tire recalls urged
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July 19, 2001: 5:54 p.m. ET
Federal officials tell Firestone millions more tires should be recalled
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Bridgestone/Firestone Thursday said it would go to court if necessary to prevent another recall and prove the safety of its tires, prompting federal safety regulators to take steps to force a recall of some Wilderness AT tires.
Bridgestone/Firestone CEO John Lampe said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told company officials in a meeting Thursday morning that it might recommend an additional recall of tires beyond those recalled last year, and the millions more recalled by Ford Motor Co. earlier this year.
However, Lampe said NHTSA declined to share its data or even specify which tires it wants recalled, although Lampe said it would likely be Wilderness AT models, which were involved in last year's recall.
In a separate statement released late Thursday, NHTSA said "Firestone was asked to recall some of the tires, and they refused to do so. Therefore, NHTSA will issue an initial defect decision, the next step toward a forced recall."
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I want to be very clear. Our tires are safe, and we will use every opportunity available in the process to prove that
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John Lampe
CEO Bridgestone/Firestone |
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The agency also said it was premature to discuss the initial decision in detail. "NHTSA's responsibility is the safety of the American people, and we will adhere to a process that will ensure the recall of unsafe tires."
Firestone and Ford recalled Wilderness AT and ATX tires last year after several hundred deaths from rollover accidents involving Ford Explorer sport/utility vehicles equipped with Firestone tires.
Lampe reasserted the safety of its Wilderness AT tires Thursday following reports that federal safety officials are pushing the troubled tiremaker to recall millions more potentially unsafe Firestone tires.
"I want to be very clear. Our tires are safe, and we will use every opportunity available in the process to prove that," Lampe told reporters.
In a statement issued shortly before the press conference, Firestone said it informed NHTSA that "the facts and the data do not support an agency action that could result in an expanded recall of any Wilderness AT tires, including those equipped primarily on Ford Explorers."
"We will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of the driving public," Lampe said. "If one of our tires might jeopardize that safety, then we'll take it off the road. We've done it before, and, if it becomes necessary, we'll do it again. But, that is simply not the case here."
If Bridgestone/Firestone has to recall some of the 13 million tires Ford is replacing, the automaker could demand payment. The cost could be devastating for Bridgestone/Firestone, which already has spent more than $900 million on the recall, is closing its Decatur, Ill., plant because of lower sales and faces hundreds of lawsuits.
"Ford Motor Company began replacing these tires on our vehicles in May to ensure the safety and trust of our customers and their families," Ford said in a statement late Thursday. "We have replaced almost three million Wilderness AT tires during the last two months. We will continue to work closely with NHTSA as it continues with its initial defect decision, the next step toward a forced recall of Firestone tires."
The tiremaker recalled 6.5 million Firestone tires last August after determining a high number of them failed. Since then, federal safety officials have been examining millions of other Firestone tires to see if they are safe.
At least 203 deaths and more than 700 injuries have been linked to Firestone tire failures in the United States. Many involved rollovers of the highly popular Ford Explorer, which used the tires as standard equipment.
Because of accident reports, Bridgestone/Firestone recalled 6.5 million ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires Aug. 9. Ford said in May it would replace an additional 13 million Wilderness AT tires because of safety concerns.
Bridgestone/Firestone has acknowledged problems with the recalled tires, but says it believes its other tires are safe and there is no need for a broader recall. Company officials also have said the Explorer design is partly responsible for the accidents.
The claim, rejected by Ford officials, prompted the automaker to end a century-long relationship with Bridgestone/Firestone.
NHTSA also has been investigating the safety of tires Ford is using to replace Firestones.
Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, raised questions about the safety of some of the tires at a hearing last month. He said his staff analyzed confidential data turned over by Firestone competitors and found some had more property damage claims than the Firestone tires, but refused to name the brands.
NHTSA officials are prepared to tell Tauzin that most of the replacement tires have no significant safety problems, according to a source familiar with the agency's plans.
The most significant problem involves the General Ameri 550 AS tire manufactured by Continental General Tire, the source said. Some older versions have a claims rate of 124 per million, much higher than the rate of 9 per million on the Wilderness ATs that Ford is replacing.
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However, Ford is using a newer, redesigned version of the General tire to replace Firestones on the Ranger and 1997 F-series trucks.
Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, who oversees NHTSA, was to meet with Tauzin Thursday to discuss the agency's findings.
Ford officials said NHTSA has not told them what investigators found. 
from staff and wire reports
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