Defective Tires Litigation

A tire is defined as defective if it has a design flaw or was manufactured improperly before being placed on a vehicle. Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and SUV rollovers can all occur due to defective tires. When it is discovered that tires are defective, a recall must be ordered. However, these recalls do not necessarily shield manufacturers from product liability lawsuits.

Ford Explorer / Bridgestone Tire Recall

One of the largest tire recalls in history involved Firestone ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness AT tires. On August 9, 2000, Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford announced a recall of 14.4 million tires that had been installed on the Ford Explorer and other vehicles. Hundreds of crashes and collisions were attributed to Firestone tires; more than 300 have been reported to date. Reports of crashes and fatalities prompted an investigation, which uncovered a defect in the Firestone tires. The defect in the tires caused tread separation that, in turn, caused many rollover accidents involving Ford Explorers. Investigators also discovered that the defective tires were manufactured at Firestone's Decatur, Illinois plant.

Which Company Was Responsible for the Defective Product?

In the wake of the tire recall, accusations were exchanged between Ford and Firestone. Ford blamed Firestone for making defective tires while Firestone blamed Ford for setting the inflation pressure on the tires too low, thus causing the tread separations. As a result of this conflict, Ford severed its long-term business relationship with Firestone and ordered a recall of all other Firestone Wilderness tires.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is continuing its investigation into Firestone's defective tires.

Learn More from an Experienced Product Liability Lawyer

Whether you were using the recalled Firestone tires or another brand of tires that were defective, you may be eligible to receive compensation from the responsible party. If you or a loved one has been harmed by defective tires, contact a defective products attorney skilled in product liability litigation for further information and a review of your case.