Feds Pushing for More Tire Recalls
WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal safety officials are pushing Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. to recall millions more potentially unsafe Firestone tires.
The tire maker recalled 6.5 million tires last August after determining a high rate of failures. Since then, federal safety officials have been examining millions of other Firestone tires to see if they are safe.
Sources familiar with negotiations between the government and Bridgestone/Firestone told The Associated Press on Thursday that federal officials want the tire maker to issue a broader recall. USA Today first reported the possibility of a broader recall.
The AP also has learned that a government investigation of tires Ford Motor Co. is using to replace Firestone tires is nearing an end and has found no significant problems.
Bridgestone/Firestone spokeswoman Jill Bratina confirmed company officials are holding talks with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
``Certainly our position is unchanged that our tires our safe,'' she said.
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 centurylong relationship with Bridgestone/Firestone.
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.
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.
However, Ford is using a newer, redesigned version of the 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.
On the Net:
Bridgestone/Firestone: http://www.bridgestone-firestone.com
Ford.: http://www.ford.com
NHTSA: http://www.nhtsa.gov
Originally published July 19, 2001.
