Severity
Critical
FORD issued this NHTSA recall on May 22, 2001. Classified as Critical severity. The recall was issued because: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY …. This recall notice is sourced from official NHTSA enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.
This NHTSA action (record #01X001000) was formally reported on May 22, 2001. It is classified under Critical severity, with a current status of Active. FORD is listed as the recalling firm. The number of affected units is not disclosed in the agency filing, which is common for drug and food recalls where lot-level tracking supersedes unit counts.
The documented reason for this recall is: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND … The specific hazard cited in the filing is: SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.. Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: United States. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory. The remedy documented by the agency is: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE. — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.
To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 1 were also issued by NHTSA. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 25 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.
Severity
Critical
Units Affected
Unknown
Related Recalls
6
1 from same agency
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SER
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SER
SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| Severity class | Critical |
| Status | Active |
| Recall number | 01X001000 |
| Date reported | May 22, 2001 |
| Date initiated | May 22, 2001 |
| Recalling firm | FORD |
| Units affected | Not disclosed |
| Distribution | United States |
Profile values are sourced directly from the official NHTSA enforcement record. Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Learn how the US recall system works and how to protect yourself and your household.
How the US Recall System Works
The three federal agencies, how recalls are initiated, and what happens next.
Understanding Recall Severity Classes
What Class I, II, and III mean and which recalls demand immediate action.
What to Do When a Product Is Recalled
Verify, claim your remedy, report injuries, and navigate the process.
How to Check If Your Products Are Recalled
Step-by-step guide to checking food, products, medications, and vehicles.
Recalled Products in Your Home
A room-by-room household audit guide for active recalls.
Most Recalled Product Categories
Rankings of highest-recall categories from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA.
Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as critical severity, meaning the product carries a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.
Explore related product safety and public health data from federal sources.
Food Safety Inspections
FDA and state food facility inspection results — violations, enforcement actions, and compliance history for food manufacturers and processors.
PlainFoodSafe →
Ingredient Safety Data
FDA food additive and ingredient safety database — regulatory status, usage limits, and safety assessments for thousands of ingredients.
PlainIngredients →
Nutrition Data
USDA nutrition facts for 2M+ food items — calories, macros, vitamins, and ingredient analysis to verify what you consume.
GetFoodFacts →
Drug Safety Information
FDA drug data for 680+ medications — interactions, alternatives, side effects, and safety information for recalled and active drugs.
PlainMeds →
Product Injury Data
CPSC emergency room injury data for 838 product categories — 7.3M NEISS records tracking real-world consumer product injuries.
PlainSafety →
Vehicle Safety Data
NHTSA complaints, investigations, and reliability scores for 3,500+ vehicle models with 2M+ complaints.
PlainCars →
Recall Checker
Search our database of 83K+ recalls by product name, brand, or recall number across all agencies.
Check Now →
Recall Radar
Live feed of the latest recalls across FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, and USDA — filter by agency and severity.
View Radar →
Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.
· 2026-03-19
CNC Noodle Corporation · 2026-03-18
CNC Noodle Corporation · 2026-03-18
Italianway Import, Inc. · 2026-03-11
CHEVROLET,GMC · 2026-03-05
Compare this recall with Amazon Recalls Amazon Basics Camping Folding Pocket Knives … →
Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.
Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).