|
More tires to be replaced
|
 |
October 16, 2000: 4:28 p.m. ET
Firestone to replace 1.4 million more tires as part of multi-state agreement
|
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Beleaguered tire maker Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. agreed Monday to replace an additional 1.4 million tires as part of a multi-state agreement with 48 states, New York's attorney general said.
Bridgestone/Firestone initially agreed in September to replace the additional tires, but refused to make them part of their recall. The attorney general said Monday that the replacement program continues in light of ongoing consumer questions about the tires.
"We're not expanding the recall. All the attorneys general's intention was, was to let consumers know there was this list of tires out there and that folks who have the tires do have some options," Genna Gent, a spokeswoman for Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm said.
A Firestone spokesman also said the recall had not been expanded. The spokesman, Joe Quinn, also said that the replacement program differs from a recall in that Firestone does not have to notify consumers and keep track of how many of the tires have been replaced.
"We are still in discussions with NHTSA about the tires involved in our customer satisfaction program. We continue to believe that these tires are safe, but for any customer who is concerned, we will inspect those tires," Quinn said. "We don't want the customer to get stuck in the middle."
On Aug. 9, Bridgestone/Firestone, with U.S. operations based in Nashville, Tenn., recalled 6.5 million 15-inch models of its ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires because of tread separation problems. The tires mostly came as original equipment on Ford Explorers and are under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for possibly causing more than 100 fatalities and more than 400 injuries.
Click here for full coverage on the Firestone recall
The additional 1.4 million tires are the same ones NHTSA issued a consumer warning about on Sept. 1. However, because its investigation had not been completed, it was unable to persuade Bridgestone/Firestone to include the tires in the 6.5 million unit recall.
These tires were mostly produced as replacement tires, but some came as original equipment on Ford light trucks and S/UV's.
"I want to urge all vehicle owners to replace any tires listed in the consumer advisory as soon as possible," New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said. "This agreement is a major win for consumers and goes a long way to improve traffic safety across the nation."
Under Bridgestone/Firestone's agreement with the states, consumers may have the tires replaced free of charge at an authorized Bridgestone/Firestone dealer.
Firestone will reimburse consumers up to $140 per tire if they replace the tires with a competitor's at a non-Firestone-authorized dealer. 
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
