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Firestone Tires Recalled

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in January 2001 and urged consumers to have the problems fixed promptly.

The list identifies the make and model of the vehicle or equipment involved, with a brief description of the safety problem.

NHTSA said it is publicizing the recalls to alert consumers about safety problems and encourages them to take action. Under federal law, safety problems must be remedied without cost to consumers. Currently, 72 percent of the owners of vehicles with safety problems have the recall work performed.

NHTSA said manufacturers are required to mail a recall notice to all purchasers, owners and dealers when a safety defect or noncompliance with Federal safety standards is found. The agency urges owners to wait until they receive notification from the manufacturer before contacting their dealers to schedule the repair work. Not all vehicles of a particular make and model may be subject to the recall.

Consumers can get up-to-the-minute information on safety recall campaigns, or information on the recall history of a particular make and model of car, truck, motorcycle, or child safety seat, by calling the agency's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236), or by accessing NHTSA on the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. The Hotline also can be used to report safety problems.

Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.

Models: Firestone Wilderness LE P265/70R16 Tires

Number Involved: 8,000

Dates of Manufacture: April 2000

Defect: Certain Wilderness LE tires (both black and raised white letter tires) produced during the week of April 24, 2000 (the seventeenth week of 2000) at the Cuernavaca, Mexico plant with tire Serial Numbers V672WL11700 (blackwall) and V672WL21700 (raised white letters) used as original equipment on model year 2000 GMC Yukon XL 1500 Series vehicles and also offered as optional equipment on the model year 2000 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Series vehicles may experience tread separation due to a lack of adhesion to the first steel belt. Tread belt separation may lead to irregular wear, noise, or vibration. With continued use, it may lead to complete separation of the tread/belt from the tire carcass, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or death.

Remedy: On Jan. 2, 2001, Firestone made a public announcement of the defect and that replacement tires are immediately available at no cost to the customer. Replacement tires are available at either GM or Chevrolet dealers or at authorized participating Firestone retailers. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Bridgestone/Firestone at 1-800-465-1904.

[NHTSA Recall No. 01T001]