Firestone not Ford Explorer at fault

[Iron Woode]

I see that an investigation has absolved the Explorer of having serious safety issues and this should put the blame on Firestone where it belongs.

What kind of logic is Firestone using? We make defective tires and put them on Explorers because of contractual reasons. We also put them on other vehicles too. The vehicles are involved in serious crashes due to tire seperation and it must be the vehicles' fault not the tire's. Any company this stupid should not be in business. CYA is not in a business's best interest. Instead they should just admit their mistake and show some integrity.

 

[MajesticMoose]

the fact remains that ford was telling people to under-inflate their tires. This unddoubtedly contributed to the increased numbers of crashes involving the explorers. I don't think you can fit the blame solely on one of the two parties. They share, although the majority of the blame is on firestone's shoulders IMHO

m00se

 

[Finality]

Its a bit more complicated than that.

Essentially Ford went to Firestone and said listen make this tire as cheap as possible. Now I am not sure if Firestone went and made those tires with that weakness (essentially because explorers seem to crash more than any other suv with that tire type.

Essentially both companies are to blame. But I doubt Ford gave Firestone much choice it was probably more off a "build it for us or we walk" (not that extreme but you get the jist.

We where discussing this in class the last semester. I always thought it was Firestones fault I mean come on why would a tire explode on a specific car?

Fords always been stuck in a rock and a hard place there Labor rates/benefits are sky high compared to companies like Honda,Nissan (USA factories). The only way they can get there costs down is by saving on the materials cost. Which is essentially another reason why people dont like the 'quality' of American products.

 

[Iron Woode]

<<But I doubt Ford gave Firestone much choice it was probably more off a "build it for us or we walk" (not that extreme but you get the jist.>>

The relationship between Ford and Firestone is that they have been close for almost 100 years. Infact the families are related through marriage. That is why Firestone supplied tires to Ford in the first place. Firestone has documents stating that they have made defective tires and did not recall them. Employees have seen defective tires being sent into service because profits are more important than anything else. You should not treat a close business partner like that.



In a way I understand that both companies share some blame, but tire seperation is a sign of bad tires not bad vehicles.

 

[Rallispec]

<< Fords always been stuck in a rock and a hard place there Labor rates/benefits are sky high compared to companies like Honda,Nissan (USA factories). The only way they can get there costs down is by saving on the materials cost. Which is essentially another reason why people dont like the 'quality' of American products. >>



why are labor rates different for ford if all the car factories are in the US?

 

[PsychoAndy]

"US" automakers dont build 100% of their cars in the US anymore

GM: Guess what? The "Heartbeat of America" is being put together in some factory in Canada.
Ford: beats me where they build anymore
Chrysler: Mfr's PT cruisers in Mexico

It seems like GM and DC are making Imports, while:

Toyota: Builds Camry's in Kentucky
Nissan: Builds Maxima's in Tennessee
BMW: I think they have a plant somwhere in TN
Honda: Builds Accord's in Ohio

Awsome. Chevy's are imports, Toyotas are Domestic.

 

[bugsysiegel]

Personally I think both companies should be held responsible. The first thing Ford did when the problem came to light was deny any knowledge at all of the problem. Then, after it was shown that Ford *did* know about the problem, they came out with those tv ads claiming to be all concerned about "safety." Please, all management people are concerned about is making a buck at whatever cost it takes. Kind of off topic, but if you look at any company today, you can see this "make a buck" attitude. Granted companies are in business to make money, but they are all stepping on people to do it. Show me a business that makes it a point to try and keep people employed, and make a quality product. It just doesn't exist anymore. Production is outsourced to foreign countries, people close to retirement age are suddenly downsized, and fat-cat CEO's make millions upon milions of dollars, then get millions more in bonuses.

It's pretty darn nerve-racking.

 

[b0mbrman]

Zing! Chalk one up for the bad guys!