Firestone: No More Recalls
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. will not issue a broader recall of Firestone tires, saying Thursday the federal government has failed to show that other tires made by the company pose a danger to motorists. That, reports CBS News Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson, pushes Firestone and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), closer to a nasty confrontation — a forced recall.
The tire maker recalled 6.5 million tires last August after determining they had a high rate of failure. Since then, federal safety officials have been reviewing the safety of millions of other Firestone tires.
Some observers say that a forced recall could be the kiss of death for the financially troubled tire maker, which employs 45,000 people in the Americas. But NHTSA is said to be determined to take action, under pressure from Congress to prove itself in the high-profile investigation that's dragged on for more than a year.
But sources say behind the scenes, Firestone was seriously discussing removing more tires. The negotiations with NHTSA reached an impasse over wording — Firestone wanted to call it a "product improvement program", NHTSA insisted on a formal "recall."
The tires involved are all 15 and 16-inch Wilderness AT tires except ones made at the company's Aiken, South Carolina plant.
"If one of our tires might jeopardize that safety, then we'll take it off the road. We've done it before and, if it becomes necessary, we'll do it again. But that is simply not the case here," Bridgestone/Firestone CEO John Lampe said in a statement.
NHTSA had not publicly called for a broader recall, but Firestone spokeswoman Jill Bratina said at a meeting Thursday agency officials pressed the tire maker to voluntarily do so. Bratina said the company refused and the talks ended.
The agency can order a broader recall, but Bratina said the tire maker would challenge such a move in court.
NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson had no immediate comment.
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Last month, House Energy and Commerce Chairman W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, R-La., said his staff had uncovered questionable safety records involving several of Ford's replacement tire brands.
Tauzin's staff said claims data showed that up to seven tire product lines generated worse performance records than the Firestone Wilderness AT tires being replaced in Ford's $3-billion recall.
Tauzin drew criticism for raising safety questions based on raw data in the midst of a recall. Safety advocates complained that such action could only confuse consumers, making it less likely that they would remove the Firestone tires.
According to a story Thursday in The Detroit News, the NHTSA's findings vindicate Ford, which insisted that the replacement tires were safe.
When the tire replacement campaign was announced in May, Firestone severed all business ties with Ford.
The automaker blames the tire scandal, which has been linked to 203 deaths and more than 700 injuries, on bad tires. Firestone claims the design of the Ford Explorer is a contributing factor in the accidents.
Many involved rollovers of the highly popular Ford Explorer, which used the tires as standard equipment.
Because of accident reports, Firestone recalled 6.5 million ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires. Ford said in May it would replace an additional 13 million Wilderness AT tires because of safety concerns.
Firestone has acknowledged problems with the recalled tires, but says the Explorer design is partly responsible for the accidents.
"We now know this to be a fact: You can take every Firestone tire off every Explorer and the rollovers and fatal accidents will continue," Lampe said.
That claim, strongly rejected by Ford officials, prompted the automaker to end a centurylong relationship with Firestone.
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