29 more deaths reported in Firestone investigation

Wednesday, December 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Twenty-nine more deaths have been reported in the government's investigation into the safety of Firestone tires, including four fatalities that occurred in accidents since the tire-maker's August recall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reports of 148 deaths involving tread separations, blowouts and other problems involving Firestone tires. That's up from 119 deaths reported as of Oct. 17, the last time NHTSA updated the numbers.

A NHTSA spokesman said Wednesday there have been more than 4,300 complaints about the tires, including more than 525 injuries.

Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. recalled 6.5 million ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires on Aug. 9 as reports of accidents involving tire failures mounted. The latest summary includes the first reports of deaths since the recall _ three reported to NHTSA by the company and one collected by the agency independently.

Not all the deaths that have been reported involve the recalled tires. Five of the latest fatalities reportedly involve tires included in a consumer advisory issued by the agency, but not under recall by the company.

NHTSA investigators issued the advisory Sept. 1, warning consumers that 1.4 million Firestone tires not under recall had a high failure rate and could pose a safety problem. Bridgestone/Firestone has since agreed to also replace those tires at no cost for customers who ask, but they are not included in the safety recall campaign.

Bridgestone/Firestone officials were not immediately available for comment.

Besides the deaths being investigated by U.S. authorities, the tires have also been linked to at least seven deaths in the Middle East and 46 in Venezuela.

Most of the tires under recall were used as original equipment on the Ford Explorer, and many of the deaths occurred when the tires failed and an Explorer rolled over.

Ford, Bridgestone/Firestone and NHTSA are investigating what can cause the tread to peel off the tire, sometimes as the vehicle is traveling at highway speeds, but have yet to announce their conclusions.

Bridgestone/Firestone said last month it is focusing on faulty product design and manufacturing problems at its Decatur, Ill., plant as possible causes.

NHTSA is hoping to finish its probe in the next three months, a very quick pace for the federal agency, which can take more than a year to complete an investigation. It has the power to order an expanded recall if it determines other tires are not safe.