DEARBORN, Mich. (Jan. 2, 2001)—Ford Motor Co. said it will warrant the tires on its 2001 and subsequent Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and light trucks as a way to increase customer satisfaction and gain direct access to warranty data.
The move, which comes after months of embroilment in the Bridgestone/Firestone tire recall, brings the tires on the vehicles under Ford´s bumper-to-bumper warranty.
To date, General Motors Corp. has been the only vehicle manufacturer to include tires under its warranty. Other vehicle manufacturers said in mid-December they´d likely consider covering the tires if Ford joined GM in doing so.
"A consumer-focused company listens to its customers, and they´re telling us they want us to take strong steps to ensure tire safety,´´ said Ford President and CEO Jacques Nasser in a prepared statement. "We now stand behind every component on our vehicles. Administering our own tire warranty will also play a role in our ´early warning system,´ providing early access to data on tire performance."
The warranty will provide for replacement of tires for defects in materials or workmanship at no charge during the vehicle bumper-to bumper coverage period; Ford and Mercury coverage is three years/36,000 miles, while Lincoln is four years/50,000 miles, whichever comes first.