DEARBORN, Mich. (Oct. 16, 2001)—It is “too early to say” whether Ford Motor Co. will sue Bridgestone Corp. in an attempt to recoup the estimated $3 billion it spent in a voluntary recall of 13 million Firestone Wilderness AT tires last May.
“We always prefer negotiation rather than any kind of court action,” a Ford spokeswoman said regarding a Financial Times article saying such a lawsuit was possible. The story also said Ford executives had discussed possible repayment of the May recall costs with Bridgestone Chairman Shigeo Watanabe.
A Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. spokeswoman said her company has heard nothing about a possible lawsuit, and continues in its belief that the Ford recall was unnecessary. She also confirmed that Bridgestone will take a $30 million loss on the further recall of 768,000 tires recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.