Ford Motor Company Statement: NHTSA Pursues Forced Recall of Additional Firestone Tires

    DEARBORN, Mich., July 19 The following statement was
released today by Ford Motor Company:

    We are aware that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has
completed its defect investigation into the tires in question, and will issue
an initial defect decision, the next step toward a forced recall.
    Ford Motor Company began replacing these tires on our vehicles in May to
ensure the safety and trust of our customers and their families.  We have
replaced almost three million Wilderness AT tires during the last two months.
We will continue to work closely with NHTSA as it continues with its initial
defect decision, the next step toward a forced recall of Firestone tires.

    -- Sue Cischke, Vice President, Environmental and Safety Engineering

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