DEARBORN, Mich., February 12, 2002 -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has concluded that there is no need to open an investigation into the Ford Explorer. This is consistent with real-world performance data showing the Explorer to be among the safest of vehicles, and NHTSA's previous finding that many Firestone Wilderness AT tires built before 1998 contain a safety defect.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's announcement can be viewed at: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/press/pressdisplay.cfm?year=2002&filename=pr11-02.html