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CNN Live At Daybreak

Ford, Firestone Face Off Once Again in Front of Congress

Aired June 19, 2001 - 08:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Some potential problems with tires to tell you about. Well Ford may be using replacement tires that have a higher failure rate than the recalled Firestone tires. That is the word in a report by the House Commerce Committee. Members will have those figures on hand today when they question Ford chief executive Jacques Nasser and Firestone CEO John Lampe.

As CNN's Patty Davis reports, both sides are coming prepared to defend their turf.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A caravan of Ford Explorers carrying thousands of United Autoworkers heads for Washington from Michigan. Their goal, to show support for Ford CEO Jacques Nasser.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ford is sponsoring us, OK, and the UAW is helping them because this is our livelihood.

DAVIS: Nasser and Firestone CEO John Lampe testifying on Capitol Hill; the first time they'll face congressional scrutiny since Firestone announced last month that it will stop selling tires to Ford.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, let's start.

DAVIS: Ford is in the midst of replacing 13 million Firestone Wilderness AT tires that weren't part of last summer's recall, and congressional staffers say they hope to help consumers sift through all the conflicting data and finger pointing.

The two companies are tossing barbs, each armed with studies incriminating the other in tire-related crashes that have left more than 200 dead. Firestone says the Ford Explorer has a design flaw that makes the vehicle more prone to rollovers. In retaliation, Ford says Firestone's own claims data show Wilderness tires, particularly older ones, fail at a higher rate than others.

(on camera): Ford says it sent letters like this one to owners of affected Ford Explorers, telling them of the latest replacement effort. The company says older tires will be replaced first. Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCEDWARDS: Well, Lampe and Nasser likely will not see each other during the hearings. Each is to testify separately and aides are taking steps to keep the two CEOs from bumping into each other in the hallway.

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