Former Ford PR Executive Jason Vines alleges the automaker bugged his phones, office and car in his new book.

Former Ford PR Chief Jason Vines is alleging that the automaker eavesdropped on his conversations and those of other top executives during his tenure at the company.

In his soon-to-be-released book, “What Did Jesus Drive? Crisis PR in Cars, Computers and Christianity,” Vines claims that security personnel for the automaker bugged his car, cell phone and office for a three-month period during the Firestone tire crisis in 2001.

He further alleges that he wasn’t the only executive who was being tapped. He suggests then-general counsel John Rintamaki also believed he was being listened to and during a sensitive conversation in Rintamaki’s office, the lawyer pumped up the volume on some classical music to counteract the devices.

“We are not aware of anything of this nature happening,” Susan Krusel, Ford spokesperson, in an email to TheDetroitBureau.com.

According to The Detroit News, even if it had been a company phone, recording Vines without his knowledge is a felony under Michigan law.

Vines also implies that Bill Ford Jr. leaked information to the media, or at least the New York Times during the crisis that eventually led to former CEO Jacques Nasser’s firing, according to the News.

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The book covers Nasser’s plan to recall another 13 million vehicles with Firestone tires during the Explorer SUV crisis in May 2001. Nasser told Ford about the decision, and not long after the New York Times’ Detroit bureau chief called Vines about the plan.

Vines in turn asked Ford security to check the reporter’s home, cellphone and office phone to see if someone at Ford at called him. Officials told Vines: “You don’t want to know.” He then recounted another leak to the reporter about Nasser’s health preventing from attending the company’s annual shareholder meeting, and again security implicated Ford.

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Krusel said the company is moving on.

“The accounts detailed in the book about the Firestone tire crises happened more than a decade ago under a very different leadership team at Ford,” she wrote in an email. “As with any retelling of history, memories and accuracy differ from person to person, and this account is no different.

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“During the events, our sole focus was on doing what was right for the safety of our customers. We are grateful for Jason’s tireless leadership during the time he served at Ford. We will let the book speak for itself, as we remain focused on creating the next chapter in Ford’s history.”

Vines is a colorful public relations executive, who has held top spots at several automakers, including Chrysler and Nissan as well as posts outside the industry at Compuware, Zondervan Publishers. He’s also performed stand-up comedy and been a columnist at the Detroit News in more recent times.