I PURCHASED ALL FOUR MICHELINS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. SINCE THEN I HAD TWO BLOWOUTS ON THE REAR DRIVE-SIDE TIRE AND ONE ON THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE TIRE. ALL THREE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDEWALLS, TWO OF WHICH WERE ON THE INNER SIDE SIDEWALL AND ONE ON THE OUTER SIDE SIDEWALL. THERE WERE NO NAILS, GLASS, OR OTHER DEBRIS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE BLOWOUTS. THE FIRST ONE NOT ONLY LEFT A GAPPING HOLE ON THE INNER SIDE SIDEWALL, BUT IT GOT SO HOT IT ALSO BLEW OUT THE TIRE STEM AND WAS SMOKING FOR A GOOD HOUR AFTERWARDS. THEY REPLACED THAT TIRE WITH A BRAND NEW MICHELIN OF THE SAME TYPE. THEN THE SECOND BLEW OUT HAPPENED ON THAT NEW TIRE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER ALSO LEAVING A GAPPING HOLE ON THE INNER SIDE SIDEWALL AND IT WAS SO HOT THE GUYS COULDN'T EVEN TOUCH IT TO FIX IT UNTIL THEY DOUSED IT WITH WATER. THEY REPLACED IT WITH A BRAND NEW MICHELIN AS WELL. THEN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER (TODAY) THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW SIMILARLY. I DID NOT CRASH AND THERE WAS NO FIRE, HOWEVER THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE AND THESE INSTANCES COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A LOT WORSE SINCE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY EACH TIME, BUT I'M LUCKY THEY WERE NOT. I DEFINITELY FEEL WE ARE DEALING WITH SOME DEFECTIVE TIRES HERE.
NHTSA complaint #10566917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH KELLY SPRINGFIELD TIRE SIZE 185/65/14. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND HE HEARD A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR TIRES. THE CONTACT DETECTED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES HAD A DEFECT WITHIN THE INNER LINER AND THE CORDS WERE VISIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKING TO THE DEALER AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/31/13
NHTSA complaint #10542299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL WHERE OUR DAUGHTER RECEIVED OUTPATIENT CHEMO THERAPY . AT THE FIRST LIGHT LEAVING THE HOSPITAL THE CAR STARTED SHAKING. MY DAUGHTER THOUGHT HER DOOR WAS OPEN , SO SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND CLOSED IT TO VERIFY THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THEY ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND WENT ABOUT 1/4 MILE AND THE CAR MADE A RUMBLING NOISE AND 1 OR 2 MINUTES LATER THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS DRAGING SOMETHING. MY WIFE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND CALLED ME. I WENT DOWN TO ASSIST HER IN CHANGING THE FLAT TIRE.THE TIRE SIDE WALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE SEPERATED IN SEVERAL PLACES . THERE ARE 11 PLACES WHERE THE BELTS SEPERATED CAUSING INSTANTIOUS FAILURE.. ALL SEPERATIONS OCCURED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING PUNCTURING THE TIRE TO CAUSE IT TO GO FLAT. THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY OBJECDT CONTACTING THE TIRE ANYWHERE EXCEPT FOR NORMAL TIRE WEAR ON THE TREAD SURFACE OF THE TIRE. I HAVE THE TIRE IF YOU WANT TO ANNALISE IT.LUCKILY THEY WERE NOT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED YET WHERE THEY COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS MAINTAIINED REGULARY AND THE TIRES ARE IN ALMOST NEW CONDITION. THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE IS NOT LISTED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE IT IS IRONMAN 195 60 R15. DOT CODE 53JL OTHER NUMBERS INCLUED ON THE TIRE ARE SH09 4409 INSIDE A BOX IS: C4 FOLLOWED BY 0248560S IMAX. ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE IS A CIRCLE WITH E4 INSIDE OF IT FOLLOWED BY 0244851. I THINK THAT IS ALL OF THE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON THE TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10462342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE TIRE BRAND WAS BRIDGE STONE INSIGNIA SL, TIRE SIZE WAS P175/65R14. THE DOT WAS UNKNOWN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 67 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE TIRES WERE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ON THE TIRES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATE 02/14/11
NHTSA complaint #10371777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE & I HAVE A 1996 FORD ESCORT WAGON THAT WE PURCHASED USED IN 2008. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IT HAD A SET OF 4 BRIDGESTONE INSIGNIA SL TIRES THAT STILL HAD REASONABLE TREAD DEPTH REMAINING, SO WE DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO USE THE TIRES UNTIL THE TREAD HAD WORN DOWN MORE AND NEEDED REPLACING. ON FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN PART OF THE REAR PASSENGER-SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND SHOT AGAINST THE SHEET METAL ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL. IT RIPPED A LARGE HOLE IN THE VEHICLE'S SHEET METAL, SHOT MANY SMALL PIECES OF TIRE THROUGH THE HOLE INTO THE INTERIOR CARGO AREA IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT THE SAME TIME. THANKFULLY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAR DURING THIS CATASTROPHIC EVENT AND SUCCESSFULLY MANEUVER IT ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME SINCE IT WOULD NO LONGER START, AND WHEN IT ARRIVED I NOTICED THE LARGE HOLE THAT HAD BEEN MADE INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL BY THE TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE STILL HAD PRESSURE, BUT AT THAT TIME I SAW THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY MISSING. SINCE THE FORD ESCORT HAS ITS FUEL CUTOUT SWITCH INSTALLED AGAINST THE PASSENGER-SIDE WHEEL WELL, I CHECKED TO SEE IF THAT HAD TRIPPED AND IT HAD. ONCE IT WAS RESET THE CAR WAS ABLE TO START AND THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY. AS A RESULT OF THIS CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE MY WIFE WAS PLACED IN AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, STRANDED ON THE ROAD, AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO OUR VEHICLE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AS A FORMER AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER THAT TIRE FAILURES OF THIS KIND ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND ANY TIRE THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS FAILURE MUST NOT BE USED. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH NEW TIRES OF A DIFFERENT BRAND AND AM WORKING ON HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT I HAD CHECKED THE PRESSURE IN ALL 4 TIRES AND HAD INFLATED THEM JUST UNDER THE MAXIMUM LISTED ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE (44 PSI).
NHTSA complaint #10348239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRESTONE 710 TIRES. LESS THAN 20,000 MILES, TREAD IS GONE, DOES NOT HANDLE ON ICE AND SNOW. TIRES ARE SOLD IN MINNESOTA, WERE IT SNOWS A LOT. TIRES ROTATED ONCE SO COMPANY WILL NOT STAND BY 65,000 MILE WARRANTY. HIGHWAY MILES, NO REASON FOR TREAD TO HAVE WORN OFF SO SOON. PLEASE CHECK IF TIRE IS DEFECTIVE AND IF SHOULD BE SOLD IN AREAS WHERE IT SNOWS QUITE OFTEN. I HAVE ALMOST GONE OFF THE ROAD MANY TIMES THIS WINTER, SEEMS LIKE YOUR GLIDING ON AIR.
NHTSA complaint #10298347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD ESCORT. THE VEHICLE HAS BIG O PRESTIGE RADIAL MAX TIRES, SIZE 175/70/R13 (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALLS ON THE FRONT TWO TIRES WERE CRACKING. BECAUSE THE TIRES EXCEEDED THE ONE YEAR WARRANTY, THE DEALER WOULD BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER HAS THE TIRES. THE DOT AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/10/08.
NHTSA complaint #10234178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER MASTERCRAFT A/S IV TIRES, SIZE P20565R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, WHEN THE TIRES ARE COLD, THEY BECOME BUMPY AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RIDE ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, DOT NUMBER, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,000.
NHTSA complaint #10225581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PURCHASED (4) COOPER TIRES(185/65R14 TRENDER SETTER; D.O.T. UT75C2H1602 ON 8-12-2002. A SIDEWALL DEFECT(2X1" BUBBLE) WAS NOTICED AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ON 1/2006. TIRE(SAME TYPE) WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S COST. ANOTHER TIRE SIDEWALL DEFECT(2X1" BUBBLE) WAS NOTICED ON 1/2008 IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE FIRST. THIS TIRE WAS RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR EVALUATION. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED IT WAS NOT DEFECTIVE, BUT CAUSED BY CUSTOMER. THIS CAUSED CUSTOMER TO LOOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE QUALITY OF THE MANUFACURER'S TIRES FOR FEAR OF A SIDEWALL BLOW OUT. ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AT OWNER'S COST.
NHTSA complaint #10219689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILURE OF AMERICA DISCOUNT TIRE CO. TO HONOR TIRE WARRANTY. SIDE WALL OF TIRES HAVE PREMATURELY DEVELOPED CRACKS SURROUNDING THE BEAD AREA. BASED ON COMMENTS BY THAT COMPANIES REPRESENTATIVE, THE TIRES ARE LIKENED/COMPARED TO A TIME BOMB READY TO GO OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10214948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT PURCHASED TWO BRIDGESTONE POTENZA G009 (NA) SUMMER TIRES (SIZE 205/40/R17) ON MAY 12, 2007. ONE OF THE TIRES EXPLODED AS THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 25 MPH. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE SIDEWALLS SEPARATED FROM THE BEADS. BRIDGESTONE STATED THAT SHE MUST HAVE STRUCK SOMETHING IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE BLOW OUT. SHE INFORMED THEM THAT SHE DID NOT DRIVE OVER ANY POTHOLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE TIRES STILL LOOKS BRAND NEW AND THERE IS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES LEFT ON THEM. THE DOT NUMBER MAY NOT BE ACCURATE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500 AND THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.
NHTSA complaint #10200523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT PURCHASED TWO BRIDGESTONE POTENZA G009 (NA) SUMMER TIRES (SIZE 205/40/R17) ON MAY 12, 2007. ONE OF THE TIRES EXPLODED AS THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 25 MPH. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE SIDEWALLS SEPARATED FROM THE BEADS. BRIDGESTONE STATED THAT SHE MUST HAVE STRUCK SOMETHING IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE BLOW OUT. SHE INFORMED THEM THAT SHE DID NOT DRIVE OVER ANY POTHOLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE TIRES STILL LOOKS BRAND NEW AND THERE IS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES LEFT ON THEM. THE DOT NUMBER MAY NOT BE ACCURATE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500 AND THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.
NHTSA complaint #10200523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRE SEPARATION WITH CHUNKS OF TIRE GONE LEAVING RADIAL BELT EXPOSE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE, SAME COMPANY AND SAME TIRE THAT HAS SEPARATED. BOTH LEAVING LARGE AREAS OF RADIAL BELT EXPOSED. HAVE PICTURES. NO ACCIDENT NO INJURIES, DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN BOTH EVIDENTLY SEPARATED BASED ON NOISE AND SHAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10178414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 ESCORT LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK TWO GUARDRAILS. THE CONSUMER HAD MINOR INJURIES, BUT REFUSED TREATMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10169102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING CAR, HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT, AND CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. SHE TRIED SHIFTING GEARS, USING BRAKES, AND PULLING PARKING BRAKE TO NO AVAIL. SHE CRASHED INTO PARKED CARS AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 200 YARDS UPHILL. WITNESSES SAY SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 30 TO 40 MPH. AFTER THE BLOWOUT, WHICH HAPPENED AS SHE WAS LEAVING A STOP. CAR WILL NOT BE REPAIRED, WILL BE JUNKED. IT IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10144374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: 2002 FORD ESCORT ZX2. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR EXCEPT WHEN HE HAS TO. WANTED VEHICLE TO BE SAFE. I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WHEN HITTING A BUMP, THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS HITTING THE STRUT. DEALERSHIP PUT SIXTEEN INCH TIRES ON CAR, AND IT CALLS FOR SIZE FIFTEEN. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THEY PUT THE WRONG SIZE RIM AND TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR NEW WITH ONLY 40 MILES ON IT. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER NOT TO PUT CHILDREN IN THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10138666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING 2003, FORD, ESCAPE WITH 13.970 MILE WITH GENERAL AMERI - TRAC, 225/70R15 PASSENGER REAR TIRE THREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO UNDER CARRIAGE AND BUMPER. WHILE REPLACING TIRE WITH SPARE NOTICED DRIVER'S REAR TIRE ALSO STARTED TO SEPARATE. ESCAPE WAS TO UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO CUTTER FORD DEALERSHIP, AIEA HAWAII. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING, SAYING TIRES WERE ON FOR 12,000 MILES OR 1 YEAR. TOOK CAR TO SEARS TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED WHICH COST LITTLE OVER 250.00, BUT THIS DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY BODY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE TIRE. IT APPEARED TO M THAT DEALERSHIP WISH TO AVOILD ANY PROBLEMS WITH TIRES, LIKE PREVIOUS TIRE PROBLEMS. TIRES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DIVEN ON PAVED ROADS. HAVE RETAINED THE PAPERWORK FROM SEARS ON THE CONDITION OF TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10116587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LARGE CHUNKS OF TREAD CAME OFF THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT LEFT TIRE, AND CRACKS HAD DEVELOPED ON THE SIDE WALL. THIS RESULT IN THE VEHICLE SHAKING SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #10087914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HELLO, MY COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE REAR COIL SPRINGS OF '98 ISH ESCORTS. IN MY CASE, THE FIRST SPRING FAILED AT ABOUT 80,000 KMS AND THE SECOND WAS CONFIRMED JUST TODAY WHILE HAVING A TIRE REPLACED DUE TO A PUNCTURE. THREE GARAGES HAVE MADE UNSOLICITED COMMENTS CONCERNING THE AWFUL COILS DELIVERED WITH THE CAR WONDERING IF THEY (THE REAR COILS) HAD FAILED YET. INITIALLY I WAS SKEPTICAL OF THE MECHANICS MOTIVES; NOW I JUST FUME WHEN I HEAR THESE COMMENTS. IF THIS IS SUCH A PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T FORD MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO REDRESS THIS PROBLEM? NOW I'M WONDERING WHETHER THAT BUSTED COIL WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR YESTERDAY'S PUNCTURED TIRE - THE GARAGE THOUGHT THIS WAS CERTAINLY NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION.
NHTSA complaint #10071377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.