TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE EQUIPPED WITH DOUGLAS X-TRAC 2 TIRES, SIZE: P215/60/R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE VEERED BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,029 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,159.
NHTSA complaint #10782290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE TIRE VALVE ON MY RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED WHILE THE CAR WAS GARAGED. THIS WAS THE SECOND VALVE FAILURE IN A PAIR OF TIRES INSTALLED ON 04/27/2007. THE FIRST VALVE FAILED (ON THE OTHER TIRE IN THE PAIR) ON 04/26/2009 WHILE THE CAR WAS ALSO PARKED, BUT ABOUT 30 MILES FROM HOME (SEE ODI NUMBER 10279930).
NHTSA complaint #10340451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT A 1995 MERCURY SABLE. THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID IT HAD ALL NEW BRAKES, SPRINGS, FILTERS, SENSORS, RADIATOR, ETC. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC LAST WEEK (FRIDAY), HE SAID THERE IS A NUMBER OF ILLEGAL THINGS ON IT AND IT NEEDS 1500$ WORTH OF WORK TO MAKE IT SAFE. HE SAID IT WAS A LEMON AND I SHOULD CONTACT THE PERSON THAT SOLD IT TO ME, SO I DID, I BROUGHT HIM TO THE MECHANIC SO HE COULD HEAR EVERYTHING ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE AND BROKEN ABOUT IT. HE STATED IN FRONT OF THE MECHANICS THAT HE WOULD BE REFUNDING MY MONEY ON MONDAY (TODAY). WHEN I CALLED TODAY THEY TOLD ME TO BAD I'M NOT GETTING MY MONEY BACK. WE BOUGHT IT AS IS AND OH WELL. I HAVE A DETAILED LIST OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM MY MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10317799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE AT A DESTINATION ABOUT 30 MILES FROM HOME, MY LEFT-FRONT TIRE VALVE FAILED JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE PARKED CAR TO HEAD HOME. THE AIR WHOOSHED LOUDLY OUT OF THE TIRE AS I WATCHED IT DEFLATE BEFORE MY EYES. I CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE IN CHANGING THE TIRE AND TOOK THE FLAT TIRE TO MY DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRE VALVE. THE VALVE WAS INSTALLED AS PART OF A NEW-TIRE INSTALLATION ON 04/24/2007 BY MY FORD DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10279930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUTURA 875 TIRES MADE BY BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE WITH TREAD SEPARATION ON ALL 4 TIRES. THESE TIRES SEEM NEVER TO HAVE EXISTED. THEY ARE NOT FUTURA 775 TIRES THEY ARE FUTURA 875 TIRES. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED JULY 2001 AT A TIME WHEN DANGEROUS TIRES WERE IN THE NEWS FOR ROLL OVER ACCIDENT'S KILLING PEOPLE. YET PEPBOYS NEVER NOTIFIED US THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. NOW THE TREAD SEPARATION ON ALL 4 TIRES IS VERY OBVIOUS AND THE TIRES MUST BE REPLACED. CLEARLY THERE ARE STILL DEFECTIVE DANGEROUS TIRES ON THE ROAD WAITING TO HARM A TRUSTING PUBLIC. WHY?
NHTSA complaint #10274136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH WHEN LEFT FRONT TIRE NEAR INSTANTLY DEFLATED CAUSING TOTAL TIRE FAILURE BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. TIRE SIDEWALL WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. SPARE INSTALLED. VISITED THE TIRE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE FOUR NEW REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE INSTALLED 2 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AND 23,032 MILES PRIOR. NO PUNCTURES, TEARS OR CUTS WERE FOUND ANYWHERE ON THE TIRE TREAD OR SIDEWALL. THE ONLY KNOWN CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE WAS A CRACKED VALVE STEM IN THE AREA WHERE THE STEM SEATS AGAINST THE ALUMINUM WHEEL ALLOWING AIR TO EXHAUST QUICKLY FROM THE TIRE ONCE THE CRACK PROPAGATED TO INSIDE. A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED ALONG WITH A NEW VALVE STEM. CRACKED VALVE STEM INFORMATION; TR 413, EHA GERMANY.
NHTSA complaint #10254187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 120 MILES FROM HOME. UPON ARRIVING AT THE DESTINATION, I NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS EXTREMELY LOW WITH AS ESTIMATED 10 P.S.I. AIR PRESSURE REMAINING. KNOWING THAT I HAD TWO PREVIOUS TIRE BLOWOUTS ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO CRACKED VALVE STEMS AND OCCURRING WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 4 MONTHS, I MOVED THE VALVE STEM SLIGHTLY BACK AND FORTH AND NOTICED AIR ESCAPING FROM THE AREA WHERE THE STEM SEATS AGAINST THE ALUMINUM WHEEL. I PUT SOME SOAP BUBBLES AROUND THE STEM AND CONFIRMED THAT AIR WAS ESCAPING FROM A CRACK IN THE VALVE STEM. REFERENCE ODI #'S 10254187 AND 10254189 AS A REFERENCE ON THE PREVIOUS TWO VALVE STEM ISSUES ON SAME VEHICLE. SPARE INSTALLED. VISITED THE TIRE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE FOUR NEW REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE INSTALLED 2 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AND 26,068 MILES PRIOR. NO PUNCTURES, TEARS OR CUTS WERE FOUND ANYWHERE ON THE TIRE TREAD OR SIDEWALL. THE ONLY KNOWN CAUSE OF THE LOW TIRE WAS A CRACKED VALVE STEM IN THE AREA WHERE THE STEM SEATS AGAINST THE ALUMINUM WHEEL ALLOWING AIR TO EXHAUST QUICKLY FROM THE TIRE ONCE THE CRACK PROPAGATED TO INSIDE. A NEW VALVE STEM WAS INSTALLED. THE LEFT REAR TIRE VALVE STEM WAS ALSO REPLACED AT THIS TIME TO AVOID A FUTURE PROBLEM. CRACKED VALVE STEM INFORMATION; TR 413, EHA GERMANY.
NHTSA complaint #10254191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN RIGHT FRONT TIRE NEAR INSTANTLY DEFLATED CAUSING TOTAL TIRE FAILURE BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. TIRE SIDEWALL WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. SPARE INSTALLED. VISITED THE TIRE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE FOUR NEW REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE INSTALLED 2 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AND 23,911 MILES PRIOR. NO PUNCTURES, TEARS OR CUTS WERE FOUND ANYWHERE ON THE TIRE TREAD OR SIDEWALL. THE ONLY KNOWN CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE WAS A CRACKED (CUT) VALVE STEM (AS DOCUMENTED BY DEALERSHIP) IN THE AREA WHERE THE STEM SEATS AGAINST THE ALUMINUM WHEEL ALLOWING AIR TO EXHAUST QUICKLY FROM THE TIRE ONCE THE CRACK PROPAGATED TO INSIDE. A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED ALONG WITH A NEW VALVE STEM. CRACKED VALVE STEM INFORMATION; TR 413, EHA GERMANY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME (WITHIN 900 MILES) THAT A TIRE BLOWOUT OCCURRED DUE TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BAD VALVE STEM. CRACKED VALVE STEM WAS SAVED FOR REFERENCE.
NHTSA complaint #10254189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THESE TIRES AND THEY ONLY HAVE A FEW THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. THEY WERE 60,000 MILES TIRES. WITH MY ALZHEIMER'S HUSBAND UNDER THE CARE OF HOSPICE I WENT TO RUN ERRANDS. I ALSO RECENTLY BOUGHT 2 NEW FRONT TIRES. WHEN PUTTING THEM ON THE TOLD ME THEY LOOKED DRY ROTTED AND TO TAKE THEM BACK. MERCHANTS TIRES HAS MOVED. IT COST MONEY TO DRIVE AROUND TRYING TO FIND WHERE THEY MOVED TO. HOSPICE ONLY GIVES ME 1 HR. TELL ME HOW I AM SUPPOSE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS?
NHTSA complaint #10232157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE08036 WE PURCHASED A SET OF MICHELIN TIRES ON OCT, 06, FROM NTB IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA TO PUT ON MY 2004 MERCURY SABLE. WITHIN THE PAST 2 MTHS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR VALVE STEMS. THE FIRST WENT FLAT, I TOOK IT BACK TO NTB, THEY REPLACED IT. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, REPLACED THAT VALVE STEM. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE TO WORK, WHEN I PARKED THE CAR, I HEARD AIR AND ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. I HAD THE LAST TWO VALVE STEMS REPLACED. THE VALVE STEMS BROKE OFF. THE LAST TIRE DEALER , LITTLE TIRE IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA, GAVE ME ONE THEY TOOK OFF MY CAR AND SAID THEY LOOKED AS IF THE VALVE STEMS HAD DRY-ROTTED. I CONTACTED NTB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ASKING IF THERE WAS A DEFECT OR RECALL ON THE VALVE STEMS. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD BACK. I DO THINK THESE VALVE STEMS NEED TO BE RECALLED. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. LUCKILY, I PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO MY CAR AND TIRES AND NOTICED THE LEAKAGE BEFORE THE TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT OR BLEW OUT BUT NOT ALL PEOPLE DO THAT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10231576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES IN THE FALL OF 2006 FROM TIRE KINGDOM. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOUR TIMES BECAUSE OF LOSING AIR PRESSURE. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AN OPTICAL ILLUSION. THEN I HAD A VALVE STEM CRACK AND CAUSE A RAPID LOSS OF AIR WHILE DRIVING. FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. AGAIN TIRE KINGDOM BLEW THIS OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM SINCE HEARING ABOUT THE RECALLED VALVE STEMS AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN A COMPLETE RUN AROUND. THE TIRE THAT SUDDENLY DEFLATED SUFFERED DAMAGE TO THE SIDE WALL WHICH THEY SAID "ISN'T A BIG DEAL." MY TIRES HAVE WORN FASTER AND ONE HAS SKIDDING ON THE SIDEWALL FROM THE FAULTY VALVE STEMS INSTALLED BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
NHTSA complaint #10231052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 MERCURY SABLE. 40K MILES. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED (BROKE) WHILE BACKING CAR FROM DRIVEWAY. SPRING FAILURE CAUSED RUPTURE OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. SPRING CAUSED THE FRONT WHEEL TO LOCK UP, DISABLING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DAMAGED TIRE AND ALL 4 COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY CORROSION ON THE BROKEN COIL SPRING. THE PAINT WAS INTACT, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PITTING OR BUBBLING, AND THE STEEL LOOKED LIKE A CLEAN BREAK.
NHTSA complaint #10228373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST DRIVEN ALL OVER THE STATE WITH HER STUDENT TEACHING ASSIGNMENT. SHE WAS GOING TO TEACH FOR THE DAY WHEN SHE HAD TIRE FAILURE. SHE HAD JUST LEFT FROM HER APARTMENT GOING 10 MPH AND ABOUT ONE MILE FROM HER PLACE. THE COIL SPRING BROKE JABBING INTO HER TIRE AND CAUSING A BLOW OUT. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND THE MECHANIC SAID THESE MECURIES AND FORD SABLES WERE GOOD FOR THIS KIND OD A PROBLEM. THEN I GOT ON LINE AND IT SAIS THAT ONE POINT BACK IN 95 THAT THESE KIND OF CARS HAD TO HAVE GUARDS TO PROTECT THE COILS FROM THE TIRES. I AM CONCERNED.
NHTSA complaint #10220275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TIRES. THE DAY AFTER THE CONTACT PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE FLATTENED. THE TIRE DEALER REPAIRED THE VALVE. THE PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 138,707.
NHTSA complaint #10215898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
98 SABLE WAGON. (SPRING PLATE GAVE AND SPRING BLEW OUT TIRE AND DAMAGED FRONT END RODS OR ARMS, SHOCK ACCORDING TO FORD SERVICE ANALYSIS) AND LEFT FRONT END ALMOST SITTING ON THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO FORD ANALYSIS). I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A BLOW OUT SO I HAD AAA COME TO TOW IT TO MY DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE AAA DRIVER SAW THE DAMAGE, HE SAID HE'S SEEN THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL OUT FOR THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION. FORD DEALERSHIP LOOKED UP RECALLS FOR MY CAR AND SAID THERE WAS ONE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR BUT IT WAS FOR 99 AND NEWER MODELS AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT REPAIRING IT UNDER A RECALL. I CALLED FORD CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND WOULDN'T INVEST THEIR MONEY INTO REPAIRING MY CAR. FORTUNATE FOR ME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IF IT WERE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHE. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE 98S AND 99S ARE VERY SIMILAR, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD WOULDN'T MAKE THE REPAIRS AT THEIR COST UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10213417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
98 SABLE WAGON. (SPRING PLATE GAVE AND SPRING BLEW OUT TIRE AND DAMAGED FRONT END RODS OR ARMS, SHOCK ACCORDING TO FORD SERVICE ANALYSIS) AND LEFT FRONT END ALMOST SITTING ON THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO FORD ANALYSIS). I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A BLOW OUT SO I HAD AAA COME TO TOW IT TO MY DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE AAA DRIVER SAW THE DAMAGE, HE SAID HE'S SEEN THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL OUT FOR THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION. FORD DEALERSHIP LOOKED UP RECALLS FOR MY CAR AND SAID THERE WAS ONE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR BUT IT WAS FOR 99 AND NEWER MODELS AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT REPAIRING IT UNDER A RECALL. I CALLED FORD CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND WOULDN'T INVEST THEIR MONEY INTO REPAIRING MY CAR. FORTUNATE FOR ME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IF IT WERE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHE. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE 98S AND 99S ARE VERY SIMILAR, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD WOULDN'T MAKE THE REPAIRS AT THEIR COST UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10213417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR NOT HANDLING PROPERLY. BRAKES SQUEALING. VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE. CAR RIDING LOWER IN BACK. SOUNDED/FELT LIKE I WAS RIDING ON A FLAT, TIRE PRESSURE WAS DOWN, BUT NOT BADLY (3 LBS). TOOK TO MECHANIC FOR TUNEUP. ADVISED REAR TIRE BAD WITH FLAT SPOTS. PURCHASED TIRES TO BE INSTALLED. WHEN MECHANIC PULLED TIRE/WHEEL TO INSTALL, NOTICED REAR SPRING WAS BROKEN. PULLED TIRE/WHEEL FROM OTHER SIDE. IT TOO, WAS BROKEN. ONE BREAK WAS NEW, THE OTHER OLDER AS ENDS WERE RUSTED OVER. THERE ARE RUB MARKS AND WEAR ON THE RUBBER COVERING OVER BOTH SPRINGS AS WELL AS THE COATING COMING OFF. I HAVE THE BROKEN SPRINGS AND HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS THAT SHOW BRAKES AND DISCOLORATION. TWO (2) NEW TIRES, TWO (2) REAR SPRINGS AND ALIGNMENT COST $614.68. I FREQUENTLY HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN WITH ME. EITHER ONE OR BOTH OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED HAS THE PIECES COME THROUGH THE SEATS.
NHTSA complaint #10200149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.