p 185/75r15 (?) copy of email sent to Kost Tires Pa, BBB, State Attorney General's office: Sirs, Please forward to your corporate office. Two months ago, I replaced my entire front end (hubs, bearings, lower ball joints and outer ties rod ends) because the excessive noise these tires generated sounded a lot like bad bearings. The bearings themselves turned out to be fine. This tire blew out on me at 65-70 mph yesterday and almost killed me - the other front tire was almost just as bad. This manufacturer's quality control department should be notified asap, or steps should be taken to recall any of this brand that you've sold in order to limit your company's liability in case of an accidental death as a result of inadequate or insufficient safety standards. Again, this is after 4K miles on a "Kendra" tire rated for 60K - manufactured in Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam (?). Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11544372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PILOT SPORT A/S PLUS TIRES, SIZE: 215/45/R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DEFLATED. THE TIRES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
NHTSA complaint #10776250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
KUMHO SOLUS KH25 TIRE PURCHASED A SET OF FOUR AND WITHIN THREE MILES OF SHOP ONE TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. ONE MONTH LATTER ANOTHER SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. HAVE PICKS OF LARGE BLISTER THAT FORMED ON TIRE BEFORE IT BLEW OUT. AM AFRAID TO DRIVE ON REMAINING TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10515521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRE PRESSURE PROBLEMS ON ALL EAGLE TIRES THAT CAME WITH CAR. HAD SIDE WALLS CLEANED AND TIRE LEAKAGE CONTINUES. TIRES HAVE TO BE REFILLED EVERY 2 WEEKS. WILL NEED TO REPLACE ALL TIRES. PROBLEMS BEGAN WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON TIRES. NTB NOTIFIED OWNER THAT EAGLE DISCONTINUING THIS TIRE. DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10423080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 PONTIAC VIBE. UNIT #1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE AT MILE POST 90 IN THE CENTER LANE. #1'S RIGHT TIRE FAILED CAUSING #1 TO SPIN OUT, DRIVING OFF RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD BACKWARDS AND SIDE SWIPED THE GUARDRAIL. *LN ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDE WALL WAS BLOWN OUT WITH WIRES PROTRUDING FROM A HOLE. NO DEBRIS WAS STRUCK IN THE ROAD. THE TIRE FAILED WHILE IN OPERATION. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0384-90)
NHTSA complaint #10415935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON JUNE 4, 2011 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE ON RT. 83 FROM PENNSYLVANIA INTO MARYLAND WHERE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THE PARKTON, MD EXIT, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY IN THE RIGHT LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE POPPED LOOSE AS IT SEVERED ITSELF FROM THE SIDEWALL AND LITERALLY ROLLED DOWN THE BREAKDOWN LANE AS THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE. NO DEBRIS WAS IN THE ROADWAY AND NO OBJECTS WERE STRUCK DURING THIS EVENT. THE APPROXIMATE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WAS 65-70 MPH. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME. IN LATE NOVEMBER 2010, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SAME VEHICLE IN REHOBOTH BEACH, DE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON RT. 1. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY BURST AND SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE LATEST TIRE WAS REPLACED BY SEARS AUTO CENTER IN YORK, PA WHERE THE OLD TIRE IS BEING SHIPPED BACK TO GOODYEAR (IN RESPONSE TO ROADSIDE WARRANTY). THE TIRE SIDEWALL RUBBER COMPOUND APPEARED VERY HARD AND BRITTLE. THE GOODYEAR TRIPLE TREAD TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN 2008 AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON THEM. 2 OUT OF 4 TIRES HAD THIS UNEXPLAINED SIDEWALL BLOW OUT, ANOTHER TIRE WAS REPLACED EARLIER BECAUSE OF A NAIL PUNCTURE. WE DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL TIRES WITH ANOTHER MODEL AND GET RID OF OUR TRIPLE TREADS. WE BELIEVE THE TIRES TO BE UNSAFE AND ARE CONCERNED THAT OTHERS MAY BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THESE ARE HIGH END TIRES THAT ARE SUPPOSED LAST 80,000 MILES WITH SUPERIOR TRACTION.
NHTSA complaint #10404522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR DEVICES ON OUR 2008 PONTIAC VIBE (WITH 23000 MILE) HAD TO BE BROKEN OFF TO REPLACE TWO TIRES NEEDED ON THE VEHICLE. PONTIAC WOULD NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TPMS (EVENTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE 36,000 MILE/3YR WARRANTY) BECAUSE THAT CLAIM I HAD CHANGED THE VALVE COVERS ON THE VALVE STEMS WITH STEEL CAPS. NEITHER I NOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD REPLACED THE VALVE COVERS BUT THE VEHICLE CAME FROM THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP THAT WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10299802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE WITH TWO KUHMO TIRES, SIZE 205 55 R16(NA) OFF SEASON RADIAL, ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT SHE PURCHASED THE TIRES BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER OF 2008. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER; HOWEVER, SHE EXPERIENCED TOTAL TREAD SEPARATION ON BOTH TIRES. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME IT WAS PURCHASED WAS 63,900 AND THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE TIRE FAILURE WAS 81,806. UPDATED 01/05/10 *BF UPDATED 01/06/10.
NHTSA complaint #10294703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN HE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEPT. TOLD HIM IT WOULD RESET ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,300. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/25/09.
NHTSA complaint #10256485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VALVE STEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 38,900. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED 3 VALVE STEM FAILURES. UPDATED 09/17/08.
NHTSA complaint #10234790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 PONTIAC VIBE PURCHASED JUST OVER 3 YEARS AGO. APPROX 24,000 MILES. AUTOMATIC TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR KEEPS COMING ON EVEN THOUGH TIRE PRESSURE IS FINE. 2 TRIPS TO DEALER AND COULD NOT FIGURE OUT PROBLEM. DEALER INSTALLED VEHICLE DATA RECORDER. DEALER SAYS NEEDS A NEW ELECTRONIC BALANCE CONTROL MONITOR? THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 25K AND IT NEEDS THIS PART ALREADY. NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD A BLOWOUT.
NHTSA complaint #10232641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 PONTIAC VIBE SUFFERED A TIRE BLOWOUT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIRE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPOERT # 10-0345-78.
NHTSA complaint #10229535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAVE LESS THAN 24,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES ARE WORN OUT! HARDLY ANY TREAD ON THEM. WERE SHOWING PREMATURE WEAR AT ABOUT 18,000-20,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS "NOT THEIR PROBLEM" AND IT APPEARS THIS IS MORE COMMON THAN NOT WITH THIS BRAND OF TIRES. WHY WOULD GM NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND SEE HOW A CONSUMER CAN GET SATISFACTION . ORIGINAL TIRES WERE GOODYEAR EAGLE RSA....P205/55R116 89H. THIS IS NOT LISTED IN THE AVAILABLE OPTIONS IN THE COMPLAINT DROP DOWN MENU.
NHTSA complaint #10197255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED WOBBLING. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE AND BOTH REAR TIRES WERE FLAT. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE TIRES HAD PRESSURE OF 12 PSI. A HAND PUMP WAS USED TO INFLATE ALL THREE TIRES. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE 30 MILES THE TIRES WERE FLAT AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REQUESTED THAT THE TIRES BE SENT BACK TO THEM FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE TIRE IS A PROXES TPT AND THE TIRE LINE IS P205/55R16. UPDATED 02/26/04.
NHTSA complaint #10148423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2004 PONTIAC VIBE TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A DITCH. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAIN MINOR BUMPER AND EXHAUST DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10146467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEVERAL ONGOING EVENTS VERSUS ONE FAILURE, CONSTANT PULLING EITHER TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT, PULLING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC/OTHER LANES WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING, NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE VIBE ON THE SMOOTH/ROUGH ROADS. WHEN CORNERING IN DRY CONDITIONS ON A SMOOTH ROAD, THE VIBE PULLED ME RIGHT OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN SO I STOPPED UNCERTAIN WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE. I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO DEALER AND 4 ALIGNMENTS, 4+ TIRE ROTATIONS, CAMBER BOLTS REPLACED, AND A 3RD OPINION FROM A SEPARATE GM DEALER UNAWARE OF THE SITUATION STATING MY TIRES WERE FAULTY AND TO RETURN TO THE SELLING DEALER WITH THE VESTED INTEREST IN THE CAR, AND THE END RESULT IS....MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SAME SITUATION. THE CAR IS STILL PULLING LEFT, RIGHT, VEERING WHEN I BRAKE OR ACCELERATE IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THE GM DEALER THAT PROVIDED THAT OPINION REPLACED THE TIRES ON 2 OTHER VIBE OWNERS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES BUT I DID NOT BUY MY CAR THERE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL REPORTS OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO ABOUT ONGOING VIBE COMPLAINTS REGARDING UNUSUAL WEAR ON TIRES REGARDLESS OF THE BRAND AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SUSPENSION AND SHOCK DESIGN ISSUES (NOT HOLDING THE TIRES PROPERLY TO THE ROAD). ALL OF THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE WITHIN 12,000KM AND WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS HAD I NOT HAD PERSONAL FAMILY MATTERS TO DEAL WITH. LUCKILY THERE HAS BEEN NO TIRE BLOWOUTS YET NOR ACCIDENTS YET BUT ALL I AM TOLD IS THAT THE TRACKING IS PRETTY GOOD FOR THAT OF A VIBE..I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT ONE HAD I BEEN GIVEN THAT SALES PITCH AND KNOWN I WOULD BE IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION EVERY 1,000KM. READING THE INFO ON THE GENVIBE SITE AND ON THIS SITE BACK TO 2003, MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE TYPE OF SHOCKS AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM OR SOMETHING IF THE TIRES, NO MATTER WHAT BRAND, ARE BEING BURNED THROUGH THAT QUICKLY AND THE STEERING IS THAT BRUTAL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
NHTSA complaint #10134140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2004 PONTIAC VIBE UNEVEN TIRE WEAR ON THE BACK TIRES "CUPPING". DEALER WAS NOT WILLING, OR UNABLE TO TELL ME THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HAVE FOLLOWED MY OWNERS MANUAL, TIRE ROTATIONS. HAVE VISITED ANOTHER DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE SEEN MY PROBLEM, BUT DO NOT KNOW CAUSE. I NEED TO REPLACE THE TIRE, WITH 25000 MILES ON THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10112209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.