The problem is with the Firestone Tempa Spare T115/70 R14 spare tire. This tire came with the car when new, and has never been used. Tire date of manufacture is 42 2000. I periodically check its air pressure, but it has never been out of the spare tire well. I checked the pressure 1 week ago, and found a large bulge in the tread, along with broken cords, both steel, and polyester (see photos). The inner tire liner has not ruptured, and the tire still holds air. One month ago I checked the pressure, and it looked completely normal. If I had a flat tire then, I would have put it on the car without hesitation. I suspect that it would have failed on the road leading to a possible disaster. My reason for alerting NHTSA is that I suspect there are many compact spare tires in people's trunks, in the same condition, just waiting to cause trouble. I brought it to a Firestone store and they showed no interest in it. I have removed the tire from the steel wheel, and you are welcome to have it to inspect. I live about 25 miles south of Chicago, IL. When you look at the attached photos, numbers 1-3 show the tire on the steel wheel with the tire inflated, number 4 shows the tire deflated, and off the wheel.
NHTSA complaint #11565605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SATURN SL, EQUIPPED WITH SUMMIT SIENPRE 6 TIRES, SIZE 185/65/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES HAD DEVELOPED LARGE BUBBLES IN THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES ON THE TIRE WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES ON THE VEHICLE WERE APPROXIMATELY 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #10481376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM SEEING A PATTERN OF SEVERE DRY ROT STRESS CRACKS IN ALL, NEARLY NEW (LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OLD) MICHELIN AND UNIROYAL TIRES IN THE TREAD AREA FIRST THEN LATER THE SIDEWALLS, AND EVEN GOODYEAR TIRES IN JUST 1-2 YEARS. ALL THESE TIRES CAME FROM WALMART. I HAVE THEM ON 6 VEHICLES, ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN BUYING TIRES FOR OVER 38 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM TILL THE LAST FEW YEARS. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND DEALT WITH QUICKLY. I AM A DEGREED CHEMICAL ENGINEER AND I DO ALL MY OWN AUTO REPAIRS, EVEN MAJOR REBUILDS, IN OTHER WORDS I AM VERY EXPERIENCED AND I SEE A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY AND CONSUMER ISSUE HERE!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10473668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY COMPLAINT IS WITH A DAYTON QUADRA SE TIRE, SIZE P175/70R14 THE TIRE IS 2 YEARS OLD WITH 20,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN PLUGGED OR PATCHED. IT HAS NEVER BEEN FLAT OR LOW ON AIR PRESSURE. ON SEPT 1 2011 WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 40 NEAR THE FORSYTH-DAVIE COUNTY LINE IN NORTH CAROLINA A PIECE OF THE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CORE OF THE TIRE SIMILAR TO THE WAY RECAPPED TIRES DO. THE SEPARATED PIECE IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE TIRE AT ONE POINT BUT THREW ENOUGH RUBBER OFF THAT IT ACTUALLY KNOCKED A HOLE IN THE SATURN'S LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL. A CRACK NEARLY 5 INCHES LONG. I BELIEVE THIS WAS SIMILAR ISSUE TO THE FIRESTONE TIRES SEPARATING AND BEING BLAMED FOR SUV ACCIDENTS 10 YEARS OR SO AGO. THE TIRE CAUSED NO PERSONAL INJURY BUT I DID LOSE CONTROL DUE TO THE POUNDING CAUSED BY THE LOOSE RUBBER. THE TIRE NEVER LOST AIR PRESSURE.
NHTSA complaint #10427227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SATURN SL. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH BIG O BIG O ASPEN TIRES (205/70/R14 DOT U9T9 TX30103). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 241,000.
NHTSA complaint #10410032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY FIRESTONE COMPACT SPARE TIRE FOR A 1998 SATURN SL2, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN USED, SHOWS TREAD SEPARATION. THE RUBBER IS SPLITTING APART IN THE TREAD AREA AND THE BELTS ARE SHOWING THROUGH. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO A PREVIOUS FIRESTONE COMPACT SPARE I OWNED FOR A SATURN. THE TIRE IS SIZE T115/70R14 AND THE SERIAL NUMBER IS HYM7H5A377. THE TIRE IS ADMITTEDLY OLD, BUT THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE IS ALARMING CONSIDERING THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN USED. IT HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A NEW REPLACEMENT- TIRE DEALERS SAY TO GET A REPLACEMENT FROM A JUNK YARD, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. A FULL SIZE SPARE WILL NOT FIT IN THE TRUNK'S TIRE WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10325422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SATURN SL1. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TIRES, SIZE P185/70/R14. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. WITHIN ONE YEAR, SIX IDENTICAL TIRES IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE TIRES TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE FIRST SET REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE TIRES FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST AND THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS POSSESSION OF THE FAILED TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 03/09/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/11/09.
NHTSA complaint #10258200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING MY 1995 SATURN SL1 AT 65MPH, MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE IMMEDIATELY WENT FLAT. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER IN LESS THAN 200 YARDS AND CHANGE THE TIRE. THE LOCAL SHOP SAID THE VALVE STEM WAS "DRY ROTTED" AND SO THEY REPLACED IT. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE OTHER TIRE VALVE STEMS SHOWS CRACKS. THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT WAL MART IN SUMMER 2007.
NHTSA complaint #10240971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL1. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-75 MPH, BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION AND THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAULTY VALVE STEMS. AAA INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VALVE STEMS ON THE TIRES WERE FAULTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
NHTSA complaint #10237493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SL2 SATURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SHREDDED AND PULLED OUT THE INJECTION CIRCUIT SO FUEL WAS NOT GETTING INTO THE CYLINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR THREE YEARS. ALSO, THE JACK DID NOT WORK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 95000.
NHTSA complaint #10183068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A TEMPORARY SPARE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN USED & CAME WITH THE CAR WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW. ON NOVEMBER 21, 2006, I DISCOVERED MY RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS PLAT & CHANGED IT, INSTALLING THE EMERGENCY FLAT (WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN USED). I HEADED TO THE NTB TIRE STORE TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE. AFTER DRIVING ONLY 2 ,MILES, THE EMERGENCY TIRE EXPLODED. I HAD TO CALL AAA & BE TOWED TO THE TIRE STORE. THE TIRE THAT EXPLODED: FIRESTONE TIEMPA SPARE T115/70R14 88M I HAD TO BUY A NEW TIRE. NOW, I ALSO HAVE TO BUY A NEW RIM + TIRE TO SERVE AS MY SPARE. I FEEL THAT, ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS OLD, THE EMERGENCY SPARE, NEVER USED, WAS DEFECTIVE, AND EITHER GM (SATURN) OR FIRESTONE SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR REPLACEMENT. THIS UNSAFE TIRE SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SPARE. I HAVE SAVED THE TIRE FOR INSPECTION BY ANY PARTY.
NHTSA complaint #10174776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 SATURN SL-1 REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. *KB THE CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING FLYING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS LOOSING CONTROL AND IMMEDIATELY GRASPED THE STEERING WHEEL TO REGAIN CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #10167983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY NEW HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST DRIVEN OVER 300 MILES THE NIGHT BEFORE ON THE INTERSTATE TO OUR HONEYMOON DESTINATION. THE NEXT AFTERNOON, WE WERE TRAVELING ON A DIVIDED FOUR LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN A TIRE BLEW. THE TIRES WERE RELATIVELY NEW AND HAD LITTLE WEAR. THE GENTLEMAN AT THE TIRE DEALERSHIP SHOWED US WHERE THE TIRE HAD JUST "RUPTURED" ON ITS ON. THE TIRE WAS MADE BY FIRESTONE AND WAS AN AFFINITY LABEL. I REPLACED THE DAMAGED TIRE AND THE OPPOSITE TIRE ON THE FRONT (MY CAR IS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE). THE REMAINING TWO TIRES ON THE REAR LOOK JUST LIKE THE FRONT TIRES DID, AND THE SALESMAN RECOMMENDED WE HAVE THEM CHECKED AS WELL AND ALSO RECOMMENDED THEY BE REPLACED ASAP. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS SAME TIRE (AFTER I MADE MY PURCHASE) AND WAS WORRIED. I FEEL THESE TIRES SHOULD BE RECALLED BY FIRESTONE ASAP BECAUSE THEY ARE UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10141216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD TWO TIRES FAIL THROUGH THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. BOTH TIRES WERE REAR, 49,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST PASSED INSPECTION, TIRES WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THE TIRE IS 185/65R14 85S FIRESTONE FR680. I REPLACED ONE WITH A NEW FIRESTONE AND THE OTHER WITH A GOODYEAR REPUBLIC. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS TIRE? I HAVE TWO MORE THAT COULD BLOW AT ANY TIME ON THE FRONT.
NHTSA complaint #10125297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10105021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE POPPED CAUSING THE RIM TO DEVELOP SHARP EDGES AROUND IT. THE RIM CUT THE RUBBER WIRING FOR THE BRAKES CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10105018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. AS A RESULT THE REAR QUARTER PANEL AND BUMPER WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10081434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALL, CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY INTO THE NEXT LANE, STRIKING A TRACTOR TRAILER AND TOTALING THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10064002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.