1995 Dunlop Grand Trek Problems

THE LEFT REAR TIRE (DUNLOP GRANDTREK P265) OF 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA BLEW OUT ON CA 215 FREEWAY (WITH SPEED OF 60-70 MPH). I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT SPUN AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED TO MINOR PHYSICAL INJURY TO THE OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER. ORIGINAL TIRES CAME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, CARSON TOYOTA (CALIFORNIA). CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP--THEY GAVE US THE RUN-AROUND. THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY UNRESPONSIVE STATING THAT THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT, DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TIRE WOULD BLOW UP ON THE VEHICLE THAT DURING THE SALE--NEVERTHELESS, TO CUT COST ON A $2OK VALUE TRUCK, PUT SUBSTANDARD, DEFECTIVE TIRES, LEAST EXPENSIVE IN THE MARKET. I WILL END UP PUTTING UP THE COSTS FOR REPLACING ALL TIRES WITH MORE RELIABLE TIRES (MICHELIN). I HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE BETTER LAW/LEGISLATION PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND NO ONE WOULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME INCIDENT THAT OCCURED TO ME.*AK

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2004 4 RUNNER SR5 V6 IN MAY OF 2004, I HAVE NOTICED SOME VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT END WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 60MPH. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED ALREADY 3 TIME IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP WITHOUT AN SUCCESS.*AK

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2004 4 RUNNER SR5 V6 IN MAY OF 2004, I HAVE NOTICED SOME VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT END WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 60MPH. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED ALREADY 3 TIME IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP WITHOUT AN SUCCESS.*AK

FRONT WHEEL SHIMMY AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 50 MPH. VIBRATION CAUSED ME TO PURCHASE 4 NEW TIRES FOR THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

IN OCTOBER '02 I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TURNING FROM SOUTH TO WEST AS I WAS TRAVELLING NORTH. MY VEHICLE ENDED UP COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE AT ITS PASSENGER FRONT AXLE AND MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT END. AS CONTACT OCCURRED, I HAD MY WHEELS TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT THUSLY CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GRADUALLY WHIP THE BACK END AROUND CAUSING A SIDE IMPACT AS WELL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS PUSHED NORTHWARD APPROX. 15-25 FEET BEFORE THE COLLISION CAME TO AN END. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DISABLED IN THIS OCCURRENCE WITH DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE OPPOSING VEHICLE. AND, DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, BOTH SIDES, LEFT REAR WHEEL, AND FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE. THE OPPOSING VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED OUT AND MY VEHICLE HAS INITIAL ESTIMATES IN THE $16,000-$17,000 PRICE RANGE. TO MY COMPLAINT, THREE THINGS HAPPENED THAT BROUGHT ME GREAT CONCERN. FIRST, AS I WAS TRYING TO AVOID THE COLLISION WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE BY APPLYING MY BRAKES AND TURNING MY WHEELS, THE LEFT REAR TIRE SLIPPED OFF OF THE FRAME OF THE WHEEL INSTANTLY DEFLATING LEAVING ME WITH ONLY ONE GOOD TIRE TO BRAKE ON. SECOND, UPON CONTACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK OUT CAUSING ME TO BE JETTISONED UP OUT OF MY SEAT AND FORWARD INTO THE FRAMEWORK WHERE THE ROOF, FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW COME TOGETHER. HEAD, NECK, AND HIGH SPINAL INJURIES OCCURRED. THIRDLY, THE AIR BAGS AT NO TIME DEPLOYED. SPEED ESTIMATES UPON IMPACT WERE APPROX. 30MPH. UPON DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE COME TO FIND THAT MOST AIR BAGS ARE SET TO DEPLOY IN ACCIDENTS WHERE MORE THAN 50% OF THE FRONT END HAS DAMAGE AND THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 12-18MPH. I THOUGHT GOING INTO THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE I WAS MAKING A WISE DECISION BOTH IN TERMS OF VALUE AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE. I THOUGHT WRONG!

PURCHASED 2001 SEQUIOA APPROX. 7/2001 SLOANE TOYOTA- DEVON, PA. APPROX. 13K CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDERS WHEN BRAKING. DEALER ADVISED NEEDED NEW BRAKES REASON "DUE TO THE SIZE OF VEHICLE, IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR BRAKES NEED REPLACING EVERY 8-13K MILES" WAS LATER ADVISED ROTORS NEED GRINDING. SERVICE GUY SAID I MUST HAVE "HIT THE BRAKES REAL HARD." NO WAY. I BABY THIS CAR. DEALER THEN ADVISED ROTOR WORK WAS UNDER WARRANTY.NOW LIFE OF ROTORS COMPROMISED. I WAS NOT ADVISED ABOUT TSB RE: ROTORS/ BRAKE CALIPERS. 7/28/2004 WENT FOR OIL CHANGE. WAS ADVISED I NEEDED BRAKE PADS =$250, VEHICLE NOW HAS 19K. AGAIN I'M REMINDED " BIG CARS NEED TO HAVE BRAKES REPLACED EVERY 15 -20K IF NOT SOONER." IS APPARENT SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN "COACHED" TO FOLLOW SCRIPT RE: BRAKE/ ROTOR PROBS W/VEHICLE. FOUND MANY POSTS ON INTERNET RE: THIS PROB. DEALERS ALL OVER U.S. FEEDING CONSUMERS SAME LINE. IS INSANITY TO HAVE CONSUMERS INSTALL BRAKES EVERY 15K-20K MILES (NORMAL DRIVING) AND ROTORS GOUND EVERY 13K. ALSO- TIRES THAT CAME W/CAR ARE BALD/NEED REPLACING. DUNLOPS (SORRY, DON'T HAVE THE MODEL HANDY AND I WANT POST TO GO). VERY LOW MILEAGE ON CAR, IT SHOULD BE "MINT." CONSUMERS APPARENTLY EXPECTED TO REPLACE BRAKES/ TIRES AND HAVE THE ROTORS GROUND EVERY 13K - 19K MILES FOR LIFE OF VEHICLE. CONSIDERING COST OF VEHICLE DEALERS SHOULD OWN UP TO THE VEHICLE FAULTS, ADVISE CONSUMERS OF CURRENT PROBS AND "REPLACE" (NOT GRIND) BADLY ENGINEERED PARTS, TIRES, ETC. AND EAT THOSE SERVICE COSTS. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE FACT THAT I AM LEAVING FOR VACATION IN A FEW DAYS, I WOULD GO RIGHT BACK WITH INTERNET POSTS IN HANDAND PRESS THEM FOR A GOOD EXPLANATION AND A REFUND FOR THE BRAKE WORK, GET NEW ROTORS AND CALIPERS INSTALLED AND BE COMPENSATED FOR THE LOUSY TIRES THE VEHICLE CAME WITH. I RESEARCHED SUV'S FOR OVER 1.5 YEARS BEFORE DECIDING ON THE SEQUOIA, I WISH IT WOULD LIVE UP TO CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS. KIRBY MCGHEE PAOLI, PA. 19301. *AK

THE LEFT REAR TIRE (DUNLOP GRANDTREK P265) OF 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA BLEW OUT ON CA 215 FREEWAY (WITH SPEED OF 60-70 MPH). I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT SPUN AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED TO MINOR PHYSICAL INJURY TO THE OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER. ORIGINAL TIRES CAME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, CARSON TOYOTA (CALIFORNIA). CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP--THEY GAVE US THE RUN-AROUND. THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY UNRESPONSIVE STATING THAT THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT, DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TIRE WOULD BLOW UP ON THE VEHICLE THAT DURING THE SALE--NEVERTHELESS, TO CUT COST ON A $2OK VALUE TRUCK, PUT SUBSTANDARD, DEFECTIVE TIRES, LEAST EXPENSIVE IN THE MARKET. I WILL END UP PUTTING UP THE COSTS FOR REPLACING ALL TIRES WITH MORE RELIABLE TIRES (MICHELIN). I HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE BETTER LAW/LEGISLATION PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND NO ONE WOULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME INCIDENT THAT OCCURED TO ME.*AK

IN OCTOBER '02 I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TURNING FROM SOUTH TO WEST AS I WAS TRAVELLING NORTH. MY VEHICLE ENDED UP COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE AT ITS PASSENGER FRONT AXLE AND MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT END. AS CONTACT OCCURRED, I HAD MY WHEELS TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT THUSLY CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GRADUALLY WHIP THE BACK END AROUND CAUSING A SIDE IMPACT AS WELL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS PUSHED NORTHWARD APPROX. 15-25 FEET BEFORE THE COLLISION CAME TO AN END. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DISABLED IN THIS OCCURRENCE WITH DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE OPPOSING VEHICLE. AND, DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, BOTH SIDES, LEFT REAR WHEEL, AND FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE. THE OPPOSING VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED OUT AND MY VEHICLE HAS INITIAL ESTIMATES IN THE $16,000-$17,000 PRICE RANGE. TO MY COMPLAINT, THREE THINGS HAPPENED THAT BROUGHT ME GREAT CONCERN. FIRST, AS I WAS TRYING TO AVOID THE COLLISION WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE BY APPLYING MY BRAKES AND TURNING MY WHEELS, THE LEFT REAR TIRE SLIPPED OFF OF THE FRAME OF THE WHEEL INSTANTLY DEFLATING LEAVING ME WITH ONLY ONE GOOD TIRE TO BRAKE ON. SECOND, UPON CONTACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK OUT CAUSING ME TO BE JETTISONED UP OUT OF MY SEAT AND FORWARD INTO THE FRAMEWORK WHERE THE ROOF, FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW COME TOGETHER. HEAD, NECK, AND HIGH SPINAL INJURIES OCCURRED. THIRDLY, THE AIR BAGS AT NO TIME DEPLOYED. SPEED ESTIMATES UPON IMPACT WERE APPROX. 30MPH. UPON DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE COME TO FIND THAT MOST AIR BAGS ARE SET TO DEPLOY IN ACCIDENTS WHERE MORE THAN 50% OF THE FRONT END HAS DAMAGE AND THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 12-18MPH. I THOUGHT GOING INTO THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE I WAS MAKING A WISE DECISION BOTH IN TERMS OF VALUE AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE. I THOUGHT WRONG!