2001 Ford F-250 Sd Tires & wheels Problems

ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011, A KUMHO ROAD VENTURE AT TIRE, SIZE LT235/85R16, DOT K2ORYD4A3508 (MANUFACTURED AT KUMHO?S BINH DUONG PLANT IN VIETNAM IN THE 35TH WEEK OF 2008) SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION, RESULTING IN SEVERE INJURIES TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER OF THE FORD F-250 AND THE DEATH OF HER SON, WHO WAS 32 WEEKS OLD AND STILL IN UTERO. A LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST KUMHO TIRE CO., INC. AND KUMHO TIRE U.S.A., INC. IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS (CASE NO. 2:13-CV-02393-JTM-TJJ). DURING THE DISCOVERY STAGE OF THE CASE, THE PASSENGER RETAINED TROY COTTLES, A RENOWNED TIRE FAILURE EXPERT. AFTER INSPECTING THE SUBJECT TIRE, MR. COTTLES FOUND THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS IN THE SUBJECT TIRE: (1) INADEQUATE BONDING BETWEEN BELTS (TRAPPED AIR/STEAM BLISTER IMPRESSIONS); (2) PREMATURE OXIDATION OF THE BELT SKIMS; (3) BELTING DEFECTS (COINCIDENTAL BELT ENDINGS, IRREGULAR BELT WIRE SPACING, GAPPED BELT SPLICES, DOG-EARED SPLICES, SNAKING, AND SPREAD CABLES); (4) CORD SHADOWS ON THE INNERLINER; (5) LOW TOP BELT WIDTH TO TREAD WIDTH RATIO; AND (6) INADEQUATE APPLICATION OF NYLON CAP PLIES. AS PART OF HIS WORK ON THE CASE, MR. COTTLES TESTED TWO EXEMPLAR KUMHO ROAD VENTURE AT TIRES OF THE SAME SIZE AS THE SUBJECT TIRE THAT WERE ALSO MANUFACTURED AT KUMHO?S VIETNAM PLANT. BOTH OF THOSE TIRES FAILED IN SIDEWALL FAILURE MODE IN APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES OR LESS UNDER PROPER LOADS, INFLATIONS, AND SPEEDS THAT WERE MONITORED DAILY. SEE ATTACHED TEST REPORTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS INFORMATION IS BEING SUBMITTED BY THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE INJURED PASSENGER, AND WITH HER PERMISSION, IN HOPES THAT THIS TIRE (AND THOSE SIMILAR TO IT) WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED TO ENSURE NO ONE ELSE IS NEEDLESSLY INJURED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF THESE DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE TIRES....UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF UPDATED 10/23/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10725608

Incident

Sep 12, 2011

Mileage

42,498 mi

TIRE BLOWOUT WITH COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE PULLING A HORSE TRAILER. WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO SHOULDER & CHANGE TIRE FOR SPARE. TREAD DAMAGED TRUCK PANEL, TAILPIPE & BENT FRONT AXLE OF TRAILER. TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED AND HAD BEEN CHECKED BEFORE DEPARTURE. TIRES WERE NITTO TERRA GRAPPLER LT 285/75R16 126/123Q LOAD RANGE E. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597784

Incident

May 31, 2014

I HAD ANOTHER UNIROYAL LIBERATOR TIRE (265/75/16 E-RATED, LIGHT TRUCK TIRE) FAILURE. BOTH TIRES FAILED WITHIN ONE THOUSAND MILES OF EACH OTHER AND IN THE SAME EXACT WAY. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA ON THE FIRST TIRE APPROX. 2-MONTHS AGO. BOTH TIRES AT ABOUT 35 TO 36,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS APPROACHING 65 MPH FORMED A BALLOON ON TOP OF THE TREAD CAUSING AN IMBALANCE. AFTER CHANGING THE TIRE, IT EXPLODED IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK. IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT A TREAD SEPARATION HAD OCCURRED. ONE COULD SEE THE SMOOTH AREAS WHERE THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BELT CARCASS VERSUS THE AREA WHERE THE TREAD PULLED AWAY WHEN IT EXPLODED. THESE UNIROYAL LIBERATORS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE OF HOW QUICKLY THIS FAILURE OCCURS. BOTH TIRES HAD PLENTY OF TREAD AND WERE RUN WITHIN THE PROPER PRESSURE RANGES (70 TO 80 PSI). I HAVE SENT UNIROYAL EMAIL COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THESE TIRES. I HAVE ONE REMAINING ON MY TRUCK THAT WILL BE REPLACED BECAUSE I KNOW IT WILL ALSO FAIL ANY MOMENT. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO GET THESE TIRES OFF THE MARKET. THE TIRES DATE OF MANUFACTURE WAS 14TH WEEK OF 2007. *TR

NHTSA ID

10407080

Incident

Jun 5, 2011

Mileage

36,000 mi

DRIVING MY TRUCK ON HIGHWAY. THE SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE THE TIRE WENT UNDER A TRAILER AND BENT TWO RIMS AND THE AXLE. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW HAS 60,900 MILES THE SPARE HAS NEVER BEEN OF THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10355433

Incident

Aug 28, 2010

Mileage

6,900 mi

I'VE HAD TWO OF THE TIRES GOING 65-70 MPH BASICALLY GO FLAT AND TEAR INTO PIECES AFTER ONLY A FEW SECONDS. BOTH TIMES THERE IS HARDLY NO IDENTIFYING PARTS OF THE TIRE LEFT ON THE RIM. THE LAST TIME I WAS HAULING A 20' TRAILER WHEN IT WENT FLAT AND TORE TO SHREDS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING WITH NO TRAILER AND I HEARD IT GO FLAT THEN THE TIRE JUST TORE TO SHREDS ALSO. THESE TIRE ARE ONLY A YEAR OLD. IT DID BEND THE REAR QUARTER PANEL. A EMPLOYEE WAS BEHIND ME AND SAID BASICALLY THE WHOLE TIRE CAME OFF THE RIM AND WENT ACROSS THE MEDIAN OF THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339385

Incident

Jun 18, 2010

Mileage

190,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A 2-LANE STATE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. MY PICKUP IS A 2001 FORD SUPERDUTY DIESEL SUPERCAB 4X4. THE WEATHER WAS OVERCAST, TEMPERATURE ABOUT 75 DEGREES. I WAS PULLING AN 18' FLATBED "CAR HAULER" TYPE TRAILER, TOTAL WEIGHT (TRAILER & LOAD) APPROXIMATELY 1,000LBS. I HAD DRIVEN 60 MILES WITH NO INDICATION OF VIBRATION OR PROBLEMS. I STOPPED FOR AN HOUR THEN RESUMED DRIVING. I NOTICED SOME VIBRATION, SO STOPPED AND CHECKED BOTH PICKUP AND TRAILER TIRES. INFLATION WAS GOOD AND THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS WITH ANY TIRES. I CONTINUED MY TRIP. WITHIN THE NEXT 5 MILES THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVERS SIDE) TIRE ON MY PICKUP. THE PICKUP IMMEDIATELY LURCHED TO THE LEFT ACROSS THE CENTERLINE. I REGAINED CONTROL AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SHOULDER WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE TREAD SEPARATION DAMAGED THE FENDER, RUNNING BOARD, INNER FENDER, INSULATION LINER, AND FRONT BUMPER. THERE WERE NO PERSONS INJURED. I WAS ABLE TO "TIE-WRAP" THE INNER FENDER PANEL BACK IN PLACE AND INSTALL THE SPARE TIRE TO CONTINUE THE TRIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231157

Incident

Jun 8, 2008

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 F250 FORD TRUCK AND PULLING A TRAILER. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH ON A TWO- LANE HWY. I HAD JUST CHECKED ALL THE TIRES FOR CORRECT AIR PRESSURE BEFORE LEAVING HOME SINCE I WAS TAKING A LOAD OF PIGS TO MARKET. WITHOUT WARNING, SUDDENLY I WAS IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE JERK LEFT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL JUST IN TIME TO AVOID A HEAD-ON COLLISION AS MY TRUCK WENT INTO THE DITCH AND STOPPED. THE COMPLETE OUTER LAYER OF RUBBER CAME OFF MY LEFT FRONT TIRE AND WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND THE INSIDE DISC BRAKE/AXLE ASSEMBLY AND TORE OFF ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES FROM THEIR MOORING LEADING TO THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE. (I ONLY HAVE 23,400 MILES ON THIS TRUCK AND HAVE HAD NO OTHER TIRE INCIDENTS). I HAD TO REMOVE THE TIRE WHICH STAYED INFLATED MINUS ITS COMPLETE OUTER SHELL IN ORDER TO ENTANGLE AND REMOVE THE OUTER SHELL PORTION OF THE TIRE FROM THE BRAKE/AXLE ASSEMBLY. THE MAIN STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS NOT BROKEN AS WERE OTHER RUBBER LINES TO THE BRAKE ASSY. I AM AWAITING AN EVALUATION FROM FORD ON THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY/LINES CONDITION. FORD HAD NO RECALL ON THE TIRES AND AT FIRST FIRESTONE SERVICE MANAGER PROMISED TO REPLACE ALL OF MY TIRES FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT FIRESTONE TIRE. THE NEXT DAY, ONCE THEY REPLACED THE TIRES THEY CAME IN AND ADVISED ME THAT THE RECALL DID NOT MATCH THE SERIAL NUMBER ON MY TIRES AND TOLD ME THEN THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THEIR MISTAKE ON THE RECALL THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT CHARGE ME FOR THE LABOR PORTION OF THE REPLACEMENT IF I WOULD PAY FOR THE TIRES. I WAS NOT ABOUT TO DRIVE ON THE REMOVED TIRES AGAIN AND WAS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, SO I PAID THE BILL. WHILE CASH LAYOUT IS AN ISSUE HERE THE REAL ISSUE IS POOR TIRE PERFORMANCE THAT CAME WITHIN A HEARTBEAT OF KILLING ME AND MANY OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228130

Incident

May 8, 2008

Mileage

23,400 mi

NONE AT THIS TIME. *YT

NHTSA ID

10221904

Incident

Mar 20, 2008

Mileage

33,500 mi

FIRESTONE STEELTEX A/T M/S, LT265/75 R16 123/1200 LOAD RANGE E, TIRE EXPLODED ON HIGH WAY. THE TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE. THIS HAPPENS ON RETREADS BUT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON THE ORIGINAL TIRES. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE IMMEDIATELY BUT THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. THE TIRES ARE ON A 2001 FORD 250. ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 64000 MILE. TREAD DEPTH WAS RECENTLY CHECKED AND WERE WELL WITHIN STANDARDS. *TR *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ID

10201772

Incident

Sep 2, 2007

Mileage

64,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SHREDDED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 00T005000 WHICH PERTAINS TO THE TIRE TREAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS FIRESTONE. TIRE LINE: STEEL BELTED TIRE. SIZE: P265/75R16.*AK

NHTSA ID

10170759

Incident

Sep 5, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

2001 FORD F-250, TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND TIRE SHREDDED, TORE UP REAR FENDER. SPEED WAS 45 MPH ON ASPHALT, AND AIR TEMP WAS 85F. THIS IS FIRESTONE STEEELTEX A/T.LT265/75R16, LOAD RANGE E. SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04T003000. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168562

Incident

Sep 2, 2006

Mileage

24,100 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH A NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD WHERE THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. THE VEHICLE INCURRED MINOR DAMAGES. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10164905

Incident

Jun 4, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN MY 2001 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY PICK UP TRUCK, THE TRUCK STARTED TO VIBRATE. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, THINKING IT MIGHT BE A U-JOINT OR DRIVELINE PROBLEM AND THE VIBRATION GOT WORSE. I WENT BACK INTO DRIVE AND IT SETTLED DOWN SOMEWHAT. I STOPPED AND LOOKED OVER THE TIRES, U-JOINTS (WHAT I COULD SEE OF THEM, THE TRUCK IS 4-WHEEL DRIVE) AND OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY LUMPS OR BUMPS ON ANY OF THE TIRES. I DECIDED TO RETURN HOME, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 20 MILES. APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES FORM HOME, THE TRUCK SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THEN THERE WAS A LOUD "SLAPPING" NOISE. I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT I HAD SEPARATED A TREAD FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I PICKED UP THE SEPARATED TREAD AND DROVE HOME AT ABOUT 25 MPH. I CHANGED THE TIRE AT HOME. THE TIRE WAS INFLATED TO 55 PSI AND IS STILL HOLDING THAT PRESSURE. THE TIRE IS A FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL A/T, LR E, DOT NUMBER VDW8 TXL 4400. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162256

Incident

Jul 3, 2006

Mileage

51,025 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT WAS NOTICED THERE WERE CHUNKS OF RUBBER MISSING FROM THE TREAD AND THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED. THIS OCCURRED ON THREE OF THE FOUR ORIGINAL TIRES AT 48,000 MILES. THE TIRES WERE CHANGED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/2/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10157675

Incident

Mar 17, 2005

Mileage

48,000 mi

FIRESTONE STEELTEX AT TIRE 265/70/16 --COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. NOTHING LEFT BUT THE STEEL BELT; THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT, ALL OF THE TREAD CAME OFF WITH ONLY 29,000 MILES ON THE TIRE WHICH IS THE ORIGINAL TIRE ON MY FORD 2001 F250. I WAS TRAVELING AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146790

Incident

Dec 31, 2005

THREADS ON THE REAR COOPER TIRE OF MY PICKUP TRUCK CAME OFF THE TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE THREADS SCATTERED ALL OVER THE ROAD AND THE CARS AND TRUCK IN BACK OF ME HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID THE DEBRIS. THE COMPLETE SIDE OF MY PICKUP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS " LOAD RANGE E "TIRE STILL HAD ALL OF THE AIR IN IT WHEN I CHANGED IT. I SENT THE TIRE BACK TO COOPER TIRE COMPANY AT THEIR EXPENSE ALONG WITH PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. COOPER INSPECTED THE TIRE AND DETERMINED THE AIR PRESSURE HAD BEEN LOW, APPARENTLY FOR SOME TIME, AND DENIED MY CLAIM. THIS LOAD RANGE E TIRE HAS A MAXIMUM INFLATION OF 80 PSI. THE FIRESTONE / BRIDGESTONE - FORD COURT CASE APPARENTLY HAS GIVEN TIRE MANUFACTURERS A GREEN LIGHT TO MANUFACTURE DEFECTIVE TIRES AND ANY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE TIRES ARE BLAMED ON THE CONSUMER NOT KEEPING THE TIRE PRESSURE AT MAXIMUM PSI.*JB

NHTSA ID

10140063

Incident

Aug 25, 2005

1. DRIVING 60 MPH DOWN HIGHWAY 290E NEAR ELGIN, REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD CAME FLYING OFF. 2. TIRE DENTED PANEL, SCRATCHED CHROME AND DID OTHER DAMAGE TO TRUCK. 3. I HAVE PERSONALLY PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES BUT HAVE KEPT THE DAMAGED TIRE AND THE OLD TIRES.*JB

NHTSA ID

10137633

Incident

Sep 10, 2005

Mileage

5,200 mi

INCIDENT I WAS ON A TRIP TO POINT REYES THIS LAST WEEKEND. ON THE WAY HOME I HAD A FRONT TIRE DELAMINATE WHILE I WAS TOWING MY 27 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER. FORTUNATELY NO ONE INJURED AND I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY SAFELY. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE UNTIL AFTER IT WAS REMOVED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAIN ABOUT $2,000 IN DAMAGE. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY FORTY SIX THOUSAND MILES ON THE TIRES. WHEN LOOKING AT PICTURES OF THE TIRES OF THE FIRESTONE/FORD RECALL THIS TIRE COULD LOOKS BE ONES OF THE TIRES IN THE PHOTOS. 2001 F250 CREW CAB 4X4 SHORT WHEEL BASE STOCK TIRE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN OCTOBER OF 2000 NEW WITH THESE TIRES ON IT. NOMAD 27?? APPROXIMATELY 7700 LBS DRY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I HAD A LADY IN A SMALL HONDA CIVIC WITH HER SMALL CHILDREN RUN A RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS GOING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. I ALMOST T BONED HER, I WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO SWERVE INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC (CARS WERE IN THE SLOW LANE) I SWERVE AGAIN AND MADE AN UNEXPECTED LEFT TURN. I HAD THE TRUCK LOCKUP AS HARD COULD TO STOP, I WAS SURPRISED AS WAS WIFE THAT WE DID NOT HIT THE CAR. AFTER THAT THE FRONT END FELT OFF, I THOUGHT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. I WAS PLANNING ON PUTTING THE TRUCK IN THE SHOP FOR IT'S 45K CHECKUP AFTER OUR LAST PLANNED CAMPING TRIP OF THE YEAR. ON THE TRIP I FELT THE ALIGNMENT JUST DID NOT FEEL RIGHT. ON THE WAY HOME ON BLACK POINT TURN OFF HWY 37& HWY 80 ON RAMP WE HAD A SMALL CAR CUT IN FRONT OF US LAST MINUTE TO GET ON THE FREEWAY WE HAD TO LOCK UP THE RIG, MISSED REAR ENDING HIM BY ABOUT 3??. THE TIRE GAVE WAY ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. THE REASON FOR MY EMAIL IS IF THESE TIRE ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE, WE DID NOT GET HURT BUT I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANY ONE ELSE GET HURT. THANKS,

NHTSA ID

10137409

Incident

Sep 18, 2005

Mileage

46,250 mi

SUBJECT OF COMPLAINT: GOODYEAR, TRAIL MARK M&S LT235/85R16 12/1160, DOT PJCR C9KV 0703. MILEAGE ON TIRE AT TIME OF BLOWOUT: 37580.4; MIN TREAD DEPTH: 3/8"; EVEN WEAR; NO SIDEWALL DAMAGE PRIOR TO BLOWOUT; INFLATED TO DEALER SPEC (CHECKED INFLATION THAT AM). VEHICLE: FORD F250 LONG BED, SUPER DUTY TRUCK. TIRE PURCHASED AT AND INSTALLED BY FORD DEALERSHIP. INCIDENT: PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLOW OUT RENDERED TIRE INTO 3 INDEPENDENT PARTS: INSIDE AND OUTSIDE RIMS AND TREAD. DRIVING UPHILL PULLING SMALL, DUAL-AXLE ALPACA TRAILER (EMPTY) AT 55 MPH AT APPROXIMATELY 3 PM PDT; MAINTAINED VEHICLE CONTROL, PULLED TO SIDE OF I-80 JUST WEST OF RENO, NV. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL RESPONDED WITH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. REPLACED REMAINING TIRES WITH TOYO COMMERCIAL TIRES, NOT TAKING ANY MORE CHANCES WITH GOODYEAR OR FORD DEALERSHIP.*JB

NHTSA ID

10136038

Incident

Jun 12, 2005

Mileage

68,842 mi

TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE TOWING 5TH WHEEL TRAILER AT 60 MPH. TIRE LOCATED REAR, PASSENGER SIDE OF PICKUP TRUCK. TIRE INFLATED TO CORRECT PRESSURE OF 80 PSI. TIRE INFO: GENERAL GRABBER AW LT 235/85R16 LOAD RANGE E

NHTSA ID

10125726

Incident

Jun 17, 2005

Mileage

27,224 mi

DT: CONTACT HAS DEFECTIVE TIRES ON HER VEHICLE. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER IS CONTINENTAL TIRE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA INC. THE CONTACT STATED HER TIRE HAD A BULGE. THEN IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR TWO OF HER TIRES HAD A BULGE. SHE WENT TO THE DEALER AND HE DUPLICATED THE WEAR ON TIRES ,AND PUT SOME BRAND NEW TIRES ON HER VEHICLE. THE NEW TIRES WAS THE SAME MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON APRIL 1ST OF THIS YEAR THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE, AND SHE SAW THAT THERE WAS A BULDE ON HER TIRES THE CONTACT WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND SHE COULD NOT CHANGE THE TIRES AT THE POINT SO SHE WAS GOING TO DRIVE TO A SAFE PLACE TO WERE SHE COULD CHANGE THE TIRES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE BLEW AND DAMAGED HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRES BECAUSE HER VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ON WARRENTY. SHE CONTACTED THE TIRE MANUFACTUER AND THEY SUGGESTED TO GO THROUGH HER INSURANCE AGENCY WHICH IS AAA. HER INSURANCE AGENCY SENT A MECHANICAL EVAULTOR, AND HE SAID THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE, AND HE SAID THAT IT HAD TIRE THREAD SEPERATION. THE MECHANICAL EVALUTOR STATED THAT 51 OTHER PEOPLE HAD FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME MANUFACTURER OF THESE TIRES. THE CONTACT HAS FILED AN COMPLAINT WITH FORD DEALER. AS OF RIGHT NOW THE CONTACT HAVE FOUR DEFECTIVE TIRES ON HER VEHICLE. THE TIRE LINE IS LT235/85R16.*AK

NHTSA ID

10120144

Incident

May 6, 2004

DRIVING 2001 FORD F250 4X4 ON I-10 FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE (FIRESTONE STEELTEX LT265/75R16E A/T) WHICH FAILED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. THIS FAILURE OF THE TIRE RESULTED INLOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE HAD APPROX. 39,450 MILES OF USE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE. ALL 4 TIRE HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND I HAVE POSSESSION ON THE DAMAGED TIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116412

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

39,450 mi

VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE FRONT RIGHT SEPARATED AND THE BELT CAME OFF, CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. FIRESTONE, STEELTEX, RADIAL, LT265/75R16, DOT#VNW81XL1701. CONSUMER SHIPPED THE DAMAGED TIRES TO FIRESTONE, AND WAS ASKING FOR CREDIT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF 4 NEW TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT COOPERATING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10109083

Incident

May 15, 2004

Mileage

24,900 mi

HUB CAPS ARE COMING LOOSE FROM THE STEEL WHEEL RIMS. THE PLASTIC HUB CAPS TABS ARE CRACKING FROM HEAT OR LOSS OF ELASTIC PLASTIC TENSION AGAINST THE STEEL WHEEL RIM. DRIVER NOTICED HUB CAP FLYING OFF IN THE OPPOSITE TRAFFIC FLOW.*AK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT HUBCAPS ARE COMING OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH NO WARNING. THE HUB CAPS FLYING OFF IN ANY DIRECTION. THE CONSUMER FILED A SEVEN EMAIL COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER SENT PICTURES IN SHOWING THE BASE PLASTIC HUB CAP LOCK CRACKING OFF OR MISSING ALL TOGETHER. STYLE F81 A-1130-AA 4X2 *TC

NHTSA ID

10104430

Incident

Apr 22, 2004

Mileage

72,520 mi

HUB CAPS ARE COMING LOOSE FROM THE STEEL WHEEL RIMS. THE PASTIC HUB CAPS TABS ARE CRACKING FROM HEAT OR LOSS OF PLASTIC TENSION.*AK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT HUBCAPS ARE COMING OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH NO WARNING. THE HUB CAPS FLYING OFF IN ANY DIRECTION. THE CONSUMER FILED A SEVEN EMAIL COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER SENT PICTURES IN SHOWING THE BASE PLASTIC HUB CAP LOCK CRACKING OFF OR MISSING ALL TOGETHER. STYLE F81 A-1130-AA 4X2 *TC

NHTSA ID

10104425

Incident

Jul 15, 2004

Mileage

76,522 mi