NHTSA complaint: 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER — TIRES
THE TIRES ARE AN "ALL TERRAIN" DESIGN, HOWEVER THEY PERFORM VERY VERY POORLY IN SNOW/SLUSH/VERY WET CONDITIONSWHEN COMBINED WITH THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALL WHEEL DRIVE. I'VE TALKED TO THREE EXPERTS WHO HAVE ALL CONCLUDED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE RUBBER BAND ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TREAD ON BOTH SIDES (THIS BAND HAS NO LUGS IN IT, RESULTING IN POOR TRACTION IN TURNS.) ESSENTIALLY, THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRIES TO PULL THE CAR FORWARD AND IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST POWER AWAY FROM THE WHEELS WITH POOR TRACTION. WHEN IT DOES SO, THE CAR HAS A MAJOR TENDENCY TO LOSE CONTROL AT ALL WHEELS. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR I HAVE SEEN OR HEARD OF TWO OTHER IDENTICAL VEHICLES GETTING INTO SIMILAR ACCIDENTS WITH THE SAME OPTIONS/TIRES AS MY VEHICLE, SO I ASUME IT IS A RE-OCCURING PROBLEM. THIS INCIDENCE OF TRACTION LOSS HAS RESULTED IN THREE MAJOR INCIDENTS OF SPINOUT, TWO OF THOSE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS, ONE ONLY INVOLVING MY CAR, AND ONE INVOLVING MINE AND ANOTHER. MY DRIVING RECORD HAS BEEN IMPECCABLE BEFORE THESE ACCIDENTS, ALSO NOTE THAT OTHER FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS AND FOUR 4WD TRUCKS WERE ON THE ROADS DOING FINE IN THE CONDITIONS, AND IN BOTH CASES I WAS GOING CONSIDERABLY UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT (30 IN A 50MPH & 15 IN A 25MPH). ALSO, IN BOTH CASES, BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED, SO THAT RULES OUT A CAUSE FOR THE SKID.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75 R15 )
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation