NHTSA complaint: FIRESTONE WIDETRACK RADIAL BAJA — TIRES
HAD A COMPLETE BLOWOUT ON RIGHT REAR IN JULY 2000. BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS DESTROYED, I ASSUMED THE BLOWOUT WAS DUE TO ROAD HAZARD. THE TIRES ARE NOT "BRANDED" FIRESTONE. THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURRED WITH 35PSI COLD PRESSURE (I HAD CHECKED THEM BEFORE WE LEFT ON THE TRIP) AFTER 100 MILES OF DRIVING AT 60-70 MPH. THE VAN WAS NOT LOADED, AND IT WAS A COOL DAY. THE TIRE DEVELOPED A SHAKE, THUMPING NOISE, THEN THE TREAD SEPARATED. THE TREAD PEELED OFF THE CASING LIKE AN ORANGE PEEL, TORE OUT THE INNER FENDER AND GAS FILLER NECK. TREAD WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE AND EMERG BRAKE CABLE, CAUSING WHEEL LOCK-UP AND SKID. TIRE STOPPED ON GOOD TREAD, SO DID NOT BLOW OUT. I CANCELLED THE 911 CALL WHEN I FOUND I COULD UNLOCK THE WHEEL AND INSTALL THE SPARE TIRE. CONTACTED FIRESTONE, AND THEY SAID IT ISN'T ONE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. 2 TIRES REMAIN ON THE VEHICLE. WAITING FOR INSURANCE ADJUSTMENT, ESTIMATED $1283 INCREASE IN INSURANCE OVER NEXT 3 YEARS DUE TO THIS CLAIM, AND $500 DEDUCTABLE. (DOT NUMBER: VDVF WTA 0 TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation