NHTSA complaint: 1998 MICHELIN MICHELIN — TIRES
I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY AND POTENTIAL DEFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH 2001 MODEL VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TURBO, ALONG WITH ITS MICHELIN TIRES. LAST WEEK, MY OWN LIFE WAS SERIOUSLY ENDANGERED WHILE DRIVING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE. TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MY CAR INSTANTLY LOST CONTROL AND BEGAN SKIDDING VICIOUSLY. UNABLE TO SLOW THE CAR IN TIME, I HIT THE MEDIAN, CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A LARGE, GAPING HOLE CUT THROUGH MY RIGHT REAR TIRE. THIS HOLE, COUPLE WITH THE EXTENSIVE CHARRING AND GRATING TO THE METAL WHEEL, WAS CORROBORATED BY MECHANICS AND VW DEALERS AS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE, AND OR TIRES, MAY CONTAIN A DEFECT THAT HEIGHTENED THE CHANCES OF AN ACCIDENT SUCH AS MINE. THE CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR ONLY 27,000 MILES. AS SUCH, IT SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A TIRE RUPTURE WOULD BE A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OCCURRENCE. I DO NOT WISH FOR SUCH AN ACCIDENT TO REOCCUR IN THE FUTURE (EITHER TO MYSELF, OR OTHER CONSUMERS), AND THUS WOULD URGE THE AUTO AND TIRE MANUFACTURERS, ALONG WITH THE NHTSA TO STUDY THE MATTER IN EXPEDITIOUS FASHION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME VIA PHONE AT [XXX], OR BY EMAIL AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation