# 2003 SUBARU BAJA — TIRES
> NHTSA complaint `517646` · 2005-01-20 · Subaru of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** SUBARU
- **Model:** BAJA
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Subaru of America, Inc.
- **Component:** TIRES
- **Miles at failure:** 17,750
- **Speed:** 25 mph
## Narrative
I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU BAJA WITH 17,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.  THIS CAR CAME FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92 HIGH PERFORMANCE ALL SEASON TIRES, SIZE 225/60/R16.  THESE TIRES ARE POSITIVELY HAZARDOUS ON SNOW AND ICE:  I HAVE TWICE IN THE PAST SIX WEEKS LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE ON SNOWY, FLAT, STRAIGHT ROADS, CAUSING A TOTAL OF $5,000 OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR.  THE LOSS OF CONTROL IS UNPREDICTABLE AND SUDDEN, AS IF A GIANT HAND PICK THE CAR UP AND TOSSED IT OFF THE ROAD.  WHILE RESEARCHING SNOW TIRES YESTERDAY, I FOUND NUMEROUS WARNINGS ON WEB SITES FROM CONSUMERS (TIRERACK.COM, 1010TIRES.COM, NHTSA.DOT.GOV) ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRIVING ON WET/SNOWY/ICY PAVEMENT WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES.  THESE TIRES ARE EXPOSING UNWARY CONSUMERS TO ACCIDENTS, INJURY AND WORSE.  I FEEL RESENTFUL TO BRIDGESTONE FOR MAKING SUCH AWFUL TIRES, ALSO TO SUBARU CORPORATION FOR INSTALLING THEM ON A CAR WHICH IS ADVERTISED AS A VERY SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE IN WINTER WEATHER AND TO MY LOCAL DEALER WHO SOLD ME A VEHICLE WITH SUCH DANGEROUS TIRES.  *JB
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*