NHTSA complaint: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN — TIRES:TREAD/BELT
4/27/2006, I HAD A VIBRATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL NOTED PRIMARILY AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAD MY BRAKES DONE AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE BUT VIBRATION WAS STILL PRESENT. WENT TO TIRE SHOP WHO EVALUATED PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WHICH WAS SEPARATING. I HAD COOPER TOURING TIRES ON THE VEHICLE APPROX 1 1/2 YEARS OLD. I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED AND THE OTHER TIRES INSPECTED AND BALANCED. VIBRATION WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. 5/21/06 DRIVING EAST ON I-10 BEGAN FEELING A STEERING VIBRATION. I WAS NEARING TUCSON AND PLANNED TO EXIT TO THE NEAREST TIRE SHOP, VIBRATION INCREASED. I TOOK INVENTORY OF VEHICLES AROUND ME NOTING A TRUCK PULLING A BOAT AND MADE A DECISION THAT I DID NOT WANT TO BE BY THE BOAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED. I MADE LANE CHANGE AND SHORTLY AFTER TIRE MADE A BIG BANG AND I SPUN 360 DEGREES ON THE FREEWAY, SPINNING REARWARD INTO THE MEDIAN. I DID AVOID HITTING TREES, OTHER VEHICLES AND BEING STRUCK BY ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I AM A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR AND HAVE HAD SKID CAR TRAINING. THIS WAS THE MOST HORRENDOUS EVENT EVER IN MY DRIVING CAREER. VEHICLE DID SUSTAIN DAMAGE. POLICE ASSISTED IN GETTING ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE ( I USE A WHEELCHAIR AND DRIVE WITH HAND-CONTROLS) AND REMOVED THE TIRE AND PUT THE SPARE ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST TIRE REPAIR FACILITY - THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND SHREDDED - I HAVE THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE BODY HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. TODAY WHEN DISCUSSING WITH CO-WORKERS WHAT HAPPENED - I WAS INFORMED OF A RECENT CO
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation