BRIDGESTONE DUELER 684 TIRES Complaints

WHILE DRIVE A 2004 TAHOE WITH APPROX. 14, 000 MILES ON TIRES, PROCEEDING ON A SMOOTH, FLAT SECONDARY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR ALARM REGISTERED ON THE DASH PANEL. WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF THE ALARM THE TIRE WENT FLAT FROM A SIDEWAL FAILURE OF APPROX. 4 INCHES LONG. I DROVE APPROX. 1/4 MILE ON THE RIM/SIDEWALL TO GAIN A SAFE PLACE TO CHANGE THE FLAT. AFTER WAITING FOR OVER AN HOUR FOR GM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I CHANGED THE TIRE MYSELF WITH THE AID OF A LOCAL RESIDENT. AFTER CONTACTING GM DEALER, NORTHSTAR CHEVROLET CLIFTON PARK, NY, DISTRICT SERVICE DIRECTOR SAID THAT THE FALIURE WAS FROM ROAD HAZARD AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT [$181.39]. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR SAID THE FAILURE WAS FROM THE OUTSIDE IN, GOOD MAN COULD TELL THIS WITH A TIRE WHICH WAS DRIVEN ON THE SIDEWALL FOR APPROX. 1/4 MILE. I STILL HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF DAMAGE TIRE.

DT: TREAD CAME OFF 3/4 OF TIRE. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BUT THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED. *NM

I WAS TRAVELING S/B FRY 99 AT KIMBERLINA RD, JUST NORTH OF BAKERSFLELD CALIF. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROX 70 TO 75 MPH. AT THIS TIME I HEARD A LOUD "THUD" AGAINST THE LEFT DOOR OF MY 1998 ISUZU AMIGO, THE TREAD ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD SEPARATED AND HAD STRUCK THE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. THE TYPE OF TIRE ON MY VEHICLE IS A BRIGESTONE DUELER. THE TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE ESTIMATES ARE BETWEEN $1700 TO $2100 DOLLARS. THE TREAD PUT THREE DENTS ON THE DRIVERS DOOR, BROKE OF THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR, BROKE THE BUMPER, KNOCKED THE LEFT FRONT FENDER OUT OF LINE, DAMAGED THE MUG GUARDS AND OTHER PROTECTIVE SHIELD UNDER THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE,& I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A SLOW STOP ON A VERY ACTIVE FAST ROADWAY. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE AND FILED A CONSUMER COMPLAINT I COMPLETED THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK AND SENT THEM PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. I ALSO ACQUIRED THE ESTIMATES AND SENT THEM MY TIRE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THEY HAVE SINCE REJECTED MY COMPLAINT STATING THE SEPARATION WAS MY FAULT CAUSED MY LOW TIRE PRESSURE. I DISAGREE. THIS TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS TIRE WAS THE SPARE AND HAD ONLY APPROX 5 TO 7000 MILES ON THE TIRE. MY VEHICLE RECEIVES REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THE TIRES WERE RECENTLY ROTATED. THE TIRE PRESSURE IS CHECKED / BALANCED AND THE PRESSURE CHECKED. I PERSONALLY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO TAKING THIS TRIP. ALL I ASK IS THAT I AM REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO MY VEHICLE AND MY TIRES BE REPLACED WITH A MAKE/BRAND OF MY OWN CHOOSING. I HAVE EFFECTED SOME OF THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE INCLUDE THE TIRE, AND MIRROR THESE ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER BRIDGESTONE TIRE IN ORDER STAY CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE WITH THE BRIDGESTONE PRODUCTS I WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE ALL FIVE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. TO INCLUDE THE SPARE.

ON APRIL 4, 2005, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 1997 ISUZU RODEO ON INTERSTATE 24 IN MARION COUNTY, TENNESSEE WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION, AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. MIRACULOUSLY, SHE SURVIVED. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE, SO THAT OTHER MOTORISTS MAY BE APPRAISED OF THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. BRIDGESTONE DUELER 684, TIRE SIZE P245/70 R16 106S. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED IN COLUMBIA, S.C. ON JANUARY 13, 2005 FROM A FIRESTONE STORE. THE STATE TROOPER WHO INVESTIGATED THE ACCIDENT LISTED THE TREAD SEPARATION AS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO FISH TAIL, AND MY DAUGHTER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT THEN TURNED OVER THREE TIMES. I HAVE THE TIRE. *AK THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND PLEASE INFORM ME OF THE RESULTS OF YOUR INVESTIGATION. DENNIS BOLT

VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. BRIDGESTONE, HT DULLER, P205/70R16, #DOT YTJM51169. *AK 80% OF THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BELTS AND TORE A PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS ORIGINALLY A SPARE TIRE AND WAS PUT INTO USE FOR THE FIRST TIME *TC

LEFT REAR TIRE TREADS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, VEHICLE ROLLS OVER, LEAVES HIGHWAY, KILLING BELTED DRIVER. THE TIRE WAS THE FORMER SPARE TIRE AND LIGHTLY USED. IT WAS 6 YEARS OLD AND MAY HAVE DEGRADED OVER TIME PURSUANT TO INFORMATION IN COMMENT TO DOCKET 03-15400 FILED WITH NHTSA ON 11-5-04 BY SEAN KANE OF SAFETY RESEARCH.*AK

FRONT TIRE BLOWOUT AT 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY. 21000 MILES ON 2004 HONDA CRV. BRIDGESTONE, DUELLER, 205/70R15 TIRES . *AK

TREAD SEPARATION ON TIRE, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, IMPACT WITH RETAINING WALL, CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *LA

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HUTCHINSON RIVER PARKWAY IN NEW YORK AT MODERATE SPEED, EVERYTHING WAS FINE, AND SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY LOST STEERING. EVERY OUNCE OF MY BEING WAS DIRECTED AT TRYING TO STEER, TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR WAS LIKE A BAD CARNIVAL RIDE CONDUCTED BY DEMONS. I SMASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, CAROMED OFF IT, VEERED TO THE LEFT AND SMASHED INTO THE CONCRETE MEDIAN JERSEY BARRIER ON THE LEFT. I WAS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN I WAS ABOUT TO DIE. THANKS TO THE BARRIER AND MY SEATBELT AND AIRBAGS (I HAVE SIDE-IMPACT AIRBAGS WHICH DID NOT DEPLOY, ONLY THE FRONT ONES DID - THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN MY CAR), I DID NOT GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS I BELIEVED I WAS ABOUT TO, WALKED AWAY FROM MY CAR AND AM SITTING HERE WRITING TO YOU NOW, QUITE BANGED UP AND BRUISED AND WITH A FRACTURED VERTEBRA BUT MIRACULOUSLY ALIVE. MIRACULOUSLY ALSO, NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED. *** SOMETHING FAILED IN MY CAR TO CAUSE THIS AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT. THERE WAS EITHER A TIRE OR MECHANICAL FAILURE OF SOME KIND. (THE TIRES STILL HAD DECENT TREAD ON THEM.) MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS THE CAR AND TIRES ARE SO DAMAGED FROM THE IMPACT THAT THEY CAN'T TELL WHAT CAUSED IT AND THEY SHOW NO INTEREST IN PURSUING IT. (IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN A BLOWOUT.) I'M SURE SOMEONE WHO KNEW HOW COULD INVESTIGATE THE CAR AND FIND OUT WHAT FAILED. IT SEEMS TO ME IT SHOULD BE OF INTEREST TO HONDA AND EVERYONE ELSE WHAT WENT WRONG HERE. I HAVE NOTIFIED AMERICAN HONDA ABOUT THE ACCIDENT AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO ME. (P.S. THE CAR HAS CRUISE CONTROL BUT I WAS NOT USING IT.) *LA

ON SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 DRIVING ON THE EAST BOUND LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY OHE OF THE TIRES ON MY 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER SHREDDED/CAME APART THE TIRE IS A BRIDGESTONE DUELER HT 265/70/15 # ELEKDCL1100. I JUST PURCHASED THE TRUCK ONE MONTH AGO, AND FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD AT THE BRIDGESTON/FIRESTONE DEALER THE TIRE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. 3 YEAR OLD TIRES SHOULD WEAR DOWN NOT COME APART. I WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. MY TRUCK SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT 1/4 PANEL, DOOR, WHEEL WELL MOLDING, THE ALUMINUM WHEEL AND RUNNING BOARD. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. THIS VEHICLE HELPS TO ALLOW ME TO MAKE A LIVING AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT TO HELP ME RESOLVE THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I CONTACTED BRIDGESTONE AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND AND CAN ONLY HOPE THIS CAN BE RESOLVED IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS OR SO, WHICH IS VERY HARD FOR ME TO ACCEPT. IF YOU CAN GIVE/FORWARD ANY FURTHER INFORMATION TO ME I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. I CAN ALSO BE REACHED AT 631-463-9084. THANK YOU FOR HANDLING THIS IN AN EXPEDIENT MANNER PAUL BALSAMO . *AK