BRIDGESTONE TIRES Complaints

THIS COMPLAINT REFERRED TO THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES (BRIDGESTONE EL-42, 235/45-17 93W ) SUPPLIED ON THE 2004 ACURA TL WITH 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER JUST A SHORT TIME I HAVE FOUND THIS TIRE TO BE ENTIRELY UNSAFE AND UNSUITABLE TO THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT BOTH ACURA AND BRIDGESTONE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THIS TIRE ON ALL EXISTING VEHICLE. THIS TIRE EXHIBITS UNSAFE CHARACTERISTICS IN WET WEATHER, WITH NOTICEABLE DRIFT AND HYDROPLANING IN ANY AMOUNT OF STANDING WATER, EVEN AS LITTLE AS 1/16 INCH. IN HEAVY RAINS, EVEN WITH NO STANDING WATER PRESENT, THE TIRE SEEMS INCAPABLE OF DISPERSING WATER AS QUICKLY AS IT FALLS, AGAIN LEADING TO VEHICLE INSTABILITY. FROM A RIDE QUALITY POINT OF VIEW THE TIRE IS ALSO UNSATISFACTORY IN THAT IT FLAT SPOTS EVERY MORNING, ESPECIALLY IN COOL WEATHER BUT EVEN IN WARMER WEATHER AS WELL, LEADING TO VIBRATIONS IN THE INITIAL MILES OF ANY DRIVE. IT IS ALSO ESPECIALLY HARSH OVER ROADWAY EXPANSION JOINTS, AND IS SO LOUD ON CONCRETE PAVEMENTS THAT IT POSES A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO DRIVER FATIGUE INDUCED BY THE CONTINUOUS NOISE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE REGARDING THE RATING AS AN "ALL SEASON TIRE" WITH MANY OWNERS REPORTING THAT THIS TIRE IS VIRTUALLY USELESS IN ANY KIND OF SNOW OR ICE CONDITION. I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH BOTH ACURA AND BRIDGESTONE TO NO AVAIL.*AK

I PURHCASED MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 SE NOT 3 WEEKS AGO. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED BY NISSAN 4 TIMES, AND THEY REPLACED ONE TIRE THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY BAD. BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER KEEPS SAYING EACH TIME THAT IT WILL BE FIXED. NOW I AM TURNING THE CAR BACK IN. THE VIBRATION IS ABOVE 70 MPH. *AK

FRONT TYRE ON MY TOYOTA CAMERY BLEW UP WHILE DRIVING , THERE IS ONLY 26000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I BOUGHT IT FROM FRANKFORT KENTUCKY GLEN SP? TOYOTA SUMMER OF 2001.*AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CONSUMER HIT A CURB AND THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE SIDEWALL WAS RUPTURED EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE TIRE AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR FIFTY PERCENT OF THE DAMAGE. *AK *SC *JB

COMPLAINT REGARDING TIRE EQUIPMENT ON 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. *MR FIRESTONE DENIED HONORING THE WARRANTY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE AUTHORIZED BRIDGESTONE AND FIRESTONE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IF HE COULD NOT PRODUCE THE RECEIPTS TO SHOW THAT THE TIRES WERE ROTATED EVERY 5000 TO 6000 THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE CONSUMER'S CELL#: 973.462.0888 *SC *JB

CAR HAS HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. WHEN YOU TURN SHARP EITHER DIRECTION IT MAKES AN AWFUL WHINING NOISE. WHEN YOU REACH AROUND 60 MPH THE STEERING COLUMN STARTS SHAKING AND YOU CAN FEEL THE CAR SHAKING UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS AND BEING TOLD THAT IT JUST NEEDS AN ALIGNMENT AND HAVING THIS DONE 3 TIMES THE VEHICLE STILL ISN'T FIXED. ALSO IN JULY OF 2003 ONE OF THE TIRES LOST IT'S TREAD IN ONE GIANT PIECE WICH FLIPPED UP AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE HATCHBACK, BUMPER AND RUNNING LIGHTS. BRIDGESTONE TIRE. GOING LESS THAN 30 MPH AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. THE INSIDE DOME LIGHT HAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND DOESN'T WORK EXCEPT MAYBE ONE DAY IN 3 YEARS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

2003 NISSAN 350Z BROUGHT IN TO SHOWCASE NISSAN IN BOURNE, MA WITH OIL LIGHT ON AND NO OIL PRESSURE. TECHNICIAN PUT CAR ON LIFT AND DRAINED "LESS THAN A PINT OF OIL" FROM VEHICAL. INSIDE OF TAIL PIPES WERE OILY AND BLACK. MILAGE AT THE TIME WAS 14,100. NISSAN'S SOLUTION WAS TO DO CONSUMPTION TESTS AT 500 MILE INTERVALS WHICH RESULTED IN OIL USAGE OF 1/4 TO 1/2 QUART PER 500 MILES WHICH NISSAN CLAIMS IS "NORMAL".*AK

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

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, CONSUMER NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICE THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD HAD BLEW OUT. BRIDGESTONE DUELER HT PT26570R17. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *MR