BRIDGESTONE TIRES Complaints

WE PURCHASED A 2005 HONDA CRV IN JULY OF 2005, WHICH CAME WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 684 215/65R16 98T TIRES. DEALERSHIP HAS INSPECTED THE CAR EVERY YR. SINCE THEN. AT INSPECTION IN SEPT. OF 2007, THERE WERE 13,180 MILES ON THE 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES. NO PROBLEM INDICATED BY SERVICEMAN WITH TIRES AT THAT TIME. OVER CHRISTMAS OF 2007, 3 MOS. LATER, MY DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND SAT IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE AREA OF THE TIRES. NEXT DAY HUSBAND TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED OUT. INSTEAD, DEALER SET APPT. FOR TUES. JAN. 8, 2007. IN BETWEEN THOSE 2 TIMES, VEHICLE HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT JIFFY LUBE. THE SERVICEMAN AT THE JIF. LUBE STATED FRONT TIRES WERE WORN AND NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT--INTERESTING SINCE ALL OTHER DEALERSHIP OIL CHANGES PERFORMED MENTIONED NO TIRE WEAR. AT THE APPT. ON JAN.8, 2008 [VALLEY HONDA, 4221 WILLIAM PENN HIGHWAY, MONROEVILLE, PA 15146--PH:412-373-3000] A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE TIRES ON VEHICLE, WHICH NOW HAD 15,730 MILES ON THEM, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE STEEL BELTS INSIDE OF THE BACK TIRES WERE BROKEN! HE ASKED ABOUT THE USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES TO WHICH I RESPONDED NO ON ALL ACCOUNTS. IN ADDITION, IF WE HAD HIT A HOLE HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE STEEL BELTS IN BOTH OF THE BACK TIRES, ONE WOULD THINK THE CAR WOULD BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, WHICH IT IS NOT. NO EXPLANATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS TO WHY THE FRONT TIRES WERE SO BADLY WORN AND NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES WAS NEVER NOTICED BY THEIR SERVICEMEN. THE DEALERSHIP STATED "THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THOSE TIRES" BUT, OFFERED TO SELL US 4 BRAND NEW YAMAHA TIRES AT $89.41 + $13.50 FOR INSTALLATION PER TIRE, PLUS TAX, PLUS A FEE TO DISPOSE OF THE OLD TIRES. SO FAR THESE TIRES HAVE NOT FAILED, BUT WE ARE SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE PARKWAY, TURNPIKE, FREEWAY, OR ANY HIGH SPEED ROAD FOR FEAR OF A TIRE FAILURE THAT MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT & INJURY. *TR

PURCHASED 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 17K MILES ON JULY 3RD, 2007. ON 12/28/2007 HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT 29K MILES DUE TO LACK OF TIRE TREAD. THE TIRES SHOULD LAST AT LEAST FOR 40-50K SINCE THAT IS THEIR TREAD WARRANTY. WHEN RESEARCHING TIRERACK.COM, THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THESE TIRES, BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400. (AT LEAST 90+ COMPLAINTS JUST ON THIS WEBSITE.) THE COST TO REPLACE WAS $433 VERSUS WHAT BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE WARRANTY QUOTE OF $469.*CN

I'M WRITING TO DETAIL MY ISSUES WITH MY 07 TOYOTA CAMRY V6. I HAVE HAD IT ONE YEAR AND THE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATING IS STILL THERE EVEN AFTER A SUPPOSED 'FIX' BY MY SELLING DEALER. THE TRANNY SOMETIMES HESITATES AS MUCH AS 2-3 SECONDS B4 ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD AS INTENDED. I ALSO HAVE EXTREME FRUSTRATION WITH THE INTERIOR PLASTICS. THE DASH RATTLES MORE THAN MY OLD 97 PONTIAC. THE OTHER MAJOR ISSUE IS THE SOFTNESS OF THE DRIVER SEAT FOAM. I AM DUE IN 2 DAYS FOR A RE-FOAMING OF THE SEAT. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL FIRM IT UP A BIT. ONE LAST POINT IS THE TIRES WORE OUT BY 13K ON THEM MAKING ME SPEND OVER $300.00 FOR NEW RUBBER. NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR A $25,000 CAR. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2007 BMW 328I ON 2/22/2007. IT CAME EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42. IN DECEMBER OF 2007, I FOUND OUT THAT THESE TIRES ARE NOT WEARING PROPERLY. IN MY SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS. BMW REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPLACING ALL THE TIRES IF YOU ARE OVER 10K MILES. MY TIRES ARE WEARING HORRIBLY AND CAUSING A SAFETY RISK. BMW KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM IN JANUARY 2007 WHEN THEY ISSUED A SERVICE INFO BULLETIN TO ALL THE DEALERS. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT INFORM THE OWNERS AND THEY ACTUALLY SOLD MY CAR TO ME WITHOUT MENTIONING THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE TIRES. NO TIRES SHOULD WEAR OUT AFTER 10K MILES. I ACTUALLY TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE IN EARLY SEPT TO HAVE A TIRE REPLACED AND NO ONE STILL MENTIONED THE SIB TO ME. MY HUSBAND FOUND A COPY OF IT ON THE INTERNET AND IT BASICALLY SAYS, DON'T REPLACE THESE UNLESS THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINS. HOWEVER, ITS DIFFICULT TO DETECT THE UNEVEN TREAD WEAR UNTIL THERE ARE HUGE FLAT SPOTS ON YOUR TIRES. THIS IS SO REMINISCENT OF THE FIRESTONE/FORD DEBACLE AND I FEEL THAT BMW IS PLAYING THE ODDS TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO HELP FUND A HUGE RECALL. THEY KEPT PUTTING THESE SAME TIRES ON THESE CARS DESPITE THE COMPLAINTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A FULL SKID AND STRUCK A CURB. FIVE MILES LATER, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY AND THE WHEEL TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FAILED STEERING RACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS SELLING VEHICLES WITH SUMMER TIRES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,780. UPDATED 01-30-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED FAILURE WARN ABOUT TO SUMMER RATED TIRES. UPDATED 01/18/08 *TR

I BOUGHT A TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 2007 AT THE END OF OCT. 2006. I ALSO BOUGHT A PRE-PAID MAINTENANCE SERVICE. YESTERDAY, DEC. 6 2007, I TOOK MY CAMRY FOR THE 5TH REGULAR SERVICE FOR 25,000 MILES. I COMMUTE TO A DISTANT WORK, SO I PUT ON A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER FORM THE FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA DEALER CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL OF MY FOUR TIRES. HE SAID THAT THE TREAD WAS ALL WORN OUT. I WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE EXCEPTIONALLY ACCELERATED WEAR OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO TALK TO THE TIRE COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE THEIR EXPLANATION WAS THAT BECAUSE OF TOYOTA'S SPECIFICATIONS, THEY PRODUCED TIRES THAT HAD SOFTER RUBBER FOR BETTER RIDERSHIP. IT MAKES THEM LAST MUCH LESS THAN THEIR STORE TIRES. BY THE WAY, THE TIRES, TURANZA EL400 IN THEIR STORE WILL LAST ABOUT 80,000MILES. THE SAME BRAND AND SAME MODEL TIRES WILL HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE. I DID NOT PAY ANY CLOSER LOOK ON THE TIRES BECAUSE I ONLY PUT 25,000 MILES ON THEM. IT IS ALSO MOSTLY FROM HIGHWAY DRIVE. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBLE AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT UP TO THE TIRE COMPANY. I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO PROBLEMS BECAUSE NEVER EXPECTED OR SUSPECTED ANY BAD TIRES. I HAD MANY DIFFERENT CARS FROM DIFFERENT COMPANIES, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A BRAND NEW CAR TIRES LASTING ONLY 25,000 MILES. A SALES PERSON FROM THE BRIDGESTONE STORE IN CITRUS HEIGHT SAID THAT IT IS NOT NEW THAT HE SEES OFTEN BRAND NEW CAR TIRES LASTING ONLY ABOUT 15,000MILES OR EVEN LESS. *TR

WE HAVE TWO 2005 TOYOTA PRIUSES WHICH HAVE EXHIBITED IDENTICAL STALLING AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE HYBRID SYSTEM WILL STALL OR NOT OPERATE AND WILL NOT ALLOW US TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR PERIODICALLY. ONE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS WE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE, AND ANOTHER WAS NOT SURE AND SAID THERE BEST "GUESS" WAS TO REFRESH THE ECU AND HYBRID CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE , HOWEVER AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE BELIEVE IT TO BE A COMBINATION OF A SOFTWARE GLITCH ATTRIBUTED TO A LEAK IN WATERPROOFING A GASKET NEAR AN ECU. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION ALMOST A YEAR AGO WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ALL THEY DID WAS SIMPLY "FLASH" OR REFRESH THE MEMORY AND DID NOT ACTUALLY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PRIUS' HYBRID-RELATED COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE HYBRID CONTROL MODULE ARE COVERED FOR 8 YEARS/100,000 MILES. WE ALSO MENTIONED TO THE DEALER THE UNUSUAL AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON BOTH VEHICLES, SOME OF THE TIRES HAD NO TREAD AND WERE ALREADY BALD AFTER ONLY 12,000 MILES. I AM WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE RELATED TO THE STEERING OR TRACTION CONTROL ISSUES PREVALENT WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA CIVIC. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400, SIZE P225/60R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE AND MAKE A ROARING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TWO REAR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TREAD WAS WORN AND UNEVEN AT AN ANGLE BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT BEEN ROTATED REGULARLY. THE CONTACT HAS THE TIRES AVAILABLE, IF NEEDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,737 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,237.

I HAVE A 2007 HONDA PILOT WITH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. THEY ARE BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 684. I HAVE 11,700 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS RIDING TODAY IN A LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN AND HYDROPLANED ACROSS THE LANE AFTER RUNNING THROUGH SOME STANDING WATER. THE TIRES ARE WORN TO THE POINT THAT THEY ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

HAVE A BUBBLE ON 2 BRIDGESTONE POTENZAS RUN FLAT, OEM. CAR AND TIRES HAVE 10,500 MILES. TIRES ARE DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE, REAR DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. 1) FRONT 245/40/19 RUN FLAT AND 2) REAR 275/40/19. HAVE NOT HIT POTHOLES. WROTE TO BRIDGESTONE - NO REPLY, ON THE WEBSITE THEY CLAIM THAT THEY RESPOND WITHIN 3 WORKING DAYS. ALSO TOOK CAR TO BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE DEALER IN WESTBURY, NY. THEY DENY THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT GIVEN THAT: 1. TIRES DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE, EVEN IF IT DID, HOPEFULLY THEY ARE DESIGNED TO HIT POTHOLES, AT LEAST SOME OF THE TIME; 2) THIS HAPPENED WITHIN 10,000 MILES; 3) THEY ARE ON DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE SIDES, 4) THEY HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF INNER AND OUTER LININGS NOT HAVING BEEN GLUED WELL IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE NOT EVEN BOTHERED TO DOCUMENT THE COMPLAIN TO ASSESS IF THERE INDEED IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *TR