GOODYEAR CONQUEST TIRES Complaints

EXPERIENCED BELT SEPARATION AND ENSUEING BLOWOUT AT 60 MILES/HOUR. NO OBSTRUCTION WAS HIT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/75R14 )

THE TIRE CAME APART AT THE SEEM JUST LIKE THE FIRESTONE TIRES IN QUESTION. IT LOOKS LIKE A RETHREAD WHEN IT COME APART. THE TIRE TOTALLY COLLAPSED. THE TIRE HAD JUST BEEN INSPECTED AT AN AUTHORIZED GM DEALER AND PASSED INSPECTION. ACCORDING TO THE WALMART AUTO DEPARTMENT IN KINGSPORT TENNESSE THE TIRE STILL HAS ENOUGH THREAD TO BE ON THE HIGHWAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY I BOUGHT FOUR BRAND NEW TIRES (BF GOODRICH) TO REPLACE THE GOODYEAR TIRES, THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE CAR.( DOT NUMBER: HKDR 394 TIRE SIZE: P195/70R14 )

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY WHEN BREAKING, AND POPPING NOISES. HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION AT 37,100 MILES. REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AT 54,354 MILES. REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM JOINTS AT 59,421 MILES. TIRES: TIRES LOOSE AIR PRESSURE AND GO FLAT FOR NO APPARENT REASON INTERMITANTLY, RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF TWO TIRES. TIRE BURST WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF A THIRD TIRE. DOOR LOCKS: INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR POWER LOCK. WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH POWER CONTROL. RADIO TAPE DECK: TAPE PLAYER ACTIVATED WITHOUT TAPE IN THE DECK. UNABLE TO STOP TAPE PLAYER. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )

DURING FLAT REPAIR, THIS TIRE WAS REMOVED FROM RIM FOR FIRST TIME. IT WAS THEN SEEN THAT THE BEAD WAS DAMAGED, APPARENTLY AT THE TIME OF ASSEMBLY BY PLYMOUTH. A CALL TO GOODYEAR INDICATED THAT CHRYSLER HAD DONE A RECALL ON THESE EXACT TIRES FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON FOR THE MODEL YEAR EARLIER. THIS IS YOUR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V200000 (MFG CAMPAIGN #749). MY VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED 9/8/97, JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE PRIOR MODEL YEAR RECALL ENDED. CHRYSLER ALLOWED THE DEALER TO DISMOUNT ALL FOUR REMAINING TIRES TO INSPECT FOR DAMAGE. AN ADDITIONAL ONE OF THOSE TIRES ALSO HAD BEAD DAMAGE. CHRYSLER THEN REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES (OR ANY PORTION THEREOF). DEALER AGREED TO SELL THREE NEW TIRES (TO BE USED WITH THE UNDAMAGED SPARE WHICH HAD NOT BEEN USED) AT THEIR COST, WITH NO INSTALLATION CHARGE. IT SEEMS THAT THE ASSEMBLY PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE 1997 MODEL YEAR RECALL WAS NOT FIXED COMPLETELY, AND THAT THE SAME POTENTIAL HAZARD MAY EXIST IN AT LEAST SOME 1998 MODEL YEAR TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215 65R15 )

I WAS PARKED AT BURGER KING, TURNED THE IGNITION AND PUT MY CARAVAN IN REVERSE TO GET OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE. TO MY SURPRISE, THE CAR GAVE A SEVER JOLT, AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE....I TRIED AGAIN AND THE SAME JOLT OCCURRED, THIS TIME SOUNDING LIKE STUFF INSIDE WAS BEING SMASHED UP (LIKE A TRASH COMPACTOR SOUNDS). I TRIED TO GET IT INTO DRIVE (EVEN THOUGH I WAS ALMOST AS FAR UP AS I COULD GO) AND IT WOULDN'T BUDGE EITHER...THE SOUNDS GETTING WORSE. AFRAID I WAS CRUSHING THINGS INSIDE, I TURNED THE CAR OFF. MY TWO CHILDREN AND I WALKED THE MILE OR SO HOME AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE MECHANIC SAID IT APPEARED TO BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ONCE HE LOOKED IT OVER AND TOOK THE TRANSMISSION OUT, IT WAS A SEVERE PROBLEM, "BIZZARRE" IS THE EXACT WORD OF THE MECHANC WHO ASKED ME IF I HAD ANY WARNING SIGNS. I HAD NONE. HE SAID HE COULDN'T BELIEVE THE EXTENT OF STUFF BROKEN APART INSIDE THE TRANSMISION LIKE BROKEN GLASS...AND SAID HE COULD NOT EVEN COME UP WITH AN EXPLANATION OF HOW IT MIGHT HAVE OCCURED SINCE IT WAS SO UNLIKELY FOR A CAR THIS NEW (97) WITH ONLY 43000 MILES AND THEN FOR THE "REAR PLANETARY (SP) GEAR CARRIER TO HAVE BEEN MUTILATED LIKE IT WAS WITHOUT THE FRONT HAPPENING. I HAVE PHOTOS TO SHOW THE HORRIFIC DAMAGE. AND I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE, GOD FORBID, I HAD NOT BEEN PARKED BUT STOPPED FOR A LIGHT OR SOMETHING OR ON A DARK ROAD OR WHEREVER, I CRINGE AT THE THOUGHT OF THE ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE OCCURRED WITH THIS HAPPENING WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AND I FEEL CHRYSLER SHOULD ANSWER TO THIS!!!!!!!! I DID CALL THEIR CUSTOMER SVC CENTER TO REPORT THIS AND TO DEMAND RESTITUTION AS IT COST ME $2134; THEY DID NOT WANT TO KNOW NOTHING SINCE I HAD NOT BROUGHT IT TO A "CHRYLSER/DODGE DEALER" TO BE FIXED....THE CATCH 22 IS THAT I DID NOT DO SO BECAUSE I WAS PASSED MY WARRANTLY AND MY EXPERIENCES WITH DEALERS' SERVICE CENTER PRICES FOR MAJOR WORK HAS BEEN BEYOND MY POCKETBOOK!!! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER