GOODYEAR TIRES Complaints

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE. *NM DRIVER HIT SHOULDER ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CAUSED A LIGAMENT TEAR, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED A CUT ON THE HEAD. *LA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY SIDE REAR TIRE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ON THE CENTER AXLE BLEW OUT WITHIN 5,000 MILES ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER, 235/85R16 LOAD RANGE E. *AK

BOUGHT 6-10PLY HEAVY DUTY TRUCK TIRES FOR MY FORD 350, DUALLY, DIESEL TRUCK & I ROTATED THEM EVERY 6 MONTHS. WHEN I WAS IN A MALL, A PASSER-BY STOPPED ME TO TELL ME MY LEFT FRONT TIRE, ON THE INSIDE HAD A HUGE BUBBLE IN IT. WHEN I LOOKED, IT WAS AROUND 8 TO 10 IN. AROUND & WHEN I STOPPED, IT DID NOT GO DOWN, IT STAYED THERE. I ONLY HAD THEM FOR ABOUT 2 YRS. I BOUGHT THEM FROM A & K TIRES ON MOODY BLVD., IN FLAGLER BEACH, FL. 32136 GOODYEAR WOULD NOT EVEN PRO-RATE THEM, I HAD TO BUY ANOTHER TIRE. NOW, I AM AFRAID THE OTHER 5 WILL DO THE SAME & AS A RETIREE, I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY 6 TIRES EVERY TWO YEARS FOR MY TRUCK. I AM AFRAID ANOTHER BUBBLE WILL COME UP ON THE OTHER TIRES, BUT I AM STUCK WITH THEM. IF IT HAD BLOWN OUT ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT THANKS TO A CONCERNED PASSERBY, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. HOPE I AM THAT LUCKY AGAIN, IF THE OTHER TIRES GO OUT TOO. *JB

I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH AIR PRESSURE LOSS IN MY TIRES. EVERY TIRE ON MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AT LEAST ONCE AND ONE TIRE HAS BEEN SERVICED THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER INDICATES THAT IT IS A PROBLEM OF CORROSION AROUND THE VALVE STEM CAUSING LEAK DOWN. THE DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY ON THE LHS AND 300M. I ASKED IF CHRYSLER HAS A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE IS NOT A FIX. MEANWHILE, MY VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE 3 VALVE STEMS REPLACED FOR A PROBLEM THAT WILL EVENTUALLY REOCCUR. THIS LAST TIME ALMOST RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH MY WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AS THE TIRE ALMOST CAME OFF OF THE RIM. NOW, AFTER THE FIRST 3 FAILURES I HAVE MADE IT A HABIT TO REINFLATE MY TIRES AT EVERY FUELING AND DID SO NOT LESS THAN 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS LATEST FAILURE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CONTINUAL INACTION ON THE PART OF CHRYSLER WILL RESULT IN THE HARM OF ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS OR SOMEONE ELSE AND THIS CORRESPONDENCE SERVES AS NOTICE OF MY CONCERN. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH YOUR RESPONSE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IN INCLEMENT WEATHER ALL FOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES, SIZE P235/55R17 WERE PROVIDING LOW PROFILE. DEALER INDICATED TIRES WERE OPERATING AS DESIGNED TO THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. VEHICLE SPUN AROUND THREE TIMES AND THEN STOPPED. DEALER INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND METAL INSIDE THE TIRE. TWO DAYS LATER, THE LEFT REAR AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRES, DEALER DESTROYED TIRES, AND DID NOT WRITE DOWN THE DOT NUMBERS ON THE TIRES. *AK

ON SATURDAY (3/13/2004) WHILE TRAVELING ON I40, THE GOODYEAR TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND LESS THAN 10 SECONDS LATER COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED ALONG THE PERIMETER WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDE. I HAD MY CAR SERVICED BY A CHRYSLER DEALER ON 3/08/04 BEFORE DRIVING 130 MILES TO A CONFERENCE IN SPRUCE PINES, NC ON 3/10/04. IT WAS ON THE RETURN TRIP FROM SPRUCE PINES WHERE THE TIRE COLLAPSED. ALSO, AFTER THE TIRE WAS CHANGED I STOPPED (LESS THAN 10 MILES LATER) AND CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE OTHER THREE TIRES AND THEY ALL SHOWED BETWEEN 35 AND 36 PSI OF PRESSURE. THIS INCIDENCE WAS NOT CAUSED BY UNDER-INFLATIOIN AS SUGGESTED BY A LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER.

THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT WHEELS WAS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES BECAUSE THE TIRES CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD AT AN ANGLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK BASED FROM INVOICE FROM DEALER, THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE CATERA ARE DESIGNED TO PITCHED SLIGHTLY INWARD, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FRONT TIRES TO WEAR FASTER. ALSO, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT TIRES HAVE TO BE ROTATED REGULARLY. *LA

TIRES DEVELOPED BUBBLES, AND THE STEEL BELTS ARE VISIBLE IN PLACES. ALSO, EXHAUST SYSTEM IS DESIGNED WITH THE PIPES SITTING DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE SPARE TIRE. *AK

COMPLAINT FILED WITH MERCEDES BENZ. THOSE 17-INCH WHEELS GET BENT EASILY THIS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WOBBLE. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR FEW MONTHS AGO, I HAVE BEEN TOLD TWICE BY MERCEDEZ THAT I NEED TO CHANGE THOSE RIMS. HERE IS A COMPLAINT, WHICH I FILED WITH MERCEDES BENZ:*AK I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE BEEN TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE MERCEDES CAR WHICH I BOUGHT A FEW MONTHS AGO. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I HAVE TO CHANGE MY TIRE RIMS TWICE AS THEY HAVE BEEN BENT. WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE ADDITIONAL ENQUIRIES, I AM TOLD THAT THESE CARS WHICH COME WITH THE 17 INCH RIMS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO GET BENT EASILY. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO CHANGE MY RIMS (ALL 4 WHEELS) AS AN OPTION TO AVOID MY PROBLEMS. IT IS EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING, THAT I WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY ADVISED OF THE ISSUES RELATING TO THESE 17-INCH RIMS WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR.*AK I HAVE DRIVEN A 10-YEAR OLD MAZDA PRIOR TO THIS, AND HAVE NEVER ONCE FACED THIS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROADS OF NJ. AND WHEN I ENQUIRED ABOUT AS TO WHY A $30 K MERCEDES, SHOULD GIVE ME SUCH PROBLEMS, I HAVE BEEN REDIRECTED BETWEEN THE SALES AND SERVICE MANAGERS AT THE MORRISTOWN MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $500 ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, TO CHANGE A DAMAGED RIM AND TIRE, AND NOW, I AM BEING TOLD THAT I NEED TO SPEND AN ADDITIONAL $500 TO CHANGE ANOTHER RIM AND REALIGN THE WHEELS. IF 17-INCH WHEELS ARE NOT DEEMED SUITABLE FOR THE ROADS OF NJ, THEN YOU SHOULD STOP SELLING THEM IN NJ. TO MY BEST KNOWLEDGE, OTHER THAN THE NORMAL IRREGULARITIES WHICH I DRIVE THROUGH ON THE ROADS, I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC POTHOLES WHICH I HAVE RUN INTO. I SEEK YOUR SINCERE GUIDANCE AND TIME IN ADVISING ME WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN THE SERVICE CENTRE OF THE MORRISTOWN MERCEDES BENZ CENTRE. YOURS, IN EXASPERATION, FRUSTRATED CUSTOMER. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)