MICHELIN TIRES Complaints

ON 11/20/12, I DROVE MY 2005 ACURA RSX TO ACURA OF MANHATTAN (AOM) IN NY, NY. THE SERVICE INCLUDED 4 NEW TIRES -- MICHELIN 215/45/17. ON 12/01/12, AFTER 40-50 MILES WITH NEW TIRES, THE VEHICLE STARTS VIBRATING. I STOP AND NOTICE A BLOWN-OUT FRONT RIGHT TIRE. EMERGENCY ROAD ASSISTANCE PUTS ON THE SPARE TIRE, NOTICES THE OTHER 3 TIRES ARE UNDER-INFLATED AND ADDS AIR. I RETURN TO AOM ON 12/03/12, MENTIONING THE VIBRATIONS, BLOWN-OUT TIRE, AND 3 UNDER-INFLATED TIRES. AOM GUARANTEES THAT ALL REMAINING TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND REPLACES THE BLOWN-OUT TIRE. ON 12/14/12, ON A DIVIDED PARKWAY THE CAR AGAIN STARTS VIBRATING. I SLOW DOWN TO STOP, BUT THE REAR OF THE CAR YANKS TO THE RIGHT, THE CAR SPINS WILDLY, I SMASH HEAD-ON INTO THE MEDIAN DIVIDER, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY, THE CAR SPINS AROUND, THE REAR HITS THE MEDIAN, I COME TO A STANDSTILL. NO OTHER CAR IS INVOLVED. I AM UNHURT. I LEAVE THE CAR; I NOTICE ONE REAR TIRE OFF THE RIM AND THE OTHER ONE FLAT. THE POLICE WRITE UP AN ACCIDENT REPORT. THE CAR IS TOWED TO A GARAGE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY RAPIDLY DETERMINES IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME EVER THAT A CAR OF MINE VIBRATED -- NOT ONCE BUT TWICE IN TWO WEEKS. THE FIRST TIME, ONE TIRE BLEW OUT; THE SECOND TIME, BOTH REAR TIRES WERE EITHER OFF THE RIM OR FLAT. AND THIS IMMEDIATELY AFTER AOM HAD REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. I SENT A CERTIFIED MAIL LETTER TO [XXX], PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF AOM, ASKING FOR AN EXPLANATION. I GOT 3 NON-EXPLANATORY E-MAILS FROM A [XXX]; NONE ADDRESSED THE QUESTIONS RAISED IN MY LETTER. I REPORT THIS TO NHTSA TO PREVENT FURTHER ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY IMPROPER SERVICE BY AOM. WERE THE TIRES DEFECTIVE? DID THE LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR PROVIDE OLD TIRES WITH REDUCED ELASTICITY? DID THE TIRES PROPERLY FIT MY CAR'S RIMS? DID AOM CORRECTLY INSTALL, CALIBRATE AND BALANCE THE TIRES? AS OF THIS WRITING, NO RESPONSE HAS BEEN GIVEN BY AOM WHICH IS AVOIDING THE ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2010 GMC TERRAIN IN AUGUST OF 2012. THE VEHICLE HAD MICHELIN LATITUDE TOUR TIRES SIZE 235-55/R18. ON SATURDAY, APRIL 13TH WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT TO US THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SPLITTING ON THE SIDES AND THAT IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR THE REST OF THAT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY. ON MONDAY WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT INDEED THE TIRES WERE SPLITTING ON THE SIDES. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 55K MILES ON IT AND ACCORDING TO MICHELIN, THE TIRES ARE WARRANTED AS A 65K MILE TIRE. WE PURCHASED NEW TIRES AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT FEEL STRONGLY THAT THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPORTED BEFORE SOMEONE HAS AN AWFUL ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THEM. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS BUT DID NOT FIND ANY. I CALLED MICHELIN WHO IN TURN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE MICHELIN REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE TIRES AND THE MICHELIN REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I WAS IN THE MANAGER'S OFFICE DURING THAT PHONE CONVERSATION. I BELIEVE IT IS EXTREMELY URGENT TO TAKE A LOOK INTO THIS. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE TIRES AND I'M KEEPING THE TIRES SO THAT THEY CAN NOT BE SOLD TO ANYONE ELSE. THE TREAD ON THE TIRES IS VERY GOOD SO IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS DEFECT IS NOT RELATED TO NORMAL WEAR. PLEASE CONTACT ME SO THAT I CAN SEND THE PICTURES OR WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE THAT MAY HAVE THESE TIRES ON THEIR VEHICLE. THESE TIRES MAY BEGIN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AFTER 50K MILES AND THEY MAY NOT BE AS FORTUNATE AS WE WERE. THANKS SO MUCH, *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN ENERGY LX4 TIRES, SIZE 235/65/R16V DOT (AP46 CTXX 3709). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND NOTICED THAT ALL 4 TIRES WERE CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,039. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN TIRES, TIRE LINE SIZE: 275/40Z/R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO TEMPORARILY REPAIR THE TIRE USING FIX-A-FLAT SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAD DEVELOP BUBBLES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,700. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. *TR

I OWN A 2010 FORD FUSION AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES ARE SOFT, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECK TO SEE IF I NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS OR WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. I WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER FOR POSSIBLE FACTORY WARRANTY BRAKE CONDITION, STATING IT HAS TSB ON BRAKE BOOSTER SWITCH, BRAKE PEDAL LEVEL SWITCH PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY STATE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, BUT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES ARE NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS GOING DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKING IS NOT A NORMAL OPERATION, DRIVING THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS. THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE A SPONGE AND I FEAR ONE DAY THIS CAR IS NOT GOING TO STOP, AND I HAVE EXPLAINED THIS TO THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS THE MANAGER IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WELL MY FEAR ALMOST CAME TO LIGHT WHEN I HAD TO FLOOR THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THEIR IS NO RECALL ON THE BRAKES AND THERE IS NO SERVICE COMPLAINT FROM FORD. THE ONLY ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEALERSHIP WAS TO BLEED THE BRAKES, WHICH DID NOTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT I FEEL I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO PARK THE CAR UNTIL I CAN GET ANOTHER VEHICLE, BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR

CHUNKS OF THE TREAD ARE COMING OFF OF THE TIRE. THIS DEFECT WAS NOTICED WHILE HAVING MY TRUCK SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO VISIT A TIRE STORE THAT SOLD MICHELIN TIRES TO GET THEM RELPACED. WHEN I WENT TO THE TIRE STORE AND THEY CONTACTED MICHELIN. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD GIVE ME A 30% DISCOUNT ON NEW TIRES. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I PURCHASED MY TRUCK NEW AND HAVE APPROX 23K MILES ON THESE TIRES. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THESE TIRES. I AM AFFRAID THAT THIS MY CAUSE A BLOW OUT OR A AUTO ACCIDENT AND DONT WANT TO SEE ANYONE INJURED BECAUSE MICHELIN DOSNT WANT TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTXA/F TIRES, SIZE: 265/70/R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

I OWN A BMWX6 2009 AND UNDER 30,000 MILES I HAVE TO CHANGE TIRES UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE OWNER MANUAL INDICATED THAT TIRES NEEDS REPLACEMENT AFTER 6 YEARS THE MOST. THE TIRES THREADS UNDER 30,000 ARE UNDER SPEC. AND RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THEM BY BMW SERVICE CENTER. I REPLACE THEM AND I FOUND OUT THAT MICHELIN IS NOT GIVEN A WARRANTY FOR TIRES INSTALLED ON BMWX6 2009 EVEN THAT ON THE OWNER MANUAL IS A STATEMENT THAT THE TIRES ARE WARRANTED BY THEIR MANUFACTURER. WHY A BRAND NEW CAR IS SOLD WITH TIRES WHICH ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY? NOT TAKING A CHANCE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT I REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AT MY COST OF OVER $1700 AND BMW IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE TIRES ARE WEARING OUT TOO SOON AND TO INFORM ALL THE OWNERS OF A POTENTIAL DANGER DRIVING THE CAR WITH TIRES WHICH ARE NOT EVEN WARRANTED BY THEIR MANUFACTURER. *TR

2002 JAGUAR VANDEN PLAS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNSAFE TIRES ON VEHICLE AND DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES AT DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FAILED, AS A RESULT AGE AND DRY ROT. ALSO, THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BUBBLE ON THE OUTER SIDEWALL. A MICHELIN DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE TIRES WERE MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS OLD AND WERE NO LONGER BEING MADE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT INFORM HIM OF THE AGE OF THE TIRES.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN TOWN CAR EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN RADIAL XSE TIRES, SIZE P225/60/R17. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT WITH A 3 INCH GASH ON IT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE TIRE TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT HE MUST HAVE HIT A POT HOLE IN ORDER FOR THE TIRE TO SUCH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BUT ANOTHER FAILURE RECURRED ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO A BLISTER ON THE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE AND VEHICLE WAS 6,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.