MICHELIN TIRES Complaints

I WAS DRIVING TO ARIZONA FROM TEXAS ON INTERSTATE 10 IN A RAIN STORM WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL. I THOUGHT IT WAS HYDROPLANING, BUT IT WAS SOON TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL AND I STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. MY CAR STARTED SPINNING AND SPUN ACROSS THE 15 FOOT GRASSY MEDIAN WHICH SLOPED DOWN ABOUT TWO FEET, PROCEEDED ACROSS THE TWO LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, CONTINUED DOWN A THREE FOOT SLOPED GRASSY MEDIAN ABOUT THREE FEET WIDE AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD. MY BACK TIRE HAD GONE FLAT!! WHEN I GOT TO ARIZONA I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO DISCOUNT TIRE (WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE FIRST TWO TIRES) TO HAVE THE RIMS AND TIRES CHECKED. THEY CHANGED THE TIRE BUT COULD FIND NO NAIL OR ANY REASON FOR THE TIRE GOING FLAT. THE OTHER REAR TIRE ALSO HAD TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE TIRE (THE 2 REAR TIRES HAD 20,000 MILES ON THEM). I WAS TOLD THE RIMS WERE DAMAGED, BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TWO FRONT TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 17,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAD BUBBLES. I BELIEVE I RECEIVED FOUR DEFECTIVE TIRES WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR BECAUSE THESE MICHELIN TIRES SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR AROUND 50,000 MILES. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A SITE OF UNHAPPY MICHELIN CUSTOMERS WITH THEIR HORROR STORIES. I PRINTED TEN PAGES OF COMPLAINTS, TWO VERY SIMILAR TO MINE WHERE THE TIRE WENT FLAT FOR NO APPARENT REASON, OTHERS THAT HAD BLOWOUTS ON ALMOST NEW TIRES. ONE CUSTOMER STATED THAT HE WAS TOLD TO RETURN THE TIRE (AS I WAS) AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHEN HE CALLED HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE. HE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE POSTAL SERVICE THAT THE TIRE HAD BEEN DELIVERED AND IT WAS DATED AFTER THE CONVERSATION HE HAD WITH MICHELIN! JB

TIRE CAME APART ON INSIDE OF TIRE, THIS IS THE SECOND ONE IT HAPPENED TO, THE FIRST TIME WAS LAST SPRING, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I LOOKED ON THIS WEB SITE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR OTHER COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TIRE, BUT DIDN'T SEE ANY. WE HAD THE TIRE REPLACED AT SAM'S CLUB WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED THE TIRES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. A VIBRATION WAS FELT, AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TOWARDS THE LEFT BEFORE BLOWOUT OCCURRED. REGULAR TIRE SERVICE WAS PROVIDED. THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL BULGING IN THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND HAD THE TIRE CHECKED OUT BY THE PLACE OF PURCHASE. A LETTER WAS RECEIVED FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING TECHNICAL STAFF EXAMINED TIRE DOT # HNC7FREZ1606, AND DETERMINED THE TIRE FAILED BY IMPACT FROM AN UNKNOWN OBJECT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE CAUSE OF THE BLOWOUT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE WAS NO RECALL INDICATED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE TO SUPPORT THAT THE BLOWOUT WAS CALLED BY A RECALL. NO RECALL # COULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE COMPONENT THAT WAS AFFECTED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS MICHELIN.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. THE SIDEWALL DRYROTTED ACCORDING TO THE TIRE DEALER. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 50000 MILES OF USE ON THEM BEFORE THE BLOWOUT. THE TIRES WERE RECOMMENDED AT 50 PSI AND WERE REGULARLY CHECKED FOR AIR PRESSURE. THE TIRES HAD BEEN REGULARLY ROTATED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING HOWEVER A BULGE WAS NOTICED ON IT MINUTES BEFORE IT POPPED. THE TIRE WAS A MICHELIN, SIZE LT23575R15.

FROM THE FIRST 6000 MILES-3 INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, NEW TIRES, BLOW OUT & DAMAGED TRUCK, BRAKES ,CALIPERS AND ROTORS BAD,TRANSMISSION NOT RIGHT, STEERING NOT RIGHT TWO REAR AXLE SEALS BLOWN, NEW ENGINE AT 63,000. IT IS NOW BLOWN (WE BELIEVE, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM & TORQUE CONVERTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOR THE START). WE HAVE ALL OUR PAPERWORK DEALERSHIP DOES NOT!!!!!!!! WARRANTY COMPANY DOES. WE MAINTAINED THIS TRUCK EXTREMELY WELL!!!!! WE BOUGHT A TOTAL PIECE OF JUNK. *NM

DRIVING OUR 2 MONTH OLD 2006 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN EX SPECIAL EDITION ON A STRETCH OF SMOOTH ROAD THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST AIR. WE HAD NOT SEEN ANYTHING IN ROAD, HIT A POTHOLE OR CURB OR ANYTHING ELSE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING INFLUENCED THE TIRE TO BLOW. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE A 1.5 INCH HOLE WAS IN THE SIDEWALL. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS EVENT. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC AND CHANGE THE TIRE WITHOUT FURTHER COMPLICATIONS. TWO MICHELIN AUTHORIZED TIRE COMPANIES TOLD ME THAT WE MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING THAT CAUSED THE PUNCTURE AND THAT MICHELIN WOULD NOT OFFER ANY WARRANTY ON THE TIRE. I WAS STUNNED THAT THIS COULD BE POSSIBLE ON A 2 MONTH OLD TIRE WITH LESS THAN TWO THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND WITHOUT ANY IDENTIFIABLE EVENT THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE TIRE TO FAIL. I AM VERY PLEASED THAT THERE WAS NO RESULTING CRASH BUT I AM NOT HAPPY THAT I HAD TO SPEND ALMOST $200.00 TO REPLACE A TIRE ON MY NEW CAR WHEN I BELIEVE THERE WAS NOT ANY WAY I COULD HAVE AVOIDED IT. IF I HAD HIT A POTHOLE, CURB OR ANYTHING, IF THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF SOMETHING IN THE ROAD OR EVEN IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AGGRESSIVELY I COULD UNDERSTAND IT, BUT THERE IS NO REASON IN MY MIND THAT THIS TIRE SHOULD HAVE FAILED NOR SHOULD I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT. I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER 9 MICHELIN TIRES ON OUR HONDAS ( WE PURCHASED TWO ACCORDS IN JULY) AND OUR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THE CARS. *JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 04' CAMRY LIMITED EDITION WITH MICHELIN P235/45/18 MXM4 FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES AT 70 MILES AN HOUR ONE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE COMPANY WAS SENT AN E-MAIL OUTLINING THE INCIDENT. THEY ASK US TO BRING THE TIRE IN TO BE CHECKED. AFTER EXAMINATION WE WERE TOLD THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A SMALL PUNCTURE THE SIZE OF A TOOTH PICK IN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE. THE RIP IN THE TIRE WHERE IT BLEW WAS ABOUT 8" LONG AND WAS RIGHT AT THE AREA OF WHERE THE BELT MEETS THE SIDE WALL. THE EVENT CAUSED MY WIFE TO BECOME EXTREMELY UPSET. WE HAVE ORDERED 4 NEW TIRES FROM COSTCO BECAUSE MY WIFE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE COMPANY'S FINDINGS. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION BY ME I NOTICED THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE RUBBER WAS EXTREMELY DAMAGED ONLY ON ONE SIDE THAT BLEW IN A CIRCLE WHERE THE BELT JOINS THE SIDE WALL. THE OPPOSITE SIDE WAS IN PRISTINE CONDITION. WE HAVE OUR CARS DEALER SERVICED ROUTINELY. THE NEW TIRES HAVE COST US MORE THAN $1000.00 FOR 4 NEW TIRES. WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE COMPANY'S FINDINGS AND WISH TO GO ON THE RECORD REGARDING THIS TIRE FAILURE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS STILL PARKED AWAITING THE DELIVERY OF THE NEW TIRES WHICH ARE NOT STOCKED ANY WHERE LOCALLY. *JB

I HAD TWO INCIDENTS OF TIRE FAILURE ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE TIRES JUST CAME APART AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH. THE FIRST TIRE HAD ABOUT 40K MILES ON IT AND THE 2ND TIRE HAD 50K MILES ON IT. I HAD A CLOSE CALL, BUT NO ACCIDENT. *NM

I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON ON MARCH 09, 2005 IN CINCINNATI, OHIO. AT ABOUT 9,000 MILES I NOTICED THE CAR WAS BEHAVING DIFFERENTLY. BY 16,000 MILES EVEN I WHO AM NOT MECHANICAL COULD FIGURE OUT THAT THE CLUTCH WAS FAILING. I WAS AMAZED THAT THIS COULD BE THE CASE WITH SO FEW MILES ON IT, HOWEVER. AT THIS TIME I AM LIVING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO I CAN SAFELY SAT THAT AT LEAST 2500 OF THOSE MILES WERE ACCUMULATED ON THE INTERSTATE MOVING THE CAR FROM OHIO. THE DEALER IN CATHEDRAL CITY, CA BLAMED ME FOR THE FAILURE IMPLYING THAT I WAS NOT CAPABLE OF DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I, HOWEVER, AM 39 YEARS OLD, HAVE HAD 11 NEW CARS SINCE I BEGAN DRIVING AND ALL OF THEM WERE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE ONLY TIME I HAVE EVER NEEDED TO HAVE A CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED WAS MY PREVIOUS CAR, A 2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT WITH 93,000 MILES (I HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION). I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A RECURRING ISSUES EVERY 10-20,000 MILES AT LEAST $1000.00 EACH TIME. THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER FAILED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THEN IT CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. HYUNDAI AGREED TO PAY 60% AS A "GOOD WILL" GESTURE. I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I HAD NEVER ENCOUNTERED A CLUTCH THAT FAILED SO EARLY ON. THE OTHER MAJOR ISSUE ARE THE TIRES WHICH ARE MICHELIN MXV4 PLUS. I HAVE HAD EVERY ONE REPLACED ONCE AND TWO REPLACED TWICE. THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO STAY INFLATED. I PURCHASED A PROTECTION PLAN AFTER THE THIRD REPLACEMENT BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT ONE OF THE TIRES GOING FLAT LATE AT NIGHT. THIS IS ALL RIDICULOUS FOR A NEW CAR. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 PORSCHE 911 TURBO. ON IT, I HAVE PS2 TIRES FROM MICHELIN. BOTH OF MY REAR TIRES HAVE SPLIT ON THE INNER SIDEWALL, NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT. THE TIRES OBVIOUSLY WOULD HOLD NO AIR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST WHEN EITHER TIRE FAILED, BUT THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE TIRE SIZES ARE 315/19/25 ZR RATED AND COST ALMOST $500 EACH. FROM MY READING AND POSTING ON 6SPEEDONLINE.COM, I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED JUST TO ME. *NM