NHTSA Complaint #10005427 — 2002 DODGE DAKOTA

GOODYEAR TIRES: I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA IN JUNE, 2002. FROM DAY 1, I HAD TROUBLE STEERING. AFTER 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALER, I LEARNED TODAY THAT THE GOODYEAR TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS TOLD TO IMMEDIATELY GET NEW TIRES. THE GOODYEAR DEALER WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO MY NEED. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH DEFECTIVE TIRES. I WENT IMMEDIATELY TO A MICHELIN (SP) DEALER AND PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES. THE MICHELIN FOLKS COULD INSERT A CAR KEY FULLY INSIDE SPLITS THAT WERE IN MY TIRES. I FOUND NEWS REPORTS OF ABC INVESTIGATING GOODYEAR BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT GETTING TO THE PUBLIC, EITHER THROUGH THE MEDIA OR DEALERS. NO INCIDENT BUT ONLY BECAUSE I TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND AGAIN COMPLAINED ABOUT DIFFICULTY KEEPING THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD. THIS COMPLAINT IS SENT IN HOPES THAT AN INVESTIGATION WILL START. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES WERE FROM A "BAD BATCH". HOW MANY TIRES ARE IN A BATCH AND WHERE ARE THE OTHER TIRES? PLEASE RESPOND AND LET ME KNOW THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO TAKE. I WAS MOST FORTUNATE BECAUSE I DRIVE 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE-10 DAILY. THE OIL CHANGE MAY HAVE PREVENTED AN ACCIDENT AND PERHAPS MY LIFE. RESPECTFULLY, PATRICIA HUNTER