NHTSA Complaint #10038679 — 2002 FORD ESCAPE

MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE'S TIRE (MANUFACTURER CONTINENTIAL TIRES) HAD SEPERATED AND HAD CAUSED 2 OTHER TIRES TO WEAR IMPROPERLY. THOUGH ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED AND DOCUMENATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE DEALERSHIP, FORD OF VICKSBURG, I WAS TOLD THAT "IT WASN'T FORD'S PROBLEM OR RESPONSIBILITY". I THEN CONTACTED CONTINENTIAL TIRES, WHO ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO SEARS, 40 MILES AWAY FROM THE TOWN I LIVED IN. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO SEARS AND INSPECTED, CONTINENTIAL TIRE ADVISED SEARS "THEY WOULD PAY FOR HALF OF THE SEPERATED TIRE AND THAT WAS IT." I THEN SPOKE WITH THE SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE, CARRIE, OF THE TIRE MANUFACTURER ON THE PHONE WHO ADVISED THAT "THE SITUATION WAS FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY." I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE (NEW), DECEMBER 2001. I CONDUCTED THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE AS ADVISED. I HAD APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MILES IN JULY, 2003 WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED, WHICH WAS SHORTLY AFTER I HAD AN ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP IN LOUISIANA. I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURED AND WAS GIVEN "THE BUSINESS" OF "IT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY", SO IT BECAME MY PROBLEM ON A VEHICLE "SUPPOSEDLY" UNDER WARRANTY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE RUN AROUND I RECEIVED FROM FORD AS WELL AS CONTINENTIAL TIRE REGARDING SOMETHING THAT I HAD NOT CAUSED OR HAD ANY CONTROL OF, AFTER HAVING THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE PERFORMED ON MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE AND WILL ENSURE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TIRES MANUFACTURED BY CONTINENTIAL.