NHTSA Complaint #10060501 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

ON FEB 28, 2004, DRIVING ON I-10 FROM LOUISIANA TO HOUSTON, FIRST HEARD A POP NOISE, THEN IMMEDIATELY FELT LOOSING CONTROL OF WHEEL, TRIED TO HIT BREAKS TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR, AND THEN MY 3 YEARS OLD FORD FOCUS FLIPPED OVER, AND THANKS GOD NOBODY GOT INJURED, AND EVERYONE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. CHECKED THE CAR, THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE(GOOD YEAR) LOOKED RIPPED OFF, ASSUME THIS TIRE BLEW OR EXPLODED DURING THE DRIVE ON HIGHWAY, WHICH IS VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. INSURANCE IS STILL INVESTIGATING THE CASE. BUT MORE RIDICULOUSLY THE LA POLICE GAVE A TICKET FOR 'CAN'T MAINTAIN THE CAR". WE GOT 4 NEW TIRES FOR ONLY ABOUT 2 MONTHS, EVERYTHING IS IN GOOD MAINTENANCE, AND THERE WAS NO DRIVING FAULT OR OTHER ACCIDENT ASSOCIATED WITH MY ACCIDENT, PLUS WE WERE THE VICTIMS OF THIS TIRE EXPLOSION, WE ALMOST LOST OF LIFE DURING THE DEADLY FLIP OVER. THE INSURANCE IS DOING THE INVESTIGATING ABOUT TIRES, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TO COMPLAIN, BUT IT MAY TAKE A WHILE TO DEAL WITH GOODYEAR THEN. NOW FOR THIS 170$ TICKET, 5 HOURS DRIVE FROM MY HOME IN MISSISSIPPI, WHAT WE SHOULD DO TO DEAL WITH THE LA POLICE? I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD TICKET GOODYEAR INSTEAD OF INNOCENT VICTIMS LIKE US, BUT 5 HOURS DRIVING TO COURT IS REALLY ANNOYING ESPECIALLY WE ARE STILL DRIVING A RENT CAR DURING THIS MOMENT. IS THERE ANYWHERE WE CAN DISCUSS THIS POLICE MANNER EXCEPT 5 HOURS DRIVING TO LA COURT? FRUSTRATED CAR OWNER LINGYUN JIN SUN. *JB