NHTSA Complaint #10062193 — 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER

ON SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 DRIVING ON THE EAST BOUND LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY OHE OF THE TIRES ON MY 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER SHREDDED/CAME APART THE TIRE IS A BRIDGESTONE DUELER HT 265/70/15 # ELEKDCL1100. I JUST PURCHASED THE TRUCK ONE MONTH AGO, AND FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD AT THE BRIDGESTON/FIRESTONE DEALER THE TIRE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. 3 YEAR OLD TIRES SHOULD WEAR DOWN NOT COME APART. I WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. MY TRUCK SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT 1/4 PANEL, DOOR, WHEEL WELL MOLDING, THE ALUMINUM WHEEL AND RUNNING BOARD. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. THIS VEHICLE HELPS TO ALLOW ME TO MAKE A LIVING AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT TO HELP ME RESOLVE THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I CONTACTED BRIDGESTONE AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND AND CAN ONLY HOPE THIS CAN BE RESOLVED IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS OR SO, WHICH IS VERY HARD FOR ME TO ACCEPT. IF YOU CAN GIVE/FORWARD ANY FURTHER INFORMATION TO ME I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. I CAN ALSO BE REACHED AT 631-463-9084. THANK YOU FOR HANDLING THIS IN AN EXPEDIENT MANNER PAUL BALSAMO . *AK