NHTSA Complaint #10064519 — 2002 NEWMAR KOUNTRY STAR

I OWN A 2002 NEWMAR, KOUNTRY STAR MOTOR HOME. ON JANUARY 26, 2004 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM NEWMAR FOR THE 2 FRONT TIRES - " CARCASS PLY FATIGUE TIRE FAILURE". THEY PROVIDED A NUMBER TO CALL TO ARRANGE TO GET THE FRONT 2 TIRES REPLACED. I CALLED THE NUMBER AND RECEIVED A VOICE MESSAGE THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME IN ONE WEEK! THEY DID AND I MISSED THE CALL. I CALLED AGAIN, SAME STORY, ETC, ETC. I FINALLY HAD TO TAKE A TRIP IN THE MOTOR HOME. THE TIRES LOOKED OK AND THEIR LETTER DID NOT SAY TO DRIVE. ( NOTE I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THE TIRE PRESSURE AT 105 LBS. AND I HAVE NEVER OVERLOADED THE MOTOR HOME WHICH IS WHAT THEY CLAIMED WOULD CAUSE THE BLOW OUT. AFTER DRIVING ONLY 100 MILES ON MARCH 27, 2004 THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLOW OUT. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH ON 4 LANE ROUTE, ;501 NORTH OF MYRTLE BEACH. I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN, PULL OFF THE PAVEMENT AND STOP WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. IN ADDITION TO THE ENTIRE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE BEING GONE THE EXPLOSION BLEW OFF THE FRONT FIBERGLASS PANEL OF THE MOTOR HOME. AFTER 6 HOURS, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET A NEW TIRE AND CONTINUE THE TRIP. WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND CALLED NEWMAR, THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPLACING MY TIRE OR FOR REPAIRING THE MOTOR HOME. MY DEALER GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM THEM AND FROM MICHELIN. I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT AND I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THEY SHOULD PAY. I ALSO THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE A MUCH TOUGHER WARNING AND STAFF UP TO GET OWNERS TIRES REPLACED MORE QUICKLY! *NM