NHTSA Complaint #10078779 — 2003 FORD EXPEDITION

THIS IS TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TR TIRES THAT CAME STANDARD ON THE 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL THAT I SENT TO THE CONTINENTAL CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK THAT HAS ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED TO START LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS SINCE I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. YOU HAVE A LENGTH OF ONLY 2000 WORDS AND MY MESSAGE TO THEM IS TOO LONG SO PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR THE REST OF THE MESSAGE. DEAR RASHIDA, (OR WHOMEVER ELSE SEES THIS MESSAGE) I THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND CONCERN THIS MORNING. I HAVE SOME INTERESTING NEWS. I THINK IT IS QUITE ASTOUNDING AND WILL WARRANT SOME MAJOR ATTENTION FROM THE POWERS THAT BE. NOT ONLY IS THE DAMAGE TO MY TIRES A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BUT THE DAMAGE IS IN ALL OF MY TIRES, INCLUDING ONE THAT WAS REPLACED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THE OTHER ORIGINAL THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED MAY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE IT HAD A GASH IN THE SIDE THAT CAUSED IT TO GO FLAT. AFTER TALKING WITH YOU I HAPPENED TO MENTION MY PROBLEM TO A NEIGHBOR WHO ASKED ME TO HAVE HER HUSBAND LOOK AT IT. AS IT TURNS OUT HE HAD BEEN A PLANT SUPERVISOR FOR KELLEY-SPRINGFIELD TIRES BEFORE MOVING UP TO THIS AREA. HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT TIRE MANUFACTURING AND TESTING. HE TOOK ONE LOOK AT MY TIRE AND SAID "THERE IS NO WAY THAT WAS CAUSED BY A RAZOR, THAT IS A DEFECT AND IT IS BAD NEWS." HE TOLD ME TO LET WHOMEVER I TALKED TO KNOW THAT THE TIRE IS SEPARATING "WHERE THE APEX MEETS THE SIDEWALL." HE WENT INTO A BIT MORE TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION BUT I AM NOT AN EXPERT SO I CAN'T ACCURATELY RELAY WHAT HE SAID. HE SAID IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND HE BETS THAT A MAJOR RECALL WILL BE OCCURRING, HOPEFULLY BEFORE ANYTHING TRAGIC OCCURS. HE IS NOT AN OVERLY EXCITABLE MAN BUT HE PROBABLY TOLD ME ABOUT 10 TIMES TO GET THE TIRES OFF OF MY CAR.*AK