NHTSA Complaint #10080901 — 2002 LINCOLN LS

WE PURCHASED A 2002 LINCOLN LSE ABOUT 15 MONTHS AGO. ABOUT A WEEK AGO WE TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THEN 3 DAYS LATER BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NEW BRAKES WERE INSTALLED AN WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD BE NEEDING NEW TIRES. WE ASKED IF NEEDED TO BE DONE THEN BUT THE SERVICE PERSON SAID SOON. 7 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE IN THE FAST LANE OUR LEFT REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE LITERALLY BLEW OFF THE CAR LEAVING NOTHING BUT THE RIM. THANK GOD THE CAR BEHIND US WITNESSED IT ALL AND STAYED BEHIND US TILL WE WERE SAFE ACROSS 3 LANES TO THE SHOULDER. HE SAID HE NEVER SAW SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN. WE HAVE HAD MANY CARS AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR AT LEAST 26 YEARS AND NEVER NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I THANK GOD WE WERE SAFE BUT I DO THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. TIRES SHOULD NOT JUST EXPLODE OFF A RIM AND DISINTERGRATE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AS THIS WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. AFTER TOWING THE VECHICLE INTO THE LINCOLN MERCURY SHOWROOM WE ARE TOLD WE NEED 4 NEW TIRES AND A RIM -- $1600. *LA