NHTSA Complaint #10088725 — 1997 FLEETWOOD JAMBOREE

ON 5/22/2003, DRIVING MY 97 JAMBOREE MOTOR HOME TO OROVILLE CA THE RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE LT225/75R16 R4S LOST ALL THE TREAD FROM AROUND THE TIRE. THE BRIGGS FIRESTONE DEALER AT 1600 FEATHER RIVER BLVD. OROVILLE, CA REPLACED THE TIRE AT NO COST CITING MFG DEFECT. ON 5/31/2003, FIRESTONE TIRE & SERVICE CENTER AT 6102 SUNRISE MALL, CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA INSPECT THE REMAINING TIRE AND THE MANAGER ON DUTY FOUND ONE TIRE UNSAFE BECAUSE THE TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. HE REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRE BUT REQUIRED ME TO PAY FOR THE MOUNTING AND BALANCING. (INVOICE # 023264, DATED 5/31/2003) ON JULY 12TH, I DRIVE MY MOTOR HOME 40 MILES, TO MY DAUGHTERS SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT ACROSS TOWN. HEADING HOME I HAD A COMPLETE BLOWOUT ON THE LEFT INSIDE REAR. ROSEVILLE FIRESTONE DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE TIRE. THE MANAGER ON DUTY SUGGESTED I FILE A COMPLAINT WITH CORPORATE REGARDING THE BLOWOUTS AND ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE FIRESTONE CONSUMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD TO SEND MY COMPLAINT DETAILS IN WRITING. I EMAILED A LETTER ON AUGUST 10, 2003. THEN AGAIN ON AUGUST 24, 2003 AFTER NO REPLY. ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2003 AT 3:07 I STILL RECEIVED NO REPLY AND CALLED THE DEPARTMENT BACK. I SPOKE TO CURTIS. (TRACKING NUMBER WT20030810_0000000110) FILE #574927. CURTIS SUGGESTED I CALL CORPORATE AT 615 937-3460. AT CORPORATE I SPOKE TO JOHN E MILLER. MILLER SUGGESTED THAT I REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE REAR AT MY OWN EXPENSE. ON JULY 17TH, TO INSURE MY FAMILYS SAFETY, AMERICAS TIRE CO. REPLACE ALL FOUR FIRESTONE TIRES ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT MY COST OF $599. IT IS AMAZING THAT 2 OUT OF THE 3 TIRES THAT FAILED, WERE INSPECTED BY 1 INDEPENDENT AND 1 CORPORATE DEALER, AND BOTH FOUND THE TIRES TO BE DEFECTIVE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE BUT WAS ONLY COMPENSATED ABOUT $110 FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE/REAR TIRE RIMS, BUT WAS NOT COMPENSATED FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. I STILL HAVE 4 DEFECTIVE STEELTEX R4S TIRES STORED IN MY GARAGE. *JB