NHTSA Complaint #10095955 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

I HAVE A 2001FORD FOCUS. MY DAUGHTER JUST HAD A BLOWOUT OF THE FRONT TIRE WHILE DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS IN DANBURY CT. THE TRACKS DO NOT STICK UP VERY MUCH. THIS IS THE 3RD BLOW ON THIS CAR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRES ARE FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA 02. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE FORD FOCUS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY ALSO CLAIM THEY ARE AN ALL SEASON TIRE AND IF YOU LOOK ON TIRERACK.COM EVERYBODY SAYS THEY ARE TERRIBLE IN THE RAIN AND SNOW. THEY ARE THE LOWEST RATED TIRE ON THE SITE IN THEIR RELATIVE CATAGORY. MY BROTHER TALKED TO FIRESTONE WHEN THE FIRST TIRE BLEW OUT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY PRORATE THE TIRE. THEY DIDN'T FEEL THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. WE ENDED UP GETTING 2 DIFFERENT BRAND TIRES AND THOSE ARE FINE. I NOW WILL GO AND PURCHASE 2 MORE, I WILL NOT WAIT FOR THE 4TH TIRE TO BLOW OUT! THEY STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD ON THEM SO ITS A SHAME, BUT I FEEL THESE TIRES DEFINITELY HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK