NHTSA Complaint #10102742 — 2004 FORD FOCUS

I WISH TO REPORT A POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE TIRE. ON NOV 20, 2004,I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FOCUS SE. WITH 5.914 MILES. ON 12/9/04, WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE FREEWAY, MY CAR'S TIRE BLEW OUT. UPON EXAMINATION, THERE WAS SEVERAL BLOWOUT TEARS ALONG THE OUTER SIDES OF THE TIRE. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO REFERRED ME TO GOODYEAR. GOODYEAR SAID THEY BELIEVED THE TIRES FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY TIRE "UNDER PRESSURE" AND A NAIL PUNCTURE. THE GOODYEAR TECHNICIAN MADE A DETERMINATION UPON VISUAL INSPECTION BASED ON RIPPLES ALONG THE TEAR MARKS WERE CAUSED BY UNDER PRESSURE. THE FORD DEALER MADE THE SAME EXPLANATION AS DID GOODYEAR. HOWEVER, I DISAGREE WITH THE OPINIONS OF BOTH FORD AND GOODYEAR. REQUEST AN EXAMINATION OF MY TIRE TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANY TIRE OR BELT MANUFACTURE DEFECTS. MY TIRE IS A GOODYEAR EAGLE, RSA VERSION, SIZE P195/60/R15. MY TIRE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION TO DETERMINE FAILURE.*JB