NHTSA Complaint #10107870 — 2004 FORD FOCUS

JUNE 2004, I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 FOCUS WITH P195.60.15 GOOD YEAR EAGLE RSA TIRES. I ASSUME THIS IS A STANDARD TIRE USED BY FORD FOR THIS MODEL, AS I WAS NOT ASKED BY THE DEALERSHIP IF I WOULD LIKE TO UPGRADE OR CHANGE THE TIRES. I NEVER DREAMED A CAR WOULD BE SOLD IN THIS AREA WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE FUNCTIONAL TIRE ON. I AM UNABLE TO CONTROL THIS VEHICLE IN WINTER WEATHER. WITH NO WARNING, THE CAR WILL VEER OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE DRIVEN IN THIS TYPE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR YEARS, BUT NEVER HAVE I EVER HAD A CAR WITH THIS TYPE OF HANDLING PROBLEM. I DO NOT HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY WITH IT IN RAIN OR DRY CONDITIONS, SO IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES IN DECEMBER & JANUARY. I WAS TOLD BY GOOD YEAR TIRE DEALER THAT THE TIRES ARE A HIGH-PERFORMANCE TIRE AND ARE NOT MEANT FOR WINTER DRIVING. THERE ARE NO GRIPPING TREADS FOR SNOW AND ICE. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON THIS CAR WITH 5,600 MILES ON THEM FOR SAFETY PURPOSES SO THAT I DO NOT RISK INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. I JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY FORD HAS PUT THIS TYPE OF A TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FORD THE TIRES ARE NOT ADEQUATE FOR CERTAIN CONDITIONS. I AM VERY UPSET THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE A SET OF NEW TIRES ON A NEW VEHICLE SO THAT I CAN FEEL SAFE AND NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO INCORRECT TIRES. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT BEING VERY COOPERATIVE WITH MY COMPLAINT. THE ONLY EXPLANATION I RECEIVE FROM THEM IS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, OR THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THAT KIND OF A COMPLAINT, OR I AM USING BAD DRIVING JUDGMENT FOR THE CONDITIONS. *NM