NHTSA Complaint #10134606 — 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA

DT: 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT HAS CONTINENTAL, CONTITOURING , TIRE, SIZE P225/55/R17 LEAKED AIR ALMOST TO THE POINT OF BEING FLAT. THIS HAPPENS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, SUCH AS TWO WEEKS, THESE LEAKS WERE SLOW, AND OCCURRED FOUR TIRES. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND HEARD A POP, PULLED OVE,R AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT ON THE RIM. THIS OCCURRED NEAR A GAS STATION ,AND CONSUMER DROVE THERE TO GAS STATION TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRE, BUT THE AIR SYSTEM AT THE GAS STATION WOULD NOT WORK. CALLED FAMILY MEMBER TO BRING AN AIR PIGGY AND THE TIRE WOULD NOT INFLATE. WAITED FOR TIRE DEALER TO OPEN BECAUSE THIS WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THEY COULD NOT INFLATE THE TIRE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THEY NOTE THA T INSIDE OF THE TIRE RUNNING VERTICALLY FROM THE RIM TO THE TOP OF THE TIRE HAD A SPLIT. DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION THIS COULD NOT BE REPAIRED , AND A NEW TIRE WOULD HAVE TO BE PURCHASED. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED DISCUSSING THIS MATTER WITH TIRE MANUFACTURER. CONTACTED CONTINENTAL, WHO SAID CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO TAKETIRE TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER WHICH WAS A CONSIDERABLE DRIVE FOR INSPECTION OF THE TIRE. CALLED A SECOND TIME, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND OUT A CALL TAG AND REQUEST TIRES BACK. CONSUMER HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AND PAID FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET. HAVE NOT SENT THOSE TIRES TO CONTINENTAL AT THIS TIME. *AK