NHTSA Complaint #10141543 — 2002 CHEVROLET EXPRESS

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE LEFT REAR TIRE DEVELOPED A BULGE WITHIN THE TREAD. HE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. WHEN HE RETURNED HOME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALER, WHO DISCOVERED THERE WAS A COMPLETE BELT SEPARATION ON THAT TIRE. A SECOND INCIDENT LATER OCCURRED ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE IN A SIMILAR FASHION. BOTH OF THE FAILED FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH GOODYEAR TIRES. WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT REAR REMAINING FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT AT 75 MPH RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES FENDER AND BUMPER AREA. HE AVOIDED ANY COLLISION. HE TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. NO FURTHER REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S LT245/75/R16 LOAD RANGE E. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AT PURCHASE. *AK UPDATE 12/27/2005 - THE TIRES WERE MADE IN CANADA. *NM