NHTSA Complaint #10144912 — 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON A DIRT ROAD AT SLOW SPEED. RIGHT WHEELS GOT IN SOFT DIRT, CAR SKIDDED, SHE BRAKED AND TRIED TO STEER OUT OF SKID. THE CAR TURNED AROUND BACKWARDS, SLID TO ALMOST A STOP, SLOWLY ROLLED ON TO LEFT SIDE, THEN ON ROOF. CAR WAS TOTALED, SHE WAS NOT INJURED. WE AT FIRST ASSUMED ROLLOVER OCCURRED BECAUSE BRAKING DURING SKID CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE LOCKING THE FRONT WHEELS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE CAR ROLLED AT SUCH A SLOW SPEED. ROLL OCCURRED ON FAIRLY LEVEL GROUND. WE LATER INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND BOTH LEFT TIRES FLAT WITH BEADS SEPARATED. IT APPEARS THAT SLIDING SIDEWAYS CAUSED THE BEADS TO BREAK, THE TIRES WENT INSTANTLY FLAT AND THE WHEELS DUG INTO THE DIRT CAUSING THE SLOW 1/2 ROLLOVER. NOTE: TIRES WERE 165/65R15 GOODYEAR INTEGRITY. THIS SIZE WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE FORM. *JB