NHTSA Complaint #10159393 — 2006 BUICK LUCERNE

I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN THE CA/NV BORDER AND EAST RENO. IN TWO INSTANCES I ENCOUNTERED PAVEMENT THAT WAS GROOVED (IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ROAD). I WAS INITIALLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65 MPH. I WAS DRIVING A NEW 2006 BUICK LUCERNE V-8 VIN IG4HE5Y76U157759 WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL 400 TIRES. WHEN I DROVE ON THE GROOVED PAVEMENT, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS WOBBLED SO BADLY THAT IT FORCE THE CAR TO WEAVE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL STEADY. THIS HAPPENED IN THE AREA WEST OF RENO IN THE MOUNTAINS AND AGAIN IN AN AREA IN RENO WHERE THE PAVEMENT WAS ALSO GROOVED. NORMALLY, THIS CAR IS REMARKABLY STEADY, SO THIS WAS A TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AND DISCONCERTING INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, WHEN I SLOWED TO 45 MPH I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BETTER UNTIL I PASSED THAT SECTION OF PAVEMENT. *NM