NHTSA Complaint #10167201 — 2002 DODGE INTREPID

SUBJECT: MASTERCRAFT TIRE TREAD SEPARATION COMMENTS: IN MARCH, 2003, I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE INTREPID USING EBAY. THE CAR HAD 8,000 MILES AND CARFAX SHOWED NO ACCIDENTS. WHEN THE CAR ARRIVED, I NOTICED IT HAD TWO NEW MASTERCRAFT SENSY TIRES ON THE FRONT, UNUSUAL FOR THAT LOW MILEAGE. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE RIGHT TIE ROD END HAD BEEN BENT AND NOT REPAIRED, THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE NEW TIRES. I THEN REPLACED THE RIGHT TIE ROD END AND HAD ALL FOUR WHEELS ALIGNED. AS THE TIRES HAD A TREAD WEAR RATING OF 620, I FIGURED THERE WERE GOOD FOR MANY MILES. IN LATE JULY, 2006, THE CAR HAD 32K MILES. I WAS HEARING A LOUD "SLAPPING" SOUND ON THE FRONT END. TAKING THE CAR TO A COSTCO CAR CENTER, THEY DETERMINED THAT BOTH TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION, REQUIRING IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. THE TIRES HAD LESS THAN 25K MILES ON THEM. THE CAR HAS A LIFETIME FOUR-WHEEL ALIGNMENT POLICY FROM FIRESTONE EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT, AND THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN CHECKED ABOUT EVERY 3-4K MILES. THESE TIRES APPARENTLY HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEIR IDENTIFICATION IS MASTERCRAFT SENSY 01, 225 60 R16 M&S 98T, DOT 3DX3 FMW 3302, NOT AS DESCRIBED BY YOUR FORM BELOW WHICH HAS INCOMPLETE INFO USE ONLY THE INFO IN THIS PARAGRAPH TO DESCRIBE MODEL, SIZE AND DOT NUMBER. I SUGGEST THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE TIRES WERE LEFT AT COSTCO AND ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE, BUT I HAVE THEIR WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM. YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE. THANK YOU. *JB