NHTSA Complaint #10169297 — 2006 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I OWN A 2006 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE VEHICLE CAME NEW FROM FACTORY WITH GOODYEAR TIRES: WRANGLER SR-A 245-65R-17. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE HIGHWAY AND ONE OF THE REAR TIRES BLEW OUT. CALLED GOODYEAR AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THEY CREATED A FILE (#860902) AND REFERRED ME TO THE NEAREST TIRE STORE NEAR MY HOME. AN INSPECTION OF THE TIRE BY THE STORE REVEALED NO ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE. THE TIRE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. GOODYEAR REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE AND ONLY OFFERED A 56% REIMBURSEMENT ON THE COST OF THE TIRE (NOT LABOR OR INSTALLATION). THE JEEP WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2006 AND ONLY HAD 13,000 MILES WITH 30% TREAD WEAR. DECIDED TO PURCHASE THE REPLACEMENT TIRE FROM WWW.TIRERACK.COM. MAILED THE INVOICE TO GOODYEAR TODAY. HOPE TO RECEIVE A REFUND SOON. STILL AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THEY WON'T REFUND 100% OF THE COST OF THE TIRE. IN ADDITION, ALSO WORRYING IF THE REMAINING TIRES ON THE CAR WILL FOLLOW THE SAME PATTERN AND BLOW UP. THE BLOWN-UP TIRE REVEALED 7 DOUGHNUT SHAPED HOLES ON THE SIDE. *NM