NHTSA Complaint #10175894 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

WHILE TRAVELING ON I-75 SOUTH AND JUST BEFORE THE 333.3 MILE MARKER, A LOUD DRONING NOISE WAS HEARD. IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE A VERY LOUD MUSCLE CAR NEARBY. THE NOISE CONTINUED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THEN A SUDDEN LOUDER NOISE (ALMOST LIKE AN EXPLOSION) WAS HEARD AT THE SAME TIME AS A RECURRENT THUMP AND BANGING. THE SUV LURCHED AND AFTER MANAGING TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY LANE THROUGH MODERATE TRAFFIC, WE DISCOVERED THE LEFT REAR STEEL BELTED RADIAL HAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM ITSELF INTO SHREDS AND COMPLETELY FROM THE RIM. IN DOING SO, THE RADIAL HAD EXPLODED OUTWARD AGAINST THE MUD FLAP, TEARING IT OFF AND AGAINST THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR TO INCLUDE THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOOR PANELS. THIS CONTACT WITH THE DOOR PANELS LEFT RUBBER EMBEDDED IN THE PAINT AND ALSO REMOVED PAINT ON SOME AREAS. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED THROUGH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. THE FAILED TIRE REMAINS IN OUR POSSESSION, SHOULD ANYONE WISH TO INSPECT IT. THE TIRE IS MANUFACTURED BY BF GOODRICH AND IS A LIBERATOR RADIAL MEDALIST P23575R15 108-S M+S. IT HAD LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS SOLD TO US AND INSTALLED ON OUR SUV IN APRIL 2006 AT THE WALMART SUPER STORE TIRE CENTER ON 19TH AVE RD IN OCALA, FL. WE TRADED MICHELINS IN FOR THESE TIRES. THANK GOD IT WAS THE REAR TIRE THAT FAILED AND NOT A FRONT TIRE THAT WOULD HAVE ALMOST CERTAINLY CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT AT 70+ MPH. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL WE WERE NOT PHYSICALLY INJURED; HOWEVER, WE HAVE THREE MORE OF THESE TIRES STILL REMAINING ON OUR SUV. *JB