NHTSA Complaint #10177133 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

TL* - WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH ON 12/26/06 THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. HE PROCEEDED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE GOOD AND THE EVENING WAS CLEAR. THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE THEN RETURNED HOME AND INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND NO PUNCTURES IN IT, BUT DID NOTICE A BUMP IN THE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED HE TOOK TIRE TO FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER THE NEXT MORNING , AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED BY A NAIL, BUT THERE WAS NO NAIL IN THE TIRE. THE TECHNICIAN DID SHOW HIM AN IMPRINT OF THE NAIL ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED TO FIND OUT IF THIS TIRE HAD ANY SAFETY ISSUES. THE INFORMATION ON THE TIRE WAS: 214/65R16, MODEL # FR380 AND DOT# W26V38B2306. THE CONTACT HAS THE DAMAGED TIRE, AND FIRESTONE DID REPLACE IT WITH A NEW TIRE. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THEY HAD TO SCRAP THE INSIDE OF TIRE AND CLEAN IT UP BEFORE THEY GAVE THE DAMAGED TIRE BACK. *AK UPDATED 02/06/07. *JB