NHTSA Complaint #10184888 — 1998 DODGE CARAVAN

WE HAD A EURO TOUR TIRE FROM BIG O (SERIAL #U9YTT2N3903 PRODUCED BY COOPER TIRES SIZE 205/70R15 [THIS SIZE IS NOT LISTED ON THE TIRE SECTION]) ON THE FRONT OF OUR DODGE CARAVAN. MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THAT HAD BEEN COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY A YEAR BEFORE SO THE FREEWAY WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. MY SON SAID THAT WHILE THEY HAD OUR VAN THEY HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING NOR WAS THERE ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. THE COP WHO HELPED MY SON CHANGE THE TIRE SAID MY SON HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING. BOTH STEEL BELTS BLEW OUT. MY SON SAID THE TIRE EXPLODED! IT BLEW OUT THE WHEEL WELL, BLEW OFF THE BUMPER,BLEW OUT THE HEADLIGHT, BLEW OUT SOME OF THE WIRING AND BROKE THE BOTTLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS & GAVE THE FENDER A FAT LIP. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WAS THE VEHICLE AHEAD & LOOKED BACK JUST IN TIME TO SEE PIECES OF TIRE & VAN FLYING EVERYWHERE. LUCKILY THE VAN DID NOT ROLL. THERE WAS $1800-$1900 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO OUR VAN. BIG O REPLACED THE TIRE BUT WHEN WE SENT IT COOPER, THEY SAID THEY BELIEVED THE TIRE FAILED BECAUSE OF A PROBABLE IMPACT. A COOPER TIRE DEALER & THE BIG O DEALER IN POCATELLO BOTH TOLD ME THEY FELT THE TIRE WAS FAULTY. THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE RESULTED FROM IMPACT. EVERYONE EXCEPT COOPER THINKS DAMAGE TO THE TIRE INDICATES IT ACTUALLY EXPLODED. *JB