NHTSA Complaint #10185866 — 2006 SUBARU BAJA

ON MARCH 16TH 2007 I WAS DRIVING FROM MY HOME IN FORT MYERS FLORIDA TO A BUSINESS MEETING IN CLEARWATER FLORIDA. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75 GOING NORTH. I WAS APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THE SKYWAY BRIDGE. SINCE THIS IS A TOLL BRIDGE I WAS DECREASING IN SPEED GETTING READY TO MAKE A STOP, AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND BEFORE I COULD THINK I WAS BEGINNING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE EXPLOSION OR IMPLOSION WAS THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE COMPLETELY CAME OFF THE RIM OF THE CAR. THIS SENT ME INTO A TAIL SPIN TRYING TO CONTROL THE CAR AT WHICH TIME THE CAR CAME UP ON TWO WHEELS. I THEN PROCEEDED INTO THE DITCH AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I THEN CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHICH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED HE NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WE WERE ABLE TO GET A SPARE TIRE ON THE CAR SO THAT I COULD DRIVE TO A TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED. THIS WAS A NIGHTMARE TO SAY THE LEAST. I FIRST CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SINCE I HAPPENED TO PURCHASE THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP IN WHICH MY BUSINESS MEETING WAS BEING HELD. THE CAR DEALERSHIP MASTRO MOTORS STATED THAT THEY DO NOT KEEP TIRES IN STOCK. I EXPLAINED THIS CARE ALMOST KILLED ME AND THE RESPONSE WAS THAT I PURCHASED TIRE INSURANCE TO CALL THEM. I THEN CALLED SUBRAU ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT WARRANTY THE TIRES AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL BRIDGESTONE. I THEN CALLED BRIDGESTONE AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP ME FIND AN ATHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. I THEN FOUND A FIRESTONE TIRE OUTLET IN WHICH AFTER DRIVING AROUND ALL WEEKEND ON A SPARE TIRE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE CORRECT TIRE FOR MY CAR AND REPLACE IT. I NOW HAVE THE TIRE THAT EXPLODED ON IN MY POSSESION AS PROOF THAT THIS TIRE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT AS I HAVE NOT OWNED MY CAR MORE THAT SIX MONTHS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW AND IT HAS ABOUT 5400 MILES TOTAL ON THE CAR. AT THIS TIME I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THE TIRES ON THIS CAR. *AK