NHTSA Complaint #10189218 — 2005 PONTIAC GTO

THE MANUFACTURER OF THE 2005 PONTIAC GTO HAS CHOSEN A STANDARD WHEEL/TIRE COMBINATION AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS THAT CAUSE EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR TO THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES. THE PROPER ALIGNMENT AS SET BY THE MANUFACTURER'S STANDARDS IS IN NEGLIGENCE TO POTENTIAL SAFETY STANDARDS AND GOOD PRACTICE FOR A PERFORMANCE TYPE CAR. DURING REGULAR DRIVING IT IS PROBABLE AND LIKELY THAT THE INSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES WILL RUB IN A DANGEROUS FASHION ON THE SUSPENSIONS COMPONENTS (NAMELY STRUT) CAUSING THE TIRE TO FAIL PREMATURELY. THE FAILURE IS SUCH THAT THE TIRE BECOMES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD SPECIFICALLY EXPOSING THE TIRE STEEL BELTS PRIOR TO THE VISIBLE "WEAR BAR" INDICATORS BEING EXPOSED. ONE PROPER CORRECTION TO LIMIT THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTINUED TIRE RUB WOULD BE TO ALIGN THE CAMBER IN A FASHION THAT IS MORE SPECIFIC THAN THE MANUFACTURER'S STANDARDS. AFTER HAVING AN ALIGNMENT AT THE MANUFACTURER'S CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER, THIS CORRECTION WAS NOT PERFORMED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS FURTHER NEGLIGENT WHILE NOT PROPERLY INFORMING THE OWNER OR THE SERVICE CENTER STAFF ABOUT THIS TIRE RUB ISSUE. AFTER HAVING THE TIRES ROTATED AT THE AFOREMENTIONED SERVICE CENTER THE TIRES WERE NOT PROPERLY INSPECTED FOR SAFETY. THE EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR WAS VISIBLE AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES. AT THIS POINT, THE FRONT TIRES HAD FAILED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE FACTORY ALIGNMENT SETTINGS. DURING THE FIRST 12,000 MILES ON THE CAR THE ORIGINAL FRONT TIRES HAD BEEN DAMAGED IN SUCH A WAY THAT STEERING ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. THIS WAS OBSERVED FROM THE SERVICE CENTER STAFF. AT THAT POINT ON THE SAID MENTIONED DAY, THE REAR TIRES WERE ALSO FAILED. THE SERVICE CENTER WAS NOT PROPERLY INFORMED ABOUT THESE ISSUES CAUSING AN UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR