NHTSA Complaint #10190324 — 2005 PONTIAC GTO

THE 2005 PONTIAC GTO WITH 18,000 MILES WAS TAKEN TO TIRE SERVICE STATION FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRS OF POTENTIAL NAIL PENETRATION TO FRONT PASSENGER TIRE ON APRIL 14, 2007. SLOW LEAK IN TIRE AFTER WINTER STORAGE IN GARAGE CAUSED THE TIRE TO BE FLAT. UPON REMOVAL FROM CAR THE DEFECTIVE TIRE DETERMINED THE ENTIRE INNER RIM WAS WORN OUT, EXPOSING WIRES. STATED I WAS LUCKY THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW,OUT AND RIP MY FENDER OFF, AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DAMAGED AS WELL, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON, BUT NOT AS BAD AS THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. SOMETHING WAS SEVERELY WRONG WITH CAR TO CAUSE THAT MUCH DAMAGE. PAID FOR A REPLACEMENT TIRE TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP. RESEARCHED INFORMATION ON INTERNET THROUGH FORUMS IN REGARD TO STRUT RUB ISSUE. DROPPED CAR OFF AT MOORMANS PONTIAC IN DAYTON, OHIO ON 05-07-07, AND SHARED STRUT RUB INFORMATION WITH THEM, AT WHICH TIME THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TIRE RUBBING ON THE STRUTS, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES SINCE I HAD EVIDENTLY CAUSED THE PROBLEM MYSELF DUE TO MY DRIVING HABITS. QUOTED COST OF REPAIRS WOULD BE $881 PLUS TAX. ACTUAL INFORMATION ENTERED IN SERVICE TICKET READ CUSTOMER STATED TIRES WERE RUBBING FRONT STRUTS AND WEARING OUT THE TIRES. *AK