NHTSA Complaint #10201922 — 1990 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD BROUGHAM

DRIVING ON FLA. TURNPIKE, EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION ON RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TIRE. HAD TO CHANGE TIRE TO SMALL "DOUGHNUT" SPARE. WENT BACK TO HOME BASE TO PURCHASE TIRE(S) FOR CAR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH TRIP. WAS TOLD BY PEP BOYS I ONLY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TIRE THAT HAD TREAD SEPARATION, SO CONSUMER ONLY PURCHASED THE ONE TIRE. CONSUMER CONTINUED ON TRIP. NEXT DAY, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ANOTHER TREAD SEPARATION, THIS ONE ON LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THIS TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S (A 1990 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD BROUGHAM, IN SHOW ROOM SHAPE) FRONT PANEL, ROCKER PANEL, WHEEL TRIM, BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM AND ALIGNMENT OF CHASSIS. CONSUMER HAD TO CHANGE THIS TIRE TO SMALL SPARE, CAUSING STRESS AND POSSIBLE INJURY TO LOWER BACK. CONSUMER HAD JUST COMPLETED BACK TRACTION TREATMENTS ON 8/30/07. THE TREADLESS TIRE AND DAMAGED WHEEL STRUCTURE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AND PICTURES TAKEN OF IT AND DAMAGES TO VEHICLE. CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW TIRE TO REPLACE THIS SECOND SEPARATION AND IN FEAR THAT THE REMAINING TWO TIRES THAT HAD TREAD ON THEM WOULD SEPARATE AS WELL , PURCHASED NEW TIRES FOR THEM AS WELL. TIRES: BRIDGESTONE P225/75R15. UPDATE 12/02/07