NHTSA Complaint #10207386 — 2007 KZRV ESCALADE

MY KZ NEW VISION SPORTSTER FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER CAME EQUIPPED WITH "FREESTAR" BRAND TIRES, MADE IN CHINA BY NANKANG, AND IMPORTED BY TIRECO. ON OUR FIRST TRIP, ABOUT 1200 MILES FROM HOME, I EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. I CALLED MY DEALER, WHO REFERRED ME TO A FACTORY REP AT "KZ". BOTH INDICATED THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES, AND TOLD ME TO CALL TIRECO, WHO WAS HANDLING THE CLAIMS. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE FOR REPLACEMENT OF ANY TIRES THAT WERE DEFECTIVE. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT THE REMAINING TIRES, AND THEY SAID TO SHIP THEM ALL BACK FOR EVALUATION. I REPLACED ALL FIVE, INCLUDING THE SPARE, AT A COST OF OVER $1100.00. I JUST RECEIVED A CHECK FOR THEM FOR $171.22, AND THEIR EXPLANATION WAS "FOUR TIRES WERE USED, ONE WAS DEFECT", AND WILL ONLY REPLACE THE ONE THAT WAS "DEFECT". THEY SAID THEY WILL SHIP THE OTHER FOUR BACK TO ME, BUT I DIDN'T THINK TO ASK WHO WOULD PAY THE SHIPPING. I HAVE NO WAY TO PROVE THE OTHER FOUR WERE DEFECTIVE, NOR CAN I CONFIRM THE ORIGINALS ARE BEING RETURNED, RATHER THAN SUBSTITUTES. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN "TAKEN" ALL THE WAY AROUND. *TR