NHTSA Complaint #10213023 — 2007 SUBARU FORESTER

THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED TIRES THAT WEAR AT AN EXCESSIVELY RAPID PACE, RESULTING IN A CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSING TRACTION WHILE DRIVING OVER SAND/GRIT USED FOR TREATING THE ROAD DURING SNOW. ADDITIONALLY, THE FLATIRONS IMPORTS, AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP, NEVER ADVISED US ON THE DEGREE OF TREAD LOSS. ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 2 AT NOON, MY HUSBAND WAS COMING DOWN LEFT HAND CANYON TRAVELING AT 35MPH WHEN HE LOST TRACTION WHILE DRIVING INTO A RIGHT-TURN BEND. THE CAR LEFT THE ROAD AND LANDED NOSE-FIRST ABOUT 30 FT INTO AN IRRIGATION DITCH. THE BOULDER COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND DETERMINED THAT HE WAS NOT AT FAULT (REGRETTABLY NEITHER THEY NOR THE STATE POLICE HAVE FILED A REPORT). THE ROAD SURFACE WAS FREE FROM SNOW AND/OR ICE BUT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SAND/GRIT UPON WHICH THE CAR LOST TRACTION. IN SPITE OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE REGAINED TRACTION HAD NOT THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES BEEN DEFECTIVE, THE PRINCIPLE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, WE BELIEVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLATIRONS SUBARU ON AUGUST 21 AT 9,142 MILES. THE MECHANICAL REPORT INDICATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE TIRES WAS AT 8/32; ON OCTOBER 19 AT 13, 182 MILES THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR A REGULAR SERVICE AS WELL AS TO CHECK A RADIATOR LEAK, AND THE MECHANICAL REPORT INDICATED THE TIRE TREAD AT 5.2/32, 5.9/32 (3/32 TREAD LOSS IN 2 MONTHS). AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE TREAD WAS AT 1.2/32 AT 15,763 MILES (REPRESENTING A 4/32 TREAD LOSS IN 6 WEEKS AND APPROX 2,500 MILES!). WE FEEL THIS REPRESENTS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR