NHTSA Complaint #10240155 — 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY

DROVE CAR ON INTERSTATE & WHEN REACHED APPROX. 60 MPH, FELT VIBRATION & A SHUDDERING; PREPARED TO PULL OVER BUT BEFORE I COULD DO SO, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED, AS I LITERALLY WATCHED MY RIGHT FRONT END COME APART BEFORE MY EYES; COULD HARDLY CONTROL STEERING BUT MANAGED TO PULL OFF ROAD TO SAFETY. AFTER I HAD STOPPED, I GOT OUT & SAW THE WHOLE TREAD OF THE TIRE IN THE ROAD, ALONG WITH PARTS OF MY CAR ALL OVER THE PLACE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! I CALLED MY HUSBAND WHO PUT SPARE TIRE ON & I SLOWLY DROVE IT HOME & CAR DIED REPEATEDLY DURING THE DRIVE WE USED BATTERY CABLES TO JUMPSTART, OVER & OVER AGAIN UNTIL WE GOT IT HOME & PARKED IT. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED (OUT OF POCKET) TO LOCAL DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. (B'HAM, AL). SERVICE MAN HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE ENGINE HARNESS DUE TO THE HARNESS BEING RIPPED OUT THROUGH THE RIGHT FRONT HEAD LIGHT/PASS FRONT FENDER (ABOUT 3 FEET RIPPED OFF). SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS & THAT I SHOULD REPORT IT & TRY TO HAVE TIRE COMPANY PAY FOR DAMAGES, ETC. ENGINE HARNESS DESTROYED, ESTIMATED COST $1890.50 TO REPAIR (NOT INCLUDING BODY WORK WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO BE ANYWHERE FROM ANOTHER $1,500 TO $2,000 IN DAMAGES). THE FENDER, FRONT HEADLIGHT AND BUMPER WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY. I'VE MADE SOME ARRANGEMENTS TO GO AHEAD & GET VEHICLE RUNNING, PAYING THE COSTS OF $1890.50 TO GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN; AGAIN OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. I CAN SUPPLY YOUR OFFICE WITH A COPY OF THE SERVICE MANAGER'S ESTIMATE & ANALOGY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE DAMAGES. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET VEHICLE COMPLETELY RESTORED & FEEL ALL DAMAGES SHOULD BE REIMBURSED DUE TO THE FAULTY TIRE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE SINCE I COULD HARDLY CONTROL THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED. THANK GOD THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD SAW ME OR IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT, AS MANY CARS WERE TRAVELING ALL LANES. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE & HAD TO CROSS OVER THE RIGHT LANE TO EXIT. *TR