NHTSA Complaint #10243072 — 2004 FORD F-350 SD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. IN APRIL OF 2008, THE CONTACT PURCHASED FOUR USED NOKIAN VATIIVA TIRES, SIZE LT265/75R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON AN ELEVATED ROAD, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST PLUMMETED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHANGED THE TIRE WITH ANOTHER SPARE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY MAILED HIM A CLAIM FORM AND ASKED HIM TO SHIP THEM THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THEY WANTED TO PERFORM AN INVESTIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THE BLOW OUTS WERE NOT DUE TO ANY DEFECTS. WHEN THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE CLAIM FORM, HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AGAIN AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.