NHTSA Complaint #10244609 — 2007 DODGE CALIBER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE TIRES, SIZE P215/55/R18, AND DOT NUMBER VN0AF31. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES. AT 4,000 MILES, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE NOISE AND ADVISED HIM TO CALL THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST UNLESS THEY RECEIVED A REPLACEMENT ORDER FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER, WHO IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, REFUSED TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES IN JANUARY OF 2007; HOWEVER, AT 10,000 MILES, THE NOISE RECURRED AND TREAD SEPARATION WAS VISIBLE ON ALL 12 TIRES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INSPECTED THE ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IF THE CONTACT SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO RELEASE THEM FROM THE MATTER, THEY WOULD REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER AND THE FAILURE RECURRED AT 8,000 MILES. AFTER RECEIVING ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS FROM A TIRE MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMBER SUSPENSION IN THE WHEEL AREA WAS INACCURATE. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT NO ADJUSTMENT COULD BE MADE UNLESS THE FRAME WAS ADJUSTED. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY $300 TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE OR ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS TWELVE TIRES THAT HAVE FAILED. THE INITIAL FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.