NHTSA Complaint #10251115 — 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA

WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 14 AT ABOUT 9 PM WHEN WE HEARD (AND FELT) A LOUD BANG AND THEN FELT THE NOTICEABLE BUMPINESS OF A FLAT TIRE. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE TO FIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FLAT, WHICH WE PROCEEDED TO CHANGE WITH THE SPARE THAT WAS SUPPLIED WITH THE CAR. THE CAR IS A 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA AND IS ACTUALLY A LOANER FROM THE DEALER SINCE MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP, BEING REPAIRED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE 8TH TIME IN 2 YEARS (SEPARATE COMPLAINT). UPON INSPECTING THE TIRE THE NEXT DAY, IT'S EVIDENT THAT IT IS A BLOWOUT AS IT HAS A 4 INCH SLIT IN THE SIDEWALL AND THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD THAT WE DROVE OVER. I HAVE NOT HAD THE TIRE REPLACED YET BUT THE DEALER IS ASSERTING THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT MY CAR. THEY DID, HOWEVER, OFFER TO SELL ME THE TIRE AT THEIR COST WITH FREE INSTALLATION. I PLAN ON KEEPING THE TIRE WHEN I DO GET IT REPLACED, SINCE I'M PAYING FOR IT. I WILL BE CONTACTING BRIDGESTONE HEADQUARTERS AND SUBARU HEADQUARTERS IN NEW JERSEY ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. TIRE IS A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE 92A, SIZE P205/55R16 89V DOT EM8K JLL2407. *TR