NHTSA Complaint #10255905 — 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE P195 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER ALSO NOTICED DEBRIS COMING FROM THE TIRE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED. IN ADDITION, THE SHIELD THAT COVERS THE WHEEL WELL WAS DISINTEGRATED. THE DRIVER REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO TWO LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS, BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC WAS PROVIDED FOR THE TIRE BLOW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE TIRE BE SHIPPED TO THEM FOR INSPECTION. AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INFORM HER OF THEIR DECISION. THE FIRESTONE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ASSIST HER WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,994 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,203. UPDATED 03/23/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/23/09.*JB