NHTSA Complaint #10274780 — 2004 MAZDA RX-8

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE ALL SEASON TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. MAZDA SUGGESTED THAT HE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE DEALER ONLY PLACED AIR IN THE TIRES. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING ALMOST 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VERY ROUGH VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE BLOW OUT. THE DOT NUMBER AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD FILL WITH WATER. THERE WAS A STRANGE CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE A STRUT PROBLEM. UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB