NHTSA Complaint #10274834 — 2001 JEEP WRANGLER

WE PURCHASED A SET OF BRIDGESTONE DUELER APT III TIRES FROM SEARS ON JULY 14, 2007 FOR OUR 2001 JEEP WRANGLER. AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION THE JEEP HAD 69,903 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS JEEP HAS THE 2.5L 4-CYLINDER ENGINE AND 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON JUNE 23, 2009 MY SON DROVE THE JEEP TO HIS AUTOMOTIVE CLASS AT CAPE FEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CHANGE THE OIL. WHILE ON THE LIFT, THE TEACHER NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS MISSING A SECTION OF TREAD. THEY REMOVED THE TIRE AND INSTALLED THE SPARE. THE JEEP HAS 80,104 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS MEANS THAT THE TIRE FAILED WITH ONLY 10,201 MILES AND APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS OLD. IF MY SON HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. THE TIRE SIZE IS 265 70 R16 111S AND THE CODE IS DOT V672 JLP 4506. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE REMAINING TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AND IF THESE SHOULD BE REPLACED. *TR