NHTSA Complaint #10320595 — 2008 FORD F-350 SD

1. ON JULY 8TH 2009 WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM TEXAS AT THE POSTED SPEED WE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION. I CHECKED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR ANY PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE LOW TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT. SECONDS AFTER THE RIGHT SIDE REAR TIRE EXPLODED AND PULLED THE TRUCK VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT AS I FOUGHT TO CONTROL THE TRUCK AND BRING IT TO A STOP. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO RIGHT QUARTER PANEL AS WELL AS THE EXHAUST. WE RETURNED THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE DAMAGE AND REPLACED THE CONTINENTAL TIRE. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN OF THE REMAINING TIRES AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS. THE TRUCK AND ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ONLY HAD 12K MILES. 2. ON 2/12/10 WHILE DRIVING TO CAL. AGAIN @ POSTED SPEED AND NO LOW TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT ON. THE SAME CONDITIONS AS ABOVE ONLY TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. WE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION AND WITH IN SECONDS THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED AND AGAIN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT QUARTER PANEL. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO BRING THE RIG TO A STOP WITH OUT ROLLING OR CAUSING INJURY OR FATALITY. AGAIN I RETURNED THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER ON 2/14/10 AND THEIR IT SITS TO THIS DAY 3/17/10 AND NOTHING BUT EXCUSES. *TR