NHTSA Complaint #10342057 — 2002 JEEP LIBERTY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 77 MPH THE CONTACT COULD SEE DEBRIS FLYING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THE ENTIRE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FENDER WAS MISSING AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER PIECES OF THE WHEEL WELL. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH FOR ANOTHER MILE MORE DEBRIS WAS COMING FROM THE SAME WHEEL WELL. WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE A SECOND TIME, HE OBSERVED THAT THE REAR QUARTER PANEL WAS TORN. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED OF ALL ITS RUBBER. THE TIRE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE TREAD SEPARATION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 42,000.